Nunavut Canada

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT

2nd Session 3rd Assembly

HANSARD

Official Report

DAY 16

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Pages 769 – 815

Iqaluit

Speaker: The Honourable James Arreak, M.L.A.

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut

Speaker Hon. James Arreak (Uqqummiut)

Hon. Eva Aariak Hon. Lorne Kusugak Allan Rumbolt (Iqaluit East) (Rankin Inlet South – Whale Cove) (Hudson Bay) Premier; Minister of Executive Minister of Community and and Intergovernmental Affairs; Government Services; Minister of Fred Schell Minister responsible for the Status Energy (South Baffin) of Women; Minister responsible Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole for Immigration John Ningark (Akulliq) Hon. Daniel Shewchuk James Arvaluk (Arviat) (Tununiq) Johnny Ningeongan Minister of Environment; Minister of (Nanulik) Human Resources; Minister responsible Moses Aupaluktuq Deputy Speaker, Chair of the for the Nunavut Arctic College (Baker Lake) Committee of the Whole Hon. Louis Tapardjuk Hon. Tagak Curley Paul Okalik (Amittuq) (Rankin Inlet North) (Iqaluit West) Government House Leader; Minister of Minister of Health and Social Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Education; Minister of Culture, Services; Minister responsible for Language, Elders and Youth; Minister the Workers’ Safety and Enuk Pauloosie of Languages; Minister of Aboriginal Compensation Commission; (Nattilik) Affairs Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council Hon. Keith Peterson Hon. Peter Taptuna (Cambridge Bay) (Kugluktuk) Ron Elliott Minister of Finance, Chair, Financial Deputy Premier; Minister of Economic (Quttiktuq) Management Board; Minister of Justice Development and Transportation

Adamee Komoartok Hon. Hunter Tootoo (Pangnirtung) (Iqaluit Centre) Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation; Minister responsible for Homelessness

Officers Clerk John Quirke

Deputy Clerk Clerk Assistant Law Clerk Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Production Nancy Tupik Stephen Innuksuk Susan Cooper 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 ...... 769

Ministers’ Statements ...... 769

Members’ Statements ...... 773

Returns to Oral Questions ...... 775

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ...... 776

Oral Questions ...... 777

Tabling of Documents ...... 790

First Reading of Bills ...... 791

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ...... 791

Report of the Committee of the Whole ...... 815

Orders of the Day ...... 815

A. Daily References

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 ...... 769

B. Ministers’ Statements

062 – 3(2): QEC Accomplishment: Corporate Performance Management Model (Tootoo) ...... 769

063 – 3(2): Nunavut Arctic College Midwife Graduates Pass National Exam (Shewchuk) ...... 770

064 – 3(2): Paris Air Show (Taptuna) ...... 770

065 – 3(2): Response to Canadian Medical Association Journal (Curley) ...... 771

066 – 3(2): Fuel Price Reduction (Kusugak) ...... 772

067 – 3(2): Homeowner Fuel Rebate (Peterson) ...... 773

C. Members’ Statements

096 – 3(2): Welcomes New Fuel Rate and Homeowners Subsidy (Okalik) ...... 773

097 – 3(2): Consensus Government at Work (Rumbolt) ...... 773

098 – 3(2): Transparency of the Government’s Budget Process (Elliott) ...... 774

D. Returns to Oral Questions

Return to Oral Question 113 – 3(2): Vacancies in Quttiktuq (Curley) ...... 775

Return to Oral Question 124 – 3(2): Status of New Dozer for Grise Fiord (Kusugak) ...... 776

E. Oral Questions

137 – 3(2): Fuel Price Reduction (Okalik) ...... 777

138 – 3(2): Adult Educator for Pond Inlet (Arvaluk) ...... 778

139 – 3(2): Maintenance of Older Housing Units (Ningark) ...... 779

140 – 3(2): Paris Air Show (Rumbolt) ...... 780

141 – 3(2): Talluruti: The Inuktitut Name of the Northwest Passage (Arvaluk) ...... 780

142 – 3(2): Status of New Fire Truck for Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) ...... 782

143 – 3(2): Contract for Medevac Services in Kivalliq (Ningeongan) ...... 784

144 – 3(2): Transparency of the Government’s Budget Process (Elliott) ...... 785

145 – 3(2): Appointment of New Chair of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (Okalik) 786

146 – 3(2): No Furniture in New Health Centre in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) ...... 787

147 – 3(2): Number of School Buses in Pond Inlet (Arvaluk) ...... 788

148 – 3(2): Long Gun Registry (Okalik) ...... 789

F. Tabling of Documents

066 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Lease Activity Report (Kusugak) ...... 790

067 – 3(2): A booklet on “A Property Owner’s Guide to Contaminated Site Remediation in

Nunavut” (Shewchuk) ...... 790

068 – 3(2): Report on the Paris Air Show 2009 Trade Mission (Taptuna) ...... 790

069 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Strategic Plan for the Period 2010-2030, “Building

Futures Together: Working Document” (Tootoo) ...... 790

070 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report Nunavut Arctic College (Shewchuk) ...... 790

071 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Pension Administration Report (Speaker) ...... 791

072 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Audited Financial Statements of the Retiring Allowances Fund (Speaker)

...... 791

073 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Audited Financial Statements of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances

Fund (Speaker) ...... 791

G. Committee Motions

Committee Motion 001 – 3(2): Deletion of $300,000 from the 2010-2011 Capital Estimates of the

Department of Justice (Okalik) ...... 793

H. Bills

Bill 11 – The Order of Nunavut Act – First Reading ...... 791

Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Justice – Consideration in Committee ...... 792

Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Education – Consideration in Committee . 806

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 769

Iqaluit, Nunavut moves the corporation to individual, Tuesday, December 1, 2009 departmental, and organizational Members Present: accountability for the achievement of Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable strategic business results. The creation of James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. this progressive model was driven by Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Tagak their strategic plan to create an Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Adamee organizational culture that is held Komoartok, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, accountable for business results at all Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny levels and within all functions. Ningeongan, Mr. Paul Okalik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Mr. Speaker, to ensure this living Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable program becomes embedded in all areas Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Louis of the company, in September, all senior Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, and middle managers and supervisors Honourable Hunter Tootoo. were trained over three days in all aspects of the program’s delivery. Item 1: Opening Prayer Mr. Speaker, during the next 12 months, Speaker (Hon. James Arreak) senior and middle managers and (interpretation): Thank you. Before we supervisors will roll out important proceed, I would like to ask Mr. Taptuna elements of the program’s modules: self- to say the opening prayer. appraisals and 360 degree feedback surveys. The results of these actions will >>Prayer provide each employee, manager, and the Qulliq Energy Corporation with a Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, clear understanding of whether or not Mr. Taptuna. A very good afternoon to our performance goals are being Cabinet Members, Ministers, Members achieved. The Qulliq Energy of the Legislative Assembly, visitors, Corporation’s performance management and Nunavummiut. model is a dynamic program that creates a culture of accountability, Going to the Orders of the Day. Item 2. interdependence, corporate and Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation individual pride. Thank you, Mr. ends) Hon. Hunter Tootoo. Speaker.

Item 2: Ministers’ Statements >>Applause

Minister’s Statement 062 – 3(2): QEC Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Accomplishment: Corporate Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Daniel Performance Management Model Shewchuk. (Tootoo) Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the past 12 months, Qulliq Energy has successfully designed and implemented a corporate-specific performance model that very precisely

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 770

Minister’s Statement 063 – 3(2): Since they met national standards, they Nunavut Arctic College Midwife are eligible for full membership in the Graduates Pass National Exam Canadian Association of Midwives. (Shewchuk) Both midwives are working at the Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, birthing centre in Rankin Inlet. Mr. Speaker. The Nunavut Arctic College Midwifery Program, offered in The fact that Catherine and Rachel partnership with the Department of passed a national exam the first time Health and Social Services, prepares they tried speaks volumes to the quality students to become practicing midwives of our program and shows how here in Nunavut. The program dedicated our students are. This is a introduces students to the cultural, historic moment for Nunavut. I spiritual, and traditional practices of encourage my fellow members to join Inuit midwifery and is designed to me in extending our congratulations. reflect the ethical codes, regulations, and competencies established in territorial Mr. Speaker, we are committed to and national standards. building on the success of this program. I would also like to announce that Mr. Speaker, the international definition Nunavut Arctic College will continue to of a midwife is a person who, having offer the Nunavut Midwifery Education been admitted to a recognized midwifery Program with a new class starting this educational program, has successfully January in Cambridge Bay. Ma’na, Mr. completed the prescribed course of Speaker. studies in midwifery and acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered Speaker: Thank you, Minister. and/or legally licensed to practice Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Peter midwifery. Taptuna.

Specifically, Mr. Speaker, midwifery Minister’s Statement 064 – 3(2): Paris graduates meet standards set by the Air Show (Taptuna) Canadian Midwifery Regulatory Committee and provide care that is Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. culturally appropriate for and acceptable Speaker. Most Members of this House to the residents of Nunavut. are aware that the Iqaluit International Airport has built an international Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to reputation as the world’s premiere cold announce that midwifery graduates weather aerospace test centre, Catherine Connelly and Rachel Jones of particularly for the European aircraft Rankin Inlet successfully passed their manufacturing industry. Canadian midwifery registration exams to become Canada’s first nationally Mr. Speaker, I led a highly successful certified Inuit midwives. Nunavut trade team delegation to the 48th Paris International Air Show held An Hon. Member: Hear, hear. between June 12 and 19 of this year.

>>Applause

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 771

The Paris air show is the world’s largest The cold weather testing business aviation trade event and it’s held every requires minimal capital investment but two years at le Bourget Airport on the yields immediate economic benefits northern edge of Paris. The show through local provision of services, includes four trade days, which are including accommodations, catering, closed to the public, when the world vehicle rentals and ground support, as aerospace industry participates in pre- well as sales of fuel, clothing, and of arranged meetings, networking events, course, local arts and crafts. formal and informal business discussion, (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and product demonstrations. >>Applause The 2009 Paris Air Show was attended by 140,000 professional trade delegates, Speaker: Thank you, Minister. representing 2,000 exhibitors from 48 Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Tagak countries. There were 205 official Curley. delegations, including Nunavut’s, from 88 countries. The world’s media also Minister’s Statement 065 – 3(2): converges on this high profile event and Response to Canadian Medical at least 3,500 journalists from the Association Journal (Curley) aviation media were in attendance. Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. I met with senior executives from Speaker. It was extremely disturbing to prospective clients in the commercial, read the article that appeared on the business, and military aviation sectors, Canadian Medical Association website such as Airbus, Eurocoptor, E.A.D.S. on November 25, 2009, and I rise today and B.A.E. Systems, promoting the use to give clarity to the issues raised. of Iqaluit International Airport for future cold weather testing. The article, Mr. Speaker, was quoted as saying that Nunavut only has five International aviation is a primary nurses, no doctors, and also compared market for growth in Nunavut’s air our current medical system to that of the transportation industry, building on the 1950s when those with tuberculosis were availability and recognition of Iqaluit’s sent south on boats and never heard from airport. Among other specialties, Iqaluit again. is a world-renowned cold weather testing location for three types of Mr. Speaker, while the Department of aviation products: airframes, engines, Health and Social Services is committed and systems and components. to constant improvement of Nunavut’s health care system, considering the Iqaluit International Airport is one of distance we have in geography, we do Nunavut’s largest employment currently provide an excellent level of generators, with over 400 people quality care in all communities in employed in airport-related jobs, plus Nunavut. In fact, Mr. Speaker, we have many indirect economic benefits more than 200 nurses and over 20 accruing to the territory. physicians in Nunavut providing primary

