EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It was five years ago that Cambridge Bay held its last musk ox harvest. The harvest was shut down by federal inspectors when the field abattoir did not meet national health standards.
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, many local people lost seasonal employment. At the same time, a meat processing plant, Kitikmeot Foods, lost musk ox meat suppliers.
Mr. Speaker, the meat plant had to import musk ox carcasses from Sachs Harbour with financial help from the Government of Nunavut.
The meat plant provides vital jobs year-round to local residents.
Our musk ox products are always in great demand; our musk ox jerky is renowned for its unique flavour.
Mr. Speaker, Kitikmeot Foods produces more than just musk ox. As you can see from the tin I am holding in my hand, it is wild smoked arctic char chowder. The company offers a range of products.
I was very pleased to see that the large grocery store in Iqaluit carries Kitikmeot Foods products, including arctic char cChowder.
Mr. Speaker, quality foods, smart marketing and attractive packaging will help us build an export industry.
Mr. Speaker, last week the Cambridge Bay Hunters and Trappers Organization began their first musk ox harvest in five years.
They have not been idle over those five years. Rather than give up the harvest, a community working group was established to work with a consultant to develop a new business plan to guide them in reviving harvest operations.
Mr. Speaker, the Hunters and Trappers Organization understands how important the harvest is to the community and to their members. The harvest creates over 20 seasonal jobs that put some extra disposable income into the pockets of harvesters. The harvest also ensures the process of finding a local source of musk ox meat and helps keep the musk ox population healthy.
I request unanimous consent to continue my statement.
There are no nays, please proceed. Mr. Curley. I’m sorry; I thought you had your hand up.
So please try and complete your statement, Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, the hunters and trappers organization is responsible for local wildlife management, but they are also business oriented. In addition to the musk ox harvest, they also operate a world-class sports hunt that attracts big game hunters from around the world to our community.
The work of the hunters and trappers organization board of management generates significant revenues for the business and seasonal funds for their excellent sports hunt guides.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating the Cambridge Bay Hunters and Trappers Organization for reviving their annual musk ox harvest and wish them continued success for all of their current and future renewable resource business ventures in Cambridge Bay.
Member’s Statement 173 – 2(3): Weather Forecasting (Curley)
I am sure we are a bit tired today, especially for the standing committee members that had traveled last night and I’m sure they are more tired today because they went to Pangnirtung last night.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make a statement in regard to our weather and we are unable to make a forecast about our weather and we can’t understand it.
The traditional ways of forecasting are no longer used, but we still need to use and know traditional knowledge of Inuit.
I would like to talk about this although I mentioned it before.
Mr. Speaker, when the Europeans started coming into the north, they couldn’t really tell how the weather or our environment was and back in the 1970s, the photographers started coming up to photograph wildlife and they couldn’t even forecast the weather.
I would like to talk about something that I have heard before. The elders knew how to forecast the weather, so they started asking him about the weather.
Every time the elder said it would be nice weather, they would leave the next day and they would get the advice of the elder.
He would always forecast the weather correctly and he started making money.
These photographers, before they left to photograph the environment, they would ask the elder how the weather would be and he would be very accurate, so he was getting paid for it.
When he was asked how the weather was going to be on only one day he could not respond and these photographers had to try to complete their job photographing.
I would like to ask why we don’t use the traditional knowledge of Inuit today.
The elder did not want to respond, he was quite old, even though the photographers were asking him the question and he had his head down and not wanting to answer. “If you don’t answer about the weather, you’re not going to get paid.”
Then he looked at him...
There are no nays. You may proceed to complete your statement, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Yes, I will try and complete my statement.
When he looked at the individual, and because he wants to make money, he responded by saying as to how the weather is going to be tomorrow.
He looked at the individual and the Inuk said, “I no longer know how the weather is going to be because my radio doesn’t work anymore.”
Mr. Speaker, ever since then, the traditional knowledge of Inuit on the environment is no longer being used.
Only the harvesters can forecast the weather now.
