EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to urge the minister to do the polar bear population survey as soon as possible, and to make sure that he considers the survey of that area as a priority because my constituency has to be treated equally, the same as Nunavut communities.
I urge him to make sure that he can lobby the federal government for more funding to make sure that the population survey is done prior to the year of 2008, which is their target date.
So I urge the minister to look for additional funding to make sure that this is done a lot earlier.
Member's Statement 266 – 2(2): Hospitality in Iqaluit
I would like to speak a little about hospitality.
As the capital of Nunavut, we welcome visitors from across Nunavut, the north and the world.
The Prime Minister, the Queen, Kevin Spacey, Brooke Shields, to name a few of the Hollywood celebrities, have also been welcomed here to the capital of Nunavut.
A couple of weeks ago over 500 teachers from across Nunavut came here for a conference.
Many were billeted in local homes.
Before 1999, we did not have a hospital boarding home.
Almost all the hospital patients and escorts, as you know, were boarded at local homes, private homes here in Iqaluit.
Today, when the Tammaatarvik is full, which seems to happen a lot, patients and escorts still board at the homes of the good people of Iqaluit.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many Iqaluit families who open their hearts and homes on a regular basis to help other Nunavummiut.
This is the spirit of hospitality and friendliness and openness that Iqalungmiut are famous for.
Please join with me in thanking the many Iqaluit families who open their homes and hearts for other Nunavummiut on a regular basis.
Member's Statement 267 – 2(2): Going Home to Panniqtuuq
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, and good morning Mr. Speaker.
I received phone call from Pangnirtung and was asked to ask a question, if I can go home by plane.
My son, Mr. Speaker, Jose who is ten years old asked me to ask the Speaker if I can go home by airplane now.
It’s becoming evident that we’ll be completing the session this week and if he’s watching the TV, I will be taking you fishing this weekend.
Also, I send my regards to my family.
We’ll have to travel by land and it’s only accessible that way.
Mr. Speaker, if any of my constituents have unanswered questions, you can call me.
Also to my grandson Kevin, and to his mother Susie, I send my regards.
Member's Statement 268 – 2(2): Last Day of Session
I rise today and I’m very pleased to see the end of this session and we’ll probably be going home to our communities and I would like to thank the Ministers who were able to attend the meeting even though they were very busy, they found time to meet with the mayor of Repulse Bay and I believe all their requests were approved.
Mr. Speaker, when I first became a member of the Legislative Assembly, I was very nervous in the beginning.
This is a learning experience but I can tell you now, Mr. Speaker, I’m not as nervous as before and I’m not even embarrassed to make a mistake now.
The way I see it, when there are disagreements, it is a form of supporting each other.
I used to think that when there was a disagreement between the two parties, that’s part of working together.
If we always agreed with each other I know that there would be some questions to deal with.
So, therefore I would thank all the members of the cabinet and all Nunavummiut for giving me the opportunity to learn more about the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to tell my colleagues that I will be seeing you in April because I believe I’ll be going home tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member's Statement 269 – 2(2): Happy Easter to Nunavutmiut
I want to say Happy Easter to Nunavummiut.
This coming Good Friday, I wish Happy Easter to Taloyoakmiut, especially to my mom.
I say Happy Easter and say it to the old lady Qummuqanuaq with a smile.
We’ll see you soon when I get home and also all the kids.
And also the people who helped in Gjoa Haven, Helen Tiriganiaq, Thank you.
Johnny Kuttuq from Taloyoak and Leah Qavavauq, Filtima, Thank you.
I would also like to say happy Easter to my colleagues and have a safe trip, you’re going home tomorrow or tonight.
I’ll see you in April again.
Member's Statement 270 – 2(2): Wish a Happy Long Weekend
I am sure that all members of this House are looking forward to the conclusion of this sitting.
Potentially today is our last sitting day until the end of next month.
I just want to thank everybody here and wish them a safe journey home and a great long weekend with their families and their loved ones.
I think this sitting and this session, that there has been a lot of firsts.
Minister Brown asked for her first extension on her Members’ statements.
I think that is a good sign.
I think it is a sign that there are some firsts, which we are, really as Mr. Mapsalak said a good learning experience for all members of this House.
Everybody is getting more familiar and more comfortable with roles and how we need to work together for the better of Nunavummiut.
I have seen that come together over this last sitting.
I just want to congratulate everyone in here on that and wish them all a safe journey home and as my daughter used to say, “Happy Easter Eggs.”
Return to Oral Question 219 – 2(2): Air Ambulance Services
Hon. Levinia Brown: Mr. Speaker, question number 219-2(2), Air Ambulance Services asked by Mr. Peterson, on March 8, 2005.
