Nunavut Canada
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT
3rd Session 3rd Assembly
HANSARD
Official Report
DAY 15
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Pages 850 – 917
Iqaluit
Speaker: The Honourable Hunter Tootoo, M.L.A.
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Speaker Hon. Hunter Tootoo (Iqaluit Centre) Hon. Eva Aariak Ron Elliott Fred Schell (Iqaluit East) (Quttiktuq) (South Baffin) Premier; Minister of Education; Deputy Chair, Committee of the Minister of Executive and Hon. Lorne Kusugak Whole Intergovernmental Affairs; (Rankin Inlet South – Whale Cove) Minister responsible for Government House Leader; Minister of Hon. Daniel Shewchuk Aboriginal Affairs; Minister Community and Government Services; (Arviat) responsible for Immigration; Minister of Energy; Minister Minister of Environment; Minister Minister responsible for the Status responsible for the Qulliq Energy of Human Resources; Minister of Women Corporation responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Hon. James Arreak John Ningark (Uqqummiut) (Akulliq) Louis Tapardjuk Minister of Culture, Language, (Amittuq) Johnny Ningeongan Elders and Youth; Minister of Deputy Chair, Committee of the (Nanulik) Whole Languages; Minister responsible Deputy Speaker and Chair of the for the Utility Rates Review Committee of the Whole Hon. Peter Taptuna Council (Kugluktuk)
Hon. Keith Peterson Deputy Premier; Minister of Moses Aupaluktuq (Cambridge Bay) Economic Development and (Baker Lake) Minister of Finance, Chair of the Transportation Financial Management Board; Minister Hon. Tagak Curley of Justice Jeannie Ugyuk (Rankin Inlet North) (Nattilik) Minister of Health and Social Allan Rumbolt Services; Minister responsible for (Hudson Bay) the Nunavut Housing Corporation; Minister responsible for Homelessness; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission
Officers Clerk John Quirke
Deputy Clerk Clerk Assistant Law Clerk Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Production Nancy Tupik Stephen Innuksuk Michael Chandler Simanek Kilabuk Innirvik Support Services
Box 1200 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Website: www.assembly.nu.ca
Table of Contents
Opening Prayer ...... 850
Ministers’ Statements ...... 850
Members’ Statements ...... 854
Returns to Oral Questions ...... 859
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ...... 860
Oral Questions ...... 862
Written Questions ...... 879
Tabling of Documents ...... 880
Notices of Motions ...... 882
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills ...... 882
First Reading of Bills ...... 882
Second Reading of Bills ...... 883
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ...... 885
Report of the Committee of the Whole ...... 915
Third Reading of Bills ...... 916
Orders of the Day ...... 916
A. Daily References
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 ...... 850
B. Ministers’ Statements
045 – 3(3): Municipal Emergency Management Training (Kusugak) ...... 850
046 – 3(3): Arctic Reflections in Paris (Taptuna) ...... 851
047 – 3(3): MOU Northern University Development (Aariak) ...... 851
048 – 3(3): DOE Research Vessel, Nuliajuk, to Arrive in Iqaluit (Shewchuk) ...... 852
049 – 3(3): Arnait Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit Report (Aariak) ...... 853
050 – 3(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Arreak) ...... 853
C. Members’ Statements
076 – 3(3): The Need for a New Airport in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) ...... 854
077 – 3(3): Dental Services for Nunavut (Elliott) ...... 855
078 – 3(3): Passing of Mark Kalluak (Shewchuk) ...... 856
079 – 3(3): Congratulations to Grandchildren for Completing Head-Start (Tapardjuk) ...... 856
080 – 3(3): The Need for a Nunavut Addictions Treatment Facility (Ugyuk) ...... 857
081 – 3(3): Support for Devolution (Ningark) ...... 858
082 – 3(3): Sheila Watt-Cloutier on a Postage Stamp (Aariak) ...... 858
D. Returns to Oral Questions
Return to Oral Question 090 – 3(3): Financial Situation at Local Housing Association (Curley)
...... 859
E. Oral Questions
110 – 3(3): Emergency Preparedness (Elliott) ...... 862
111 – 3(3): Nunavut-Based Addictions Treatment Centres (Ugyuk) ...... 864
112 – 3(3): Work Performed on QEC President’s House by QEC Employees (Schell) ...... 867
113 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Responses to Resolutions of the Nunavut Association of
Municipalities (Tapardjuk) ...... 868
114 – 3(3): Status of Government Liaison Officer Positions (Rumbolt)...... 871
115 – 3(3): Kivalliq Boarding Home (Aupaluktuq) ...... 872
116 – 3(3): Bad Gasoline at Resolute Bay (Elliott) ...... 874
117 – 3(3): Lawsuits against QEC by Ex-employees (Schell) ...... 876
118 – 3(3): Dental Services for Nunavut (Elliott) ...... 877
F. Written Questions
007 – 3(3): Community Access Roads Program Expenditures (Ugyuk) ...... 879
G. Tabling of Documents
055 – 3(3): Arnait Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit Report September 13 to 17, 2010
(Aariak) ...... 880
056 – 3(3): Public Service Annual Report 2009-2010 (Shewchuk) ...... 880
057 – 3(3): Northern Development Ministers’ Forum Report, Thunder Bay, Ontario, August 30 to
September 2, 2010 (Taptuna) ...... 880
058 – 3(3): Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report 2010-2011 (Kusugak) ...... 881
059 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Action Plan on the Report of the Auditor General of Canada
to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut 2011 on the Children, Youth and Family Programs
and Services in Nunavut (Curley) ...... 881
060 – 3(3): Nunavut Outfitter Liability Protection Fund Annual Report 2010-2011 (Peterson) 881
061 – 3(3): Copy of Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Employee Standards Act (Legislative
Assembly of the Northwest Territories) (Elliott) ...... 881
H. Motions
009 – 3(3): Appointment of a Ministerial Member of the Management and Services Board –
Notice (Aariak) ...... 882
010 – 3(3): Appointment of Alternate Ministerial Member of the Management and Services
Board – Notice (Aariak) ...... 882
I. Bills
Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Notice ...... 882
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – Notice ...... 882
Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – First Reading ...... 883
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – First Reading...... 883
Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Second Reading ...... 884
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – Second Reading ...... 884
Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Third Reading ...... 916
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – Third Reading ...... 916
J. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Consideration in Committee ...... 885
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – Consideration in Committee ...... 887
Tabled Document 274 – 3(2): Lease, Contract and Procurement Activity Report 2008-2009 –
Consideration in Committee ...... 894
Tabled Document 275 – 3(2): Lease, Contract and Procurement Activity Report 2009-2010 –
Consideration in Committee ...... 894
Tabled Document 248 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut Contract Activity Report Fiscal Year
2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee ...... 905
Tabled Document 249 – 3(2): Lease Activity Report 2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee
...... 905
Tabled Document 251 – 3(2): 2009-2010 Procurement Activity Report – Consideration in
Committee ...... 905
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 850
Iqaluit, Nunavut Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we Tuesday, June 7, 2011 foster self-reliance for Nunavut Members Present: communities. Through this training Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable initiative, numerous stakeholders worked James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, together in each community to determine Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron and assess emergency risks, mitigation, Elliott, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. and management plans. This is a very John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, positive example of how working Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan together to reach a common goal can Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable benefit the health and safety of Daniel Shewchuk, Mr. Louis Tapardjuk, Nunavummiut. This training will enable Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable communities to assume responsibility for Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk. the implementation of their own emergency programs. Item 1: Opening Prayer Each community took part in a four-day Speaker (Hon. Hunter Tootoo): Thank comprehensive training program you, Sergeant-at-Arms. Before we get involving a variety of participants. started, I would like to ask Mr. Representative from local hamlets, the Ningeongan if he could lead us off with RCMP, the Nunavut Power Corporation, a prayer, please. and the Government of Nunavut’s departments of Community and >>Prayer Government Services, Health and Social Services, Education, and Economic Speaker: Good afternoon, everybody. Development and Transportation were Welcome back. Moving on in the Orders some of the key stakeholders in of the Day, Item 2. Ministers’ assessing each community’s individual Statements. Minister of Community and emergency management strategy. Government Services, Minister Kusugak. Mr. Speaker, the Municipal Emergency Management Program began in Item 2: Ministers’ Statements December of 2008 and this initial training phase was completed in Minister’s Statement 045 – 3(3): February of 2011. Training concentrated Municipal Emergency on four key issues: mitigation, Management Training (Kusugak) preparedness, response, and recovery.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Currently all communities are in the Speaker. I am pleased to inform process of updating and legally adopting Members of the Assembly that the their own emergency response plans. It training phase of the Municipal is anticipated that all municipalities will Emergency Management Program has have updated response plans and by- been completed in all 25 Nunavut laws in place by December of 2011. communities. Mr. Speaker, the Municipal Emergency Management Program training was
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 851 funded by Public Safety Canada and the impressed visitors with her artistic Government of Nunavut under the Joint abilities. It is also important to note the Emergency Preparedness Program. contributions of Tom Chapman, Goretti Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Kakuktinniq, and Liliana Costa, who coordinated the event on behalf of the >>Applause Nunavut Development Corporation.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. One of the goals of Sanaugait, our Ministers’ Statements. Minister of strategy for growth in Nunavut’s arts and Economic Development and crafts sector, is to “expand international Transportation, Minister Taptuna. market share.” Sales visits such as this, which are targeted, strategic, and Minister’s Statement 046 – 3(3): coordinated with established local Arctic Reflections in Paris galleries, can build a market for Nunavut (Taptuna) arts and crafts in European metropolitan Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. centres. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. I rise today to inform the Members of this House of a recent >>Applause initiative of the Nunavut Development Corporation. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. Ministers’ Statements. Madam Premier. Between February 25 and 27, the Nunavut Development Corporation Minister’s Statement 047 – 3(3): MOU participated in a very successful Inuit art Northern University Development exhibition in Paris entitled “Arctic (Aariak) Reflections.” This event was a Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): partnership between the Nunavut Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good Development Corporation and Art Inuit afternoon. (interpretation ends) Mr. Paris, an established gallery in Paris and Speaker, I would like to take this a long-time promoter of Canadian Inuit opportunity to inform my fellow art. members about an MOU the Government of Nunavut recently signed The response was very strong, with with our colleagues from the NWT and 1,400 Parisians visiting the exhibition the Yukon. This MOU brings us together over three days. It was also a to explore options for northern commercial success – Art Inuit Paris university development in the three sales during the three-day event were territories. approximately equal to their total sales over the previous 12-month period. The The northern territories have a history of Nunavut Development Corporation cooperation in a range of services, contingent returned to Canada empty including education and training, and we handed, having sold the entire inventory share the desire to provide all of art they had taken to Paris. northerners with consistent, accessible, quality post-secondary educational Igah Hainnu of Clyde River participated opportunities. as the visiting Nunavut artist and
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 852
Mr. Speaker, a supportive high-quality construction of this 64-foot state-of-the- educational environment closer to home art steel research vessel is complete and will encourage our students to continue the preparation work for this season’s their studies at the post-secondary level. research in Nunavut waters is underway. It will make it easier for them to access Nuliajuk has undergone its sea trials and the support they need from their families stability evaluation and passed especially and communities to achieve success. well
The governments of Nunavut, the My department is currently seeking its Northwest Territories, and the Yukon crew members for the vessel, as well as will form a tri-territorial committee to plans to maximize the number of Inuit develop options on how the three crew members on the boat. Pending ice territories can advance university conditions in Davis Strait, Nuliajuk is to development in Canada’s North and sail for Iqaluit to be commissioned on advance discussions with the Nunavut Day, July 9, 2011. We Government of Canada on investments welcome all members and the public to that support northern university participate in the celebration of the development. arrival of this critical piece of infrastructure for development of our Mr. Speaker, our governments are fishery industry in Nunavut. committed to providing educational opportunities that maintain a balance Research plans for this year have been between academic excellence and the finalized and will include research and culture, values and lifestyles of northern survey work in Cumberland Sound on students. This MOU will help us move turbot stocks and reducing Greenland forward with our shared goal of shark bycatch. In addition, Nuliajuk will university development in Canada’s travel up the coast to Qikiqtarjuaq and Arctic. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Clyde River areas to undertake research Speaker. trials for turbot and other species. Future years will see Nuliajuk travel throughout >>Applause the territory undertaking important research for the development of new Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. commercial fishing opportunities within Ministers’ Statements. Minister of Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Environment, Minister Shewchuk. >>Applause Minister’s Statement 048 – 3(3): DOE Research Vessel, Nuliajuk, to Speaker: Thank you, Minister Arrive in Iqaluit (Shewchuk) Shewchuk. Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Madam Premier. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to provide the members with an update on the progress made on the completion and arrival of the Department of Environment’s new fisheries research vessel, Nuliajuk. The
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 853
Minister’s Statement 049 – 3(3): Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, the Arnait Nipingit: Women’s importance of working together is a key Leadership Summit Report government message of Tamapta. The (Aariak) success of this event from conception to Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): report serves as an example of the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to positive outcomes that can be achieved announce that the Arnait Nipingit: when organizations come together to Women’s Leadership Summit Report support and work towards a common will be tabled in the Legislative goal. I am hopeful that the success of the Assembly today. partnership that supported this project will continue to flourish and will serve In September 2010, the Government of to further advance the status of women Nunavut, in partnership with the portfolio in Nunavut. Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), The strength of the partnership formed and the Qulliit Nunavut Status of around the Arnait Nipingit: Women’s Women Council, held the Arnait Leadership Summit is apparent by the Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit. presence of the organizations represented here today to witness the Mr. Speaker, more than 200 women tabling of the report. Mr. Speaker, today, from across the territory and other Inuit in the presence of our partners, I am regions in Canada and approximately 20 honoured to be able to share the Arnait southern delegates from various Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit governments and organizations took part Report with you, the public, and the in this momentous event. women of Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The goal of the summit was to support and empower women’s leadership >>Applause initiatives in Nunavut. This was achieved by providing skill building Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. opportunities, mentoring, showcasing Minister responsible for Culture, best practices in all levels of leadership, Language, Elders and Youth, Minister and by providing a platform for growth, Arreak. sharing, and networking opportunities for women. Minister’s Statement 050 – 3(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit Mr. Speaker, the summit produced an (Arreak) extensive list of recommendations which Hon. James Arreak (interpretation): will be a valuable resource in developing Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to policies and programs to address acknowledge the members of the third community needs. Like the summit Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit. itself, the summit report was only These members are serving as an possible with the full participation of and advisory on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to partnership between QIA, NTI, Qulliit, departments of this government. and the Government of Nunavut.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 854
