Nunavut MLAs ask why elder mobility vans promised last fall are still parked

Some Nunavut MLAs are wondering why a fleet of elder mobility vans, promised four months ago to five communities by the premier, are not yet in use.

Premier P.J. Akeeagok said last October that the five vans, meant to help elderly residents get around in their communities, would be going to Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour, Pangnirtung and Rankin Inlet, at a cost of about $1 million.

On Thursday, Akeeagok, who's also the minister responsible for seniors, confirmed in the legislature that the vans aren't operational yet.

Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq asked when they would be.

"In the agreement, I could not find anywhere where it states that these vans have to be operated or when they have to be operated by," said Savikataaq.

The contract with Northern Future Skills Development (NFSD), the company in charge of operating the vans, began on April 1, 2024, and expires at the end of next month, according to Savikataaq.

When pressed for a timeline for when the vans will become operational and if there are any conditions for that to happen, Akeeagok eventually said the contract did not have an operational deadline.

"The agreement was just for the purchase of those vans within the time frames that are referenced," the premier said.

Asked to commit to a date when the new vans supplied to NFSD will be operational, the premier responded by saying NFSD is looking at securing funding from the government for this purpose.

CBC News requested comment from NFSD but did not receive a reply before publication.

While Savikataaq's community of Arviat is not one of the five communities where the pilot is set to run, Rankin Inlet is. One of the MLAs that represents that community also had questions about the vans.

Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok asked the premier for "further justification for why Nunavut's three regional centres …which already have taxi services and special needs vans, [were] selected to receive the elders vans." 

In response, Akeeagok said the project is a pilot and selection was based on the "logistical urgency" of bringing the vans into communities.

Sammurtok also said despite Rankin Inlet being one of the five communities to receive vans, residents in the community haven't seen one.

Akeeagok said that all the communities have received the vans allocated to them.

Speaking to reporters after question period on Thursday, Savikataaq said the usual process for rolling out a new program was not followed in this case.

"You say, 'OK, we're going to buy these vans, the operational money or funds is going to come from here, they're gonna operate from this time to that time, they're going to be stored here in a nice warm place' — and none of that was done," he said.

"It just seems like it's been a $1-million photo-op, and the government is trying to wash their hands away from it."