The legislative assembly: Gas, grants, and suicide

KIRSTEN MURPHY

As the current sitting of the legislative assembly entered its fourth week, cabinet ministers were still fending off dozens of questions from MLAs.

No help for bad gas

When questioned about bad fuel delivered to Repulse Bay, Manitok Thompson, the minister responsible for petroleum products, quickly defended her department’s actions.

Uqqummiut MLA David Iqaqrialu says that without changes to the Education Act, the government’s commitment to IQ is just “lip service.”

“We don’t just buy any old gas when we buy gas for the communities. We try and get the very best,” Thompson said.

She said fuel is inspected before and after it arrives at tank farms.

Dissatisfied with the minister’s answers, Akulliq MLA Ovide Alakannuark pressed Thompson for more information. Alakannuark wanted to know what help is available for constituents whose all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles seize-up — supposedly because of bad gas.

“You all know that I am not a mechanic and I cannot fix the motors of those vehicles. There could be various reasons why their motors could have broken down,” Thompson said.

In other words, no help is available for drivers with stalled machines.

Small business hold-up

Some small business owners in Taloyoak are dissatisfied with the Department of Sustainable Development’s handling of small business funding applications.

Nattilik MLA Uriash Puqiqnak said residents who want to start outpost camps have noticed delays in their applications and want to know what the problem is.

However, Olayuk Akesuk, Minister of Sustainable Development, had no solutions for the residents awaiting approval. He said such applications are handled through an office in the Kitikmeot region.

“If you are concerned about it, you can write to me or to my staff with recommendations or suggestions,” he said.

Just lip service?

Uqqummiut MLA David Iqaqrialu continues to lobby for Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.

Iqaqrialu wants to amend the Education Act, the Act governing Nunavut’s education system, to include IQ as a mandatory part of the curriculum.

Education Minister Peter Kilabuk said the law is up for revision in the spring. But he cautioned against making hasty amendments.

Iqaqrialu said until the act is changed, the government’s commitment to IQ is just “lip service.”

Time to clean up

Olayuk Akesuk, the Minister of Sustainable Development, said the formation of a group to oversee the clean-up of Nanisivik Mine should begin within a month.

The working group will include representatives from the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the mine and the community, he said.

The 26-year-old zinc mine is scheduled to close in September 2002 — four years earlier than planned. Breakwater Resources Ltd., the mine’s parent company, blamed low zinc prices for the closure.

Double guarantee for Baker Lake students

Education Minister Peter Kilabuk made a “double” promise to ensure Baker Lake students have ample classroom space next year.

Since it opened in August, Jonah Amitna’aq School has been short three classrooms. Glenn McLean, Baker Lake’s MLA, said an additional 60 students are expected next year.

“Space is getting to be a premium in our community right now and I don’t want to have to go through the crisis that I went through last August,” McLean said.

Kilabuk said students will have a place to attend school.

Because McLean posed his concern as both a question and a statement, Kilabuk provided the same responses twice.

“Mr. McLean, you have a double guarantee now,” said Kevin O’Brien, Speaker of the House.

No easy answers

Ed Picco, the Minister of Health and Social Services, has been in the hot seat over Nunavut’s shortage of social workers, doctors and nurses, and the need to increase funding for dental visits, suicide prevention programs and medical travel.

Picco said his department is about to hire four social workers, though he did not know which communities they will be going to. All hiring, with the exception of nurses, he said, is done through the Department of Human Resources.

Amittuq MLA Enoki Irqittuq raised the issue of Nunavut’s social worker shortage, noting the absence of one in Hall Beach and the recent suicides there.

Similarly, James Arvaluk, MLA for Nanulik, spoke of his own encounter with suicide.

“I have personally experienced trying to retrieve someone who attempted to hang themselves and it is very hard on a person,” he said. “I want to ask the minister what kind of things they are doing to try and prevent suicide in the communities.”

Picco said his department launched a “strong and aggressive” anti-suicide campaign based on traditional values last year.

And eight psychiatric nurses were placed in health centres throughout the territory to help carry out a $6.8-million mental health strategy.

As for adding more resources, Picco said, a psychiatrist is working with community health committees in the regions.

He noted, though, the limitations.

“The Nunavut government cannot stop suicide in Nunavut. The solution comes from families, it comes from the community. It comes from working together and identifying the causes before it happens,” Picco said.

To which Arvaluk countered: “In a lot of cases, it’s the families that are causing the problem in causing suicide.”

Passport to the games

Jack Anawak, the Minister of Community Government and Transportation, is looking into passport requirements for Arctic Winter Games athletes.

Although the AWG Host Society is handling the matter, Anawak offered further support at the request of Jobie Nutarak, MLA for Tunnuniq. “The parents [of athletes] are really worried,” Nutarak said.

One of many crises

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo’s hopes for infrastructure for Iqaluit were dashed by Jack Anawak, Minister of Community Government and Transportation.

“There are an awful lot of communities outside Iqaluit that are in need of infrastructure dollars, and it will be a stretch to try and make sure everybody benefits,” Anawak said.

Tootoo called the capital city’s need for a water treatment facility, a water and sewer system, roads and a solid waste system a “crisis.”

But Anawak said the same problems exist in other communities.