I would like to take a moment to read the ask members to join me in recognizing names of the members who will help to and acknowledging the members who shape our programs, polices, and are here at the Legislative Assembly. legislation. Selected co-chairs of the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. third Katimajiit are Arnaoyok Alookee of Taloyoak and Qabaroak Qatsiya of >>Applause Cape Dorset. Members include: Speaker: Thank you, Minister Arreak. Alice Ayalik, Kugluktuk Welcome, everybody. Moving on to the Arnaoyok Alookee, Taloyoak orders of the day. Item 3. Members’ Andre Tautu, Chesterfield Inlet Statements. Member for Baker Lake, Erksuktuk Eetuk, Coral Harbour Mr. Aupaluktuq. Gamailee Kilukishak, Pond Inlet Jacopie Iqalukjuaq, Clyde River Item 3: Members’ Statements Koonoo Oyukuluk, Arctic Bay Liza Ningiuk, Grise Fiord Member’s Statement 076 – 3(3): The Leonie Qrunnut, Igloolik Need for a New Airport in Baker Marie Anguti, Kugaaruk Lake (Aupaluktuq) Peteroosie Qarpik, Pangnirtung Qabaroak Qatsiya, Cape Dorset Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Ragalee Angnakok, Qikiqtarjuaq Speaker. I rise today to address the Sammie Peter, Iqaluit importance of investing in the future. Simeonie Aqpik, Kimmirut Mr. Speaker, as members will recall, I Topics to be reviewed during the current have tabled two important documents in meeting of IQK members include: the House concerning the issue of a new counselling related to couples, children, airport for Baker Lake. and adults; Inuit family styles and how to carry them into today’s world; and In 2009, representatives from Baker discussions on healthy lifestyles, Lake appeared before the House of teamwork, adult training, and how to be Commons Standing Committee on productive in life. Finance to make a presentation on the subject of economic development in our The IQK will revisit the GN’s eight region. guiding principles and make a new set of recommendations on how they should be As members will have noted from the used in the government. Members will transcripts of these hearings that I tabled also hear presentations on developing in the House, the presenters told the GN programs and be able to provide committee, and I quote, “Following their feedback to staff. consultation with Transport Canada, the territorial government, the industry, and Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the operators, the recommended option was advice and support from the new the relocation of the airport to a site Katimajiit. Their work will continue to northeast of the hamlet and the help improve the Government of construction of a new 1,525-metre Nunavut and its programs and services. I runway, along with other facilities. This
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 855 location meets all of Transport Canada’s Mr. Speaker, Arctic Bay is a very lucky standards and offers full unrestricted use community to have Charlotte working in for a Boeing 737 aircraft, with ideal our school and you can really see the wind orientation and flexibility for difference that she makes in the smiles future expansion. The cost is estimated on the faces of the people of Arctic Bay. at $20 million. The current financing proposal seeks contributions from the Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to hear governments of Nunavut and Canada the statement by the Minister responsible and from industry. It can make Baker for Nunavut Arctic College last Friday in Lake a new air transportation hub for which he described the good work mining, exploration, and development in recently done in Cambridge Bay by the region…” students from the School of Dental Therapy of the First Nations University. Mr. Speaker, last year’s capital estimates for the Department of Economic Mr. Speaker, the recently published Inuit Development and Transportation Oral Health Survey Report noted that included $250,000 in funding for more Inuit reported poor oral health and improvements to the Baker Lake oral pain, more dental disease, and more Airport. Although I strongly support any extractions when compared to other capital investments in our community, Canadian jurisdictions. Mr. Speaker, Baker Lake continues to push for a new having dental therapy services available airport and I will continue to push our in each and every community in territorial government to step up to the Nunavut would be a key measure to plate. improve oral health conditions across Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I will have detailed questions on this issue for the Minister As the oral health survey report states, of Economic Development and having community-based primary Transportation at tomorrow’s sitting of preventative care, backed up by early the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. detection and prompt basic treatment, could really make a difference. In Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. addition, Mr. Speaker, preventative Members’ Statements. Member for dental efforts could go a long way Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott. towards reducing the government’s costs related to dental care. Currently millions Member’s Statement 077 – 3(3): of dollars are spent on travel costs for Dental Services for Nunavut dental patients and their escorts on top of (Elliott) the basic costs for dental treatment for Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I conditions which become serious when would like to begin my Member’s immediate dental care is not available. Statement today by thanking and paying tribute to Claudette Qamanirq, a dental Mr. Speaker, I urge the government to therapist who has been providing dental step up its efforts to hire dental services to the community of Arctic Bay therapists for each and every Nunavut for over 25 years. community and to promote improved
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 856 oral health for everyone. Thank you, Mr. >>Applause Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk. >>Applause Members’ Statements. Member for Amittuq, Mr. Tapardjuk. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Members’ Statements. Member for Member’s Statement 079 – 3(3): Arviat, Mr. Shewchuk. Congratulations to Grandchildren for Completing Head-Start Member’s Statement 078 – 3(3): (Tapardjuk) Passing of Mark Kalluak Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank (Shewchuk) you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, commemorate an event in the House. Mr. Speaker. I rise today as the MLA for Arviat to acknowledge a very At this current time, most schools in distinguished constituent and elder who Nunavut are wrapping up their school passed away recently, Mr. Mark year and furthermore, I really want to Kalluak. My condolences go out to all of acknowledge these two graduates. Last Mark’s family and friends, and co- week, students graduated in a ceremony workers in Arviat and Nunavut. from the pre-school program. The program is called “Head Start.” Two of Mark will be remembered as a language the graduates were my grandchildren, specialist, as a gifted teacher, and a actually siblings, brother and sister. master storyteller whose stories will They completed the program and I want continue to live on in our hearts and to mention their names as I was told that minds. Mark was also the recipient of they watch the proceedings at home. the Order of Canada and many other awards. Ellia Bryce and Chloe Tapardjuk are my two grandchildren. One of them is Mark was a leader in Nunavut who named after Evaloarjuk as his namesake taught by example and always with and I wanted to celebrate with my dignity and respect. The community of colleagues their accomplishment. I have Arviat and the Government of Nunavut expectations that when he completes his were fortunate that Mark used his talent education past grade 12, he will and knowledge to give back to one of eventually become a Member of the our most vital departments, Education, Legislative Assembly, as per his where he worked to ensure Inuit namesake. I would like to congratulate traditional knowledge plays a vital role them, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. in the academic curriculum. >>Applause To the family, our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. I time, and may you find strength peace in wish them well in their future Mark’s important and lasting endeavours. Members’ Statements. contributions to our territory. Thank you, Member for Nattilik, Ms. Ugyuk. Mr. Speaker.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 857
Member’s Statement 080 – 3(3): The their family members feel suicidal at Need for a Nunavut Addictions some point in their lives. Substance Treatment Facility (Ugyuk) abuse can lead to many other forms of abuse. Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I say “good day” (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I would to my mother, my family, and my like to ask for unanimous consent to husband. I also say “good day” to conclude my statement. Thank you. Nattilingmiut. Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. The Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly member is seeking unanimous consent to encourage the government to fulfill its conclude her statement. Are there any Tamapta commitment to open a nays? There are no nays. Please proceed. culturally relevant substance abuse treatment facility in Nunavut. Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to talk about treatment facilities directly. I want to Mr. Speaker, it is well known that in our talk about some of the reasons why we population, we have many young desperately need one. parents. Many of these youth are faced with heavy adult responsibilities when Mr. Speaker, suicide has been discussed they haven’t had the time to grow out of a number of times in this House in this their own childhood. Again, they turn to sitting. Of the 14 suicides since January something to hide their confusion. They of this year, I know for a fact that more are too young to know the damage it can than one of them was committed while cause. the person was suffering from substance abuse. Who knows how many suicides Mr. Speaker, I recognize that there is a could be avoided if people were better great deal of commitment to addressing able to deal with their use of drugs or our social problems. The government alcohol. and organizations like Nunavut Tunngavik have shown that they want to (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the work together, but very little is coming breakdown of relationships often leads forward by way of concrete action to people to seek an escape. Too often they address this tragic situation. We need a see alcohol or drugs as a way to bury substance abuse treatment centre here in their grief or suffering. It is not only the Nunavut that can address this serious partners in a relationship but also their problem. (interpretation ends) To be children who suffer that grief. We need successful, it needs to be close to home, to learn better ways of dealing with (interpretation) close to our families and emotional stress. the support they can offer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad fact that one of the effects of alcohol abuse can be >>Applause violence and the loss of control. Many victims of abuse from their spouses or
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 858
Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Item Members’ Statements. Member for 3. Members’ Statements. Madam Akulliq, Mr. Ningark. Aariak.
Member’s Statement 081 – 3(3): Member’s Statement 082 – 3(3): Support for Devolution (Ningark) Sheila Watt-Cloutier on a Postage Stamp (Aariak) Mr. Ningark: Thank you and good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): express my support for devolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good afternoon” to my constituents in Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, when I served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to Northwest Territories prior to division, mention someone who is well known in the concept of devolution appeared to be Nunavut, Canada, and elsewhere, Sheila very remote. Since that time, we have Watt-Cloutier, who is a resident of seen significant progress being made in Iqaluit and a former resident of Nunavik. our sister territories of the Yukon and the NWT, and I applaud the efforts that Sheila has done a lot of work and has put have been made in those jurisdictions. a lot of effort into her work in areas related to global warming or regarding Mr. Speaker, I believe that every pollutants that affect the world, Member of this House agrees that we especially the Arctic. She has been need to reduce our dependence on involved in very important issues and federal transfer payments. Increased has been recognized. She was once self-reliance for our territory depends on nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and being able to identify new sources of this is something we can be very proud revenue to fund our programs and of as she is a resident. She is a visiting services. These issues are closely linked scholar now in Brunswick, Maine. to such goals as improving our educational outcomes so that more of We just recently heard that her picture our own people have the necessary skills will be included on a Canadian postage and training to take on the stamp in recognition of her work. She is responsibilities that would accompany one of the distinguished people devolution. recognized around the world. For this reason and many of the other works she Mr. Speaker, I encourage our Premier to has done for arctic peoples, I am very provide more frequent updates to the proud of Sheila Watt-Cloutier. Thank House on the status of the government’s you, Mr. Speaker. devolution initiative, and I encourage her to ensure that these updates are clear, >>Applause comprehensive, and candid. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Speaker: Thank you, Madam Aariak. Item 3. Members’ Statements. Moving >>Applause on in the Orders of the Day, Item 4.
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Returns to Oral Questions. Minister Mr. Speaker, LHO assessments are part Curley. of the regular ongoing support provided by the NHC’s district offices to its Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions community partners. These assessments cover all areas of the LHOs’ operations Return to Oral Question 090 – 3(3): and are designed to provide LHOs with a Financial Situation at Local development tool that describes the state Housing Association (Curley) of their management, administrative, financial, board and maintenance affairs. Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): The assessments also provide Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in recommendations on how to improve response to an oral question asked performance in these areas. (interpretation ends) by Mr. Schell. (interpretation) My response is quite The corporation also benefits from LHO lengthy and to make it more coherent for assessments by having clearly defined the members, I would like to ask that the descriptions of an LHO’s strengths and return to oral question be entered into weaknesses, and any remedies required the record as read. The pages will be by LHOs to adequately carry out their able to provide copies of my response obligations as set out in their immediately. management agreements, Mr. Speaker.
Question: The NHC has taken a number of In its response to the 2008 Report of the measures to enhance its monitoring of Auditor General on the Nunavut LHO performance in order to improve Housing Corporation, NHC indicated their ability to identify any emerging that it has plans to initiate six or seven problems so as to address them as LHO assessments which should be quickly as possible. completed by the fall of 2008. Monthly conference calls are held Can the minister confirm if these between NHC’s directorate and district assessments were completed and can he finance staff, which help identify LHO indicate how the NHC is working with operational concerns and allows local housing associations that may be at resources to be made available to risk of financial difficulties? provide support.
Response: In addition, Mr. Speaker, district offices Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that are now responsible for providing to the the LHO assessments initiated in directorate office on a regular basis a response to the 2008 OAG audit of the new reporting package which includes Nunavut Housing Corporation were information, such as date of last completed for the communities of Arctic financial statement received from the Bay, Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Cambridge LHO, date of last bank reconciliation, as Bay, Kugluktuk, Repulse Bay, and well as their actual financial information Arviat. to compare against their budgets.
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A number of LHOs have been converted just behind me and who is the chaperone to a standardized financial system and for the pages. I would like to recognize the NHC is in the process of developing them here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. related training documents. >>Applause In the fall of 2010, the NHC obtained approval for the creation of an additional Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, LHO financial support position for the Mr. Tapardjuk. (interpretation ends) Kivalliq region and has also engaged an Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of accountant to assist LHOs. Visitors in the Gallery. Madam Aariak.