I put my hand up for Member’s Statements. I ask for unanimous consent to go back there.
Speaker (interpretation): Try to raise your hand higher so that I can see you better.
The member is asking to go back to Item 3.
There are no nays. Mr. Tootoo.
Member’s Statement 174 – 2(3): Dangerous Work – Power Plant (Tootoo)
It’s a genetic problem; my arms and legs are only so long, I can only raise them so high.
Mr. Speaker, we know today is Friday and usually it is a light day here in the Assembly for statements and that.
I just want to reflect a little bit on something our minister for energy indicated the other day.
I think that he highlighted it today in his Minister’s Statement about the very dangerous work the people that work for the Nunavut Power Corporation do in extreme weather.
The other day he was indicating that even someone like me, with my limited abilities, would have a hard time changing a light bulb. I have talked to a number of people since then and everyone agrees that even the minister himself with highly able and skilled abilities with very intellectual and contortionist skills that he has would have a very hard time doing that.
Mr. Speaker, a picture came to my mind of what could happen to someone if they were not skilled enough to change a light bulb. I would like to present the minister of energy this picture of what could happen to you if you do not have the skills and the training expertise that this could happen.
I would like to take this opportunity to present this photo to the minister as a warning.
Member’s Statement 175 – 2(3): Arctic Winter Games Participants (Akesuk)
For those athletes that are going to Alaska...there are some constituents of mine that will be participating in the Arctic Winter Games, and we anticipate that they will bring home the Gold.
The under-18 girls Cape Dorset soccer team will be Uiviruq Takpaungai, Lao Jaw, Eetusa Oshutsiaq, Helena Workman, and Taukie Taukie will be going to under-18 soccer representing Nunavut.
These people are from Kimmirut: the female junior volley ball team Karen Nunngaq is the coach; Padluq Julia, Kelly Qarpiq, Aggy Tikivik, Surusimitu Michael, Betsy Qiliqti, Mary Quaraq, and Rosie Akavak.
Those are the junior females who will be participating at the Arctic Winter Games.
Member’s Statement 176 – 2(3): Seal Hunt Protesting – Sir Paul McCartney (Picco)
Sir Paul McCartney, his wife Heather, and the usual publicity-seeking animal rights groups have begun their now-annual pilgrimage to the ice flows to protest the annual seal hunt.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Mr. Speaker, harp seals are not endangered.
They’re not close to extinction. They’re not recognized at-risk and they are not recognized as being dying off. The annual hunt, Mr. Speaker, the annual Canadian seal hunt is heavily regulated, it is monitored, and it is legal, and made legal by our federal government.
The taking of white coats or the young pups has also been prohibited. So Mr. Speaker, what are they protesting? Mr. Speaker, I suggest to you that if the hunt were for Norway rats or an annual cull of coyotes, Sir Paul McCartney would not be interested.
Mr. Speaker, 5 million harp seals is an increase of over 2.5 million animals since the 1970s.
Five million harp seals are eating fish stocks.
This has been proven Mr. Speaker. They don’t eat turnips. They’re not out there grazing for cabbage.
They are depleting commercial fish stocks. Mr. Speaker, when the subsistence hunt in Nunavut that we have is ongoing and is affected because of animal rights groups, then this is wrong.
Mr. Speaker, in 1948 my father sailed on the last trip, the old sealer, the Eagle, made to the hunt at the front. My dad returned.
They had 18,000 seals and my dad received $150 for six weeks work; six weeks of hard, cold, messy work.
Mr. Speaker, to Sir Paul McCartney, who will debate with Premier Danny Williams tonight on CNN Live, on Larry King, I would suggest to Sir Paul McCartney that he should stick to writing songs, and singing his songs, or a band on the run may run over Sir Paul.
Member’s Statement 177 – 2(3): Happy Birthday Wish to Mother (Netser)
Today is March 3 and it’s my mother’s birthday.
I believe she is 73.
I wish to wish you a happy birthday if you are watching, and we love you.