On March 8, 2005 my colleague, Mr. Peterson, asked how a medical professional arrives at a decision to authorize an air ambulance in a community.
I have investigated this process and I would like to inform the House of my findings.
Each decision to medivac a patient is made on a case-by-case basis where a nurse arrives at a decision in consultation with a physician.
Although there are many factors to consider in each instance, all our health centres follow the Clinical Practice Guidelines as set out in publications form the Federal Non-Insured Health Benefits Office of Nursing Services.
A few of theses are:
Emergency Medicine Transportation Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care
Clinical Practice Guidelines for Primary Care Nurses
Pediatric Clinical Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care
These documents set out medivac “triggers” such as head injuries, of any condition with a potential for immediate problems greater than what could be handled at the health centres.
Our health professionals use these tools and other to aid in making a critical decision to call an air ambulance.
Further, I would like to inform the House that in a recent audit of 68 medivacs, only one “may” have been dealt with at the health centre and even in this one situation, other circumstances made this a prudent decision to call in an air ambulance.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the gallery those young, wonderful people that have been working with us over the last few days.
Mr. Speaker, as the house sits later everyday, these young people have to go to school first thing in the morning and then come back from school at 9:30 and then they sit with us until the house completes.
Some of them have other jobs Mr. Speaker, outside Legislative Assembly and school like one of the pages I’ll mention.
So it makes for a long day for them, so I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome to the gallery and thank first of all, Lauren Tieman from Inuksuk High School, here in Iqaluit and Lauren is sitting there just opposite of our good friend Nancy Tupik.
Also, we have Jennifer Twerdin and Jennifer just went out doing one of her wonderful jobs as page.
Jennifer is well known in the community and again has a part time job at the gas bar.
We also have Sapaulias Sageaqtuq who just walked past me, a wonderful individual from the community and lastly but not least Mr. Speaker, is my own son Wally, who is here Mr. Speaker.
I asked Wally who his favorite Member of the Legislative Assembly is Mr. Speaker, it wasn’t me or you, it wasn’t Pat.
It certainly wasn’t Mr. Tootoo.
It wasn’t Premier Okalik.
Mr. Speaker, Wally’s favorite Member of the Legislative Assembly was Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley makes him laugh and the other day I think Wally had an accident where he spilt water over Minister Tapardjuk and his staff and I want to take this opportunity to apologize.
I received a lot of notes saying like father like son.
Mr. Speaker, Wally needs to get a hair cut.
I was telling Pat, Mr. Netser, coming in earlier Mr. Speaker, if that as my wife told me, that’s the only thing we have to worry about is getting Wally’s haircut, then we’re doing pretty good.
So, with that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the pages for their hard work to the gallery.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, for a job well done.
I would like to recognize the Sergeant-at-arms.
He has welcomed us everyday and all the members know him, but I just wanted to tell you a brief story about how long I have known him which is approximately 40 years because we were in Vancouver in 1964, I believe, and we have been good friends since.
We were there down in Vancouver for six months together.
I have known him for a long time and he has a grandson by the name of Josh and whenever my grandson comes here, he always phones his grandson.
They’re pretty good friends and I’m very proud of that.
So, when ever he gets over here, he’s just like going home.
Mr. Speaker, it would be remised not to recognize someone else here that keeps a lot of us in the loop with what’s going on here in the assembly and that’s not Mr. Picco, Mr. Speaker, definitely not Mr. Picco, it’s our interpreters.
I would like to acknowledge them and their efforts.
I know they put in long hours and lots of last minute rush jobs that they do and it’s greatly appreciated by all the members of this house I’m sure.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to acknowledge our technicians and the other staff that we have a hard defined, but, they’re always around Mr. Speaker, and of course our friends from CBC that are here in the booth most of the time when it’s not news to them when we’re starting.
I would like to welcome them here and again thank them for disseminating the information to all Nunavummiut.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I too would like to acknowledge the efforts of our Sergeant-at-arms, Mr. Simanek Kilabuk for always being here with a smile on his face and being my neighbour down the bay.
His camp is just around the corner from mine, and remind him that I look forward to seeing him finish the carving of the walrus skull that we caught a few years ago.
He said he was going to carve.
He showed it to me last summer.
He was living between down by our camps and I look forward to seeing the finished product.
I would also like to recognize you first of all, Mr. Speaker.
As well in front of you, the staff of the Legislative Assembly, Nancy Tupik and Kooyoo.
Every so often, they show them on TV, and you, Mr. Speaker, I recognize you and the clerk staff.