LHOs that find themselves in a deficit Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. situation get additional support in the Speaker. When the appropriate time development of a deficit recovery plan comes, I will be tabling the Arnait and assistance in implementing and then Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit monitoring the plan’s progress. Thank Report today in the Legislative you, Mr. Speaker. Assembly.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. In the meantime, I would like to Do members agree that the return to oral recognize the Arnait Nipingit project question be entered into the record as partners in the Gallery today. From the read? Qikiqtani Inuit Association, George Eckalook, (interpretation) please stand Some Members: Agreed. up, (interpretation ends) and Lucy Burke. From the Qulliit Nunavut Status Speaker: Agreed, and so it shall. Item 4. of Women Council, Trista Mercer Returns to Oral Questions. Item 5. (interpretation) and Sheila Pokiak. Also, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. a Nunavut Tunngavik representative, Mr. Tapardjuk. Emily Joanasie, (interpretation ends) Women’s Summit Coordinator. Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the (interpretation) Also from the Gallery Government of Nunavut, Tanya Campbell, Rian van Bruggen, and Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank Shylah Elliott. These are the people I you, Mr. Speaker. We will be serviced would like to acknowledge. Thank you, by new pages this week and I want to Mr. Speaker. take this opportunity to recognize the pages from Igloolik, Paul Silas Uyarak >>Applause and Emily Qattalik, who is over there. Apparently, when she participated in the Speaker: Thank you, Madam Aariak. Youth Parliament, she represented me. Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of They will be servicing us this week. Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Taptuna.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I would also Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. like to welcome to the Gallery my Speaker. It’s not too often that I get to assistant, John Illupalik, who is sitting stand here and recognize folks from my
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 861 community. I want to recognize Alice road, and she provides a big service. As Ayalik, who has been around for quite a Nattilik residents, we are very grateful to while. She is no stranger to Iqalummiut. her and we would like Nunavut residents She sits on the elders’ board and other to know that. Thank you. committees and boards that relate to the betterment of both young Inuit and older >>Applause folks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you and welcome to the >>Applause Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Ningeongan. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Taptuna. Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank Visitors in the Gallery. Member for you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to take this Arviat, Mr. Shewchuk. opportunity to recognize a resident of Chesterfield Inlet, Andre Tautu, Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, although he was mentioned previously. Mr. Speaker. I, too, don’t get to Welcome. recognize too many people too much here. I would really like to welcome a >>Applause long-standing citizen from Arviat and a retired Northern store manager, Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. Gordon Maine. Welcome to the Gallery. Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Schell. >>Applause Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He has presently served us our report First of all, behind me here, I would like here today on the new Electoral to recognize Joe Sageatook. He’s the ex- Boundaries Commission report, so that’s employee of Qulliq Energy. He has his latest accomplishment with the worked there for 15 years. Chris Cousins Government of Nunavut. Thank you, is here. Again, he has worked for Qulliq Mr. Speaker. Energy for 16 years and his wife, Maanasi Cousins, is beside him there. I >>Applause also would like to recognize Qabaroak Qatsiya from Cape Dorset, one of the Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk. IQK team, and Simeonie Aqpik from Welcome to the Gallery, Mr. Maine. Kimmirut. Thank you. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Ms. Ugyuk. >>Applause
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Welcome to the Gallery. Item 5. Arnaoyok Alookee from Taloyoak. I Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. thank you for the tremendous work that Moving on to the orders of the day. Item you do for Taloyoak and Nunavut 6. Oral Questions. Member for residents, especially in areas related to Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott. kinship relations as it can be a rocky
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Item 6: Oral Questions the requirement of communities to be prepared for emergencies, our Question 110 – 3(3): Emergency department has been administering this Preparedness (Elliott) for quite a while. Communities are required to have emergency plans, Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. including contingency plans for various My questions are for the Minister of types of emergencies. Some of these Community and Government Services. plans are not comprehensive and it is Mr. Speaker, my questions are based obvious that some communities don’t around community preparedness in an have all of these plans or resources emergency situation. Some communities have emergency In recent months, I’m sure all members generators and some communities don’t have been aware that individuals from have them. Some communities lack fire your department have been going around equipment and the list goes on. We to all communities to work on know that all communities lack one community emergency plans and thing or another. Once we have an providing training to assist communities inventory of the missing equipment in all in planning for different potential of the communities, we will then have to threats. Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that this is face the challenge of trying to complete one instance where the hypothetical is their emergency equipment. seen as useful. Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for updating the House on this Some community emergency program today during his Minister’s preparedness plans will require more Statement. work than others, but they have to be completed and they are being dealt with In preparing for this sitting, Mr. Speaker, as we speak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the privilege of exchanging a conversation with the mayor of Resolute Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Bay. In this conversation, she had asked Your first supplementary, Mr. Elliott. if I could bring forward the issue of Resolute Bay not having a backup Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In emergency generator in the community. Arctic Bay, we are lucky enough to have I was wondering if the minister could a backup emergency generator in the explain how his department is working school. I was lucky enough to be invited with the community to assist them in to the training sessions that the minister solving this problem. Thank you, Mr. was speaking about. In Arctic Bay, the Speaker. community emergency plan in case of an emergency where the community is Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. without power, for example, this Minister responsible for Community and location serves as a safe place for Government Services, Minister residents to go. Kusugak. As I pointed out in my first question, Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Resolute Bay does not have this. Could Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the minister indicate if there are any
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 863 other communities across Nunavut in the which the community could go to. same situation as Resolute Bay and do Specifically I’m thinking more in the not have a backup emergency generator? winter when it’s cold and dark. I know Thank you, Mr. Speaker. that when power outages happened, they’ve had to close the school and send Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. students home. Minister responsible for Community and Government Services, Minister So I’m just wondering: how long do you Kusugak. think it will take your department to remedy the situation as to provide a safe Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): location for the residents of my Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for community in case of such an the question. As per my previous emergency? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. statement, the communities don’t have complete inventories for their emergency Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. preparedness plans. The requirement for Minister responsible for Community and updating their plans was sent to all Government Services, Minister communities and many are updating Kusugak. their plans. The plans basically outline where they would go in the event of an Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): emergency, which facility in the case of Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are a power failure would be the place to collaborating with every community house residents, and these are details primarily. If an emergency arises, then included in the emergency plans. these plans are put into action and it outlines the action items during an It is obvious that the day will come when emergency. Hamlet councils have to we are able to identify which community approve these plans and pass them into doesn’t have an emergency generator or by-laws by way of a resolution. With the which community lacks certain passage of the by-law in Resolute Bay, resources. Once we have the we can move towards that goal. information, we will be able to conduct a review, but we have yet to reach that This is indeed a critical priority, but day. I don’t know which communities there are regulations we have to follow. are lacking equipment, materials, or Once they have completed the by-law, other resources. Once we have this we will work with the hamlet council information, we will inform the and deliberate on what is required to see members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. how we can resolve some of the challenges in the member’s constituency Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. communities via their hamlet councils. Your second supplementary, Mr. Elliott. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Thank you for that answer. It’s my Your final supplementary, Mr. Elliott. understanding that Resolute Bay is the only community that doesn’t have this Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. type of a backup generator and a place in Thank you for that response. I guess I’ll
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 864 pass that information on to the mayor of root of many of the social problems we Resolute Bay. face in Nunavut. One of the core commitments of the government’s For my final question, I’m just Tamapta Action Plan was, and I quote, wondering in terms of the emergency “The Government of Nunavut will open preparedness. A lot of what you have a culturally-relevant substance-abuse given me in your answers is it’s based treatment facility.” around getting those plans completed. I’m just wondering: is there a deadline Early in 2011, the government put out on which the hamlets actually have to RFPs to establish residential addictions submit these plans to your department? treatment centres in Cambridge Bay and Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Iqaluit. Unfortunately these RFPs were cancelled in April. Can the minister Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. clearly update this House as to whether Minister of Community and Government there is still intent to establish addictions Services, Minister Kusugak. treatment centres in Nunavut during the term of this government? Thank you, Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have a vision, as I stated previously, as some Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. communities have completed their Minister responsible for Health and emergency plans. The local councils Social Services, Minister Curley. have reviewed these plans and passed them into by-laws. I believe that there Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): are not too many, perhaps just nine Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whenever a communities, that have completed this question is raised on this, I am usually task. However, our expectations are to happy to respond. Many residents of try to have this completed before the end Nunavut don’t have any support when it of the calendar year. We hope to have comes to dealing with addictions, such them all completed by the month of as alcohol and other addictions in their December. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. lives. Further, we are aware that when people are undergoing these challenges, Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. the situation in their homes deteriorates Oral Questions. Member for Nattilik, and some people are completely Ms. Ugyuk. demoralized and require assistance in dealing with their addictions. Question 111 – 3(3): Nunavut-Based Addictions Treatment Centres Due to those reasons, in previous years, (Ugyuk) the funds approved via the O&M process Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, will be used towards planning in this Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my fiscal year. We are currently at the question to the Minister of Health and planning stage and the funds that the Social Services. members approved previously will go towards deliberating on the kinds of (interpretation ends) As we all know, addiction assistance programs we want addictions and substance abuse lie at the to provide here in Nunavut.
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Additionally, my former deputy minister Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): and I spoke about these issues when we Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are met and outlined the large amounts of required to have a plan in place prior to funds expended to send addicts south for construction. More or less like trying to treatment since we don’t have a establish a school with no furniture or treatment centre in Nunavut. We have curriculum in place, that is an impossible initiated the plans for this facility and task. They have to prepare prior to the our officials are deliberating on the establishment, such as developing a options of how best to approach this curriculum and developing an challenge. I don’t think we were fully operational plan. They also need to aware of the complexities involved. This develop and validate the number of staff past winter, we spoke about this required, along with the O&M funds to initiative, but we have been asked to pay for their staff. These all have to be work on plans only, so we are included in the plans. developing plans. This past winter and this summer, the Nonetheless, I can’t ascertain whether mental health directors put out an RFP to the capital funds will be approved for the determine some cost estimates if we facility and I can’t answer that yet were to develop a facility. That RFP was because it still has to be submitted to published in the newspaper to determine cabinet for review later on this fall. For our treatment needs here in Nunavut, that reason, we are in the planning stages such as a mental health facility, an for this facility that is needed in addictions treatment centre, or healing Nunavut, especially one that has a facility. foundation that is more welcoming to Inuit customs and practices. I concur We have to be familiar with the with the statements made by the requirements because we need to present member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. them to the cabinet as well as to FMB for funding. This will be a multi-year Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. program once established here, so we Your first supplementary, Ms. Ugyuk. must have an idea of the annual operational costs and we have to Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, remember maintenance costs as well. Mr. Speaker. I kind of get the reason as to why we have to await this facility. Above all, when you talk about treating What is causing the delay? Can the addiction, you need to have doctors who minister elaborate on what is the cause can diagnose the type of addiction and for the delay? Is it due to the lack of a you can’t just grab a person off the street facility or is it due to the high costs and say that they’re an alcoholic. The associated with constructing these assessment has to be made with the treatment centres? Thank you, Mr. support of the doctors to work with Speaker. people who want to be treated for addictions. The treatment has to be Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. appropriate and we have to respect the Minister of Health and Social Services, people who want treatment. Minister Curley.
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We are being very meticulous in our Moreover, the Minister of Finance planning since we were told that we continues to reiterate his concerns about need a comprehensive plan. Further, we our deficit, which is currently can’t just spend public funds without the approaching $50 million, so we have background information and proper absolutely no room for a facility even if I plans included. We will attempt to wanted to create one tomorrow. implement these plans once they are Secondly, the Auditor General keeps completed and my expectations are that telling the Members of this House that the plans will be completed by this fall. we need to have plans in place for Thank you, Mr. Speaker. operations. As a department, we anticipate that we will eventually have a Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. facility in the Kitikmeot. We definitely Your second supplementary, Ms. Ugyuk. need a facility in the Baffin region.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, I can state unequivocally that we do Mr. Speaker. I don’t consider the reasons support the principle of treatment as we as sufficient to delay treatment as there have actual programs being funded by are existing facilities to treat and heal the federal government geared towards people within Canada and the NWT. addictions treatment. As a matter of fact, When the lack of a facility is used as a some of the community wellness reason, I find that inexcusable as we programs are running with this funding. already have facilities in southern They are funded to run those programs Canada. that they are capable of providing. We have a program running already in Nevertheless, I want to ask the minister: Rankin Inlet and I believe one in (interpretation ends) what other kind of Igloolik under the wellness programs, initiatives has the minister and his with support from NTI, so we have some officials considered for Nunavut-based local programs already. addictions treatment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Additionally, in Coral Harbour, a men’s group, Makiliqpuq, has been providing Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. healing programs via these types of Minister of Health and Social Services, program funding, but we want to provide Minister Curley. further support in the longer term, in conjunction with the other funds Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): identified for the facilities. If the funds Yes, the preamble to your question are approved, as I stated, it will be surmises that this is just a simple process outlined in the proposal which we hope and that we can just proceed without any to present to the cabinet this fall. We preparation. There are no funds will be giving support to assist identified within the budget that the organizations like the one that exists in members approved this winter that Coral Harbour, which would allow them allows for the creation of a facility. That to offer programming outside of their is the number one obstacle we face. community.
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If funding was available, I, too, would workers, as they have practical want to immediately create these experience and courses under their facilities to meet our needs, but we have belts… . As we have seen in the past two nothing available at this time. Thank years, the men’s group has been very you, Mr. Speaker. beneficial. We will consider these types of requests and perhaps I can ask the Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. group to contact you directly. Thank Your final supplementary, Ms. Ugyuk. you, Mr. Speaker.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your Oral Questions. Member for South responses. (interpretation ends) In Baffin, Mr. Schell. September of 2010, I wrote the minister a letter in support of bringing mobile Question 112 – 3(3): Work Performed treatment programs to the two on QEC President’s House by communities in my constituency. Has QEC Employees (Schell) the minister given any further consideration to implementing this type Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. of community-based project, especially My question is for the Minister of Qulliq if the plans for Nunavut-based treatment Energy. facilities are now on hold due to not much funding and, if not, why not? Yesterday I tabled two pictures of work Thank you, Mr. Speaker. being done by Qulliq Energy at a residential home. My understanding is Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. that this home is owned by the president Minister of Health and Social Services, of Qulliq Energy. Basically what was Minister Curley. done on site was some landscaping and creating a retaining wall. There was Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): approximately 16 hydro poles used, four Thank you. Yes, the correspondence you or five steel pilings, there was a QEC wrote has been forwarded to our mental boom truck used, six employees were health directorate in Cambridge Bay. paid to do this work, and the majority of They have reviewed the request and if the work took place on Wednesday, May there are any surplus funds, then we can 19, and completed the following day. consider that request for funding. We want them to continue to request Like I said, there were approximately six funding. As I mentioned earlier, the employees and it took them funds from the federal government are approximately 16 hours each for a total specific to aboriginal programming and of 96 man-hours. Normally when there’s this goes through our department. These work done by Qulliq Energy funds can be geared towards this type of Corporation crew, it’s coded to a project program. or a budget. My question is: was this job coded to a project or budget or was it If we had funds available for Coral personally paid for by the president of Harbour’s men’s healing group to travel Qulliq Energy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to the communities to teach local
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Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. the question as notice on hearsay. So Minister responsible for the Qulliq maybe you could guide me on which Energy Corporation, Minister Kusugak. path we should go on this issue because there is nothing confirming anything. It’s Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. just allegations, Mr. Speaker. I don’t Speaker. Unfortunately I can’t tell from know if it’s proper to take questions on this photograph whose house it is, but it notice on allegations. There are no doesn’t look anything like the documents on it. Thank you, Mr. president’s house. Maybe it is the Speaker. president’s house. I’ll have to take your word for it and I’ll have to take your Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. word for it that the work was actually Minister Kusugak, you can take any performed on that day because there’s question as notice. nothing dated on this or (interpretation) I mean (interpretation ends) it’s not stamp I would suggest that if the member who dated. I would have to assume that the asked the question had more information information you are feeding me is to provide to the minister that he do that correct and I’ll have to look into it. so that they can adequately look into the member’s concerns. It doesn’t say anything on here. I cannot answer hearsay, Mr. Speaker, so I’ll The question has been taken as notice, so leave it at that. There’s nothing on here we will move on. Oral Questions. that says that work was performed, that Member for Amittuq, Mr. Tapardjuk. there are 16 or 14 poles there, that there are six employees working on this, and Question 113 – 3(3): Government of that it happened on May or whatever Nunavut Responses to Resolutions date, as you suggest. Mr. Speaker, of the Nunavut Association of there’s nothing on here that outlines that. Municipalities (Tapardjuk)
I would love to take your word for it, but Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank I can’t, Mr. Speaker, so I’ll have to take you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the question as notice. There’s nothing the Minister of Community and there. There’s no proof of anything there Government Services, Minister other than a truck with a boom on it and, Kusugak. I assume, poles. I cannot answer all of those questions he’s asking. It’s just Last week, the resolutions from the hearsay, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. recent annual general meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. were tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Minister Kusugak, I understood that you The association’s meeting was recently have taken that question as notice. Is that held in Rankin Inlet where they drafted correct? these resolutions. Can the minister inform the House when the Government Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I will have to of Nunavut will respond to these because what he’s saying is hearsay, Mr. resolutions that were tabled in the Speaker. I don’t know if I can even take House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. tabling it in the House? Thank you, Mr. Minister of Community and Government Speaker. Services, Minister Kusugak. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Minister for Community and Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank Government Services, Minister you for your question. The resolutions Kusugak. are dealt with by the entity that passed them. What I think you are referring to Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): are the resolutions that are specific to the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These department of which I am the minister. I challenges associated with solid waste believe that you’re asking about the management in our communities just responses to the resolutions directed to keep growing undeniably. In the past my department and whether they are when we would burn garbage in empty being dealt with. Yes, the resolutions 45-gallon drums outside of our houses, it that ask for action are acted upon based seemed that we hardly had any garbage on the type of action warranted and we to dispose of. Today the problem is deal with the resolutions once they are growing with more vehicles being received at our offices. Thank you, Mr. brought into Nunavut. Action is needed Speaker. on municipal solid waste.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. The report we requested has been Your first supplementary, Mr. submitted, but we have to review it and Tapardjuk. we have to work with different government agencies, such as the Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank Department of Environment, and others you, Mr. Speaker. One of the resolutions within the government to work on adopted by the Nunavut Association of solutions. As a matter of fact, we are Municipalities concerned the issue of working with Environment Canada municipal solid waste management, representatives as we review this huge including old vehicles, another topic that challenge. many MLAs have raised previously in the Legislative Assembly. The resolution There are different types of solid waste calls on the Government of Nunavut to in the communities. We need to clarify provide the Nunavut Association of who does what and what is the best way Municipalities with a copy of the report to handle this challenge in the most cost- on options for solid waste management. effective manner or if any improvements can be undertaken. After a thorough Will the minister be providing a copy of review of all components, it will be this report on the management of waste better to respond on the entire matter. In and old vehicles to NAM? I imagine that the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we are in the this report has been completed. I wonder middle of completing that review. Thank when this report outlining the proposed you. waste management options and how they would attempt to remedy that challenge will be complete. Can he commit to
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Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. ensure they don’t endanger themselves Your second supplementary, Mr. while searching. Tapardjuk. Search and rescue training is something Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank that is continually worked on. We work you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the with the Municipal Training minister for his comprehensive response. Organization in providing training to Another resolution identified was local emergency responders. Whenever regarding the Arctic Council. As we there are courses being offered in heard recently, there were signatories emergency response, we offer the representing different countries and their training, such as aircraft search patterns. governments and an agreement was These are ongoing issues, so I can’t say reached on emergency search and rescue what type of training is specifically cooperation amongst the countries in provided on which dates, but we are case of an emergency or if a plane continuously striving towards good crashed. The organizations that provide training as we know this is a very emergency services in Canada, important service provided by our local Greenland, America, and Denmark SAR teams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. agreed on a cooperation agreement. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. A matter that was raised by Hall Beach Your final supplementary, Mr. residents is that more training is needed Tapardjuk. for individuals involved in search and rescue missions or emergency response Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank teams. I wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for minister can act expeditiously on this your prompt response. An additional request for training of search and rescue resolution was passed and I spoke to the volunteers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. need for morgues just last week as some of the smaller communities don’t have Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. morgues for the recently deceased. The Minister responsible for Community and community of Hall Beach presented a Government Services, Minister motion just recently on this matter. What Kusugak. I would like to know is which minister will be able to answer the requests for Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): morgues as some communities lack Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my them. Can I be informed as to which colleague for raising that in his question. minister will be able to respond to these Search and rescue or having to rescue requests for local morgues? Thank you, someone in an emergency situation is Mr. Speaker. not all search-related, mind you. Since January of this year, there have already Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. been 75 emergency incidents in Nunavut Your question is relating to a NAM communities. There are different types resolution, so it could go to the Minister of searches required, so the search and responsible for Community and rescuers should be thoroughly trained to Government Services, Mr. Kusugak.