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 772 medical and mental care at the Speaker, I still don’t have a Christmas community level. gift for you. I think that this is an appropriate time for good news as well. Today, Mr. Speaker, the medical care and travel in Nunavut is a long way from Mr. Speaker, we were able to capitalize the boats that took our people from their on lower prices for the purchase of homes in the 1950s never to be returned, petroleum products last year and have and our staffing levels continue to rise continued to pass these savings on where throughout the territory. I trust that this possible. We have been able to reduce addresses the main issues pointed out in the cost of gasoline by 20 cents a litre the article on the Canadian Medical and heating fuel and diesel by 10 cents a Association Journal website. litre through the early part of 2009. Homeowners in Nunavut were also Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that a provided with a $400 fuel rebate to help correction has been made to the article with costs. and that it no longer appears on the website. However, Mr. Speaker, it is In July, when the government announced important for the public to know that the last fuel price decrease, we when articles or opinions in regard to committed to continue monitoring costs health care in Nunavut appear in the to ensure any additional savings could be media or online, the information may not passed along to Nunavummiut. be accurate unless it has been verified by my department. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for Community and Government Mr. Speaker, I encourage those people, Services’ Petroleum Products Division, I including our friends from across the rise today to announce that we are street, making public statements about further reducing the price of gasoline by Nunavut health care to contact the 10 cents per litre effective Friday, Department of Health and Social December 4. Services in advance to verify any information. Thank you. Merry Christmas, colleagues and Nunavummiut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause >>Applause Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Lorne Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Kusugak. Minister. You said that you didn’t have a Christmas gift for me, but that’s a very Minister’s Statement 066 – 3(2): Fuel good Christmas present. Price Reduction (Kusugak) (interpretation ends) Ministers’ Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Statements. Hon. Keith Peterson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we start the month of December and prepare for Christmas, we are beginning to think about gifts for friends and family. Mr.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 773

Minister’s Statement 067 – 3(2): Item 3: Members’ Statements Homeowner Fuel Rebate (Peterson) Member’s Statement 096 – 3(2): Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Welcomes New Fuel Rate and Speaker. I hope I can bring some good Homeowners Subsidy (Okalik) news for people in Nunavut and my colleagues as well. Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased about the Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce announcement because my constituents that the government will continue the will be very happy. Nunavut Homeowners Fuel Rebate for another year. As members recall, in Looking at the Minister responsible for March, we provided a fuel rebate of the Petroleum Products Division, if he $400 to assist Nunavut homeowners grows out his beard, he will look like with the cost of living and to provide Santa Claus. So I am very pleased about homeowners with more disposable the announcement and I’m sure that income. Nunavummiut are very pleased about the reduction of fuel costs and heating fuel. Our government believes it is important It’s going to benefit the homeowners. to stay the course and continue to Perhaps Mr. Peterson will be the elf. support recovery in our local economy. This year, we are increasing the I would like to thank those ministers for homeowners rebate to $500. those announcements because our constituencies are looking forward to >>Applause this and I will be asking questions at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. This $500 rebate and the 10-cent Speaker. reduction of gasoline just announced by my colleague are steps that this >>Applause government is taking to help homeowners and families across Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Nunavut. Mr. Okalik. Members’ Statements. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Speaker, this rebate will be application based and notices will be Member’s Statement 097 – 3(2): provided for all members and Consensus Government at Work Nunavummiut shortly. Thank you, Mr. (Rumbolt) Speaker. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to give due recognition to the >>Applause success of consensus government.

Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, in March Ministers’ Statements. Moving along. of this year, I asked the Minister of Item 3. Members’ Statements. Member Education to review the food allowance for Iqaluit West, Mr. Okalik. rates for residents of Sanikiluaq who receive social assistance.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 774

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, I was very As members will recall, I asked pleased to hear the minister announce questions in the House yesterday that today, December 1, 2009, the food concerning the status of a new dozer for allowance rates for Sanikiluaq will be the community of Grise Fiord. Although increased. I have now had the opportunity to review the minister’s response in >>Applause yesterday’s Hansard, the situation still remains troubling. I want to take a Mr. Speaker, I sincerely appreciate the moment to outline the facts as I minister’s willingness to respond understand them. positively to concerns that were raised in the House. This shows that our Earlier this year, the government consensus system of government can introduced its proposed capital estimates truly be successful. for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The Department of Community and Mr. Speaker, the high cost of living and Government Services asked the especially the high cost of food has a Legislative Assembly for approval to serious impact on the health and well- spend just over $36 million. We, the being of Nunavummiut. Along with elected MLAs, approved the requested some of my colleagues, I will also be budget. addressing the issue of food mail subsidies later in this session. Approximately $4 million of the department’s budget was allocated for Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to what the department defines as small extend my appreciation to the Minister capital projects. At that time, MLAs of Education for listening to the were provided with information from the concerns of the people of Sanikiluaq and government that indicated that $280,000 increasing the food allowance rates for of the department’s budget would be my community. Thank you, Mr. used to purchase a much needed dozer Speaker. for the community of Grise Fiord.

>>Applause Mr. Speaker, I voted to approve the department’s capital budget on the Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. understanding that the department would Members’ Statements. Member for be spending the money on the projects Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott. that we, the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly, approved. Member’s Statement 098 – 3(2): Transparency of the In the spring of this year, the department Government’s Budget Process introduced its proposed main estimates (Elliott) for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. When the Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I minister appeared before the Committee rise today to express concerns regarding of the Whole, he announced that the the transparency of the government’s department was proposing to create a budget process. new pool of block funding in the amount of $1.5 million. The purpose of this item

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 775 was described as being created to Mr. Speaker, this department and the provide annual core funding to assist government as a whole needs to take a communities in mobile equipment life close look at its budgeting practices. cycle planning, procurement, and Although I recognize that any maintenance. No problem there, Mr. government needs a certain amount of Speaker. I assumed that this would be a flexibility to deal with emergency new pool of funding. situations during the course of the year, it is clear to me that the government is However, Mr. Speaker, it now appears far too eager to undertake budget that the department’s capital funding, transfers without adequate consultation which the Legislative Assembly had and explanation. It is also clear to me approved earlier this year for certain that the government’s whole approach to capital projects, has magically been the use of small or minor capital projects transformed into the O&M dollars by the needs to be reviewed. Thank you, Mr. department. When the minister appeared Speaker. before the Committee of the Whole earlier this year, he did not give an >>Applause indication that this was his intention. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Mr. Speaker, as a new MLA, I am often (interpretation) Members’ Statements. If told that the ultimate power of the there are no more Members’ Statements, Legislative Assembly is to say no. Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions. Hon. Tagak Curley. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request unanimous consent to continue with my Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions Member’s Statement, please. Return to Oral Question 113 – 3(2): Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. The Vacancies in Quttiktuq (Curley) member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question Mr. Elliott. was asked on November 26, 2009, by Mr. Ron Elliott with regard to the people Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As in Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay. a rookie MLA, I am often told that the ultimate power of the Legislative Mr. Speaker, as of today, I can advise Assembly is to say no to the that candidates have been interviewed government’s spending requests. I am for the two positions and it is anticipated becoming increasingly inclined to do that job offers will be made by the just that. As an MLA, I am troubled by Department of Human Resources within the fact that even though we approve the next two weeks. If the candidates funding for specific capital projects in accept the offers of employment and good faith, it appears that the have satisfactory criminal reference departmental bureaucracy can make checks, both social worker positions arbitrary changes at their whim. should be filled early in the New Year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 776

Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Returns Mr. Speaker, from the Northwest to Oral Questions. Hon. Lorne Kusugak. Territories, I would like to welcome:

Return to Oral Question 124 – 3(2): Jean-Francois DesLauriers, Regional Status of New Dozer for Grise Executive Vice-President of the Public Fiord (Kusugak) Service Alliance of Canada for the North. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in clarification to Roy Courtrielle. Question 124 –3(2), asked by the MLA for Quttiktuq in reference to the Grise I’m sorry if I pronounce your names Fiord dozer. wrong, but I have them written down and they will be spelled correctly in the Yesterday, I informed my colleague that record anyway. the money for the Grise Fiord dozer under minor capital was reallocated to Leon Nason. the mobile equipment block fund. I have since learned that this money was not Rossana Deboer. reallocated to the mobile equipment block fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sheila Sauter-Chadwick.

Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Returns Sandra Lockhart. to Oral Questions. Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Tootoo. Frank Walsh.

Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Steve Walsh. Gallery From the far west of the Yukon: Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a Joan Stickney. number of people who are here together. Wendy Dindia. There are 25 individuals here in the Gallery who are staff and members of Jack Bourassa. the Public Service Alliance of Canada from all three territories, Nunavut, the Steve Geick. Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. They are here attending the first of a David Ryce. three-week union development workshop program and I understand the LoraLee Kessler. other two phases will be held in the capital of each territory. That’s great to From our own host territory, an hear they’re spreading the wealth around individual first off that I went to high all three territories. school with, I would like to welcome here Jackie Otuk.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 777

Ely Panipakoocho. Question 137 – 3(2): Fuel Price Reduction (Okalik) Wes Smith. Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Bill Fennell. Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome the visitors. First of all, I would like to Elaine Wyatt. thank the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Products Division because Thomas Langman. this is going to be beneficial to Nunavut.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I still need to ask detailed questions in regard to heating fuel, not gasoline. I am >>Applause very pleased that homeowners will be getting a $500 rebate, but will you also Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. be decreasing the price of fuel? Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of Additionally, the aviation fuel has an Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Schell. impact on the prices of goods. So I would like to ask the minister: what you Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I are going to be doing with the aviation would like to welcome Leon Nason here. fuel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He used to work in Cape Dorset and he was with public alliance. He used to Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. work for the hamlet and housing in Cape (interpretation ends) Hon. Lorne Dorset. Thank you. Kusugak.

>>Applause Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to Speaker: Thank you. Welcome to the thank the member for asking the Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the question. We are still in the process of Gallery. Mr. Elliott. reviewing the heating fuel prices and other fuel products that are used. We are Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I still in the process of reviewing them at will try not to miss anybody today. I this time. Thank you. have Craig Borden from Resolute Bay. He’s one of the teachers up there at the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, school. He’s down here for union Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. training. Thank you. Okalik.

>>Applause Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we’re on the Speaker: Thank you. Welcome to the Christmas season and Christmas Day is Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the coming closer, I’m sure that some Gallery. Item 6. Oral Questions. Member people will be going back to their home for Iqaluit West, Mr. Okalik. communities. Aviation fuel has an impact on the prices of airline tickets, so Item 6: Oral Questions I would like to ask the minister when he

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 778 can make an announcement on this. instructor in our community. Does the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. minister know when this position will be filled at the new Arctic College? Thank Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Okalik. Minister Kusugak. Speaker: Thank you. Minister Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): responsible for the Nunavut Arctic Yes, people will be heading home for the College, Hon. Daniel Shewchuk. month of Christmas and I apologize that I can’t tell you the exact date as yet. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question. It is my understanding that the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, adult educator position is temporarily Minister. Your second supplementary, filled in Pond Inlet. That is my Mr. Okalik. understanding at the present moment and due to circumstances that arose there, if Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, this is not the case I really like to the Mr. Speaker. Yes, we all want to have a member to inform me of this. Thank good Christmas and that you can be a you, Mr. Speaker. great Santa Claus if you can reconsider this carefully and also along with the rest Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. of Cabinet. Therefore, I urge the minister Your first supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk. to make an announcement as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the same thing as you, you Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, understand that it is temporarily filled Mr. Okalik. That was more of a and is that person who is temporarily comment, if you like to respond. Thank filling this position has an adult you, Mr. Okalik. Member for Tununiq, education teaching certificate to teach Mr. Arvaluk. independently, without any supervision required? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question 138 – 3(2): Adult Educator for Pond Inlet (Arvaluk) Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Minister Shewchuk. Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, my question to the Minister responsible Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure of the for the Arctic College. qualifications of that adult educator at this time, but I would be willing and Not long ago, I was asking questions more than happy to find out to get back outside of the session about the adult to the member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. educator, which we currently don’t have in our community. I was asking Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your questions regarding the upgrading second supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk. program. With our adult education centre, we do not have an upgrading

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 779

Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Will the minister also include when he Minister responsible for the Nunavut responds to me that in the event that Housing Corporation, Hon. Hunter person who is filling temporarily right Tootoo. now as an adult educator, that he is certified? If not, will he also further tell Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. me that he urgently fill the position with Speaker. I would like to thank the a certified adult educator? Thank you, member for raising that question on Mr. Speaker. behalf of his community. As we just approved our capital budget, there are Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. dollars in there for M&I retrofits for Minister Shewchuk. public housing units.

Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, My understanding of the process, Mr. Mr. Speaker. I will again check on the Speaker, is that our community delivery information for the member and we will agent in whether it’s a municipality, take all steps to ensure that we can try local housing organization or authority and have a certified adult educator in the that is delivering the public housing in community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the communities on our behalf is supposed to do annual condition ratings Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Thank of units to be able to identify the state you, Mr. Arvaluk. Oral Questions. that our units are in. When they get that Member for Akulliq, Mr. Ningark. information, they prioritize what units and what repairs need to be done in the Question 139 – 3(2): Maintenance of community. That’s how those issues are Older Housing Units (Ningark) brought forward and addressed through that process. Mr. Ningark: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Hon. If anyone in a public housing unit has Minister of Housing. any issues regarding the maintenance or the state of their unit, they’re supposed I have been told by the Hamlet of to contact our delivery agents in the Kugaaruk and I have visited Repulse community and then it’s up to the Bay. In Kugaaruk, we have over 30 units delivery agent to go in and check out any that were constructed back in the late concerns that have been brought forward 60s. I am told that some of these homes to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. are molding inside, wires may not be up to par as we speak today. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Ningark. My question to the hon. minister is: what are the hon. minister and his department Mr. Ningark: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. doing to ensure that these homes are up I thank the minister. There is a plan to do to the standard? Thank you, Mr. a condition rating. Speaking of condition Speaker. ratings, will the minister have his people going to two of my communities in the summer of 2010 to do what he has said,

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 780 condition ratings? Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, in the Ministers’ Speaker. Statement, the minister talked about a highly successful trip to Paris for the air Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. show. Can the minister update the House Minister Tootoo. on whether any contracts were secured for cold weather testing in Nunavut? Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. I know that it was pointed out by the Auditor General that the Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. corporation did not have a good idea or a Minister of Economic Development and good picture of the state of public Transportation, Hon. Peter Taptuna. housing units across the territory. Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, since then, the corporation Speaker. Yes, to a certain degree. Some has contracted three teams to be going of these companies that are out there, we around and do condition ratings on all of did sign some agreements where there is our public housing units throughout the confidentiality of certain companies that territory. I know they’re going to are involved. There is going to be some Igloolik, Coral Harbour, Cape Dorset, cold weather testing here in Iqaluit in the Hall Beach, and Repulse Bay, with plans next short while. Thank you, Mr. to complete the work… we’re done Speaker. before the middle of this month as of today, December 1. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. (interpretation) Oral In addition I expect that half the units Questions. Member for Tununiq, Mr. here in Iqaluit will be inspected. I know Arvaluk. there are plans to go to the other communities as well to get these Question 141 – 3(2): Talluruti: The condition ratings done. As far as when Inuktitut Name of the Northwest they’re going to go into Kugaaruk, I will Passage (Arvaluk) check my officials and see when it’s scheduled in there, and then I would be Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank more than happy to provide that you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct information to the member. Thank you, my question to the Minister of Mr. Speaker. Environment.

Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Thank We read in newspapers and other media you, Mr. Ningark. Oral Questions. that the name of the Northwest Passage Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. is going to be changed. I think it’s only Qallunaat who are saying that. I think Question 140 – 3(2): Paris Air Show they call it the Northwest Passage (Rumbolt) because they can’t say Tallurutiup Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tariunga, which is the original name in My question will be for the Minister Inuktitut. responsible for Economic Development and Transportation.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 781

We know that even before the Europeans particular sound. It’s been suited as fine came around and the whale hunts started for the last 5,000 years. It’s a perfectly in the North, the mouth of the Passage, okay name. Lancaster Sound was always utilized by Inuit. Is the government going to inform Perhaps the message can be relayed to the federal government, other countries, the federal counterparts and other people and overseas that the mouth of the who want to change the name that Northwest Passage already has a name in maybe they should consider reinstating Inuktitut and that we don’t want to see it what Aboriginal people called it before changed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. they try to introduce a new name through explorers, and whatever. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Minister of Economic Can the minister tell me then that there Development and Transportation, may be other names, including (interpretation ends) Hon. Daniel Tallurutiup Tariunga, can be reinstated Shewchuk. because early explorers and whalers, etcetera, were naming as if they were Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, making a cake with the Inuktitut name Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the and they couldn’t pronounce it, so they question. That’s an interesting question. put a new name on top of it. There is a I thought it was always the Northwest whole lot of duplication in there. Thank Passage. I understand now that there is you, Mr. Speaker. an Inuktitut name. I think we could relay that name onto our federal partners and Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. explain the situation and importance to Minister Shewchuk. us. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, As far as the Northwest Passage is Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank Mr. concerned, the waters are governed by Arvaluk for that comment. I’m just the federal government, Department of learning today that they may want to Fisheries and Oceans, and the Coast change the name to the Canadian Guard. I think that information is Northwest Passage. That’s what is being something that we could take and pass talked about. It’s the first I have heard of on to our federal partners. Thank you, it though. Mr. Speaker. I think we can work together with our Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your federal counterparts to voice Nunavut’s first supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk. concern about this and I would welcome the member to write me a letter with his Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. concerns so I can portray it directly to That’s nice to know because I read again the federal government. Thank you, Mr. that perhaps the name change should be Speaker. changed from Northwest Passage to Canadian Northwest Passage. It is quite Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your disturbing for us because we have no second supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk. desire to change the name of that

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 782

Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. I also know that the High Arctic exiles Aupaluktuq. were put in the High Arctic, not so much to get them into the good hunting Question 142 – 3(2): Status of New grounds. If you’re from the sunny Fire Truck for Baker Lake country like Hudson Bay, that is very (Aupaluktuq) difficult even if there are a lot of animals Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. up in the High Arctic… It’s very Speaker. My questions are for the Hon. difficult to hunt in the dark unless they Minister of Community and Government were actually born and raised there, but Services, Mr. Lorne Kusugak. that was kind of ignorant so I didn’t know that. My colleague from Quttiktuq raised concerns about his department’s budget But they were put there to show actually practices previously. I also have that this is a Canadian island in the High concerns about the department and its Arctic. The government wanted to show allocations. Earlier this year the the international community that Legislative Assembly approved Lancaster Sound is the internal waters of $290,000 in funding for the purchase of Canada. They should stick to the a new fire truck for Baker Lake, Inuktitut name. The name is so old that however the department subsequently none of the Europeans will ever cancelled its purchase and transferred remember what it was named but we the funding to another project. would. I received a letter from the department Can the minister ensure that the full advising me that this had been done but explanation to the federal government is the letter did not even attempt to explain given so that the appreciation of the Inuit the reasons why. The department naming has meaning and purpose? certainly did not bother to ask me what I Thank you, Mr. Speaker. thought about the issue. I immediately wrote a letter to the minister on this Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. matter. Minister Shewchuk. Can the minister indicate to the House Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, why this department cancelled this Mr. Speaker. I think the government project without consulting the would support that type of community’s MLA? Thank you, Mr. recommendation. I also think that it’s Speaker. Canadian jurisdiction, but it’s also the responsibility under the land claims Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. agreement that NTI voice their opinion Minister of Community and Government in this regard too. I think they’re a very Services, Hon. Lorne Kusugak. major player in this too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had thought Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Thank that the Member of the Legislative you, Mr. Arvaluk. Oral Questions. Assembly was informed about the

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 783 change, and I apologize if he wasn’t firefighters requesting for me to pursue notified. I did receive your letter and we the matter under the circumstances even wrote in English, and I’ll try to translate though I did share some of the concerns it to Inuktitut. and some of the correspondence.

When we were talking to the Fire As a former volunteer firefighter, I show Marshall’s Office, they thought that it my support to all volunteer firefighters. wasn’t the appropriate time to purchase a Under the circumstances in particular, I new fire truck. Usually, the lifespan of a do throw all of my support behind the fire truck is 15 years. With respect to the Baker Lake Fire Department. I’m aware one in Baker Lake, it was brought up in that the fire truck has not met the 20- 1999. The whole vehicle was inspected year lifespan and the minister has and the consensus was that if we indicated that mechanics were being sent conducted $25,000 of repair on the water to correct the deficiencies or the broken pump mechanism and its lights, then that parts of the vehicle. vehicle would be back up to our standards. With the shortage of housing as it is, two separate duplexes for four families were It further states here that the mechanics affected by fire damage. As well, with will be coming in from the Fort Gary our vastly growing population, the Fire Brigade and they would be emergency service provider cannot meet conducting the necessary repairs to the the demands. I think this is a priority in fire truck to make it serviceable and which the first circumstances should be those are the details included in the reply that the emergency services are provided documentation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. according to the demands.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Can the minister and his department Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. commit to putting it back into the Aupaluktuq. budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Speaker. I also thank the Hon. Minister Minister Kusugak. Lorne Kusugak for answering. I apologize to the minister as well as my Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): colleagues here in the House. I did Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The situation receive correspondence in regard to the as stated by the member is correct since matter, but I just wanted to ask as a the majority of our volunteer firefighters formality in the House to address it on continue to operate under difficult behalf of the constituents of Baker Lake. circumstances and they are the first response personnel, especially when life- As I said, I indicated I want to thank the threatening situations occur. Many of hon. minister for the response and by no their duties and work are very means I want to embarrass the minister demanding and many firefighters put in these circumstances, but I did want to themselves in precarious situations in formally ask because I did have some trying to save lives. hamlet council members as well as

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 784

With respect to the comments voiced by review of capital projects, they will the member, I would like him to know communicate the news. that I will ensure that this situation is reviewed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to add that with respect to the fire truck in Baker Lake, it is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, currently being repaired and the parts Minister. (interpretation ends) Your they need are ready for shipment to the second supplementary, Mr. Aupaluktuq. community. We are expecting them to arrive soon and to have the fire truck Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank operational prior to the Christmas you, Mr. Speaker. This will be my last holidays. That’s just for information. question to the minister, peppered with Thank you, Mr. Speaker. some comments with respect to capital projects that have been previously Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, authorized by the Legislative Assembly. Minister. Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Oral Questions. Member for Nanulik, Will the minister commit to informing Mr. Ningeongan. this House where his department will be cancelling or transferring the funds for Question 143 – 3(2): Contract for other purposes, that he will disseminate Medevac Services in Kivalliq that information to the pertinent MLA? (Ningeongan) This is only with respect to previously Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank approved projects. When funds will be you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct transferred or reallocated to other capital my question to the Minister of Health projects, will the minister inform the and Social Services, Mr. Curley. MLA that is impacted? I was asked to question your department I just wanted to comment on that and I on when the medical travel contract is also wish to thank the minister for going to end for the Kivalliq region. responding to my correspondence. Once Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I return to Baker Lake, I will be relaying that information to the hamlet and the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Baker Lake firefighters for their benefit. Mr. Ningeongan. Minister of Health and (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Social Services, Hon. Tagak Curley. Speaker. Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, While it’s very important to deal with Mr. Aupaluktuq. Minister Kusugak. emergencies in any of the communities whether it’s in the Kivalliq or Baffin… Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): from what I recall, the contract will end Thank you. I thank the member for that on March 31, 2010 and since it’s fast line of questioning. Yes, I apologize that approaching, we are going to start the member was not informed prior to planning on how the next contract will that change, but I will task my senior be awarded. Thank you. staff to do as you have recommended. I will ask that if there is any further

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 785

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, the dozer in his community or not, and Minister. Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. there’s that list of potential. Sometimes, Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, as emergencies and other things come Mr. Elliott. up, that potential could change because it is after all a potential small project. So Question 144 – 3(2): Transparency of that’s what happened to that. the Government’s Budget Process (Elliott) That list, when we voted on it in capital, Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. we voted on the capital money itself and My question is directed to the Minister not necessarily those that were on the of Community and Government potential as they are not included in Services. Going back to the clarification there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to the question… I can’t talk today. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your >>Laughter first supplementary, Mr. Elliott.

His response was that yesterday, he Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. informed the House that the money for Thank you for that explanation. It starts the Grise Fiord dozer under minor to become clearer and clearer, but I capital was reallocated to the mobile guess it goes back to what I was talking equipment block fund and he has since about in my Member’s Statement. learned that this money was not reallocated to the mobile equipment I think I understand in terms of small fund, as stated. capital. There is a potential list of where the money could be spent. Depending on My question is then it goes back to the emergencies, I know the budget would start: where did the money go if it’s not have to be moved around. I think that’s where you said it was? If the minister the flexibility that I was talking about in could answer that question. Thank you. my Member’s Statement.

Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. But going back to Mr. Aupaluktuq’s fire Minister of Community and Government truck, it was actually in the hard not the Services, Hon. Lorne Kusugak. potential list for the 2009-2010 that a fire truck was needed. Going back to my Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. question about what research is done Speaker. When the small capital budget before the capital comes before us, did was created, it was, and I explained to no one… he was apologizing, I don’t him, that were targeted for a variety of know if that’s right to apologize. Did no projects, primarily to address one go talk to the fire marshal before emergencies and so on and so forth. they decided that the fire truck was needed? On that, for more transparency, I guess from previous governments, CGS The research wasn’t done before it was attempted to be fully transparent in actually put into the capital plans producing and presenting a list of because it sounded like to me, the potential small projects. It may include answer you gave was it was in the

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 786 capital plan and we had to take it off through the proper notification of the because the fire marshal said the fire chair of the appropriate committee and truck was fine. Why wasn’t the fire we went through the proper procedures marshal consulted before it ended up in deciding to reallocate those funds. before the House? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Minister Kusugak. (interpretation) That’s it? Oral Questions. Member for Pangnirtung, Mr. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I didn’t hear a Komoartok. supplementary to the first question. Is it another question to Mr. Aupaluktuq’s Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank question? Could you clarify that, Mr. you, Mr. Speaker. The minister that I Speaker? want to ask questions to is not in the House, so I will pass for now. Speaker (interpretation): Minister, I believe he was asking questions about Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the capital projects as his supplementary. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions. If that’s not the case, then Mr. Elliott can Member for Iqaluit West, Mr. Okalik. rephrase his question. Thank you. Mr. Elliott. Question 145 – 3(2): Appointment of New Chair of the Nunavut Wildlife Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I Management Board (Okalik) was asking questions in terms of starting from the beginning, in terms of the Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, capital, how capital is spent and how it Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my goes through the House. I was asking for question to the Minister of Environment. clarification. That’s the carryover from yesterday and I was using the bulldozer The Nunavut Wildlife Management as an example; it just sort of fell in that Board hasn’t had a permanent chair for there is capital questions about that as quite a long time and they have very well. large responsibilities. They currently have an acting chair and that is hindering So again, I just find it amazing that the planning process for the future. information is collected and gathered. It’s put in here and then after the fact, Could you have a discussion with your people are consulted that maybe should counterpart to make sure that the have been consulted before. Thank you. Nunavut Wildlife Management Board gets a permanent position or could you Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, give us an update on the status of getting Mr. Elliott. Again, that’s for small a chair for the NWMB? Thank you, Mr. capital projects. Mr. Kusugak. Speaker.

Hon. Lorne Kusugak: The change for Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, the Baker Lake fire truck through the Mr. Okalik. Minister of Environment, capital, when we did that, we went Hon. Daniel Shewchuk.

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Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, on several occasions coming up and I Mr. Speaker. The member brings up a will assure the member that I will advise very important point in wildlife him of our priority to have that position management in Nunavut. There has been appointed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. an absence of a permanent chair at the NWMB and there has been an acting Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your chair. There has been somebody second supplementary, Mr. Okalik. selected, from my understanding, on the NWMB as a chair but has not been Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, appointed by the federal government yet. Mr. Speaker. Please inform the federal That’s the status of where they are, I minister to appoint a Nunavummiuq to believe. the chair so that we can truly believe in the NWMB and its duties as representing I also believe that they also having some Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. other staff capacity problems at the NWMB, but it is very important that that An Hon. Member: Hear, hear. board functions as it is for wildlife management decisions to be made in Speaker: Thank you. Minister Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Shewchuk.

Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, first supplementary, Mr. Okalik. Mr. Speaker. I will pass on that message. I just want to ensure here that the Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board is Mr. Speaker. Is it possible for the its own entity and they’re responsible for minister to further task his federal hiring and who they hire too, but I will counterparts to ensure that this position definitely pass on that message. Thank is filled? It seems to have been empty for you, Mr. Speaker. quite a while and the duties of the NWMB are becoming backlogged as Speaker: Thank you, Minister. more items arrive monthly. (interpretation) Oral Questions. Member for Pangnirtung, Mr. Komoartok. Yet, they have to work on these matters if they are to progress. That is why I am Question 146 – 3(2): No Furniture in asking if the minister can encourage his New Health Centre in Pangnirtung federal counterparts to appoint a (Komoartok) Nunavummiuq to that position, Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank regardless of whom it is. Thank you, Mr. you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clarify Speaker. this firstly that I will be asking a slightly different question after I pose my first Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, question. This question will be directed Mr. Okalik. Minister Shewchuk. to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will be interacting In Pangnirtung, the new health centre with the federal Minister of Environment was constructed and completed over the

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 788 winter, in February 2009 as a matter of posing that question. We have been fact. The building and code inspections apprised of the situation. As per our were completed and it passed all of the written correspondence to the member, inspections at that time. we did state that our expectations were that the health centre would open this During our spring session, I spoke to the fall. We had expected the furniture and issue where I asked about the furniture equipment to arrive via sealift over the and equipment and whether it would summer season. make it on the 2009 sealift to our community. The expected materials Due to delays in the shipment of never arrived. Although several ships materials, it appears that our next option made it into our community, none of the will be to start shipping the necessary equipment made it up to our community equipment and furniture during the during that sealift. month of January and our expectations are that this new health centre will be I would like to thank the Minister of fully operational by February. Once the Community and Government Services equipment and materials have been for explaining via correspondence that housed properly for shipment, we should the Department of Health and Social be able to open the health centre in Services will be responsible for the February. shipment of the furniture. It stated that the furniture and other equipment would Our plans are that the shipments will be arriving over the winter, but they commence in January and be completed would have to be shipped up via air in February. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. cargo, as no cargo ships traverse our waters when the sea ice forms. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Komoartok. The health centre is a brand new Oral Questions. Member for Tununiq. building and our residents would like to utilize it as it ought to have been Question 147 – 3(2): Number of completed and open quite a while ago. School Buses in Pond Inlet Our old health centre is packed and (Arvaluk) running out of space. So my question to Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank the minister is: when can our community you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a expect to start seeing the furniture that short question. If the Minister of was promised? As it will not arrive via Education can respond, I would like to ship, will it be shipped up via air cargo? ask him a question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last fall, I had asked a question to the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, officials of the minister’s department Mr. Komoartok. Minister of Health and and they responded to me that Pond Inlet Social Services, (interpretation ends) was requesting for a smaller size bus. Hon. Tagak Curley. When I heard that response, I was pleased to go home. Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for

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When I go back home, I usually meet The federal government had recently with different entities, such as the made a vote on the gun registry. I was education committee chair. When I met pleased to hear that, but I did not hear him, the reason why they didn’t want to the Nunavut government’s position on get a bigger bus is because the old roads that issue. So I would like to ask the have blind corners. They wanted two Minister of Justice what the Nunavut small busses because the roads have government will be doing in regard to blind corners. gun registration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why did they receive only one small bus when they requested two small busses Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. that can be equivalent to one big bus? Minister of Justice, Hon. Keith Peterson. That’s what they requested at the beginning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. member for Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, that question, it’s the first time anyone Mr. Arvaluk. Minister of Education, has asked be about our position. I am Hon. Louis Tapardjuk. pleased to tell the member that we support the Parliament Members’ bill Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): that is before the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. thank the member for asking that question. We just followed the Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your application or the proposal. I can’t first supplementary, Mr. Okalik. respond to his question at this time, so I would like to take his question as notice Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, and I will get back to him as soon as Mr. Speaker. I’m sure that the standing possible. committee will take that bill to review it. I would like to ask the minister if they I don’t know why the community are going to appear before that standing received only one bus when they committee at the federal level. Thank requested for two busses, so I will have you, Mr. Speaker. to get back to his question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you. Minister Peterson.

Speaker (interpretation): Your question Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. has been taken as notice, Mr. Arvaluk. Speaker. I haven’t been invited to appear Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit before the standing committee. I’m not West, Mr. Okalik. aware of us making inquiries about appearing either, but if I can check on Question 148 – 3(2): Long Gun that and get back to the member. At this Registry (Okalik) time, we have no plans to appear. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Oral question to the Minister of Justice. Questions. If there are no more, Item 7.

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Written Questions. Item 8. Returns to on the Paris Air Show 2009 Trade Written Questions. Item 9. Replies to Mission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Opening Address. Item 10. Petitions. Item 11. Reports of Standing and Special Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Tabling Committees. Item 12. Reports of of Documents. Minister Hunter Tootoo. Committees on the Review of Bills. Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Minister Tabled Document 069 – 3(2): Nunavut Lorne Kusugak. Housing Corporation’s Strategic Plan for the Period 2010-2030, Item 13: Tabling of Documents “Building Futures Together: Working Document” (Tootoo) Tabled Document 066 – 3(2): 2008- 2009 Lease Activity Report Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. (Kusugak) Speaker. I am very pleased to be able to Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. table the Nunavut Housing Speaker. I am pleased to table the Corporation’s Strategic Plan for the following document: Period 2010-30, “Building Futures Together: Working Document,  Lease Activity Report 2008-09 November 19, 2009.” I also would like to thank all the individuals that helped Thank you, Mr. Speaker. put this together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Tabling of Documents. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk. Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Tabling of Documents. Minister Daniel Tabled Document 067 – 3(2): A Shewchuk. booklet on “A Property Owner’s Guide to Contaminated Site Tabled Document 070 – 3(2): 2008- Remediation in Nunavut” 2009 Annual Report Nunavut (Shewchuk) Arctic College (Shewchuk) Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table a Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, booklet on “A Property Owner’s Guide Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the to Contaminated Site Remediation in Annual Report 2008-2009 for Nunavut Nunavut.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Arctic College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Thank you. Tabling of Speaker: Thank you. Tabling of Documents. Hon. Peter Taptuna. Documents.

Tabled Document 068 – 3(2): Report I, too, have documents to table. on the Paris Air Show 2009 Trade Mission (Taptuna)

Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the Report

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Tabled Document 071 – 3(2): 2008- Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, 2009 Pension Administration Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) It Report (Speaker) gives me great pleasure to move the following motion, seconded by the Hon. Tabled Document 072 – 3(2): 2008- Member for Quttiktuq, that Bill 11, The 2009 Audited Financial Statements Order of Nunavut Act, be read for the of the Retiring Allowances Fund first time and the first time from this (Speaker) side. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Tabled Document 073 – 3(2): 2008- Speaker. 2009 Audited Financial Statements of the Supplementary Retiring Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. The Allowances Fund (Speaker) motion is in order. All those in favour, raise your hand. Opposed. The motion is As required by the Legislative carried and Bill 11 has had first reading. Assembly’s Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances First Reading of Bills. Item 18. Second Act, I wish to table today the pension Reading of Bills. Item 19. Consideration administration report for the fiscal year in Committee of the Whole of Bills and ending March 31, 2009. Thank you. Other Matters. Bills 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 with Mr. Schell in the Chair. As required by the Legislative Assembly’s Retiring Allowances Act, I Before we proceed with the Committee wish to table today the audited financial of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute statements of the Retiring Allowances break. Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms.

As required by the Supplementary >>House recessed at 14:51 and Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table Committee resumed at 15:24 today the audited financial statements of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Item 19: Consideration in Committee Fund for the fiscal year ending March of the Whole of Bills and Other 31, 2009. Thank you. Matters

Tabling of Documents. Item 14. Notices Chairman (Mr. Schell): I would like to of Motions. Item 15. Notices of Motion call the committee meeting to order. In for First Reading of Bills. Item 16. Committee of the Whole, we have the Motions. Item 17. First Reading of Bills. following items to deal with: Bills 6, 7, Mr. Okalik. 8, 9, and 10. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Aupaluktuq. Item 17: First Reading of Bills Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Bill 11 – The Order of Nunavut Act – Chairman. We would like to continue First Reading with the review of Bill 8, starting with the Department of Justice, followed by the Department of Education, and if time

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 792 permits, followed by the Department of like to remind members of the following: Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Chair, a member may speak more than Are we in agreement that we first deal once to a matter under discussion but not with the capital estimates for the until every member wishing to speak has Department of Justice? spoken.