Return to Oral Question 125 – 2(3): Waiting List for Staff Housing (Number of Vacant Units) (Akesuk)
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: I would like to make a Return to Oral Question 125 – 2(3), to Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Iqaluit Centre, in response to the waiting list for staff housing.
I hope I won’t be standing up as much during Question Period this morning because I’ve been standing up for almost every item.
I would like to take a moment to recognize and welcome the conservation officers from the Department of Environment who are in Iqaluit this week for training. I would especially like to recognize Gerry Atatahak from Kugluktuk and Andrew Nakashuk from Pangnirtung who are training in the officer program.
Our conservation officers are in the front lines in protecting our wildlife...
...wildlife and environment in Nunavut.
They purchase skins from harvesters and assist in completing applications for support.
In the smaller communities, they work with the RCMP to provide safety services.
Recently, they have been working very hard in consulting with the hunters and trappers organizations to finalize the regulations for the Wildlife Act.
I am pleased they could take time to come into the Legislative Assembly today.
I welcome to the Gallery...I will start out with the names: Gerry Atatahak, training here from Kugluktuk and Andrew Nakashuk (interpretation) who is also a trainee from Pangnirtung; Alden Williams, Allen Niptanatiak, Andrew Keim, Bob King, Chad Harden, Collin Adjun, World Champion Fiddler, Curtis Didham, Daniel Shewchuk, David White, Drikus Gissing, George Koonoo, Jeffrey Qaunaq, Joani Kringayark, Joe Ashevak, Joe Niego, Joe Savikataaq, Joel Rose, Johnny Nowdluk, Paul Prefontaine, Ray Mercer, Remi Kirkort, Russell Brandon, (interpretation ends) and one of the longest serving wildlife officers in Nunavut, Sakiasie Sowdlooapik.
The other one is another long-time serving wildlife officer, Seeglook Akeeagok, Shane Sather, Tabitha Mullin, Teema Palluq, and the last one, our Assistant Deputy Minister for the Department of Environment, Jane Cooper.
These are wildlife officers, I’m very happy to introduce them in the House, and keep up the good work guys.
I would like to welcome my constituents who are here and they are here for my swearing-in ceremonies.
Our elders are very knowledgeable and one of my constituents is an elder and he occasionally phones me if he has something in his mind.
He helps me decide what I should do, Johnny Kutark, I’m very proud of him.
And from Chesterfield Inlet, ever since my father passed away, I didn’t think I would laugh again, but I’m thankful that he has helped me, Joe Isaluq.
And my cousin, I grew up with him in Coral Harbour, Mark Panniuq.
And my wife of 26 years; on February 26, we celebrated our 26th anniversary. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to the House the very first lady of Coral Harbour, Mrs. Mona Netser.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery those four wonderful young people who have been working with us this past week, our wonderful pages.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to introduce to you and the members; on my immediate left, close to you, on your right hand side, Ms. Levi Nowdluk.
Levi is a high school student at Inuksuk here in Iqaluit. On this side of you, behind me, is Nick Dunphy, again a high school student.
Next to you is my son Wally, who had a recent haircut, as you can see. And right over here; and Eric is gone out right now, a very well known young guy in Iqaluit, a very nice young man, Eric Guimond.
I’d to take this opportunity to welcome them to the Gallery.
I had my hand up for Item 6.
I’d like to go back there.
Speaker (interpretation): There’s a member who would like to go back to Item 6.
Question 199 – 2(3): Main Estimates – Timely Financial Information (Tootoo)
As I said earlier in my Member’s Statement, this Friday is supposed to be a light day, but not that light.
It deals with some disturbing comments made in the Auditor General’s Report.
On Chapter 4 of the Auditor General’s Report entitled, ‘The Government has not Provided Timely Financial Information to the Legislative Assembly.’ In paragraph 60, there is a third reason and explanation for the importance of timely financial information.
It says, “Lower quality financial information throughout the year means poor quality information for managers year round, as well as longer times needed to prepare financial statements at year end.”
