This is page numbers 677 - 710 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Further Return To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 681

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't advise the honourable Member that I'm going to do it immediately. I think what we can do, at least on an interim basis, is to ensure it is part of the capital planning process for this upcoming year and part of the discussions we hold with the Kitikmeot region. Whether or not the community of Pelly Bay is serious about this will affect whether we will allocate the infrastructure dollars that might be available for this purpose. The fact is, they used last year's capital dollars to add an extension to the hamlet office, I believe. In that sense, I hope we can ensure the municipality and hamlet take their position seriously and we'll certainly try to work with them to find a way to address this matter.

Further Return To Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Question 343-12(7): Clarification Re Funding Options For Pelly Bay School Gymnasium
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 681

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rose today under Members' statements to indicate that I will be addressing to the appropriate Minister questions about the Sanikiluaq community centre, which is now too expensive and has been closed. This centre is needed. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. There was supposed to be an inspection done in the community on what needs to be fixed regarding the community hall. I would like the Minister to tell me the status of the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Ng.

Return To Question 344-12(7): Status Of Sanikiluaq Community Hall Project
Question 344-12(7): Status Of Sanikiluaq Community Hall Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Member is referring to the existing community hall, if I'm correct. I understand the community hall is substandard and undersized in its current state. I, at this time, don't know whether an inspection has been done on that particular facility but I will have the appropriate staff from my department or ask the Public Works and Services staff to check into the matter and get back to the Member on that. Thank you.

Return To Question 344-12(7): Status Of Sanikiluaq Community Hall Project
Question 344-12(7): Status Of Sanikiluaq Community Hall Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, I understand that Transport Canada is in the process of considering changes to the criteria for emergency response services, principally firefighting, for airports in Canada and that, particularly, they are considering factoring in requiring a minimum number of passenger movements per year before an ERS capability is funded. The present criteria simply requires so many movements of aircraft; 39 metres or longer per day. The new requirement would look at passenger volume, which would discriminate against airports like the one in my constituency which has the aircraft volume but not necessarily the same passenger volume as larger centres with fuller planes.

I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of this review of the ERS criteria under way in Transport Canada. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of the review that is taking place. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, the changes that Mr. Patterson is alluding to are in the process now of being implemented, effective September/October of 1995. We are, however, working closely with Transport Canada through the negotiation of the Arctic airports -- and that is primarily what Mr. Patterson is talking about -- to secure a reasonable level of emergency response services. That's still under discussion. Thank you.

Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, the Iqaluit airport at present has a full ERS capacity and includes five local firefighter positions. I'd like to ask the Minister, is it his understanding that when Arctic A airports are transferred to the Northwest Territories, these five firefighter positions in Iqaluit will be funded by the Government of Canada under this transfer agreement? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

John Todd Keewatin Central

Let me answer the question this way: the regulations, as they relate to the old policy, are being reviewed, as I said, with the transfer and is being driven by the federal government. I'm optimistic that in the base funding arrangement, we will be able to, hopefully, ensure the ERS services that are currently provided at the Iqaluit airport remain. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to have these assurances. I'd like to ask the Minister how we might be informed of the progress of discussions on this very critical issue. I'm thinking of people who work in the ERS services at the moment who are wondering about their futures, I'm thinking about concerns from communities of the kind Mr. Whitford mentioned. How are we going to be kept informed as to what's going on? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 682

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I said I was optimistic. I wouldn't want to be too definitive because negotiations are currently under way. We've concluded the basic framework for a transfer. We're now working out the finer details. And I do respect the honourable Member's concern and his constituency's concern; it's the same as the other six or seven or eight Arctic airports that are going to be transferred. I believe I did say earlier on in this session or the session before that I don't know whether it was just good luck or good management that we've been able to get the kinds of resources that we're getting in this transfer, because I think if we started it today we wouldn't get those resources because there have been new initiatives taken by the feds to cut back.

I'm not trying to evade the question, all I'm saying is we're currently negotiating it. We're trying to get to the details.

Obviously, we want to protect the current level of services -- and I've said that publicly -- and ERS is part of the quality of service that we provide to Arctic A airports. The only thing I could do to assure the honourable Member is to advise him on an individual basis or through the House as to the progress of the negotiations. I'm optimistic, as I said, that we will be able to find the baseline funding to maintain the current level of services that we're providing in those Arctic A airports. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm happy with that undertaking. Maybe I could just ask the Minister since this is a matter of pressing concern, would the Minister undertake to provide the House with a detailed status report, particularly on the ERS issue, before this House recesses in the current session. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

John Todd Keewatin Central

(Microphone turned off)...provide the information we have. I should clarify where we currently sit. If my memory serves me correctly, the regulations or the criteria for an ERS are currently under review. Originally, it was driven by the federal government, we're not involved in it.

Transport Canada, who are reviewing these regulations because of the desire on their part to cut costs, is in a bit of a difference of opinion with the industry. So it's still in a state of flux. I could provide the honourable Member, to the best of my ability, what we have right now. But we're far from the final stage of settling what the criteria is for the kind of services that are required in Arctic A airports. I don't know if that answered his question, but that's kind of where we're at right now. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Question 345-12(7): Transport Canada Review Of Emergency Response Systems
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is directed to the Minister of Education. There's a large concern at the Nanisivik Education Council because they have been informed that they currently have too many teachers in that community and the number of students have been reduced. They are aware that in the new fiscal year the number of students will be increasing. Is the Minister having discussions with the divisional board of education in the Baffin region to address the concerns of the Nanisivik Education Council regarding the future of the number of positions for teachers in that community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 346-12(7): Concern Re Reduction Of Teaching Positions In Nanisivik
Question 346-12(7): Concern Re Reduction Of Teaching Positions In Nanisivik
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 683

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for the information of the honourable Member, I have been advised of the issue. There was a letter sent to me with regard to this particular matter. However, the responsibility of assigning teachers rests with the divisional board of education. I will apprise them of the concern the honourable Member is raising, but as a department we do not get involved in the assignment of teachers in terms of the location or the numbers in communities. That is strictly done by the board and the representatives on that particular board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.