Some Members: Agreed. I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, during the page-by-page review of the 2010-2011 – Justice – departmental estimates. Do members Consideration in Committee have any general comments? I guess there are no general comments. Chairman: Yesterday, the Minister of Justice and the Chair of the Standing We will move on to page-by-page and Committee on Social Wellness provided we will start at C-3. It’s Justice. their opening comments. Minister Directorate. Branch Summary. Total Peterson, do you have witnesses you Capital Expenditures. $400,000. Are would like to bring to the Chambers? there any questions or comments? Agreed? Hon. Keith Peterson: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do have witnesses. Some Members: Agreed.

Chairman: Does the committee agree to Chairman: We will move on to C-5. bring in the witnesses? Justice. Corrections. Branch Summary. Total Capital Expenditures, as amended Some Members: Agreed. or sorry, not as amended.

Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, please let >>Laughter the minister’s staff into the Chambers. Are there any questions? Mr. Okalik. For the record, minister, please introduce your witnesses. Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regards to C-5, the Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. total includes both C-6 and C-7 which I Chairman. To my right is Mr. Doug believe we are dealing with currently. Garson, Acting Deputy Minister of the Can you clarify that for our benefit Department of Justice, and to my left is please? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ted Dingle, Manager of Corporate Services for the Department of Justice. Chairman: That’s correct, both pages. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Okalik, go ahead.

Chairman: Thank you, Minister Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Peterson. Before we proceed, I would Mr. Chairman. This item which we

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 793 flagged earlier in the report, specifically closes the debate. To the motion. Mr. with respect to a new correctional Okalik. facility, which is being planned at this stage, was a concern we shared. Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When the minister The committee members spoke to this appeared before the standing committee concern with respect to the $300,000. I during the review of the capital estimates will be making a motion to slash this we let him know that we were quite amount from the total and in order to concerned about the correctional facility prepare for the motion; we will need to replacement. take a short break. I would like to prepare the documentation first. Thank Since Nunavut was created we will have you, Mr. Chairman. constructed three correctional facilities and every time there is an election they Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. I build new correctional facilities and we think we will take a five-minute break to would like to see something else. The get ready for this motion. Thank you. correctional facility in Rankin Inlet is still incomplete and we’re now planning >>Committee recessed at 15:29 and for a replacement of the correctional resumed at 15:32 facility. We were quite concerned because we wanted to see other projects. Chairman: Mr. Okalik, go ahead. The Rankin Inlet correctional facility has room for an addition. Committee Motion 001 – 3(2): Deletion of $300,000 from the In the future, if the facility becomes too 2010-2011 Capital Estimates of the small, there is a plan for an addition to Department of Justice (Okalik) built for that building. Therefore we cannot just accept that $300,000 Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, proposed funding for the correctional Mr. Chairman. I move that the $300,000 facility replacement. And we hear the in proposed funding for the correctional facility we have is “Correctional Facility Replacement” overcrowded all the time. On behalf of project be deleted from the 2010-11 people, Mr. Chairman, there are other Capital Estimates of the Department of homes that are broken down too. Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With all those things wrong, I can’t just Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. The accept the replacement correctional motion is in order. Before we proceed facility when my constituents’ needs are with the debate on the motion I have a high. Therefore I move this motion to few comments to make as to the delete this proposed funding, and I procedures. Every member has the right further urge all of my colleagues to to speak once to the motion for a total of support this motion. Thank you, Mr. 20 minutes. The mover of the motion Chairman. speaks first. The mover of the motion has the right to the last reply which

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Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. Are offenders between jurisdictions between there any more members wishing to the Northwest Territories and we have speak to the motion? Hon. Peterson. an MOU with the North Slave Correctional Centre and Ontario where Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. they have a number of facilities. In the Chairman, for giving me this opportunity Northwest Territories, at any given day, to speak. Mr. Chairman, when I became there could be 40 offenders from the Minister of Justice I asked for a Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is briefing from my staff and they started charging us $266 a day, that’s almost to tell me about the facilities in there. In $97,000 a year. We’re basically paying the Baffin Correctional Centre there was for their facility with our offenders and a series of discussions that I simply told in Ontario, I think there could be as them after they told me some of the many as 30 offenders down there. horror stories about that facility, I said don’t tell me more, show me. Now, I arranged through my officials to have a tour of three facilities in Ontario So, Mr. Chairman, I and my executive to see first hand. I heard concerns from assistant, Nick Pashkoski, were given a regular members, they were concerned tour of the facility. We saw firsthand that our offenders are being sent south what that facility is like. It’s and they weren’t getting counselling, overcrowded, it’s dilapidated, there are they weren’t getting rehabilitative parts of the building hanging from the courses and sending Inuit and other ceiling, there’s not enough space for the Nunavummiut to the south was not overcrowding, there’s not enough space something that they were particularly for the proper counselling programs, happy with, that they should be looked rehab programs that you would expect after closer to home. from a facility like that. So I visited the Fenbrook facility in It has the potential to lead to violence Ontario, north of Toronto, and I visited because you have so many offenders in Central East, which is also north of there. Some days there is upwards of 95. Toronto, I visited Millhaven. Now, I You have staff in there and they’re went to Fenbrook and I talked to several crowded in there with them. of the inmates from Nunavut and I had, in fact, six or seven from my own So I asked for some detailed information constituency and they were very happy on the facility and learned that it’s over to see me. They told me that if we had a 20 years old. It wasn’t really designed facility like Fenbrook or the programs for the capacity that it has there now, it like they have at Fenbrook in Nunavut, was originally designed for 42 and now they would love to be closer to home. it’s expanded to 66 if my information Several of them in particular mentioned and memory is correct. Like I said, there the Baffin Correctional Centre. are sometimes 95 or 96 depending on the day of the week. I talked to the Inuit liaison officers, three nice ladies down there who work with I know their staff everyday they are our offenders from the North, and they monitoring the logistics of moving put on three excellent programs. The

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Tupiq is one program in particularly that As the Minister of Justice and as a has a very high success rate of concerned Nunavummiuq, I would not counselling for folks from the North, and be doing my job, Mr. Chairman, if I they have a spousal assault and family didn’t look at providing a facility that’s violence programs and very well modern, accommodates the important attended, they have classrooms down needs of our inmates and the safety of there, they have a chapel, they have our staff and officials out there, as well fitness centres, they have a library with as the safety of the offenders who are in computers and classrooms. the facility.

So that’s kind of a nice facility, but they So I explained to the standing committee said they would like to be brought home. that this is what it was. We had our The problem with being brought home to meeting last month and we had a good Nunavut is that we don’t have the debate. I appreciate the member’s facilities. Now, I recognize what Mr. comments, concerns, and all of the Okalik said. There’s a facility being built recommendations. in Rankin Inlet that would be able to accommodate up to 48 prisoners, but the I know it says on page C-6, it says, fact of the matter is that wouldn’t “Correctional facility replacement.” accommodate all of the inmates who we That’s probably a poor choice of words. require beds for in Nunavut. If they had used the word when it was drafted, “Correctional facility study,” It being what it is, I asked our officials to that might have been a better choice of start looking at the situation with the words. But in the interest of openness Baffin Correctional Centre. It’s a facility and transparency in this government, we that’s old, dilapidated, and things have and I wanted to make sure that the constantly broken down and fallen apart standing committee understands what over there. It’s chipping away at our the purpose of the $300,000 was for. funding. Locks sometimes won’t work, the fire suppression systems fail, and so We’re being completely open and candid on and so forth. with everybody here and Nunavummiut. Everybody reads the media reports and So I asked them to include $300,000 in you hear about the issues at the Baffin the capital plan for the Department of Correctional Centre. I have been hearing Justice to initiate a study, Mr. Chairman, them for many years when I was in the to look at modernizing, expanding, Kitikmeot. upgrading, and possibly replacing the Baffin Correctional Centre. We did not Some of my constituents would be sent say that we’re going to build a new over here and they had difficulties with facility. What I need is information as the facility. I heard all of the horror the Minister of Justice and the stories to the point where my government needs it as well on what constituents didn’t want to come to the would be our cost to modernize, expand, Baffin Correctional Centre; they would upgrade, or replace as options. prefer to be sent to the North Slave Correctional Centre. When I was a Mayor of Cambridge Bay and again as

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MLA, I raised that issue a number of Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this times. opportunity to have made a few comments on the motion. Thank you. When inmates are saying that they don’t want to be sent to the Baffin Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Correctional Centre because it’s falling Mr. Arvaluk. To the motion. apart and it’s dangerous, then you know you have a problem. They’re telling me Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. that and my officials are as well. It’s a Chairman. I realize that any kind of facility that has to be replaced and it has argument can be made. There is to be looked at. overcrowding everywhere, including our own non-incarcerated, regular citizens of Again, Mr. Chairman, I did not say that Nunavut, who are in overcrowded we’re going to proceed with constructing houses, because we can’t afford to build a new facility. If I put my other hat on as anymore houses. We don’t see them the Minister of Finance, I recognize that though, because they don’t make noise; the funding for $100 million to $150 they’re not being looked after; they’re million capital project of this nature just boarding with relatives and friends would be very difficult to proceed with and sometimes renting rooms. They’re in any event. not as visible as an overcrowded jail. There are some other examples like that. Any of this stuff, any of these choices - modernizing, expanding, upgrading, or The schools are overcrowded. We replacing - they would have to be put on passed a bill last year on education the capital plan and would have to come trying to determine what would be a into this House for discussion and good pupil-teacher ratio. We’re not debate. So there was no intention to following that in reality. It’s not possible proceed with the construction of an right now with overcrowded schools, expensive facility. It’s simply for shortage of teachers because of that we information purposes. We were quite keep some of them. I just had a tour of willing to share that information with Pond Inlet just before I came here. members of the standing committee. Before even Mr. Kusugak came up to make an announcement with our arena, I Again, this government is committed to had my own tour. I expressed that the openness and transparency. I urge all ratio is still too high in some classrooms. Members of this House to approve and support the $300,000. I think it is The problems are everywhere, including incumbent upon us as leaders in Nunavut this one. I think that when we were in a that we look first to the safety of our committee, the explanation was a little offenders and our staff. Many of them different. In the substantiation sheets, it are friends, relatives, and neighbours in still says replacement correctional our communities. They deserve a facility facility in Iqaluit-type building, although that will help them become better it’s the class is usual X. That doesn’t citizens so when they return to their really identify exactly how much. communities and reintegrate, they be given a hand up in that regard.

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We also made a declaration in 1999 that So rather than looking for a building all we will not ignore the Kitikmeot any the time to put away those who are not longer. I forget the exact grammar that behaving too well in the community, was used, but something along those maybe we should take them more lines. Could we have not consider seriously and look at them as human designing at least a dream building, a beings that need help. Maybe the best facility in the Kitikmeot, similar to what help they can get is at home, and not we are building in the Kivalliq today give them to the foreign people and hope rather than replacing the old one here? that they will heal. I would like to see This old one is something. In a lot of this money being used elsewhere. We’re other places we have nothing. going to have to pinch pennies because the money is very tight. I heard that the It is very difficult to support the money is going to become even tighter inclusion of $300,000 in a substantiation from the federal government down the sheet for the study, or initiation, for a road because they will have to recover replacement of a correctional facility in that $50 billion or something along that Iqaluit. line, a debt that they will have to recoup.