Yesterday, I asked the Minister of Health some questions, following up on my colleague from Repulse Bay’s question from the day before, which indicated, as I indicated over the last number of years, that there has been money set aside in the main estimates for capital projects.
The statements over the last few years; the capital plans and the main estimates; show close to $1 million being spent on the project and yet the Minister of Health had indicated they were not yet at the design stage.
My question to the Minister of Finance is: given that statement that that money wasn’t spent on the design, as has been indicated, how can we determine the accuracy of the main estimates when there appears to be money spent, and yet when asked about it after the fact, for design, that money hasn’t been spent.
I don’t know if you can help us feel more comfortable with an explanation in helping us feel more comfortable with the main estimates’ accuracy.
They are in order, and if they’re not used for that particular year, or if there is a surplus, then they are put forward to the New Year. That’s how we do it. We’ve heard that there has been some work done on it, but usually what happens is if there is a surplus on a project, it’s moved onto the next fiscal year.
I am aware of that process of carry-overs. I know each year we’re asked to approve capital carry-overs here in the Assembly, but the way that the main estimates show, it shows that that money has been spent not carried over.
So my question to the minister is: can he look into it and confirm that that money was actually spent, or has been moved forward and what the government has received as a result of those expenditures?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I can look into it and I’m sure that our staff is working on it already.
I would like to assure the member that I will look into it and keep the member updated.
Question 200 – 2(3): Arctic College Affiliated with Universities (Barnabas)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education, and I’ll speak in English.
(interpretation ends) Is Arctic College affiliated with degree granting programs from the south and what are they?
Nunavut Arctic College is affiliated with degree granting programs from the south.
Some of those programs include the Nunavut Teacher Education Program, which is affiliated with McGill University. We have the Nursing Program, which is affiliated with Dalhousie, I believe. And we also just recently had the Law Program, which was with a university in British Columbia.
Nunavut students sent to the university programs, many have grade 11 or grade 12 from Nunavut; are they passing the degree programs?
Again, yes. Mr. Speaker, we just recently saw the graduates, for example, in the Law Program. I think there were 11 graduates there.
We just graduated our nurses and again Mr. Speaker, it’s very important to point out that once they graduate from these programs and receive their Bachelor of Nursing, as an example, they can nurse anywhere in Canada.
That means, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll use the nursing one as an example, these are people from Nunavut, who’ve gone to grade 11 or grade 12. They’ve graduated. They’ve used that high school background and they’ve gone further and forward and have now become nurses.
Under the NTEP Program, again Mr. Speaker, once the person writes their program and receives a degree affiliation from McGill, then, again, that’s a recognized national degree.
So the member is correct; our Nunavut students are doing quite well with degree programs, not just in Nunavut, but in the south. We’ve seen a lot of Nunavummiut graduating from universities and colleges with degrees.
Alberta exams are written by our grade 12 students. Is this recognized across Canada?
There has been a lot of debate about the Alberta exams.
In some corners of Nunavut, some people would like for us to drop the Alberta exams and then go to some kind of Nunavut exam.
Mr. Speaker, the Alberta exams are tough exams and they are recognized across the country. If you graduate from high school in Nunavut, you have written the grade 12 exams, then you are automatically recognized as doing that and you get into colleges and universities, and so on.
Mr. Speaker, our students write the Alberta exams and we want to continue to raise the bar on those exams, we don’t want to lower the bar.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, we have spoken with the Alberta people to have the exams Nunavutized, meaning, Mr. Speaker, to bring more references and more parts of the exams in line with our experience in Nunavut and the Alberta people have agreed to that.
Mr. Speaker, the Alberta exams are also written by the students from the Northwest Territories and are written by all of our students at the grade 11 and grade 12 levels across Nunavut and the success rate actually has been pretty good on the Alberta exams.
And Mr. Speaker, we endorse those exams. We want to keep that bar higher, and Mr. Speaker, we are seeing more and more of our students pass.
The other point that we need to point out is that it’s only in the last ten years that many of our communities in Nunavut have actually had grade 12.