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Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. need for office spaces. To date, not all Speaker. Not all NAM resolutions are communities have identified office CGS related. Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, spaces. More offices are being identified I will check within government to see but not all communities have completed who would most appropriately be able to this, so they continue to work on this respond to that question. I will get back matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to you at a later time, Mr. Speaker. I will respond to your question that way. I Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. believe you’re asking me which minister Your first supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt. would appropriately answer that. I will get back to you on that one. Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. We all know that acquiring office space in smaller communities can be Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. challenging at times. Can the Premier Oral Questions. Member for Hudson update us today on which communities Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. are still without office space for the GLO positions? Thank you, Mr. Question 114 – 3(3): Status of Speaker. Government Liaison Officer Positions (Rumbolt) Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Minister responsible for Executive and Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Intergovernmental Affairs, Madam I would like to direct my question to the Premier. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Premier Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Aariak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again thank the member for that question. There are Mr. Speaker, last month, the government issues that need to be dealt with, such as issued a request for proposals for the the regional supervisor’s office that will office space needed for the government be in Pond Inlet. Let me first speak to liaison officer positions located in the position. The position has been set various communities. Can the Premier up and we expect the office to be indicate if office space for GLO operating this month. (interpretation positions has been leased in all ends) It will be up and running within communities throughout Nunavut? the month. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Additionally, the vacant Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. GLO positions in the non-decentralized Minister responsible for Executive and communities are being prioritized. The Intergovernmental Affairs, Madam member should be aware of that because Premier. I have mentioned it before. (interpretation ends) The first four GLO Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): positions in Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Hall Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for Beach, and Qikiqtarjuaq have closed in your question. All of these issues are terms of the ads on that. The GLO currently being worked on, including the positions for Resolute Bay, Coral
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Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet closed Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. on June 3, so those have already closed Madam Premier. as well. Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): The process has not been completed yet Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is also a as I speak and I will be happy to keep really good question. We wanted to fast- the member and the members posted on forward the identification of offices, but the progress of the office locations. we found that we needed more Thank you, Mr. Speaker. information and required more research on which offices are available and which Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. communities still need to look for office Your second supplementary, Mr. space. There were different aspects that Rumbolt. needed review. At this time, some have been completed while others are still Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. looking for office space. I think the Premier got ahead of me with my next question, but I was trying to I cannot immediately answer the only find out at this time which question with respect to the timeline. I communities do not have office space. believe that is what he wants to know, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. when space will be available. Once I have the information, I will relay it to Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. the member as it becomes available. Madam Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. Speaker. I will get back to you on that Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, specific question. There are seven Mr. Aupaluktuq. offices that will be closing soon. I will be happy to get back to him in terms of Question 115 – 3(3): Kivalliq exactly which communities. Thank you, Boarding Home (Aupaluktuq) Mr. Speaker. Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. Speaker. I would like to direct my Your final supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt. question to the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier may have answered this The regional health centre in Rankin question in part in her previous answer, Inlet has been very active recently and I but I will ask it anyways. I also noticed would like to commend the director of that job advertisements have been posted the Kivalliq Health Centre for her good for a number of GLO positions in the work. A number of physicians have been Kivalliq region. Can the Premier travelling to Rankin Inlet for clinics and indicate, for the benefit of all members, Kivalliq patients are able to travel to the what the schedule is for filling all of community for tests and appointments these GLO positions throughout instead of being required to travel south. Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. However, there is no dedicated boarding
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 873 home for medical clients travelling to Initially, the two projects were to be Rankin Inlet. done in unison. However, the funds were never transferred to the Nunavut Can the minister clearly describe what government from the federal government the current boarding arrangements are for the other project. Thank you, Mr. for medical patients and their escorts Speaker. who travel to Rankin Inlet for medical services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. Your first supplementary, Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Aupaluktuq. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Minister Curley. Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): You had responded to this question Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a good earlier, but I will again ask the question question. Moreover, going back to the as this is a different session. time when the building was being built in Rankin Inlet, as well as the facility in Patients travelling to Iqaluit from the Kitikmeot, we wanted them constructed Baffin communities have a beautiful concurrently. At that time, we weren’t in new 90-bed boarding facility to cabinet. I believe the one in the accommodate them. There is also a Kitikmeot went ahead as it was first. dedicated facility in Cambridge Bay for Kitikmeot region patients. You We handed the project over to the responded to this question earlier, but federal government quite a while ago I’ll ask it again. Mr. Speaker, can the prior to my becoming a minister. Over minister update this House on whether or the last two years, the funds would have not his department has considered a come from the federal government standalone boarding home for Kivalliq through the Non-Insured Health Benefits patients who travel into Rankin Inlet for program. The funds were made available medical services and, if not, why not? and it was used to add to the new facility Thank you, Mr. Speaker. built in Iqaluit. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. However, with regard to the Kivalliq, Minister responsible for Health and they were unable to release the funds Social Services, Minister Curley. and we have been unable to come to an agreement. We want to push forward Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): with this project if we were to be Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have supported and we prefer that it be built. made this a priority. Your question is We cannot proceed with the project beneficial as it adds value and from what ourselves because it’s the federal we hear, the need is increasing. I have government’s responsibility to provide heard that the day clinic, when it became funding for boarding homes. We will operational, many people have started to continue to request more funding and use that service. In fact, I will continue keep pushing for the Rankin Inlet to provide reports on how many patients facility. we would have sent out to see specialists
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 874 are now coming into a centre where the the federal commitment, particularly for specialist is, and this is something we Inuit people. We are underfunded. can be proud of. I will continue to urge and request the federal government to The infrastructure requirements of our look at the increased use of the hospital health facilities, including boarding in Rankin Inlet by the residents of the homes, is the responsibility of the Kivalliq and when I have something to federal government, not only to plan but report, I will do so. However, as the to build and provide funds through the minister, I will continue to urge the Nunavut government. First, we want to continuation of this practice. Thank you, follow that route before we would Mr. Speaker. eventually and hopefully not have to use our own funds for that purpose because Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. we would be competing with the other Mr. Aupaluktuq, this is your second facilities that are currently needed, for supplementary question. instance, school facilities, and so on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for the record, as a Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. formality, I would like to ask this: will Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, the minister commit to considering a Mr. Elliott. standalone medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet for the next capital plan? Question 116 – 3(3): Bad Gasoline at Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Resolute Bay (Elliott)
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Health and Social Services, My questions are for the Minister of Minister Curley. Community and Government Services.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. Over the winter, the community of Speaker. I thank the member for making Resolute Bay was hit by a number of a statement on that. As a government, I problems relating to their fuel. In think that depends on… . At least 85 particular, the gasoline that was being percent of our budget revenues are from used to operate vehicles, skidoos, and the federal government. We need to be four wheelers was causing them to not real cautious with that one once we start start in cold temperatures. They also spending capital expenditures of that experienced soot buildup in the spark amount, the few that we have. plugs. I was wondering if the minister could explain what happened in the The federal government will eventually community and what his department did start to offload its obligations to the First to assist. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. For that reason, we feel that the federal Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. government should be held accountable Minister responsible for Community and to those facilities and we will do our best Government Services, Minister to try and ensure that we get our share of Kusugak.
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Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. burnt properly. Nothing was mentioned Speaker. I would gladly answer the first about whether this fuel was what caused two questions. damage to the sparkplugs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) During this winter in Resolute Bay, the fuel for vehicles and Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. snowmobiles was low on octane, Your second supplementary question, perhaps. Although this was the reason Mr. Elliott. cited, when the fuel was sampled and studied, the fuel tank was too big and the Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. fuel lost most of its octane. An example Community members have brought of this is, when we fill a red five-gallon concerns of the amount of money spent gas tank and leave a little amount in the on sparkplugs over the winter. Will the can with no means of air, than the can Government of Nunavut be assisting fills with gas vapour. with reimbursing community members with these expenses? Thank you, Mr. The octane in the liquid gas was leaking Speaker. out. When the weather is cold, the octane evaporates and many vehicles Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. were unable to start as a result. That is Minister Kusugak. why when it became apparent that the fuel was low on octane, although still Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): useable, we ordered an additional 36,000 Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In talking litres for Resolute Bay. This new fuel about automobile sparkplugs, even when supply has arrived and is far superior the fuel is absolutely fine, they and it was used instead. Thank you, Mr. sometimes still become problematic. Speaker. I hope that I was clear. Some come from the box already problematic, and due to the fact we Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. cannot ascertain the reason, we haven’t Your first supplementary question, Mr. considered compensation as per the Elliott. members’ question about faulty sparkplugs. Due to the uncertainty of the Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for actual causes and whether the place my second question. So with what where the sparkplugs were bought is the happened in terms of the fuel and the reason, is why we have not considered low octane is that you had explained this such an action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. would not cause permanent damage to car engines and skidoo engines. Thank Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. you, Mr. Speaker. Your final supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Kusugak. Thank you for that explanation. I’ll pass that along to the community members Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): who have been raising that. I don’t know From what I have been led to how happy they will be about it. understand, when the fuel was ignited, it
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My final question is: in the capital plan, We will, however, continue to look at there are other communities across the situation in that community and Nunavut that are receiving upgrades to elsewhere on how the fuel actually their fuel tank. I think, as you had performs in the upcoming winter and in explained, that that’s part of the subsequent years. Thank you, Mr. problem: the increased volume of the Speaker. tank caused more evaporation. What is your department doing to ensure that this Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. doesn’t occur in other communities over Oral Questions. Mr. Schell. the next coming winter? Question 117 – 3(3): Lawsuits against I know that it’s of great concern for QEC by Ex-employees (Schell) community members in terms of search and rescue activities and people going Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. out on the land and being caught on the My question is for the Minister of Qulliq land with their skidoos not starting. Energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the last sitting in February, I had Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. asked the minister how many lawsuits Minister Kusugak. there were by ex-employees and I thought there were three or four, and he Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): indicated that there were only two Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to lawsuits that were filed by ex-employees storage tanks farms and the capacities in to the Qulliq Energy Corporation. So my the communities unable to keep up with question for him is: since February, have demand due to population growth, the there been any additional lawsuits filed growing purchasing power of consumers against Qulliq Energy by ex-employees and the rising numbers of vehicles and for wrongful dismissal? Thank you, Mr. snowmobiles requiring fuel, the capacity Speaker. issue becomes more of a pressing concern especially when we cannot Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. increase it. That is our biggest worry, Minister responsible for the Qulliq how we can increase storage capacity in Energy Corporation, Minister Kusugak. the communities. Fuel supply in Nunavut is an annual event. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I’ll have to check, Mr. Speaker. I do not keep daily In fact, this is the first time we tabs on whether lawsuits are happening experienced fuel problems in Resolute in QEC or anywhere else in the Bay due to very cold temperatures. We departments I’m aware of. I’ll check and are looking at improvements for the I’ll get back to my colleague. Thank summer supply. Just to inform you, the you, Mr. Speaker. fuel leftover from the winter will be usable again during the summer, when it Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. is no longer cold and the fuel will again Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, be back to normal, since it is not bad Mr. Elliott. fuel.
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Question 118 – 3(3): Dental Services Department of Education is involved for Nunavut (Elliott) somewhat with that program.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I In terms of a long-term strategy, we would like to direct my question to the really don’t have any developed but it’s Minister of Health and Social Services. something that we, as a department, have relayed to Public Health. We are In my Member’s Statement, I mentioned certainly going to have to look into that. the urgent need for community-based At this moment, I don’t have any further dental services and preventative information to add. Thank you, Mr. programs across Nunavut. Can the Speaker. minister clearly describe what initiatives are currently underway to provide dental Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. services and prevention programs across Your first supplementary, Mr. Elliott. all of Nunavut’s communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The majority of Nunavut communities Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. do not have a full-time dental therapist. Minister responsible for Health and Can the minister update the House on Social Services, Minister Curley. what efforts are underway to train and hire dental therapists for Nunavut Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. Again, Mr. Speaker, we are sort of at the mercy, in some ways, of the Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. federal government when we’re dealing Minister for Health and Social Services, with the mostly Inuit populated Minister Curley. communities. They do have a program structured through the Nunavut Non- Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. Insured Health Benefits program and Speaker. As I said earlier, we don’t have that includes the partners of NTI and all a comprehensive plan towards that, but of the other regional associations in it’s something that we certainly should terms of establishing policy guidelines. I be looking into further. We depend on think it’s normally a multi-year all of the other services from the south agreement that they do have. and there are a number of services that are provided, again like I said, through That program is really somewhat limited the Non-Insured Health Benefits because the way, which the member program. stated today, it includes all of those regions. The demand is increasing and Again, these are somewhat limited so on. At the same time, we do have a because they normally schedule trips to school related dental therapist that does communities through the agreement, come in and take part, and we are which includes our department and in grateful that, I believe, that is cost shared some cases, they’re supposed to be by our department. I’ll have to check going into communities two times a further on that, but I know that the year. If the weather isn’t cooperating somewhat, sometimes that hampers trips.