What I also would like to see is the I think we’re going to have to be a lot justice department taking different more careful as to how we spend our measures in aggressively looking at money. With that, I’m going to vote yes different avenues for the incarceration of with the motion. (interpretation) Thank inmates. For example, can we be you, Mr. Chairman. aggressively pursuing the potential for On-the-Land Program rather than taking Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. them down to Iqaluit and locking them Are there any more members wishing to up? We are saying now there is no speak to the motion? Mr. Tapardjuaq, go facility that will heal them. There is no ahead and speak to the motion. facility to give them recreational activities because the room is used for Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): sleeping space. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tapardjuk is my name, not Tapardjuaq. I would like to see a more aggressive pursuit of incarcerating the inmates at >>Laughter home. Maybe a more attractive contract can be made and maybe a proper I know exactly where everyone is training program can be made in the coming from and why they’re communities incorporating other work concerned. I have always worked hard to that different departments do; social decrease the number of incarcerated services training program just recently persons in these facilities. Usually, we finished one in Cambridge Bay. Maybe have to run it the same way. If a business it could be the Teacher Education fails then it goes down. We know for Program, maybe the Community example there is the issue of recidivism, Incarceration Program, with healing and we know who those people are. programs included can be initiated. They served their time and then they Things like that. return again. Those are the repeat

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 798 offenders that we keep seeing would benefit if it were completed, continuously. along with the women’s correctional facility project. If both projects were to The government has to understand that be completed, then it falls in line with the Baffin Correctional Centre, we hear what we are trying to review. is overcrowded and we hear that the building is aging and the number of As a government, in order to plan for the incarcerated individuals is increasing. future, we have to fully understand the They’re not decreasing. Some are even issues related to the situation, and we sent elsewhere to other facilities, as the also have to identify gaps or challenges Minister of Justice indicated earlier to that are brought to surface by these Yellowknife and federal penitentiaries in attempts to mitigate these concerns when southern provinces and those numbers we are trying to finalize these benefits. constitute a concern to us. How do we minimize the number of people being We too, as a government, want to fully sent down to the federal penitentiaries? understand what this $300,000 will be utilized for. It is to fund a study to do Be that as it may, there are still a fair exactly that, so I would urge that this be amount of unresolved issues related to supported so that our preparations for the justice and social services, and in future will be based on a comprehensive particular when we conduct a review of review of our current system. the bill proposed by the minister of Health and Social Services. This impacts The only way we can proceed from this on all of these matters, obviously, and point, is to keep this funding so that we relates to the number of people can review the findings. One ought not incarcerated. This matter is something, to guess about these matters, but to have we as a government, and for the regular a fully delineated and comprehensive members, has to completely understand report on the system which members what else ought to be done in this area? could peruse at their leisure. I urge my colleagues to support this funding. This concern will be an ongoing one, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and with respect to the numbers, they are not decreasing. Perhaps we can look at Chairman: Thank you, Minister the wording as it pertains to the Tapardjuk. Are there any more members correctional facility assessment review, wishing to speak to the motion? Hon. where the $300,000 is to be used for a Hunter. study. Perhaps we are stalling over the wording as it is written. Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yesterday was your first day For this side of the house, that this in the Chair of the Committee of the $300,000 will be utilized to conduct a Whole and this is your first time dealing comprehensive review of the system, with a motion in Committee of the what gaps we have and what else has to Whole. be planned for in order to resolve this matter in our immediate future. And it is Mr. Chairman, I think I would like to obvious that the residents of Rankin Inlet echo both Minister Peterson and

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Minister Tapardjuk’s comments. I have are unfortunate enough to have to be been critical in the past, as well as other detained in that facility. former regular members here, of the government not keeping the members I think by doing this assessment that informed of what they were doing with identifies the deficiencies in the facility the money that’s being approved. I think and the minister used the word Minister Peterson pointed out that is one dilapidated, it is an old facility, and like of the main reasons why that’s in there. any old facility stuff needs to be done to It could have very easily been included it. That’s what my understanding is of in a minor capital project. what the minister is saying. That is what they’re looking at trying to identify with I think I agree with him and Louis that it this study. could have been a proper wording, maybe just a wording change similar to In the case of openness and transparency the wording change that was done in last put it out there so that members are year’s capital with the fencing on the aware. The concern comes of Housing Corporation’s budget where replacement, I think I would encourage members brought forward a motion for members to instead of removing that secured storage and it left different funding from the budget all together, just options open for us to be able to address to amend the wording in there to have it instead of just the fencing. say Correctional Facility Study or Assessment, which is basically all that is I think that in this case, Mr. Chairman, really happening there to be able to “replacement” isn’t the right word either. identify the deficiencies so that the A study or an assessment, by the sounds department can put together a plan of of it, is what’s actually being looked at what needs to be addressed and those here. Similar to what the Housing things that the minister indicated would Corporation is doing with this needs be brought forward. And any future survey; we need information in order to capital budgets that will be brought be able to plan what we need to do. forward before the House, all members will have an opportunity to ask questions I say what the Department of Justice is on and vote on. doing is just trying to figure out what exactly needs to be addressed with this I think it’s just a misunderstanding and current facility. I think there hasn’t been “miswording.” It’s unfortunate, but I a lot of dollars put into it over the last think it’s quite clear, as the minister number of years and I think with the new indicated, this is just to take a look at the facility in Rankin Inlet opening up will issues that have developed there over alleviate some of the overcrowding time that need to be addressed in order issues but not all of it. But regardless of for this government to provide a safe that, that facility is not going to close. work place and a safe facility to house It’s still going to be there and I think as a the inmates that are there. I think it government we have a responsibility to would be derelict in our duty if we didn’t provide not only a safe work do that, if we didn’t say we need to environment for employees but also a know what those issues are and we need safe environment for the individuals that to address them.

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I think it would be irresponsible of us to second crime but end up in jail with ignore that. The reason that it’s in the other individuals who have been in state that it is, is because some of those incarceration for many, many years and issues may have been ignored in the past they are exposed to other bad influences and we can no longer afford to do that. from other inmates. One idea that came What the minister was asking for here is up, as I mentioned, was the alternative we need to identify exactly what all the justice idea where people in the issues are so that we can develop community could take them out on the something to bring into the capital land where they are not exposed to bad planning process in the future. things, I’m not saying that everything is bad in corrections. One member, I So I’m going to encourage members believe was that, why don’t we try to instead of deleting it completely from help these people before they start the budget to look at amending the committing real bad crimes. wording so that it is quite clear that that’s what it is for. It’s not for We can expose those people to the land, replacements; it’s for an assessment or a to nature, to the wind, to all the elements study of the existing facility to identify and in their eyes they are helping their deficiencies so that they can develop a community to obtain food for the people plan to move forward to address those that don’t have anyone to hunt for them, deficiencies because it potentially could perhaps working with social services, be a huge liability for the government. working for elders, getting some ice in Like I said, it would be irresponsible for the winter for the people that don’t have us to ignore the situation out there. any way of getting ice from the clean fresh water lake. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would ask members if they would be interested in So I think there times when instead of amending the motion to change the putting people in jail, people that are not wording. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. dangerous offenders, people that are less likely, or perhaps more likely to repeat Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Are crimes in the future begin to appreciate, there any more members wishing to Mr. Chairman, what the land, nature, and speak to the motion? Mr. Ningark. the community have to offer for them.

Mr. Ningark: Thank you, Mr. So having said those things, I will Chairman. As far back as I can support the motion. If worse comes to remember in the Northwest Territories worst we can always find $300,000 from we were looking for ways to reduce within the public purse. Thank you, Mr. potential crimes. I remember we had a Chairman. debate similar in nature in the House and it was then I believe that alternatives to Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. incarcerating people, especially young Are there any other members wishing to people came up. speak to the motion? Madam Premier.

I also heard at the time that while there are young people that commit first or

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Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): not correct. It needs to be replaced with Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It doesn’t a study. So therefore I am urging all matter if I remain seated? members to make sure that we keep the funding for the study of the facility. We need to do a study if we want to Thank you. improve any facility that especially needs to be studied and review where the Chairman: Thank you, Madam Premier. improvements are needed because we Are there any more members wishing to need to know where we need to make speak to the motion? Member for improvements. Nanulik, Mr. Ningeongan.

Although we would use the funding to Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank do the study, it will be beneficial to do a you, Mr. Chairman. I talked about this study to make sure we know where we issue to the minister when he made the require improvements. I truly believe presentation to the standing committee. that we need to reduce crimes and the We did not even understand about the number of incarcerated people and that’s facility in Rankin Inlet being what we’re working on so that the constructed, and also the women’s families’ lives in the communities are correctional facility. I believe that we are improved and I believe that we should getting ahead of ourselves in trying to work on that so that we won’t increase get additional correctional facilities. the number of inmates. Like what the Premier said, I believe that That’s what we would like to see but we should be working towards reducing looking at the situation today it’s not the the number of incarcerations through case, as the Minister of Justice said that healing and people who have problems we send inmates outside of the territory need to heal in their lives. down south and also the Baffin Correctional Centre is always I was thinking that the correctional overloaded and the facility is aging and facility in Rankin Inlet, and also the becoming dilapidated. It is evident that women’s correctional facility here will facility needs to be worked on because probably take on the overflow of the of its aging. inmates that we have now. It’s going to reduce the number of inmates in one Before they start working on that facility. correctional facility, we need to do a study to find out where we need the I believe that we need to find out, after work in that facility. If we just leave that these facilities are running it will facility alone, without any study, it’s become evident whether we need to get going to cost even more money to fix up a correctional facility replacement, or a the problems and maintain the brand new facility. Even before those correctional facility. two correctional facilities are completed, we are looking to find out whether we So therefore, I am in support of the need to get a new correctional facility. study. I am very sorry that meaning in the correctional facility replacement is

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Mr. Chairman, I believe we’re getting For those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I will ahead of ourselves. As I stated to be in support of the motion to delete the Minister Peterson in the past, and I’m $300,000. Thank you. sure he remembers, once there is no overflow at BCC, and I believe with Chairman: Thank you, Johnny, Member renovations, I’m sure they would make for Nanulik. Mr. Taptuna. more room and use BCC for healing and take on healing programs. I would like to Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. see that kind of a program go ahead in Chairman. Thank you for pronouncing the facility instead. my name correctly.

Once we start finding out what the real >>Laughter situation is, do a study, and do an assessment. Even before we start Thank you for giving me this operating the two correctional facilities, opportunity. I understand that for every we’re already trying to make a decision kind of infrastructure for Nunavut, we that we want to do a study on a do need to take a study/assessment and correctional facility. We should be evaluate. This $300,000 is for a study, as looking at it, rather than increasing the the minister has indicated. The topic of number of inmates, we should be using discussion seems to be that there’s Inuit societal values. I’m sure that there alternative justice out there, like on-the- would be fewer crimes committed. If the land programs and other various Inuit way and values aren’t utilized, community-driven issues. we’re going to continue to go through these hardships. It is sad to say that no matter what, our population is going up, there’s more Mr. Chairman, they talked about requirement for space. It’s a known fact renovating the BCC in the past because and it’s a sad fact that we do need more it’s aging and overcrowded with safe places for inmates in Nunavut. Not inmates. Not too long ago, in January, only that, safety is a huge concern for they were going to have a women’s the employees or staff who run these correctional facility and not too long facilities. ago, they will complete the correctional facility in Rankin Inlet. This $300,000, as the minister indicated, is for a study. We do that for every I believe it would be better, Mr. infrastructure in Nunavut. Without that, Chairman, for the future if we start nothing really happens. We promised, as making healing programs. Some a government, that we were going to individuals at the community level end look at these issues and we want to be up committing crimes because they have proactive rather than reactive. no guidance or services. As I stated earlier, individuals and communities With this line item there of a new require help. The communities are trying facility, it doesn’t really indicate that to make brighter futures so that they can there is going to be a new facility built. realize that they need a good community You’ve got to remember that there are a as a whole. lot of our people down south in various

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 803 other provinces. Mr. Chairman, I believe motion in both languages so that that with the cost of transportation and everybody could see it. the fees that are charged by these other facilities to our government, we’re The amendment would read that I move actually paying for some other facility to that that $300,000 in proposed funding be built down in other provinces. for the Correctional Facility Replacement Project be renamed to the I think we have to take responsibility Correctional Facility Assessment and deal with our own issues up here in Project. So take a few minutes break if Nunavut. It’s quite sad, but for the most we could get that typed up. Thank you, part, we do have to keep in mind that we Mr. Chairman. have to have a safe environment for our employees out there. Chairman: Thank you. We will take a short recess. This study, although it is worded incorrectly as a replacement it doesn’t Order. We can’t entertain that motion necessarily mean that there is going to because he already had spoken to the be a new facility built. That still has to motion and he can’t do it twice. It’s out go through the proper channels and of order. I wish to inform the committee proper procedures and for every kind of that I have no more names on my list. infrastructure we do need a study and as Does the mover, Okalik, have the last indicated before we have to be proactive reply? rather then reactive, and it is a point here where safety is a huge factor in this type Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, of occupation. Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, we’re not saying no to try to Without facilities to rehabilitate our address the overcrowding in the current inmates there is really nothing that is facility. going to be happening. We all know for a fact that it’s great to have community In this budget, we are actually approving justice outpost camps but at this current $16.2 million to build and hopefully situation that doesn’t address what is complete in the very near future the needed right now in Nunavut and with Rankin Inlet facility so that the that, Mr. Speaker, I am going to be overcrowding situation in Nunavut will standing and voting against the motion. be addressed in the near future. The Thank you, Mr. Chairman, minister also announced that there will be a women’s facility opened next year. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Taptuna. So with that news, the issue of Are there any more members? Mr. overcrowding hopefully will be reduced. Hunter. In the last session with the last Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. government, we also passed the Family Chairman. I would like to make a motion Abuse Intervention Act to try and keep to amend the motion. I would like to people out of jail, to try and practice move to amend the motion to read, more of our traditional ways of healing. maybe take a break to type up the So those measures are underway. As my

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 804 colleague for Nanulik explained, we Mr. Okalik. would like to see these projects completed first before we study any Mr. Ningark. more jails. There are far more pressing issues, in my opinion, to address. Mr. Aupaluktuq.