In many communities, there only was grade eight and grade nine; you had to send students out to Iqaluit, to Rankin Inlet, to Cambridge Bay, or even to the Northwest Territories.
And a lot of our students dropped out. We are seeing more and more graduates now with grade 12 programs in their communities.
You and I used to be, when we were Members of the Legislative Assembly, we established the divisional boards and insisted or lobbied to have grade 12 at all community levels because of the high dropout rate.
After grade 12 had been established in the communities, it was very shortly after that we started seeing the increase.
Is completing grade 12 going well at the community level or is it not doing so well?
There are a couple of things when we look at. Right now in Nunavut, we have a huge dropout rate. For every 100 students that enter kindergarten, only 25 will actually graduate grade 12, and we are trying to deal with some of the issues around why people are dropping out.
Mr. Speaker, when we look at our grade 12 graduates, that student, that’s our kids who are in school who actually attend 70, 80, 90 percent of the time, whether it’s in Clyde River, or whether it’s in Iqaluit, or whether it’s in Kugluktuk. They are actually passing the grade 12 exams and they are moving forward.
Some of the stats are very surprising and encouraging.
Since 1999, we have had 960 grade 12 graduates in Nunavut.
Of the 960, 86 percent are Inuk and Mr. Speaker, of that 86 percent, the majority are working, and Mr. Speaker, another group of that, another cohort of that group are in the south attending post-secondary schooling.
So Mr. Speaker, we have a long way to go with education in Nunavut, but Mr. Speaker, as I just pointed out and the member made a good point there, it’s only ten years ago we have actually had grade 12 in a lot of our schools.
In some jurisdictions, for example in the south, for example they have had high school and so on and so forth the last 60 to 70 years, even in small communities.
So we have a long ways to go, we are doing fairly well, and the Alberta exams helps keep that.
So hopefully that helps answer the member’s question.
Question 201 – 2(3): Deferring Capital Projects (Mapsalak)
I am concerned about the questions that were brought up by my colleague and I’m very pleased that he did bring this issue up.
From what I understood from his responses and the questions that were brought up by Mr. Tootoo, the monies that were identified for capital projects like a hospital or a nursing station, for example, and other capital projects that are slated at the community level have been deferred repeatedly.
From the Minister of Finance’s response, the monies that were set aside for a particular project, if they’re not used, they’re carried forward then for the next fiscal year.
If that was the case, because there have been a lot of deferrals or projects that were not completed, then, to date, there must be a lot of money that has been carried forward as a surplus.
There might be a surplus.
The government departments are the ones that set up their budgets.
If there were unused monies, then they’re carried forward.
But at times, if the money is not used for a particular project, then it’s used for something else.
These estimates are approved by the Legislative Assembly and if the monies that were approved for a particular project were not used for that specific purpose, what happens then? Do they return them?
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): If they’re not used, then they are returned and used for another project.
If the project was not finished, then the monies are carried forward to the next fiscal year. If they are not used, then they are returned.
So I understand that the projects that were approved, for projects, be it in smaller or larger communities, but it’s usually the smaller communities that suffer, then the monies that were slated for smaller communities, if they weren’t used, they are then used for another project.
If there was a shortfall in the other communities, then do I understand that the monies that were slated for a specific project are moved and used for another project that had a shortfall?
At times, if there were monies that weren’t used in a particular year, then they are carried over, or if they are not used, they are put back in the general government pot.
Those estimates have to be approved by the government. If they’re not used then they are re-profiled.
The budget is set up for the real needs of the communities. How come that is not realized in some communities? My last question, I will have to ask for permission.
If this is the way the budget is set up then how come, after this budget has been approved and it is quite a large amount, how come we cannot access it in the community that has been assigned to it?
Yes, we have set up the main estimates for each department and we have budgeted them. Some funds are not used for the department budget. I cannot answer for each department, but the particular concern of the Member of the Legislative Assembly is under the Department of Health.
We will investigate that. It is being investigated as we speak.