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Mr. Speaker, I indicated earlier in my provide more preventative measures, first response that we would be which includes just that, oral issues responding further to the member’s related to dental issues. So once I have concerns somewhat, but again, we don’t that information, I’ll be glad to share that actually have a detailed comprehensive information and table it in the House. plan to increase the services to meet the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. demand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. Just to remind members that if there’s Your second supplementary, Mr. Elliott. something that is in Committee of the Whole, questions should be asked in Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I Committee of the Whole on it. The find it interesting that the minister says member asked if the minister would that there’s no comprehensive plan. One table that strategy, so that’s why I let of the contracts lists in the government’s that go, but if it’s pertaining to the recent procurement activities report for strategy or something that’s in 2009-2010, which is Tabled Document Committee of the Whole, I ask members 251 – 3(2) and it’s what we’re to refrain from asking questions on that discussing in COW, there’s a $110,000 in question period as it is in Committee sole source contract for an “Oral Health of the Whole. Strategy.” I’m wondering if the minister can describe what this strategy covers Your final supplementary, Mr. Elliott. and indicate whether he would be willing to table it in the House. Thank Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I you, Mr. Speaker. apologize. I’ll ask questions in Committee of the Whole as well, where I Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. have 10 minutes to continue to ask. Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley. For my final question, I’m just concerned because it does keep coming Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. up, the idea of the federal government Speaker. My response to you is, and its commitments, and it’s not just particularly with the dental issues with your department that has been saying kids, there are dental therapy programs that. I know in some questions that I that are somewhat more active, I think, have asked to the Minister of Finance than the actual dentists beyond school and a couple of other departments, the years, and so on. That’s something we federal government’s commitment to the really don’t have anything concrete to territory is just not cutting it. offer to. I’m wondering if you could explain what But in terms of the other prevention your department is going to do. Again, stuff, Public Health, through our this is something we have been going department, is engaged with discussions back and forth about in terms of federal with all of the other service providers government funding. It affects the oral throughout the nation. We took part in health, but it also affects, like I have all of these. It means that we need to been pushing in Arctic Bay, funding for
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 879 something like a health centre, which we So I’ll be pleased to take your advice require federal government funding for and we shall try and see what we can infrastructure. come up with. At this moment, I’m not quite prepared. I don’t have that Maybe if you could outline what your information, but once we have further department is doing to speak with our plans, I’ll be able to discuss them with MP, to speak with the federal my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. government, and to speak with territorial ministers of health. I know a lot of Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. money is going to First Nations for Members will note that the time for infrastructure and I’m wondering when question period has expired. Moving on they are going to start providing funding in the Orders of the Day, Item 7. Written for Inuit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Questions. Ms. Ugyuk.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Item 7: Written Questions Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley. Written Question 007 – 3(3): Community Access Roads Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. Program Expenditures (Ugyuk) Speaker. Yes, the question is very important not only to the Members of Ms. Ugyuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I the House here but Nunavutmiut as a have a written question for the Minister whole. We are somewhat limited and of Economic Development and constrained by what are included in the Transportation concerning the issue of Non-Insured Health Benefits treatments, Community Access Roads Program which include a number of areas and one expenditures. is vision care, dental, and among other things, medical travel. Mr. Speaker, my written question is lengthy, so I ask that it be entered into So the department continues to discuss the record as read. plans and strategies internally. Eventually the federal government Preamble: maybe should transfer all of that funding directly to the Nunavut government and The Department of Economic establish its own programs and Development and Transportation’s guidelines, but we do know that that will 2009-2010 capital estimates included likely not happen, then we would be able $500,000 in funding for community to schedule more dental and arrange access roads. The Department of contracts directly with our own officials Economic Development and and the dental programs that are Transportation’s 2010-11 and 2011-12 available in Nunavut. But at this main estimates each contained $500,000 moment, we are somewhat constrained in funding for community access roads. due to the fact that they are scheduled out through the Nunavut Non-Insured 1. Broken down by community and Health Benefits program. project, what were the Department of Economic Development and
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Transportation’s Community Access Item 13: Tabling of Documents Roads Program expenditures for the 2009-2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12 Tabled Document 055 – 3(3): Arnait (to date) fiscal years? Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit Report September 13 to 2. What application and reporting 17, 2010 (Aariak) requirements are in place with respect to funding received by Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. municipal governments and other Speaker. I am pleased to table the Arnait entities under the department’s Nipingit: Women’s Leadership Summit Community Access Roads Program? Report for September 13 to 17, 2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 3. With respect to community access road projects funded in the 2009- Speaker: If I can just ask the page to 2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12 (to date) please bring that up to the front. fiscal years in the communities of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, what Tabling of Documents. Minister of contractors were engaged to perform Human Resources, Minister Shewchuk. work and how were the contractors selected? Tabled Document 056 – 3(3): Public Service Annual Report 2009-2010 4. As of June 7, 2011, what is the status (Shewchuk) of community access road projects Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, funded in the 2009-2010, 2010-11, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to table the and 2011-12 (to date) fiscal years in public service annual report for the year the communities of Gjoa Haven and 2009-2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Taloyoak? Speaker: Thank you, Minister Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Shewchuk. Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Economic Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. Do Development and Transportation, members agree that the written question Minister Taptuna. be entered into the record as read? Tabled Document 057 – 3(3): Some Members: Agreed. Northern Development Ministers’ Forum Report, Thunder Bay, Speaker: There is agreement. The Ontario, August 30 to September written question will be entered into the 2, 2010 (Taptuna) record as read. Item 7. Written Questions. Item 8. Returns to Written Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Questions. Item 9. Replies to Opening Speaker. I am pleased to table the Address. Item 10. Petitions. Item 11. Northern Development Ministers’ Responses to Petitions. Item 12. Reports Forum Report in Thunder Bay, Ontario, of Committee on the Review of Bills and August 30 to September 2, 2010. Thank Other Matters. Item 13. Tabling of you, Mr. Speaker. Documents. Madam Premier.
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Speaker: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. Tabled Document 060 – 3(3): Nunavut Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Minister Outfitter Liability Protection Fund of Community and Government Annual Report 2010-2011 Services, Minister Kusugak. (Peterson) Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Tabled Document 058 – 3(3): Nunavut Speaker. I am pleased to table the Emergency Management Annual Nunavut Outfitter Liability Protection Report 2010-2011 (Kusugak) Fund Annual Report 2010-2011. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to Speaker: Thank you, Minister Peterson. table the Nunavut Emergency Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Member Management Annual Report 2010-2011. for Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tabled Document 061 – 3(3): Copy of Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Tabling of Documents. Minister Employee Standards Act responsible for Health and Social (Legislative Assembly of the Services, Minister Curley. Northwest Territories) (Elliott)
Tabled Document 059 – 3(3): Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Government of Nunavut Action the Minister of Justice and other Plan on the Report of the Auditor members are aware, I have been General of Canada to the advocating for amendments to territorial Legislative Assembly of Nunavut law that would protect the jobs of 2011 on the Children, Youth and Nunavummiut who are required to be Family Programs and Services in absent from work to serve in our Nunavut (Curley) National Reserve Force. I believe that almost all Canadian jurisdictions have Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you, Mr. introduced such measures. Speaker. I am pleased to table the Government of Nunavut Action Plan on I wish to table today a copy of Bill 21, the Report of the Auditor General of which was introduced last month in the Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Nunavut 2011 on the Children, Youth Territories. This bill provides members and Family Programs and Services in of the reserve force with an entitlement Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to unpaid leave from their employment if they are required to be absent from work Speaker: Thank you, Minister Curley. for the purpose of service with the Tabling of Documents. Minister reserve force. I look forward to responsible for Finance, Minister discussing this matter with the Minister Peterson. of Justice so that we can agree on a way to introduce similar legislation during our upcoming fall sitting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Item Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 13. Tabling of Documents. Moving on in Orders of the Day, Item 14. Notices of Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. Motions. Madam Premier. Item 14. Notices of Motions. Item 15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Item 14: Notices of Motions Bills. Member for South Baffin, Mr. Schell. Motion 009 – 3(3): Appointment of a Ministerial Member of the Item 15: Notices of Motions for First Management and Services Board – Reading of Bills Notice (Aariak) Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. Amendment Act – Notice Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, June 9, 2011, I will move the following Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I motion: give notice that on Thursday, June 9, 2011, I will move that Bill 11, NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded Legislative Assembly Statutes by the Hon. Member for Uqqummiut, Amendment Act, be read for the first that the Hon. Lorne Kusugak be time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. appointed as a ministerial member of the Management and Services Board. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bills. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. Item 14. Notices of Motions. Madam Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Premier. Elections – Notice
Motion 010 – 3(3): Appointment of Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alternate Ministerial Member of I give notice that on Thursday, June 9, the Management and Services 2011, I will move that Bill 12, An Act Board – Notice (Aariak) Respecting Nunavut Elections, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, June 9, 2011, I will move the following Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Item motion: 15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Item 16. Motions. Item 17. First NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded Reading of Bills. Mr. Schell. by the Hon. Member for Uqqummiut, that the Hon. Daniel Shewchuk be Item 17: First Reading of Bills appointed as an alternate ministerial member of the Management and Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I Services Board. seek the consent of this House to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 11, Legislative
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Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, can Speaker: There is agreement. Please be read for the first time today. proceed, Mr. Rumbolt.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. The Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut member is seeking consent to waive the Elections – First Reading two-day waiting rule so that Bill 11 can be read for the first time. Do members Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. agree? I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, Some Members: Agreed. that Bill 12, An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections, be read for the first time. Speaker: Thank you. There is Thank you, Mr. Speaker. agreement. Please proceed, Mr. Schell. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. The Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes motion is in order. Question has been Amendment Act – First Reading called. All those in favour. Any opposed? There being none. The motion Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I is carried and Bill 12 has had first move, seconded by the Hon. Member for reading. Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 11, Legislative Assembly Statutes Item 17. First Reading of Bills. Item 18. Amendment Act, be read for the first Second Reading of Bills. Member for time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. South Baffin, Mr. Schell.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. The Item 18: Second Reading of Bills motion is in order. All those in favour. Any opposed? I see none. The motion is Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I carried. seek the consent of this House to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 11, Legislative Item 17. First Reading of Bills. Mr. Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, can Rumbolt. be read for the second time today.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. The I seek the consent of this House today to member is seeking consent to waive the waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 12, An Act one-day waiting rule so that Bill 11 can Respecting Nunavut Elections, can be be read for the second time. Do members read for the first time today. Thank you, agree? Mr. Speaker. Some Members: Agreed. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. The member is seeking consent to waive the Speaker: You have agreement. Please two-day waiting rule so that Bill 11 can proceed, Mr. Schell. be read for the first time. Do members agree?
Some Members: Agreed.
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Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes be read for the second time. Do members Amendment Act – Second Reading agree?
Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I Some Members: Agreed. move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Speaker: You have agreement. Please Bill 11, Legislative Assembly Statutes proceed, Mr. Rumbolt. Amendment Act, be read for the second time. Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections – Second Reading Mr. Speaker, this bill streamlines the administration of two Acts. It amends Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the Integrity Act to adopt the suggestions I move, seconded by the Hon. Member made by the Integrity Commissioner to for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, clarify the provisions respecting the that Bill 12, An Act Respecting Nunavut enforcement of the Integrity Elections, be read for the second time. Commissioner’s recommendations. It also amends the Order of Nunavut Act to Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the allow a member of the Order of Nunavut Nunavut Elections Act and the Public Advisory Council to designate a Service Act to implement the substitute and to clarify attributes of recommendations of the chief electoral memberships in the order. Thank you, officer in her 2009 annual report and Mr. Speaker. addresses other matters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. The motion is in order. To the principle of Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. The the bill. Question has been called. All motion is in order. To the principle of those in favour. Any opposed? The the bill. Question has been called. All motion is carried and as Bill 11 is a those in favour. Any opposed? The House Bill, it is referred directly to motion is carried and as Bill 12 is again Committee of the Whole. a House Bill, it is referred directly to Committee of the Whole. Item 18. Second Reading of Bills. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. Item 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bills 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12, and Tabled I seek the consent of this House today to Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251 – waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 12, An Act 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – 3(2) with Mr. Respecting Nunavut Elections, can be Tapardjuk in the Chair. read for the second time today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. The break. member is seeking consent to waive the one-day waiting rule so that Bill 12 can Sergeant-at-Arms.
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>>House recessed at 15:33 and Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Committee resumed at 15:59 Are we agreed to have the Speaker at the witness table? Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Some Members: Agreed. Matters Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at- Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) Arms, please escort the Speaker to the (interpretation): Thank you. We now table. have a quorum. I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Speaker. I Committee of the Whole, we have the believe these will be your first questions following items to deal with: Bills 6, 7, directed to you as the new Speaker of the 8, 11, and 12, and Tabled Documents House. Do you have any opening 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251– 3(2), 274 – comments? 3(2), and 275 – 3(2). What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Aupaluktuq. Speaker: Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I can proceed? Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We wish to commence the Chairman: Please proceed, Mr. review of Bills 11 and 12. We will then Speaker. continue our concurrent review of Tabled Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and 3(2), 251– 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – colleagues. I am pleased to have the 3(2) starting with the Hon. Lorne opportunity to appear today before the Kusugak with questions on the Qulliq Committee of the Whole on the occasion Energy Corporation, followed by the of its consideration of Bill 11, Premier for the departments of Legislative Assembly Statutes Education and EIA, the Hon. Tagak Amendment Act. Curley for Health and Social Services, and the Hon. Keith Peterson for the Bill 11 amends the Integrity Act and the departments of Finance and Justice. Order of Nunavut Act, both of which are (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. statutes that come under the jurisdiction Chairman. of the Legislative Assembly.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, The amendments to the Integrity Act Moses Aupaluktuq. Are we agreed that adopt suggestions made by the Integrity we first deal with Bill 11 and Bill 12? Commissioner to clarify the provisions respecting the enforcement of Some Members: Agreed. recommendations that have been accepted by the Legislative Assembly. Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Consideration The amendments to the Order of in Committee Nunavut Act allow a member of the Order of Nunavut Advisory Council to designate a substitute in the event that a
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 886 member is or will be absent, Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To incapacitated, or unable to act. The my right is the Clerk of the Legislative amendments also clarify attributes of Assembly of Nunavut, Mr. John Quirke. membership in the order. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As members will recall, Nunavummiut Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, were invited earlier this year to submit Mr. Speaker. I will now open the floor nominations to the Order of Nunavut. I for any general comments from am pleased to take this opportunity to members. If there are none, we will now advise all members that the advisory go clause by clause. Are we agreed that council will be meeting later this month we proceed to the clause-by-clause to consider the many nominations that review? have been received. I look forward to inviting all members to the first Some Members: Agreed. investiture ceremony, which I anticipate will be held this fall. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Bill 11, Mr. Chairman, that concludes my (interpretation) Legislative Assembly opening comments to Bill 11. I look Statutes Amendment Act. (interpretation forward to responding to any questions ends) Clause 1. (interpretation) Do you that my colleagues may have. Thank agree? you, Mr. Chairman. Some Members: Agreed. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Do you have any staff Chairman: Clause 2. (interpretation) Do members that you would like to bring to you agree? the table? Some Members: Agreed. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I would like to ask for the Chairman (interpretation): Are we committee’s indulgence to allow our agreed to (interpretation ends) Bill 11 Clerk, Mr. John Quirke, to join me at the (interpretation) as a whole? witness table. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Some Members: Agreed. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Are we agreed to have his Clerk come Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. forward to the witness table? Pursuant to (interpretation ends) Rule 62(2), Bill 11 (interpretation) can be Some Members: Agreed. placed on the orders of the day for third reading. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the The next item to deal with is Clerk in. (interpretation ends) Bill 12, (interpretation) An Act Respecting Thank you. For the record, please Nunavut Elections. Mr. Speaker, do you introduce your witness, Mr. Speaker. have any opening comments?