Question 338 – 2(2): Concern on City Gravel Pit
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the minister and his officials and a lot of people across Nunavut knew, last summer, there were some concerns raised about the gravel pit that the city gets its gravel from, for doing things like the pads for our new school and work up at the new hospital and the court house.
I just want to ask the minister if he or his officials are aware that it’s something that could potentially happen again this summer or has it been cleared up, so that when the spring comes, we won’t have any delays of any projects that are going on in the community as a result of no gravel.
As far as I know, the contractors for gravel and the city have had a concern.
The concern was about the gravel, but I would like to tell the member that we have resolved the problems and there will be no delays this year.
I was wondering if the minister could indicate how they resolved the problem.
I believe it was the federal people or someone that came in and shut it down. I just wanted to ask if he can assure the contractors and the city that they won’t have that problem again this year.
Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide the outcome of the discussions that have been ongoing, but the issue at hand is a matter that I know the parties involved have been discussing, to try and come to an acceptable solution to the issue.
I don’t know if the minister has the authority or not, but if he does, could he formally inform the city that it’s his understanding that this issue has been resolved and that they won’t run into similar problems again this year?
For the record, I’m trying to indicate to my colleague that the issue has been a matter that is being dealt with through ongoing discussions, and I will commit to providing to the city and also to my colleague possible outcomes and solutions to the issue from the discussions that have been taking place on this matter.
Maybe I could just ask the minister to clarify something for me.
I believe, earlier, he had indicated that the issue had been resolved and that there wouldn’t be a problem there, and I think in last response he said there are ongoing discussions to try and find ways to alleviate that problem in the future.
I’m just wondering if he could clarify if in fact it has been resolved or, as he had indicated in his last response, that it’s something they’re working on resolving. And if he could give an idea as to when, if it is not resolved, he expects to have it resolved.
I tried to indicate earlier that the groups have been discussing and meeting to come to an acceptable solution to the problem.
Unless there has been some development in the last few days or last little while that I’m not aware of, maybe the issue has been solved. But, I will commit to providing the information to my colleague, Mr. Speaker.
Question 339 – 2(2): Caribou Study Near Coral Harbour
I’m not sure which minister to direct my question to.
Perhaps it’s the minister responsible for economic development because it states that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has approved $100,000 for a study of the caribou around Coral Harbour. Under economic development, we’ll be getting $100,000.
I would like to know the details.
Minister for Environment, Mr. Akesuk.
We wanted to start a study on caribou and we’re so used to dealing with polar bears, but we’re proud that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is able to assist us with the population studies for the Southampton herd.
The funds are to further study the caribou herd around Coral Harbour and to see how we can sustainably manage the herd on Southampton Island.
When will the study of the caribou commence?
We will start this year, as we are dealing with caribou.
It will start this year.
We do appreciate the work being done on the caribou herd in Coral Harbour.
When they capture females, they indicate if those females are pregnant or not.
Last year, I believe they were about 90 percent, and for this year we have heard there hasn’t been that many.
I wonder if he knows the female pregnancy rate.
After the study this year, we will be able to provide more information on the percentage of pregnant females.
We encourage residents to participate in the survey by working with the HTO because they are the ones who know the caribou over there. Residents know whether the caribou populations are increasing or decreasing.
Your last supplementary, Mr. Netser.
Instead of just hearing it from other people and not from his department, I wonder if he will be able to inform the House of the percentage of the females that are pregnant?
Yes, once that study is completed, I will make the results of the survey available to the member.
Question 340 – 2(2): Human Rights Support Staff
I thanked him last fall for the slow process of devolution and I raised a question in regard to human rights and how many staff there are.
We heard that they have three.
Are they going to put out the positions such as support staff for competition?
Minister of Justice, Minister Okalik.
We are in the preparations for putting the competition out, but I can check into it so that the jobs will be open to anybody.
We would be happy if we can get local people from the community.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): If there are going to be three positions, I don’t believe there’s government staff housing available, and so we are happy if they can hire local people.
I wonder if the Minister of Justice can commit or does he know if the office space will be tendered in Coral Harbour.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
During the planning process we had to identify a building to put an office in and we found one, but it needs a bit of renovation.
Staff housing will also be available.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, for offices anywhere in the communities, they sometimes tender out for office space.
Following the zoning bylaws in the communities, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice about when there was a local vendor who said he had office space… . I just want to ask him why he didn’t go for that local vendor.
We have to utilize our funding the best way we can and if we have offices that are not being used, we have to utilize them. If we didn’t do that, we would be misusing what we have.
If we don’t have an alternative, we go that route, but if we have the space, then we try to use it.
The reason why I asked this is because according to the NNI Policy, we have to support Inuit businesses. It seems like they are not supporting local businesses in some communities.
