March 14, 2008
In the Legislature
CamBay metal dump a disaster: Peterson
Cambridge Bay's old metal dump is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, warns MLA Keith Peterson.
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"You can see vehicles from the early 1960s sticking out from under the carcass of the high school that burned down in 1998," Peterson said Feb 26.
"There are used propane tanks, batteries, washing machines, refrigerators, fuel barrels, tires, computers, and countless other items in the metal waste dump. There could be accumulated petroleum waste products, PCBs, and other dangerous chemicals that pose serious health and environmental issues for the community."
"Imagine the disaster if the dump caught fire."
Later, on Feb. 29, Peterson asked Olayuk Akesuk, minister of the environment, what plans his government has to clean up the mess.
Akesuk said his government has examined waste within municipal boundaries, and has a plan to ship scrap metal south.
But he did not say when work will begin on CamBay's metal dump, or if the government has plans to buy a metal shredder and crusher for the Kitikmeot region.
Nunavut expands recycling plans
The Government of Nunavut's recycling program for pop bottles and cans will expand to the Kitikmeot region this year, Olayuk Akesuk, the environment minister, announced March 6.
But it's still unclear who will pay the bill to ship thousands of beverage containers south.
When Akesuk later responded to a question on this posed by Keith Peterson, MLA for Cambridge Bay, he said, "we are still reviewing it on how we are going to do the work and how we are going to continue it as well, because the cans are accumulating."
The government will also move ahead with plans to remove scrap metal from the territory, Akesuk said, beginning with a shipment of abandoned vehicles from Iqaluit that will be transported to the South this summer.
And Nunavut will soon launch a campaign to curb the use of plastic bags. Akesuk said every household should receive five reusable grocery bags in the mail over the next few months. The government will also research biodegradable bags, and encourage retailers to stop using plastic bags.
Language laws, education act under review
MLAs put off voting on any contentious bills during this sitting of the assembly, after they gave a standing committee four more months to review the new Education Act and the two proposed new language laws.
The language bills - Bill 6, the Official Languages Act, and Bill 7, the Inuit Languages Protection Act -and Bill 21, the new Education Act, have all faced opposition from Inuit organizations, who say the draft laws are not as strong as they'd like.
Now, they will have another chance to sound off. More public consultations are expected for all these bills, with public hearings on the Education Act to be held April 23.
Steve Mapsalak, MLA for Akulliq and chair of the Ajauqtiit standing committee, said March 4 the committee needs more time "to ensure that our legislation is as strong as it can be within the realities in which we operate."
He also warned that, in the case of the language laws, change won't happen overnight.
"There is clearly a perception that once these bills have been passed, all services and information will be immediately delivered and available in the Inuit language," he said. "It is important that our expectations be realistic while we remain committed to improving the services to our constituents."
Harvester support programs boosted
The Government of Nunavut's fuel tax rebate for hunters and fishers is now simpler and easier to use, announced Louis Tapardjuk, the minister of culture, language, elders and youth, on March 4.
The program has existed for two years, but few hunters and fishers use it. In 2006-07, only 29 harvesters applied for the program, for a total of just $3,200 in claims.
Tapardjuk said the program is rarely used because the application process is too complicated. He said it's now simpler.
As well, under the old rules, an applicant needed to earn one-quarter of their income from harvesting. Now all harvesters are eligible.