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Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut The Nunavut Elections Act currently Elections – Consideration in provides that any eligible Nunavut voter Committee may run for office in a general election in any constituency. However, the rules Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I are different for by-elections. At present, do, but before I do, can I please ask the a person wishing to run in a by-election committee if they would excuse Mr. must be resident in the constituency on Clerk from the witness table. Is that okay the day that the writ is issued. with the committee if he leaves? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 12 amends the Nunavut Elections Act to provide that the rules for Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, candidates in by-elections will be the Mr. Speaker. He wants another witness same as the rules for general elections. to come forth. Do we agree to excuse the In addition to achieving more Clerk? consistency between the rules for general elections and by-elections, it will Some Members: Agreed. allow for a greater potential range of candidates to stand for office in both Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at- general elections and by-elections, Arms, please escort the Clerk from the thereby providing more choice for table. Nunavut voters. Given our relatively small population, this is a positive If you have any opening comments, Mr. measure for the health of our democracy. Speaker, the floor is open. The grounds for disqualification of Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I candidates are amended to include am pleased to have the opportunity to former candidates or financial agents appear today before the Committee of who did not comply with their the Whole on the occasion of its compliance agreement. consideration of Bill 12, An Act Respecting Nunavut Elections. The process for registering voters and compiling and revising the voters lists is Bill 12 amends the Nunavut Elections amended to reflect the current practice of Act and the Public Service Act to using the electronic voter registration implement the recommendations of the system. chief electoral officer in her 2009 annual report and address other matters. The special provisions respecting voting by radio or satellite phone are being The rules on residence are amended to amended to correct an ambiguity and to clarify that a person’s residence is their allow more modern technology. actual residence and to limit temporary absence from the community or Nunavut The process for reviewing the to a period no greater than 10 months, boundaries of constituencies is amended with the exception of students that are to remove the electoral quotient and to continuously attending school. start the regular ten-year adjustment in 2022. This change will enhance the
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 888 predictability of the redistribution cycle. regular annual report for each fiscal year The timing of the establishment of the and one report for each general election next boundaries commission will enable and by-election. it to utilize the results of the 2021 national census. Provisions respecting the appointment of election officers are amended to grant The grounds for a returning officer to the appointment power to the returning reject a candidate are amended to officer and to allow the appointment of include persons who failed to file a poll clerks who are not otherwise financial return in a previous election or qualified to vote. This will, for example, who ceased to be a Member of the enable returning officers to provide Legislative Assembly because of a opportunities for youth to be exposed to charge or conviction for an offence. the democratic process and gain valuable work experience. I would note that The process to challenge the rejection of similar provisions are in place in other a candidate by the chief electoral officer Canadian jurisdictions. is being amended to extend the period to make a challenge and to make the The provisions on compliance challenge a process of judicial review agreements are amended to correct rather than appeal and to provide that it typographical errors, to refer explicitly is the court hearing the challenge who to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and to determines whether the election will be provide more extensive notification of cancelled. such agreements.
The provisions applicable to how to A few minor housekeeping amendments validly mark a ballot and when to reject to correct references to nominations and a ballot are amended to provide more typographical errors are also included. certainty in the counting of ballots. The Public Service Act is amended to The grounds for voiding an election are allow an employee of the government to amended to harmonize with the powers be appointed as an election official when of the judge hearing the application. there is no other suitable person in the community. The grounds for refusing to grant access to a document are amended to provide Mr. Chairman, that concludes my more certainty and to include documents opening comments. I look forward to sealed in a ballot box. responding to any questions that my colleagues may have. Thank you, Mr. A provision is being added to make it Chairman. clear that a financial agent is required to open an account for their candidate in all Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, cases. Mr. Speaker. Do you wish to have any of your staff members with you at the The provisions respecting the annual witness table? report of the chief electoral officer are amended to divide the report into one
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Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman: Clause 2. (interpretation) Do Chairman. I have two witnesses that I you agree? would like to bring to the table. Thank you. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Chairman: Clause 3. (interpretation) Do Are we agreed to bring in the witnesses? you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Chairman: Clause 4. (interpretation) Do Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the you agree? witnesses in. Some Members: Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, for the record, please introduce your witnesses. Chairman: Clause 5. (interpretation) Do you agree? Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is an independent Some Members: Agreed. officer of the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Sandy Kusugak. She’s the chief electoral Chairman: Clause 6. (interpretation) Do officer for Nunavut. To my left, Mr. you agree? Chairman, is Mr. Patrick Orr, who is the legal counsel for Elections Nunavut. Some Members: Agreed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Clause 7. (interpretation) Do Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, you agree? Mr. Speaker. Welcome, Ms. Kusugak and Mr. Orr. Now I will ask if there are Some Members: Agreed. any general comments on the matters we will be dealing with. I believe there are Chairman: Clause 8. (interpretation) Do none. Do members agree to go to the you agree? clause-by-clause review? Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Clause 9. (interpretation) Do Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. you agree? We will now deal with (interpretation ends) Bill 12, (interpretation) An Act Some Members: Agreed. Respecting Nunavut Elections. (interpretation ends) Clause 1. Chairman: Clause 10. (interpretation) (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
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Chairman: Clause 11. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 20. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 12. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 21. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 13. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 22. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 14. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 23. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 15. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 24. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 16. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 25. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 17. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 26. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 18. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 27. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 19. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 28. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
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Chairman: Clause 29. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 38. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 30. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 39. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 31. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 40. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 32. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 41. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 33. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 42. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 34. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 43. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 35. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 44. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 36. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 45. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Clause 37. (interpretation) Chairman: Clause 46. (interpretation) Do you agree? Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed. Some Members: Agreed.
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Chairman: Clause 47. (interpretation) agreed upon, then it would convert to a Do you agree? compliance agreement.
Some Members: Agreed. I can elaborate further in English if I’m not understood. Thank you. Chairman: Clause 48. (interpretation) Do you agree? Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley. (interpretation ends) Mr. Some Members: Agreed. Speaker.
Chairman: Clause 49. (interpretation) Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I Do you agree? don’t want to get it wrong, so I will ask the Legal Counsel for Elections Some Members: Agreed. Nunavut, Mr. Orr, to respond to that. Thank you. Chairman: Clause 50. (interpretation) Do you agree? Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Orr. Some Members: Agreed. Mr. Orr (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman: Clause 51. (interpretation) Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The Do you agree? Mr. Curley. agreement is currently an agreement with a person who was alleged to have Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): committed an offence. The allegation Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I want could be because a complaint was made to thank the witnesses in front of us, against the person. The complaint was along with our Speaker. The bill seems made to the police. It could also be that more Nunavut oriented and Nunavut- the Integrity Commissioner made since it was drafted here. I have no independently has reasonable grounds to doubt that it will improve things. I would believe an offence has been committed. like to ask about clause 51. It appears new and it states that an agreement will In most cases, it would be a case where a be reached. complaint was made against a person and that complaint is made to the police, If anyone is charged with committing an but it could be independently by the infraction in the Elections Act, I would Integrity Commissioner, who becomes like to ask our legal advisor, Mr. Orr, aware of a problem and offers the who would make the allegations. Is it agreement directly. Thank you, Mr. any member of the general public or Chairman. anyone who suspects that an infraction was made? Would that then be resolved Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. this way? I don’t believe it was in the Mr. Curley. original text, at least this phrase in English (interpretation ends) the nature Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you. Very of agreement. (interpretation) Once good. Very clear. Following the allegations and whatnot were established
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 893 by appropriate authorities, in the event Chairman: Clause 54. (interpretation) the person is not willing to enter into a Do you agree? compliance agreement, what are the alternatives then? Thank you. Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman: Clause 55. (interpretation) Mr. Curley. Minister Tootoo. Do you agree?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll Some Members: Agreed. ask the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut, Ms. Kusugak, to respond to Chairman: Clause 56. (interpretation) that. Thank you. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. I Some Members: Agreed. continue to be calling you a minister even though you’re the Speaker. I Chairman: Clause 57. (interpretation) apologize. It will be clarified for the Do you agree? record. Go ahead, Ms. Kusugak. Some Members: Agreed. Ms. Kusugak: Mr. Chairman, in the case that somebody is not willing to sign Chairman (interpretation): Do members a compliance agreement, a prosecution agree to Bill 12 as a whole? can occur like any other crime in Nunavut. The compliance agreement Some Members: Agreed. process was put in place as to having an alternative to court, but if the person is Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. unwilling to agree, then there is a court Pursuant to Rule 62(2), do you agree that process available for everyone. Thank Bill 12 can be placed on the orders of the you, Mr. Chairman. day for third reading?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Some Members: Agreed. Are there any further questions? (interpretation ends) Clause 51. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) Do you agree? Mr. Speaker, if you have any closing remarks. Some Members: Agreed. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Clause 52. (interpretation) First, I would like to thank the staff of Do you agree? the Legislative Assembly for the preparation work that went into Bill 11. Some Members: Agreed. I would also like to take this opportunity Chairman: Clause 53. (interpretation) to thank Ms. Kusugak and Mr. Orr for Do you agree? their work in putting together Bill 12 for us. Hopefully, with some of the Some Members: Agreed. challenges that we faced in the last
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 894 general election, these amendments will Mr. Chairman, this is the first time that help ensure that that won’t happen again. Qulliq Energy has submitted such Hopefully we will have smoother reports. I believe this is yet another elections and quicker elections for some positive sign that QEC and its board of of us in the future. Again I would like to directors are committed to improved thank them very much. It was a lot of transparency and accountability. work on their part and I thank the members for their support on it. Thank Mr. Chairman, as a Crown corporation, you, Mr. Chairman. QEC strives to receive the best value for money by utilizing public processes to Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, advertise for goods and services Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your whenever possible. I am pleased to note, presentation. Sergeant-at-Arms, please excluding the purchase of fuel, the value escort the witnesses out. We will move and volume of sole source contracts on with the next item. Thank you. declined significantly from 2008-09 to 2009-2010. We will proceed with the wishes of the committee. In Committee of the Whole, Mr. Chairman, it’s worth also noting that there is one item that the members wish contract activities which relate to the to deal with. Mr. Kusugak, if you have corporation’s ongoing responsibility for any comments, the floor is now open. maintaining basic services and safeguarding the health and welfare of Tabled Document 274 – 3(2): Lease, Nunavummiut may justify special Contract and Procurement measures to ensure prompt attention and Activity Report 2008-2009 – immediate action. Depending on the Consideration in Committee nature of the requirement, this may require obtaining expertise or specialized Tabled Document 275 – 3(2): Lease, services outside the normal competitive Contract and Procurement process. This can occur where a delay Activity Report 2009-2010 – would be injurious to the public interest Consideration in Committee or where there is only one vendor available and qualified to perform the Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): contract. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to I am ready to respond to your questions appear before the Committee of the on the overall procurement process and Whole today to answer any questions the the corporation’s contracts and leases for members may have concerning the 2008-09 and 2009-2010. Thank you, Mr. Qulliq Energy Corporation’s lease, Chairman. contract and procurement activity reports. The corporation is presenting Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. combined lease, contract and Do you have witnesses that you would procurement activity reports for the like to bring to the table? years 2008-09 and 2009-2010. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
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Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the Thank you. Perhaps Mr. Mackey can witness in. Actually before you do that, respond to the question. Thank you, Mr. are we agreed to bring in the witness? Chairman.
Some Members: Agreed. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Mackey. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Welcome, Minister Kusugak. For the Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. record, please introduce your witness, Chairman. Just in general terms of Minister Kusugak. district heating here in Iqaluit, I don’t have the particulars on the amounts and Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): dates. That’s one of the questions you Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, have asked, but it’s something that I can my colleagues. To my right is Mr. get. Mackey, President of the Qulliq Energy Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The contracts that are listed here talk about work during the 2008-09 and Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, 2009-2010 years. It’s not going back Minister Kusugak. Does the mover of further to when it originally began. In the motion, the Member for Quttiktuq, terms of district heating here in Iqaluit, have any general comments before we all of our customers except for one proceed with questions? Mr. Elliott. remain on the district heating system and they all utilize the district heating system Mr. Elliott: No, Mr. Chairman, I don’t over the winters for the replacement of have any general comments. Thank you. their furnace or boilers.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. We will now open the floor to questions. Mr. Schell, do you have a supplementary Are there any questions from members? question? Perhaps Mr. Elliott does have a question. The floor is open to anyone with a Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. question. Mr. Schell. The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 2009- 2010 lease, contract and procurement Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I activity report indicates that it awarded a welcome the president of Qulliq Energy $4,498,000 tender to Tower Arctic for and the minister here to the Committee the construction of an office building in of the Whole. It’s in regard to your Iqaluit (contract 200937). I would just original $2 million contract for residual like to know what the status of this heat in Iqaluit. I’m just wondering: project is. Is it going to be on budget or what’s the total amount that you have are there going to be any extras? Thank spent to date and how is it working out? you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Schell. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Schell. Minister Kusugak.
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Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): can be collected in the exhaust and then Thank you, Mr. Chairman. provide residual heat for other partners, (interpretation ends) Thank you for the which I think he had said there were question, Mr. Schell. As of today, the other people signed on with it, but then office building is on schedule and on there’s also the heating of the glycol and budget. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. whatnot and that’s circulated to create heat as well. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Mr. Schell. I’m just wondering: in terms of both of those projects, are they both operating as Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. well as they should be? Thank you, Mr. Also, the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Chairman. 2009-2010 lease, contract and procurement activity report indicates that Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, it signed a letter of agreement with Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Environment Canada in the amount of $146,324 and that’s contract No. 11438. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Can you clarify the nature of this Chairman. Maybe because of the agreement and explain what services are technicality of this question, Mr. being provided for this amount? Thank Mackey could answer that. Thank you, you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Schell. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Mackey.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s for water monitoring Chairman. Two components comprise on the potential for hydro power. Thank the district heating system where we you, Mr. Chairman. supply heat from. The first is the glycol off the engine itself that is captured Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. I through heat exchangers and then have no more names on my list. Mr. distributed out through the system. The Elliott. other component is the exhaust gas heat recovery units and these are used to Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I capture the heat coming from the wanted to go back to some of the exhaust and convert that to heat, which questions that Mr. Schell had in regard we can then distribute to our customer to the $2 million tender and the residual base. heat expansion project in Iqaluit. The way it has been explained to me is that The original exhaust gas heat recovery there are two parts to the residual heat. units that were installed several years There’s the actual operation of… . ago, four or five years ago, had unanticipated problems in terms of Again they’re technical terms, so design and working with the engines that hopefully I can explain it properly. are there. Those exhaust gas heat When the generators are working, heat recovery units have been taken out of
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 897 service. New exhaust gas heat recovery customer on that program at this time. units that work with the engines that are Thank you, Mr. Chairman. there have been located, designed, and ordered for replacement and put into Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, place. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott.
The reason why we are extending this Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I and putting new exhaust gas heat believe Mr. Mackey was mentioning that recovery units in is to ensure that we can the program started before 2008-09, so it continue to expand the district heating has been going for a while. I’m system to other customers throughout wondering: are there any plans for the Iqaluit area and therefore, reducing evaluating the program in terms of the the greenhouse gas emissions. Thank amount of money that has been spent on you, Mr. Chairman. it so far as compared to how much of a savings or how much of a benefit to the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. environment? Is that sort of cost savings Just to remind you that we have or analysis going to be happening? interpreters and you should speak a little Thank you, Mr. Chairman. slower so that we can all understand, as well as those listening. Mr. Elliott. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It also helps me to be able to process Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you. Just what you’re saying. to clarify, I said that we only have one customer; we only have one customer So there are the two parts to it and you offline right now of the customers we do have said that there is obviously one part have online. That’s the city. We’re that is not working, and you have said working to rectify that at this time. you ordered the parts in and they’re going to be brought in. Obviously you’re As for the second question, I’ll ask Mr. doing it to cut down on emissions, as Mackey to answer that slowly. Thank you have mentioned, but it also may be you, Mr. Chairman. as a way of generating more revenue and whatnot. In terms of the partners or >>Laughter customers on that system, how many customers are there? Are they all still on Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. it or are they not happy with the service Mr. Mackey. they’re getting? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your question. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, It’s a good question. I have asked our Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Department of Finance to do something with district heating so that we can treat Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Yes, Mr. it separately from our normal course of Chairman, currently we only have one business of generating and distributing electricity.
