Debates of October 24, 2006 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke with regard to the community freezer in Paulatuk and also I applaud the Department of ITI in regard to sending their 25 freezers down in 2005-06. When we were having a meeting in Lutselk’e on a retreat, I did talk to the Minister briefly about getting more freezers for Paulatuk. At that time, he was going to confirm it. So I would like to ask the Minister. Why weren’t these freezers sent to Paulatuk this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Minister Bell.

Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has indicated, we have sent, I believe, 50 freezers to Ulukhaktok, 25 to Paulatuk, and obviously we have had some recent problems with the community freezer in Paulatuk. We are prepared to sit down and arrange for more freezers to come to the community, but we do need to talk to the HDC, the hunters and trappers. We need a request from the hunters and trappers. I understand the region is working with them now. We need to understand who the families are that are in need of freezers. We can’t determine that on our own so we do rely on the hunters and trappers to come forward and let us know who in the community needs these freezers. As we have indicated in the past, we are more than prepared to work with that hunters' and trappers' group to sort this issue out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister for his response. I will contact the HDC, but my understanding is that they are aware that they were supposed to at least get another 25 freezers over the summer. In that regard, I would like to ask the Minister, once that is done, when will the freezers be sent to Paulatuk? Will it be over the summer or will it be this winter? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Mr. Speaker, I will have to check on that. It is my understanding that, in the past, we have used the barge schedule. We have needed some lead time to make sure that we could get the freezers ordered, on the barge and delivered to the community. I think the next opportunity is next summer to do that, but certainly let me see what is available in the region, Mr. Speaker, and I will get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Thank you. The weather is kind of getting cool right now, so right now I think they are pretty safe, but I would like to make sure that these people in Paulatuk not lose that subsistence they got like this past fall and summer. So I would like to try to get the freezers down here either by airplane or can that happen, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 172-15(5): Paulatuk Community Freezers

Mr. Speaker, let me say I agree with the Member that the urgency obviously with the weather turning colder is not as great as it was in the summer. We do believe that this is the model that makes sense, having people have their own chest freezers. The issue in Paulatuk where we have a large community freezer had the refrigeration unit go out on the equipment, much of the community subsistence harvest was lost is something that we don’t think makes sense anymore. We want to make sure that we hedge our bets and that everybody has a freezer, everybody who needs one. So we will work with the community in that regard, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.