Here in Iqaluit, for example, we don’t Mr. Ningeongan. have a community learning centre, something that I have been pressing this Mr. Komoartok. government to address. I look to the capital plan projects for a community Mr. Elliott. learning centre and it’s not scheduled to be studied until 2012. A lot of my Mr. Arvaluk. constituents could use that help so that they can have more productive lives and Mr. Rumbolt. perhaps stay out of jail if they get a job. So I would rather focus on that than look All those opposed, please stand and then at more jail time. sit down when I call your name.

So with that, Mr. Chairman, I ask all my Mr. Tootoo. colleagues to support this motion. We’re not saying no to a study in the future. Mr. Shewchuk. Once these projects are completed, perhaps we will be in a better position to Mr. Curley. assess our situation and judge it accordingly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Taptuna.

Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. The Madam Premier. debate is now closed. We will now vote on the motion. Mr. Peterson. You Mr. Tapardjuk. already spoke. You want to record a vote? Go ahead, Mr. Peterson. Mr. Kusugak.

Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Peterson. Chairman. You’re having a busy sort of first day on the job, welcome to politics. As there’s a tie vote, as the Chair, I will need to break the tie vote. I’ll have to go Mr. Chairman, I would like to request a as to the way the motion is presented to recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. me and I’ll have to vote in favour of the Chairman. motion. The motion is carried.

Chairman: A recorded vote has been We will get Minister Peterson back to requested. All those in favour, please his seat up there on the witness stand. stand and then sit down when I call your We will go page C-5. Justice. name. Corrections. Branch Summary. Total

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 805

Capital Expenditures, as amended. community justice committees. I had an $16,200,000. Agreed? opportunity to mention that the community justice committees do divert Some Members: Agreed. a lot of people from our communities to alternative justice measures quite Chairman: Thank you. We will go to C- successfully. Large numbers, in fact, are 2. Justice. Department Summary. diverted and don’t end up in the Justice. Details of Expenditures. Total facilities. Facilities aren’t very nice. Capital Expenditures, as amended. $16,600,000. Agreed? If you’ve ever toured the Baffin Correctional Centre or Millhaven, or Some Members: Agreed. Fenbrook, or Central East like I have, you just don’t want to get into these Chairman: Are you agreed that we have places. Any time we can prevent people concluded the Department of Justice? from going to jail is good for us.

Some Members: Agreed. I would like to express my appreciation too to the folks that I met in the facilities Chairman: Thank you, Minister and down south. They told me that they your staff. Do you have any closing would like to be in Nunavut. They don’t comments? get visits from relatives down there. They don’t get very many visits from Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. elders. They miss country food. They Chairman. It certainly has been an miss the healing that they think could get interesting hour for all of us. I appreciate in Nunavut if there were proper that this is what democracy is all about. I facilities. appreciate the support of my Cabinet colleagues for this facility study. They see that the First Nations people in the south have elders who come in and I appreciate the comments and concerns work with them on traditional healing expressed by the Members of the through sweat lodges and smudges, and Legislative Assembly. They were all things like that. They don’t have that very good comments. I think we all want opportunity. That’s the kind of stuff we to work together to improve our justice have to start thinking about up here, how system in Nunavut at all levels, the to provide proper counselling, community, the territorial, and even the rehabbing, and in facilities that are federal level. modern so we can reintegrate folks successfully back into their communities I would like to express my appreciation and make our communities safe. to the people who do work in the justice system to look after our offenders and I would also like to thank my officials try to provide a safe environment. who appeared with me today, Mr. Garson and Mr. Dingle. I would like to I would like to express my appreciation also express my appreciation to the two also for the hard work that is done at the folks in the Gallery. I neglected to community levels through our mention them earlier. Mr. Doug Straiter

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 806 works pretty closely in Corrections and I Projects Budget. Our government has would like to thank Christine Bens. She many capital priorities in the area of is an intern for director of corporate education. With 42 schools throughout services. Eventually, one of these days, Nunavut there is a substantial capital she will be sitting here beside me and investment in educational infrastructure replacing Mr. Dingle. in every community in Nunavut.

>>Applause Our student enrollment for the 2009-10 school year is as follows: in the Invite her to the standing committee and Kitikmeot, 1,613; in the Kivalliq, 2,957; Committee of the Whole so she gets and in the Baffin region, 4,710, for a some practical experience. I think this total enrollment of 9,280 students from has been a good learning experience for kindergarten to grade 12. We will her. continue to take measures to maintain these facilities. These priorities are made With that, Mr. Chairman, thank you for all the more challenging with the recent your time and I thank everybody for this dramatic increase in construction costs. good debate. Thank you. The Department of Education’s Chairman: I would like to thank you proposed 2010-11 capital budget is and your officials for showing up. $12,910,000, with an ongoing project Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the budget of $57,463,000 from 2011-12 witness out. and to 2014-15. Our proposed 2010-11 budget complies with the current Chairman (Mr. Okalik)(interpretation): necessary fiscal restraints, while Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Schell, incorporating some practical programs, for chairing the Committee of the Whole which will lead to long-term savings for while we took a break and also for the Government of Nunavut. practicing pronouncing last names. I’m sure you will learn as we go on when Mr. Chairman, the Department of you’re chairing the Committee of the Education gathers information from Whole later on. hamlets, district education authorities, school staff and teachers, and the We will move on to the Department of Department of Community and Education. I would like to ask Minister Government Services to develop, plan, Tapardjuk if he has any opening and manage our capital priorities. comments. Minister Tapardjuk. Through our comprehensive facilities Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, capital database, we’re able to analyze 2010-2011 – Education – school utilization and their physical Consideration in Committee condition, along with planned program requirements to determine our capital Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): requirements. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased to discuss the proposed 2010- The Department of Education is guided 2011 Department of Education Capital by the principles of Inuit

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Qaujimajatuqangit in our capital demanding and the need to recycle planning and design phases, as well as computers on a regular basis is needed. I supporting multi-purpose facilities, believe we need a program whereby partnerships, and student training as every three to five years the computers fundamental elements in our in our schools are assessed, upgraded, construction contacts. and or replaced in order to keep up with technology. Mr. Chairman, this initiative Mr. Chairman, I believe my department will cost approximately $100,000 for will move forward in a fiscally this coming year. responsible manner. I believe this plan provides the residents with the best Mr. Chairman, we are also proposing to affordable educational facilities this plan for a school addition for Repulse government can currently offer. Bay’s Tusarvik School. The school is overcrowded. Utilization is currently at Mr. Chairman, over the past few years 103 percent, capacity is 263 students and my department has been faced with enrollment is 272 students. Mr. unforeseen life cycle repairs requiring Chairman, this initiative will cost immediate action. Repairs if left undone approximately $50,000 for this coming will affect the health and safety of our year. students and staff. Lifecycle repairs are all of the building components such as Mr. Chairman, I would like to update my boilers, flooring, wall finishes, and colleagues on several ongoing projects windows and others that need periodic to improve or upgrade our community replacement as per their intended life. facilities. The addition to the Peter Action to get these lifecycle repairs done Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset is must be taken as soon as possible. If a scheduled for completion in the summer school closes there is lost instructional of 2010. The Department of Education time and our children will suffer. has budgeted $1 million for the upcoming fiscal year to complete the The proposed ongoing lifecycle repairs construction of the school addition. initiative will allow my department to identify repair items not noticed during Mr. Chairman, the Inuksuk High School regular repair cycles in our schools and here in Iqaluit renovation project began plan in a proactive manner to address the this past June. Work done over this past issue of repairs. With that, these funds summer included asbestos remediation, would be allocated on an as needed basis cleaning of the air handling system, with the lifecycle repair projects being energy efficient lighting upgrades, and a approved by the deputy minister. Mr. major wash down of the entire school. Chairman, this initiative will cost This renovation work will continue approximately $1.5 million for this being done over the school summer coming year. breaks.

Mr. Chairman, we are also proposing a This method ensures the safety of computer replacement and upgrading students and staff while providing program to determine our computer adequate time to complete projects over requirements as software becomes more a four year period. The planning for the

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 808 summer of 2010 has begun. Work being cannot spend more than our means. As a planned includes floor replacement and government we must work within the painting. The Department of Education budget framework. There are has budgeted $3,450,000 for the implications to project costs including upcoming fiscal year. staffing, associated housing requirements, building utilities, and Mr. Chairman, the Department of ongoing maintenance that must be Education issued a school assessment considered as we look at creating new request for proposals with the desired facilities as well as adding to existing outcome being the selection of school structures. assessment teams to visit all Nunavut schools to conduct an overall physical As this government goes into its new assessment of each facility including a mandate I look forward to working with special needs assessment. all members to set priorities and help navigate a new direction for our The facility assessment will cover the territory. I’m confident we can work building structure, heating systems, together in the best interest of interior systems, cleaning methods, staff Nunavummiut and deliver the best and teachers’ concerns, daily possible services and programs for maintenance, and upkeep, special needs students. requirements, develop a plan for each school’s future requirements. The Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here findings assessments will enable my today to discuss the Department of department to plan and maintain our Education’s capital budget for 2010- facilities in a more responsible 2011 and the subsequent four years. I operational manner. look forward to your questions, comments and discussion. Thank you. The Department of Education has budgeted $875,000 for the upcoming Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, fiscal year. Inuksuit School in Minister Tapardjuk. Do you have Qikiqtarjuaq requires an addition and witness you would like to bring to the renovations to the existing school. table? Construction on the addition renovations begin in the summer of 2009 with an Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): anticipated completion date of Yes, I do. September 2010. Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq is now too small for the Chairman (interpretation): Members, number of students attending the school. does the committee agree to bring in the Construction of the new school began witnesses? this summer with an anticipated completion date of December 2010. Some Members: Agreed.