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From the URRC perspective, the district you actually have on the system now? heating system feeds just a few Thank you, Mr. Chairman. customers, so we wouldn’t want the cost of the district heating systems to be Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, borne by our entire customer base. So Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. what Qulliq Energy is looking at doing is establishing a separate tracking of the Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. finances for the district heating system Chairman. We don’t have the exact so that we can track its revenue as well number on hand, but I’m sure we can as its expenses. They will utilize the make it available. Thank you, Mr. revenue from the district heating system Chairman. to expand district heating systems in all of the communities. Therefore, the cost Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, for the district heating systems won’t be Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. borne by the general ratepayers; it will be borne by the customers that get the Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. benefit from it. Thank you, Mr. Also I’m wondering: do you have the Chairman. dollar figure? This tender itself was for $2 million. Is there an overall figure as Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, to how much both systems are costing? Mr. Mackey. Mr. Elliott. Again, you had said that it’s not costing the ratepayers across the territory but it’s Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. costing the people who are the customers But again, as Mr. Kusugak pointed out, of this service. Thank you, Mr. if you don’t have any customers, how do Chairman. you justify spending the money on it? I guess that’s what I’m asking. Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Chairman. If you would allow Mr. Mackey to answer that question. Thank Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Mr. Chairman, I you. just wanted to reiterate that I said the wrong thing. I said that only one of our Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. customers is currently offline and we’re (interpretation ends) Go ahead, Mr. working to rectify that. We do have Mackey. customers on the system. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we can come up with the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, exact figures in terms of the total cost for Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. the infrastructure for the City of Iqaluit. I don’t have that information right here Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. now, but I would like to point out that I’ll ask again: how many customers do this district heating system began as a partnership with the federal government.
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A substantial amount of the funding for environment and whatnot. I know we this came from the federal government. have been looking into that in terms of Moving forward, the revenue stream what we could possibly do in our from the district heating systems will be community. So it’s nice to know that utilized to expand or grow with the other communities are taking advantage. systems in this community and in other communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again going back to some of the questions that the member from South Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Baffin was asking in terms of the new Mr. Mackey. Mr. Elliott. facilities or the office building here in Iqaluit, I know I had asked the minister Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. in oral questions about that facility. I In terms of the residual heat expansion, wanted to follow up with some similar you’re talking about the federal questions in terms of when the buildings government’s investment and whatnot. will actually be completed and have Obviously we’re aware that Iqaluit is office workers in the building. Thank one of the communities that’s benefiting you, Mr. Chairman. from this. What other communities are actually involved with that? In some of Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, the research I have done, I think Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Sanikiluaq was one that was being heated. They would use the heat for their Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. school through that, but are there a Chairman. Thank you for that question. I number of these projects across the was anticipating you asking that at territory? Thank you. question period. The plan is to have this complete by July 1 and then the staff Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, will move in over the summer period. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. We’re looking to have a grand opening some time in early fall. Thank you, Mr. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. I can’t name them off the top of my head, but I understand there are 11 Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, other communities that are involved in Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. this kind of project. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that answer. In terms of Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, all of the offices within the building, will Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. it only house office space for QEC employees? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that answer. I wasn’t Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, aware that there were that many Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. communities across the territory. Our Economic Development Committee in Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Arctic Bay is working towards finding Chairman. Yes, there is a lot of staff out alternate ways of helping the there in many different buildings here.
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Only QEC will be staffed in that offices in Iqaluit. That’s the plan as of building at this time. Thank you, Mr. now, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I Again, one of the 2009-2010 leases, the have seen the outside of the building; I one with the letter of agreement with haven’t been inside. In terms of the Environment Canada for the $146,000 building itself, are there housing units on that Mr. Schell was asking, it’s contract the upper floors of the building like 11438, I was just wondering if the some of the buildings we have in Iqaluit minister could explain a little bit more to provide accommodations for some of what was involved with that. What I’m the QEC staff or is it specifically office? getting at is: is it based around some of Thank you, Mr. Chairman. the campaign promises that our MP was talking about in terms of a hydroelectric Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, dam here in Iqaluit? Thank you, Mr. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Chairman.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman. There was initial thought of Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. putting in a couple of transient units at the initial stages but now it’s all office Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. spaces, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Chairman. The campaign happened last month. This has been in place a little Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, longer than that. It’s just to continue the Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. plan to monitor water flow, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the minister confirm if all of the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, people who will be working in the Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. building are actual people from Iqaluit and that you won’t be importing people Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. from Baker Lake and other communities So then, again, it’s specifically for to work here? Thank you. Iqaluit and water flow of rivers to see what capacity of water is flowing to be Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. able to calculate how much power could Minister Kusugak. be generated. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Absolutely not, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s just for Iqaluit. There Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. is no hidden agenda to move people from other communities. This will house Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. QEC employees who currently have Chairman. Yes, I believe my colleague has the gist of the whole issue. We need
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 901 to make sure that there’s enough water Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. flow to ensure that hydro can be created (interpretation ends) Mr. Mackey, go from this. That’s all that is for. In a long- ahead. term picture, it gives you a good spreadsheet. If you do it over a certain Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. period of time, then you can start to Chairman. We currently utilize in-house realize the weak flows or the stronger staff for all of our IT services within the flows, and so on. That’s the reason corporation. Infrastructure that’s behind that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. purchased, such as the satellite dishes or equipment of that nature, goes out Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, through the normal PO process but we Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. currently don’t have any contractors or consultants that we utilize for supplying Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. the information technology services for My next question is: what was the total the corporation. Thank you, Mr. amount of funding spent by the QEC in Chairman. 2009-2010 for contracted services in the field of information technology? Thank Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mackey. Mr. Elliott.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. In terms of information technology, the people you have on staff or PYs, which Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Could you re-ask would come through the O&M of the that question? Mr. Chairman, could I ask corporation, are those individuals that that question be asked again. I didn’t scattered across the territory or are they quite understand it. Thank you. specifically in Baker Lake? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott: No problem, Mr. Chairman. Thanks. What was the total amount of Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. funding spent by the QEC in 2009-2010 Chairman. I understand that we have on contracted services in the field of four of those staff located in the fine information technology; computers, community of Baker Lake and we have WAN-LAN-MAN? Thank you, Mr. two located here in Iqaluit. Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s what I thought you said. Maybe I In terms of hardware and software could have Mr. Mackey answer that purchases for those… . It’s my question. Thank you. understanding that across the territory,
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 902 powerhouses are operated by distance at Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. times and a lot of the information that Specifically for those Dell computers the power plant operators see right there that you were speaking about, are those in front of the community could actually purchased locally in Baker Lake? Thank be seen here in Iqaluit. So I imagine you, Mr. Chairman. there are a lot of different hardware and software that’s involved in purchasing Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, and maintaining, and whatnot. I’m just Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. wondering: is that sole sourced as well or is that put out for tender? How are the Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Mr. Chairman, hardware and software for QEC those purchases are done through a handled? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. normal RFP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. If Mr. Mackey could answer In terms of the last two fiscal years, that through you, Mr. Chairman. Thank 2008-09 and 2009-2010, which we’re you. reviewing, did you put out any RFPs for types of equipment like that? Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Kusugak. Go ahead, Mr. Mackey. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How computer information Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. infrastructure is purchased is dependent Chairman. I will have Mr. Mackey upon the infrastructure itself. On answer that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. occasion, it will go out to tender for a supply of large-scale equipment to see if Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. we can maximize the best possible price. Go ahead, Mr. Mackey. In other circumstances, we may have a standing offer or standing agreement Mr. Mackey: Thank you, Mr. with the supply of computer equipment, Chairman. In terms of specific office such as computers through Dell Systems. equipment, what we’re asking for and So it’s dependent upon the nature of for Baker Lake specifically, I would what’s there. Typically, for smaller scale have to verify and get back to you on infrastructure, we will be going out for a whether we have purchased computer request for quotes. Thank you, Mr. equipment in Baker Lake. Chairman. Typically the computer equipment in Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, each of the areas is for three to five Mr. Mackey. Mr. Elliott. years, depending on whether it’s a laptop or a desktop, and it’s cyclical in nature. During the last two years, if the
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 903 computers have reached the end of their Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. life, yes, they likely would have gone Chairman. Yes, we will try to gather that out and been replaced, but that’s information. Again, it won’t be ready something that I can confirm and get tomorrow; that kind of stuff takes time. back to the member. Thank you, Mr. We will have to research our records and Chairman. all of that other fun stuff, but eventually we will get back to the member with that Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, information. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mackey. Mr. Elliott. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Kusugak. Your time is almost Yes, if I could get that information I was up, Mr. Elliott. Are there any other looking for, across the entire territory, questions? I believe you are the only one with Dell computers. Is the minister able with questions. Do you have any further to commit to that? Thank you, Mr. questions, Mr. Elliott? Chairman. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, was the only one who had questions? Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 2008- Chairman. So it’s just Dell computers 09 contracting report indicates that it you want to know about, Mr. Elliott. awarded a $495,000 sole source contract Thank you, Mr. Chairman. to a company for a hydro environmental baseline study in Iqaluit. What did this Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, study accomplish and does the QEC plan Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. to undertake more studies of this nature in the future? It’s contract 200821. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If there were any RFPs that were put out over the last two fiscal years for Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, computer hardware, I don’t think the Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. RFP would specifically ask for Dell. Hardware, as Mr. Mackey said in terms Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. of the life cycle, the three-to five-year Chairman. That was an environmental cycle that’s available… . By hardware, I study on the hydro project for the city mean hard drives, keyboards, laptop and we will have to seek more federal computers, mice, and printers. I’m sure funding if we want to do more of the it would be all grouped together or study. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. lumped together as one RFP instead of separate RFPs for different pieces of Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, hardware. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak. realize Minister Peterson had mentioned in the press and you had mentioned
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 904 already that it would require federal approximately 90 percent of its leases funding from the Government of Canada are for residential properties used for to move forward on these projects, but staff housing. It’s on page 5 of report. how close are we with the different The report indicates that the QEC studies that you had done to move recovered $659,900 in rent during the forward on a project like this? I know previous fiscal year. Does the you had said it takes time for these Government of Nunavut’s Staff Housing things to happen, but are we talking like Policy apply to the QEC’s employees? 5, 10, 15 years down the road or if the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. federal government said that they could provide the money today, are we good to Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, go? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Elliott. Minister Kusugak.
Chairman (Mr. Ningeongan) Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Chairman. QEC has its own Staff Minister Kusugak. Housing Policy, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it’s one of these things Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, that if the federal government had the Minister Kusugak. I didn’t quite money today, we could begin to look at understand. Was that all? Are there any the feasibility and the planning and other questions to Minister Kusugak or design stage, but the practical look at it Mr. Mackey? (interpretation ends) I have and the reality is that it’s probably at a no more names on my list. Do members five-year window, Mr. Chairman. Thank agree that we have concluded the review you. of the Qulliq Energy Corporation on 274 – 3(2) and 275 – 3(2)? Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Mr. Elliott. Some Members: Agreed.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: I would like to ask Mr. Thank you for that answer. Again, I Kusugak if you have closing comments. think it’s great if it takes five years. I don’t imagine that we will get funding Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. before five years, but to me, with Iqaluit Chairman. I would just like to take this being one of the biggest communities, it opportunity, while I have the floor with would be the biggest draw on power and QEC, to thank the president and the it would also be the biggest polluter to board of directors of the Qulliq Energy the environment. I think being able to Corporation. They have been working work towards this is a great thing to push very hard. for, so hopefully we will get the funding from the federal government. I think this is the first time, as I said earlier, that this kind of report has gone The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 2009- through the House. We appreciate the 2010 lease, contract and procurement opportunity to report this to you. I thank activity report indicates that the board and the president again for
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 905 their hard work and all of the staff out Our mandate requires that we provide there. Mr. Chairman, thank you for this for programming that has been legislated opportunity to sit before you. under the Education Act for inclusive (interpretation) Thank you. education, relevant and appropriate curriculum, and, under agreements with Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, the federal government, ensure Minister Kusugak. Sergeant-at-Arms, programming in official languages and please escort the witnesses out. enhanced training opportunities and skills development. Thank you. Going back to our agenda, the Department of Education is next. Mr. Speaker, the Department of The Interim Minister of Education, Ms. Education awarded 92 sole source Aariak, you may proceed with your contracts in 2009-2010, totalling opening remarks. $5,337,936.78. Of these, 58 contracts facilitated our work in the kindergarten Tabled Document 248 – 3(2): to grade 12 and school services area of Government of Nunavut Contract the department for a value of Activity Report Fiscal Year 2009- $1,856,047.10. Twenty-six contracts 2010 – Consideration in related to our adult education and Committee training programs and income support delivery for a total of $3,229,616.60. Tabled Document 249 – 3(2): Lease The remaining seven contracts for Activity Report 2009-2010 – $261,273.01 dealt with corporate Consideration in Committee services.
Tabled Document 251 – 3(2): 2009- Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, many of 2010 Procurement Activity Report our sole source contracts were for very – Consideration in Committee specialized services. These include: support for students under inclusive Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Yes. education, such as sign language Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I may assistants; education assessment and proceed now? curriculum development by contractors with specific and necessary knowledge Good afternoon and thank you for of Nunavut; Education Act allowing me to speak about the implementation; busing; training Department of Education’s contracts and programs; and development of necessary procurement for the 2009-2010 fiscal IT systems. year. Mr. Speaker, I am more than happy to The Department of Education is tasked discuss the specifics of our sole source with the important and unique work of contracts with the committee and am providing quality learning opportunities ready to take questions from the and services for Nunavummiut of all members. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ages. As such, we have a particular obligation to offer superior assistance Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) and specialized services to our citizens. (interpretation): Thank you, Minister
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Aariak. Do you have witnesses that you Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): would like to bring to the table? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My colleague’s question is directed to Arctic Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Yes. College. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. Do you agree to bring Minister Aariak. Ms. Ugyuk. in the witnesses? Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Some Members: Agreed. Mr. Chairman. Will they give me a response? Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, officials to the witness table. Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Shewchuk.
Thank you, Minister Aariak, Minister of Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Education. For the record, please Mr. Chairman. I think the question was introduce your witnesses. who contributed to the funding of the construction of the Nunavut Research Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Institute and what the cost of Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank construction for that project was. Is that you for allowing me to sit here for the the question? first time as the Minister of Education. On my left is Kathy Okpik, Deputy Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t have Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. the exact cost in front of me. I wasn’t prepared to have that question, but I can Chairman (interpretation): Welcome, find that out. It was funded through the Ms. Okpik. Welcome, both of you. If economic benefits package that was there are any comments or questions, the offered by the federal government. Just floor is now open. Ms. Ugyuk. off of… . Well, I’m not even going to try to guess, but I will get that figure for Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The government’s most recent annual report Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, on procurement activities indicates that Minister Shewchuk. Ms. Ugyuk. your department awarded a $5,518,000 contract to GC North Construction for Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, the new Nunavut Research Institute in Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The Iqaluit. The federal government also government’s most recent annual report contributed a significant amount to this on procurement activities indicates that project. What were the final costs for the your department awarded a $252,900 construction of this facility? Thank you. contract for a student information system. What is the purpose of this Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, system and what will it be used for? Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. Thank you.