I would like to ask the minister if that will be a long-term commitment to locate the office there in that community?
Even though the private sector wanted to lease it out, there’s no doubt if it were in Iqaluit, we would give it to the private sector.
Are we going to follow the NNI policy when it comes to devolution in the small communities?
Last year in Gjoa Haven, for example, they purchased buildings from the private sector for $490,000, because they were going to be late.
We are in full support of those smaller communities, that is why we wanted to station them in a small community.
I am very grateful that they were able to assist us.
We have to utilize our money in the best possible way we can.
If we have offices that are available that belong to the government, then why would we bother to go outside?
Yes, we are in support of local businesses, only if they don’t have any other buildings.
But, if we’re just going to let buildings sit empty, it doesn’t make any sense.
Question 341 – 2(2): Hamlet Office Building
Mr. Speaker, after the hamlet office burned, they built another one starting in September 2003, and they finally completed it in 2005.
It was a smaller building and it took a long time to construct.
I wonder if the minister was kept up to date as to why it took so long to complete.
I have not received any information as to why it took so long to complete.
I still haven’t received any information to date.
The information may be in my office now as to why it took so long to build that particular building.
It took so long to build the office complex.
Did they require additional funding to complete the construction and if so, how much?
When they were drawing near completion of the building, they had to do more work because it wasn’t up to code or standards; when they were in the process of building them, they were designated for a different use.
I don’t have that information in front of me at this time, so that is why I cannot give him a definite answer at this time.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): I wonder if he can add or include something that would indicate how much more money it would cost.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): I will inform the member if there were additional costs or how much was over-expended.
Speaker (interpretation): Your last supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
When is the official opening of the office going to be?
If it’s not this spring, then it’s probably going to be in the summer.
I would like to thank the minister for responding to my questions and I would like to thank him ahead of time if he’s going to be going there to officially open the building.
I have informed the member that I will be attending the official opening of the building.
I’ve already informed him ahead of time, and I told him that I look forward to going there.
Question 342 – 2(2): Number of Young Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Disorder
Mr. Peterson: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
My question is for the Minister of Justice and it concerns Fetal Alcohol Specturm Disorder.
Yesterday I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and what her department is doing to address this serious issue.
Mr. Speaker, individuals with FASD don’t get a fair start in life.
My question for the minister: how many individuals classified as young offenders have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
I do not know how many there may be, but my budget in Justice has increased substantially for mental assessments, so where there’s a suspected case, an assessment is conducted.
The last couple of years have increased substantially for my department in mental assessments through the courts, and we are working with Health in trying to find a solution on the best diagnosis within the territory.
Right now, currently, we’ve had to ship them out to be assessed, so that’s something that we are trying to find the best way of resolving, because it’s an ongoing issue and it’s something that concerns us.
Could the minister clarify what specialized rehabilitation service is available to young offenders with FASD?
Right now what we do is: before the matter is heard in court there’s an assessment done, and then the court decides the best method of treating an individual, if the diagnosis is made.
Right now, it’s a difficult situation because we don’t have the capacity to do that assessment within the territory, but we are working with Health to make sure that we can do that.
It’s difficult for us to offer programs of that nature through Justice because our job is to imprison criminals, and so that’s something that will require further work.
Again, I thank the minister for that response.
Could the minister tell us how many clients in the adult correctional system actually have FASD?
I don’t have that information readily available, but I will make sure that I look into this matter further.
As I said, it is not Corrections that determines what individuals have FAS or FASD.
That is something that is done through the courts right now.
That’s something I can look into further.
I thank the minister again.
Does the Nunavut court system take a diagnosis of FASD into consideration during trials and in sentencing?
That is why the assessment is made in suspected cases; that is one of the considerations that they review.
That is my understanding why the budget for justice, in terms of mental assessment, has increased substantially.
Question 343 – 2(2): Nunavutmiut in Southern Penitentiaries
I will be directing my question to the Minister of Justice in regard to individuals who are in southern penitentiaries.
I think that it would be better if those inmates were repatriated back to Nunavut.
The reason why I am saying this is that when their relatives die, they go through extremely hard times. They are not allowed to express their grief or to come to terms with it.
I would like to ask the minister when the inmates will be repatriated back to Nunavut or if it is under consideration?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Okalik  Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Usually if it is over two years, they are put into southern penitentiaries.
We’ve encountered some challenges because we have been trying to tell the federal government that we need a penitentiary or centre up here, because we have a lot of inmates who are housed in southern institutions and it’s especially relevant when something happens in their immediate families, such as a death.
Usually they go through the court system in Nunavut and the decision is made up here.
They are sentenced up here and it seems wrong to send them down to southern institutions.