The Department of Education has Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at- budgeted $5,100,000 for the upcoming Arms, could you escort the witnesses year. Mr. Chairman, I have said this in please. Thank you. the past and I want to re-emphasize we

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 809

I think we’re ready. Minister Tapardjuk, schedule. The standing committee we know your witnesses. They are no encourages the minister to keep strangers to us but for the record, I members and communities up to date would like you to introduce your with any delays or changes in plans. officials. Minister Tapardjuk. Mr. Chairman, the school addition Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): project in Repulse Bay is the only new Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is school project to be included in the Deputy Minister Kathy Okpik and on my department’s 2010-11 capital estimates right Murray Horn, Director of with funding of $50,000 to be allocated Corporate Services. Thank you, Mr. for planning work. Members believe it is Chairman. important to emphasize that when the department undertakes such planning Chairman (interpretation): Thank you initiatives, the expectations of the and welcome all. Does the Chair of the impacted community are inevitably Standing Committee have any raised. comments? Mr. Aupaluktuq, you can proceed. The standing committee encourages the minister and his officials to maintain Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank close communication with the you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) community and its district education I am pleased to provide opening authority regarding ongoing progress on comments on behalf of the Standing the project and any reasons for changes Committee on Social Wellness as the or delay. As we have noted from the Committee of the Whole begins its experience of other communities, such consideration of the Department of as, for example, Coral Harbour, Education’s proposed 2010-11 capital significant frustration and resentment budget of $12,910,000. can emerge when the department does not follow through with planning Mr. Chairman, the Department of initiatives and does not clearly and Education’s capital estimates for 2010- candidly advise community 11 include five community-specific representatives of a project’s status. projects and seven projects for which no specific communities or regions are Mr. Chairman, when the standing identified. Members note that work on committee initially reviewed information the school projects in Cape Dorset, accompanying the Department of Igloolik, and Sanikiluaq will all become Education’s proposed capital estimates close to completion in the 2010-11 fiscal for 2010-11, a number of the supporting year. Members recognize that the school documents were either unclear or renovation project in Iqaluit is a multi- contained inaccurate information. The year project that can only be worked on standing committee appreciates the during the summer when there are no department’s willingness to clarify and students on the premises. correct various points of information and members were pleased to receive At the present time, all of these projects updated materials for their use and appear to be proceeding according to reference.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 810

Mr. Chairman, the standing committee proactive when it comes to identifying recognizes the critical importance of potential adverse situations, such as education in the future development of mould or faulty ventilation systems, Nunavut. The physical condition of our which may cause school closures. schools as well as related issues such as overcrowding, have a significant impact While the standing committee is pleased on the overall success of our education that the department is being proactive in system. Members support the minister in preparing to meet identified needs and his efforts to ensure that the most recognize that it is not always possible to favourable conditions for learning are predict areas of expenditure without first made possible within all of Nunavut’s undertaking assessments, members are schools and encourage him to revisit uncomfortable with the idea of projects which were identified as approving over $3 million of funding necessary in the past but continue to be without more detailed information on deferred in the present capital plan. what will specifically be accomplished with these dollars in the 2010-11 fiscal Mr. Chairman, the standing committee year. This includes blocks of funding further recognizes that other aspects of allocated for minor capital projects, on- infrastructure development can support going life-cycle repairs and school and enhance the provision of education buses. services. Mr. Chairman, the standing committee For example, ensuring that adequate encourages the Department of Education staff housing is available for teachers is to work closely with the Department of often a factor in teachers accepting Community and Government Services, positions in a community. which routinely undertakes and compiles information from technical assessments The standing committee is aware that of many of the government’s capital Nunavut Housing Corporation’s assets such as schools and health centres. proposed capital budget does include a Members look forward to receiving clear number of units for staff housing as well assurances that the Department of as identifying which communities have Education’s work in this area will not expressed a need. However, it has not turn into a costly duplication of work been made clear which other and effort. communities may be receiving new housing units in 2010-11 which will be Mr. Chairman, that concludes my allocated for educational staff. opening comments on the proposed 2010-11 Capital Estimates of the Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2010-11 Department of Education. I am confident capital estimates propose three projects that individual members will also have that focus on assessment activities. questions and comments as we proceed. Assessing computer needs, special needs (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. and overall lifecycle repair needs for Chairman. Nunavut schools in 2010-11 is projected to cost just under $1 million. Members Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, recognize the importance of being Mr. Aupaluktuq. Before we proceed, I

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 811 would like to remind the members of the at the school and to consider our following: according to Rule 77(1), you proposal. I thank you once again. have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of On page 2 in the minister’s opening the Chair, a member may speak more comments, it says there is a student than once to a matter under discussion enrollment to the 2009-10 school year but not until every member wishing to for the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin speak has spoken. totals. How old is that total enrollment of 9280? When we were talking about the Are there any general comments? Mr. Coral Harbour school they had used old Ningark. enrollment numbers and the staff had indicated that the enrollment was a lot Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Thank higher. I want to know if these are recent you, Mr. Chairman. You are now enrollment totals or if they are old. coordinating the meeting. I thank the Thank you. minister for making his opening comments because I think he believes, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. well, he’s well aware that the school Mr. Arvaluk. I apologize. If you would population is growing and it says respond please, Mr. Tapardjuk. Repulse Bay here, maybe you meant to write it down as Resolute Bay. It says Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Repulse Bay here and it says the From what I understand, this was from Tusarvik School. I thank you very much September 2009 total enrollment. Thank and I would like to recognize the people you, Mr. Chairman. of Repulse Bay. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. We hear that there is a capacity of 263 Mr. Ningeongan. students and enrollment is at 272. I commend the parents for making sure Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank that their children are being sent to you, Mr. Chairman. When the minister school. I really don’t have much to add was in Coral Harbour it was obvious that to my comments and I will make sure there are a lot of needs and usually the that I make my comments when we are total enrollment is very important when going clause by clause. Thank you, Mr. you are requesting a school. We can use Chairman and also the minister. Repulse Bay as an example here. It’s also one of the factors in getting a Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. school. We’re having Christmas presents here already. Mr. Ningeongan. Again, if you’re going to request a school and there were students not Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank attending, it usually decreases the total you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to number of enrolled. That has an effect welcome Mr. Tapardjuk and his on your request for a school. Again, on officials. Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk for page 4, Inuksuk High School and the being able to visit Coral Harbour to look renovation project, and in Cape Dorset, I believe... . My question is: are there

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 812 other schools in Nunavut that have since we have no term for asbestos in asbestos and needs remedial work? Inuktitut. Most are aware though of its Thank you, Mr. Chairman. potential health risks if you breathe too much of the asbestos, and I wanted that Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, English word understood by our Mr. Ningeongan. Please be aware that unilingual Inuit. you can ask those questions at your leisure and separately if you want. Mr. Mr. Ningeongan, do you have any other Tapardjuk. comments? That’s it. Are there any other general comments? I have no more Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): members on my list for general I will have my deputy respond to your comments. question, Mr. Chairman. We can now proceed to the line-by-line Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Okpik, review of the capital estimates starting if you would respond. with page E-3. Total Capital Expenditures. $12,910,000. Department Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, of Education. Branch Summary. That Mr. Chairman. From what we includes E-4 and E-5. Are there any understand, there is asbestos present in questions on those pages? Since there two schools. I don’t know of any other are none, Total Capital Expenditures. schools that have asbestos. There are Department of Education. Total. special facilities that we’re looking at $12,910,000. Agreed? and in there we will also be looking to see if they have asbestos. Some Members: Agreed.

To use Inuksuk High School as an Chairman (interpretation): Total example, it is currently 40 years old and Department of Education. I apologize. the other school, Nakasuk School had Mr. Arvaluk. that material in its walls. These two facilities are among the oldest facilities Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank in Nunavut and in those days, we were you, Mr. Chairman. Prior to completing not aware of the risks of asbestos and it this review of these items, ever since the was fairly common. government was created, it seems that we are not constructing very many new Today, none of the construction schools and further, this government has materials contain any asbestos, stated that they did not want excessively especially in our new school large school facilities. construction materials. However, we will be conducting inspections of all the Has the department taken into schools to ascertain whether there is any consideration this idea, to use Pond Inlet asbestos contained in them. Thank you, as an example, we have separate schools Mr. Chairman. for kindergarten to grade 6, and the junior middle school students are also Chairman (interpretation): I certainly sent to the high school, and grades 7 to hope all members are on the same page, 12 are in the high school. Many of us

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 813 have noted that when the student We will now be relying more on the population is overflowing, that students DEAs, so if the DEAs makes a request, start picking on others. we can look into that. We want to work closely with the DEAs and work closely To the point where even the parents with them when we are making plans to become involved, and they have to walk construct new schools or others, Mr. their students to school so that they can Chairman. protect them from the bullies. Has the department considered downsizing the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, schools so that each community has a Minister Tapardjuk. Mr. Arvaluk. middle school, such as they have here in Iqaluit in smaller communities such as Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Pond Inlet? Chairman. I have a second quick question. The minister earlier today was The purpose for my question, Mr. not able to respond to my question and Chairman, is the effect the transition has he took it as notice. I know that he will on the students. Let me rephrase that, answer me some time, but wouldn’t it be when these students leave the more convenient right now that maybe elementary school, they are the biggest his officials are able to tell me that when and eldest students there, but when they the school requested two small buses, arrive at the high school, they are the they were only sent one. I was just smallest students in the school, although simply wondering what the explanation some of them are almost equal in is. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. strength and education. Chairman.

I believe that this abrupt transition Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, causes too much stress to the students; Mr. Arvaluk. (interpretation ends) therefore I am asking whether the According to our rules of the assembly department has considered smoothing that question was taken as notice, and this transition by having a middle school the minister has a set time to answer that to ease the transition of our students question. So, it is only fair for his when they undergo this change, for officials to focus on the capital projects communities roughly the size of Pond for now that’s before us. Inlet? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Are there any further Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, questions? I would like to ask a question Mr. Arvaluk. Minister Tapardjuk, can while they are here. Since they are you try and respond to the question? renovating Inuksuk High School, when the first Inuksuk High School was built Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): they constructed it with very small Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect windows. When you enter the high to his question, under our new Education school it seems like the building has no Act, we will be transitioning to the windows. I know that it can increase the requirements listed in this legislation cost for electricity, so I was wondering if over the next three years, as we start you were going to work on the windows. implementing it over three years. Mr. Tapardjuk.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 814

Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): do an assessment and we’re looking My deputy will respond to that, Mr. forward to that assessment in the Chairman. upcoming year so that all schools.

Chairman: Ms. Okpik. Well, we have heard that some schools can’t get doors or get windows, these are Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, some of the issues that we have heard Mr. Chairman. I have asked this question and we’re not happy to hear that. So to my officials. They will not be once we get all of the information from changing the windows at this time the special facilities assessments and I’m because it’s very expensive to replace sure after that assessment, we will the windows and they will have to probably be making more funds for change the outside siding also. So it’s capital estimates. Thank you, Mr. going to be very expensive to change the Chairman. windows, so therefore we are not going to change the windows. Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Tapardjuk. The department is concluded and I would like to thank the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. officials for appearing before the I’m sorry to hear that, and I apologize to committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, please the students that will be going there. Are escort the witnesses out. there any further questions while the officials are here? I have no more names Those are the items that we are to deal on my list. with for today. What’s the wish of the committee? Mr. Aupaluktuq. Total Capital Estimates for Education. $12,910,000. Agreed? Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move a motion to report Some Members: Agreed. progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Do you Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, agree that the Department of Education Mr. Aupaluktuq. There is a motion on is concluded? the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable. All those in Some Members: Agreed. favour of the motion. Opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Minister Tapardjuk, do you have any closing Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. remarks? Going back to our Orders of the Day. Item 20. Report of the Committee of the Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Whole. Mr. Okalik. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank my officials for working hard. The funding, since it’s approved, we will want to understand in Nunavut on the special facilities assessments and we will

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Nunavut Hansard 815

Item 20: Report of the Committee of 10. Petitions the Whole 11. Reports of Standing and Special

Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Committees Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been 12. Reports of Committees on the considering Bill 8 and would like to report progress. One committee motion Review of Bills was adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move that 13. Tabling of Documents the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you. 14. Notices of Motions

15. Notices of Motions for First Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Okalik. There is a motion on the Reading of Bills floor. Is there a seconder? Mr. Rumbolt. 16. Motions Question has been called. All those in favour. Opposed. The motion is carried. 17. First Reading of Bills

18. Second Reading of Bills (interpretation ends) Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Item 22. Orders of the  Bill 11 Day. Mr. Clerk.

19. Consideration in Committee of Item 22: Orders of the Day the Whole of Bills and Other

Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you, Mr. Matters Speaker. A reminder for a meeting  Bill 6 tomorrow of the Standing Committee on Legislation at nine o’clock in the Nanuq  Bill 7 Boardroom.  Bill 8

Orders of the Day for December 2:  Bill 9  Bill 10 1. Prayer 20. Report of the Committee of the 2. Ministers’ Statements Whole 3. Members’ Statements 21. Third Reading of Bills 4. Returns to Oral Questions 22. Orders of the Day 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Thank you. Gallery 6. Oral Questions Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until 7. Written Questions Wednesday, December 2, at 1:30 p.m. 8. Returns to Written Questions Sergeant-at-Arms 9. Replies to Opening Address >>House adjourned at 17:20