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Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, licensing permission to use the system. Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. My department entered into an agreement with Maple Wood Computing Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Limited to provide the GN with Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think it licensing. (interpretation) Thank you, would be appropriate if you could Mr. Chairman. I hope that answers her identify which project number you are question. Thank you. referring to. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. Ms. Ugyuk. Ms. Ugyuk: The question that I would Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I don’t like to know is: what is the purpose of know the number, but (interpretation the system and what will it be used for? ends) the contract was for a student Thank you. information system. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not quite Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the familiar with these fine details, so I will line item that states student information ask my deputy to answer the question. system is the RFP you are referring to. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to the member’s question, can she clarify exactly what her question Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, pertains to so that we can provide a Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. proper answer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have worked on this Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, digital system approximately for two Minister Aariak. Ms. Ugyuk. years now. At this time, we can only obtain attendance records via computer Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, and find out which students were absent Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) and which ones were late and only for Contract 246. Thank you. grades 10 to 12. The only way we can obtain this information via computer is Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, when the school year has been complete Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. for graduates. The student information system can be used starting from Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): kindergarten to grade 12. We can then Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I truly thank gather all information; for instance, the member for her patience as I birthdates, health care numbers, requested a clarification from her. attendance, absenteeism, and any (interpretation ends) To use the student relevant issue towards education would information system, the GN must obtain be entered into the main server and
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 908 perhaps while students are in grades 1, 2, The institute was awarded over $632,000 3, and so on, any records that have been in 2007-08 and $272,000 in 2008-09 to inputted by their teachers regarding their deliver this training. How many progress. We are also hoping to use this residents of the territory have graduated in the future for report cards that are sent from this program? Thank you, Mr. to parents. Any information that is Chairman. relevant to the school or students will be compiled in that system. Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Aariak.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Ms. Okpik. Ms. Ugyuk. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Over 100. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the fall or winter Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, session, we were apprised of this system Ms. Aariak. Mr. Rumbolt. and if this system becomes operational, as an example, if I wanted information Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. about students in Taloyoak who attended Chairman. Of those who have graduated classes yesterday and if the school from this program, do we track how officials request this information, is that many of them are actually working in the kind of request that would result? the field of heavy equipment? Thank Thank you. you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it is Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have to primarily for that purpose. However, this set up the process and it is currently is a new system and it is still under being developed. development and due to its newness, the system has not been completed yet. With respect to his first question, we Thank you, Mr. Chairman. don’t have the information with us right now, but it’s available at the office. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Aariak. Is that all? Mr. Rumbolt. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In their procurement Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. activities, it indicates that your Chairman. As far as I know, this training department awarded over $1,431,000 in program is still continuing. Do we know contracts in 2009-2010 to the Operating how many people are presently enrolled Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in this program in Ontario? Thank you, for heavy equipment operator training. Mr. Chairman.
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Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Aariak. Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask my Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s a very deputy minister to respond to that good question to the Minister question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. responsible for Nunavut Arctic College once he arrives here to the House. Thank Chairman: Thank you. Ms. Okpik. you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Chairman. I don’t have any detailed Mr. Shewchuk. information with me at this point but I can check it and get back to you. Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. A very good I also want to clarify that there are question. Arctic College is heavily different numbers of graduates in involved with the mining industry in various disciplines. We have three developing training programs that are regional centres in Nunavut, going to be specific to Nunavut and Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet, and taught in Nunavut. Cambridge Bay with separate offices, and we have a contract with each one. Right now, for heavy equipment training Also, our allocated funds are separated and that type of training, we are into categories, some for student developing relationships and financial assistance, and we get funding partnerships to research into the from the federal government to be used simulator machines. So that is actually for specific programs. That is the reason being researched and I believe we will for the separation of these contracts and see some development of that in the near since we have three offices, it seems so future to address the problem of having large. We will be able to provide to send people down south. Thank you, information on the number of graduates Mr. Chairman. to the House at a later time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. Are you finished? I Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, have no other names on my list. Ms. Ms. Okpik. Mr. Rumbolt. Ugyuk.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman. When will the new trade Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The school in Rankin Inlet be offering the government’s most recent annual report same courses so that the government will on procurement activities indicates that no longer have to pay to send residents your department awarded a $90,000 sole to Ontario for this kind of training? source contract to an individual to be the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Education Act implementation coordinator. Why could this work not have been done within your department
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 910 and has this position continued to be presented to the members, such as the contracted in 2010-11? Thank you. consultation documents for DEAs. The process for hiring elders is included. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Furthermore, a two-year training plan Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. with the DEAs and parents was developed and many items have been Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): implemented. What I can tell you now is Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This will be that this is no longer under contracted clarified further after my verbal services. We now have hired an response. The reason why we have sole individual to work within our source contracts for the schools is department on these matters. Thank you, because it is very specialized work that Mr. Chairman. cannot be undertaken by other staff. That is why sole source contracts exist for Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, certain programs. Kathy will elaborate Ms. Okpik. Ms. Ugyuk. further on the details. Thank you. Ms. Ugyuk: The government’s most Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, recent annual report on procurement Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. activities indicates that your department awarded a $331,000 sole source contract Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, to the Canadian Career Development Mr. Chairman. On July 1, 2009, the Foundation for a Career Development Education Act was introduced and the Training Strategy. What did this project provisions of the Education Act had to achieve and will you commit to tabling be implemented right away. The the strategy in the Legislative principals in the schools, the staff, and in Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. particular, the DEAs had to be trained on the provisions of the Act, such as their Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, legal authority, funding arrangements, Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. and also the by-laws and regulations required for attendance and for healthy Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): relationships. So we had to work on an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like urgent basis. to thank the member for her question. Career development officers work on Additionally, if we wanted to hire an career development, where they assist individual to work within the schools adults to work towards a career. We where they were already working, we don’t have anything currently identified couldn’t just simply hire them. Also, the as training towards a certificate here in regional directors and the service Nunavut. There are more details that my providers’ workloads were already full, deputy minister can clarify about these so we didn’t want to add to their positions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. workloads. That is why we had to contract an individual to fill this spot. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. The contractor had to write many reports, some of which we have
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Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman. Yes, we have developed Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you this strategy for a period of slightly over for your question. Thank you, Ms. a year. The Career Development Ugyuk. For clarity, I will have my Training Strategy has been completed. deputy minister respond. Thank you, Mr. We collaborated on this strategy with Chairman. Nunavut Arctic College and the Department of Human Resources, and Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, we have started to implement certain Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. parts at present. We can table that information if you wish. Ms. Okpik (interpretation): I am sorry, Mr. Chairman. I am looking for the In determining who would be contract number. undertaking which role, such as the Department of Education, we would be Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Ugyuk, starting from kindergarten to high school perhaps you have the contract number students, along with the adult services, to that they’re looking for. determine what we would need to incorporate. Further, the Department of Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Human Resources will also need to have Mr. Chairman. The contract number is a role in this field, as well as Nunavut 1651. Thank you. Arctic College, so we need to highlight their roles and responsibilities under Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, services. Most of the details have been Ms. Ugyuk. Ms. Okpik. completed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to that Ms. Okpik. Ms. Ugyuk, do you have any contract, I regret that I don’t have that further questions? information in my written notes. I can respond later on or perhaps tomorrow by Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, submitting a report outlining that file. Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The Thank you, Mr. Chairman. government’s most recent annual report on procurement activities indicates that Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, your department awarded a $157,561 Ms. Okpik. I believe there are no further contract in 2009-2010 to the Baffin questions. Before I recognize another Business Development Centre for member, Mr. Shewchuk wanted to “Employment Assistance Services.” clarify a question from earlier on. I’ll What did this project achieve and how give the floor to him at this time. many individuals were able to take advantage of it and gain employment? Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. In regard to the question before about the Nunavut Research Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Institute, I do have some information in Ms. Ugyuk. Minister Aariak. front of me that I can share with the member. The project costs $11 million
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 912 and that included the new construction, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you which is on budget and complete, of the for the further clarification, Minister new Nunavut Research Institute in Shewchuk. Mr. Elliott. Iqaluit and four satellite research centres in Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Igloolik, and Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Rankin Inlet. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My next question is from the procurement activity report, it’s on page Chairman (interpretation): Thank you 95 and the contract is C1593. There are for the clarification, Minister Shewchuk. actually two of them, so C1593 and then Mr. Elliott. there is C1533. It’s on page 93. Both of them are for superintendents of schools Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I for QSO. When we approve our O&M thank the Minister responsible for budgets, I’m assuming there are PYs for Nunavut Arctic College. Maybe as a those positions. I’m wondering why follow-up question: if it was $11 million, they’re not covered under PY and a why was the contract only for regular salary and why they’re $5,518,000? If I’m doing my adding contracted out as sole sources. Thank correct, that’s about $5.5 million short of you, Mr. Chairman. $11 million. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Aariak. Mr. Elliott. Minister Shewchuk Hon. Eva Aariak: This is maintenance Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, for schools and I believe it’s ongoing. Mr. Chairman. What contract are you Qikiqtani School Operations is seeking referring to? to add… . (interpretation) Where am I now? (interpretation ends) They could Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, not fill the positions fast enough, so it’s Minister Shewchuk. Mr. Elliott. an ongoing job. (interpretation) Due to that reason, that is how it unfolded. Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Kathy will elaborate on this aspect. It’s contract C163. It sounds like bingo. C163. I want to return to the first question that Ms. Ugyuk asked as we found the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, answer in our papers. Perhaps prior to Mr. Elliott. Minister Shewchuk, do you returning to that question, I would like to wish to respond? ask the chair for permission to respond to the previous question, if that is Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, acceptable. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. That is because it was a shared project of $11 million. So there Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. was federal government funding and It seems obvious the member would Nunavut government funding in that, prefer an answer to her first question, so plus also the construction of the four don’t forget the current question when satellite research facilities are in there you respond to the previous question. too. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Please continue, Minister Aariak.
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Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Ms. Okpik will answer Ron Elliott’s Thank you. With respect to her earlier question right now. Thank you. question, the file that Ms. Ugyuk asked about was not a sole source contract but Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, an RFP. My deputy can clarify that for Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. the member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Currently we have 42 Minister Aariak. Ms. Okpik. schools Nunavut-wide that are serviced by the superintendents of schools. In the Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Baffin region, our head office is in Pond Mr. Chairman. Yes, this was indeed an Inlet. We have four positions that we RFP. The federal government provides have set aside funds for and due to the funding for the (interpretation ends) fact we cannot readily fill these labour market development agreement. positions, we have to contract outside (interpretation) Under the agreement, we service providers. The schools require can set aside funds to provide support to services for a lot of their activities, such Nunavut residents seeking jobs or as within operations, or if there is an requiring further training. An example activity in the school, or if there are would be to assist them in developing a issues they need to resolve within the resumé. We developed this especially for school, be that the school layout, staff, or the residents of Iqaluit because many of the DEA. These are very important the positions or services are in Iqaluit. positions and they provide significant This service is for the purpose of support to the schools. developing resumés and assisting them in a job search. As an example, we have four staff position, but two are currently vacant. I don’t have numbers handy as to how However, we still need services, so we many undertook this service, but we can seek outside help to fill the void until a get back to the member as to how many position is filled. Thank you, Mr. benefited from the program. Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Okpik. Mr. Elliott. Ms. Okpik. Does that answer your question? Thank you. To the other Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. earlier question, if you haven’t forgotten, Also on page 95, it’s contract C1593. Minister Aariak. The description is “Phase II of the implementation of NCSIS.” In terms of Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): NCSIS, my understanding was that it’s a Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you database collection of skills within the for allowing me to respond to the earlier territory that the Department of question because informing the House is Education actually won an award for, I very important. believe, at one time. I’m wondering what phase 2 is and what was completed with that contract. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Okpik will respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister Aariak. Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank him Ms. Okpik. for the question. The person in question is temporarily on hold. Perhaps Ms. Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, Okpik can elaborate further. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can’t state the exact Mr. Chairman. amount spent at this time, but I should be able to respond later. However, the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, funds are not our own and we have to Minister. Ms. Okpik. seek funding sources outside of our government, such as the federal Ms. Okpik (interpretation): Thank you, government. We had a casual employee Mr. Chairman. Yes, we did indeed try to finish the project, but that person receive a national award for the database only worked for three months prior to collection program. It was due to the resigning and this is part of the reason system being able to answer different why this initiative hasn’t been queries. Still, if we continue to develop completed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. this system, then we need significant funds and staff to complete it. At this Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, time, this project is on hold due to Ms. Okpik. I don’t have any more names insufficient funds and we don’t have on my list. Do we agree that we are done dedicated staff to pursue it. Furthermore, with questions on the Department of there are other priority projects we want Education? to complete, such as graduation rates for high school, and to include elders. At Some Members: Agreed. this time, these are our immediate challenges that we are focussing on, so Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. that project is currently on hold. Thank If you have closing remarks, we are you, Mr. Chairman. eager to hear from you, Ms. Aariak.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Ms. Okpik. Mr. Elliott. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Being on the same page and having the Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. same level of understanding is of Specifically for the $103,000, I was extreme importance to this government, wondering what was done by the and I thank the members for their Canadian Career Development questions. Foundation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also wish to express my gratitude to Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Okpik. Even though the Mr. Elliott. Minister Aariak. documentation is quite thick and contains a lot of information, I believe Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Ms. Okpik retains most of this Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again Ms.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Nunavut Hansard 915 information mentally. I thank her Mr. Chairman, this concludes my profusely. opening comments. I would be pleased to answer questions the members may I would be remiss without thanking all have about the procurement and of the staff, our educators, and all contracting activities of the Department involved for their dedication. Thank you, of Executive and Intergovernmental Mr. Chairman. Affairs during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Chairman. for your hospitality and due diligence in answering the questions related to the Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Department of Education. Sergeant-at- Minister Aariak and Premier for your Arms, please escort the witnesses out. opening remarks. Mr. Ningeongan.
For your information, we will just follow Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. the agenda and the list of presenters. Ms. Chairman. At this time, I would like to Aariak, Minister of Executive and make a motion to report progress. Thank Intergovernmental Affairs, perhaps you you, Mr. Chairman. can make your opening comments. Minister Aariak. Chairman (interpretation): There is a motion on the floor to report progress. Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): All those in favour of the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was just Opposed. The motion is carried. I will pillaging my documents to find my now rise to report progress to the presentation for this part of the meeting. Speaker. I apologize for that. The paperwork is now here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaker: Moving on to the orders of the day. Item 20. Report of the Committee Thank you for allowing me to sit here of the Whole. Mr. Tapardjuk. before you this afternoon, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) It is my pleasure to Item 20: Report of the Committee of make an appearance before you as the Whole Premier and Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been As you have already heard from considering Bills 11 and 12, and Tabled ministers, the Government of Nunavut Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251 – believes we receive the best value for 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – 3(2). Mr. our public dollars spent through Speaker, I would like to report that transparent processes. I am personally Tabled Documents 274 – 3(2) and 275 – committed to transparent and 3(2) are concluded and that Bills 11 and accountable contracting and have 12 are now ready for third reading. Mr. directed my department to reduce the use Speaker, I move that the Report of the of non-competitive contracting as much Committee of the Whole be agreed to. as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Item 22. There is a motion on the floor and it is in Orders of the Day. Mr. Clerk. order. Is there a seconder? Mr. Schell. The motion is in order. All those in Item 22: Orders of the Day favour. Any opposed? None. The motion is carried. Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A reminder of meetings for Moving on in the Orders of the Day, tomorrow, at half past nine, a meeting of Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Mr. the Management and Services Board in Schell. the Tuktu Room and at 11 a.m. in the Nanuq Room, a meeting of the Standing Item 21: Third Reading of Bills Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts. Bill 11 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act – Third Reading Orders of the Day for June 8:
Mr. Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I 1. Prayer move, seconded by the Hon. Member for 2. Ministers’ Statements Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 11, Legislative Assembly Statutes 3. Members’ Statements Amendment Act, be read for the third 4. Returns to Oral Questions time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. The Gallery motion is in order. All those in favour. Any opposed? None. The motion is 6. Oral Questions carried and Bill 11 is ready for assent. 7. Written Questions
Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Mr. 8. Returns to Written Questions Rumbolt. 9. Replies to Opening Address
Bill 12 – An Act Respecting Nunavut 10. Petitions Elections – Third Reading 11. Responses to Petitions
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 12. Reports of Standing and Special I move, seconded by the Hon. Member Committees on Bills and Other for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 12, An Act Respecting Nunavut Matters Elections, be read for the third time. 13. Tabling of Documents Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 14. Notices of Motions Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. The 15. Notices of Motions for First motion is in order. All those in favour. Any opposed? None. The motion is Reading of Bills carried and Bill 12 is ready for assent. 16. Motions
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17. First Reading of Bills 18. Second Reading of Bills 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters Bill 6 Bill 7 Bill 8 Tabled Document 248 – 3(2) Tabled Document 249 – 3(2) Tabled Document 251 – 3(2) 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole 21. Third Reading of Bills 22. Orders of the Day Thank you.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, June 8, at 1:30 p.m. Have a wonderful evening, everybody.
Sergeant-at-Arms.
>>House adjourned at 17:57