EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Member’s Statement 308 – 4(2): Tribute to Marvin McKay Keenan (Savikataaq)
I rise today to pay tribute to a retiring teacher in Arviat.
Teachers are one of the cornerstones of our society. They shape and form the growing minds of our children, and I’m sure that each one of us can remember a certain teacher that has had lasting effects or has influenced our growing life.
Lots of teachers in Nunavut come up from the south, stay for a short while, and then return, but some stay for long periods of time and some even make Nunavut their home.
I would like to pay tribute to a teacher from Arviat. He has been a teacher for 35 years in Nunavut and he started off his teaching career/principal in Kimmirut in 1981.
He has worked in numerous communities and I’ll name them. He has been a teacher and/or a principal in the communities of Whale Cove, Repulse Bay, Arviat, and Kugluktuk, but he did spend most of his teaching career in Arviat and he also was an instructor in the first NTEP program that was offered in Arviat.
He is retiring this year at end of the school after 35 years of service in Nunavut, and I wish Marvin McKay Keenan a well-deserved and happy retirement.
I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him a happy retirement.
Member’s Statement 309 – 4(2): Congratulations to High School Graduates of Cape Dorset (Joanasie)
Good day to everyone who is listening to the radio broadcast and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House of two people from Kimmirut who graduated from grade 12.
Mr. Speaker, they are Brian Padluq and Allen Kolola. I am very proud of the two who have completed what they set out to do. I express my pride to them.
Mr. Speaker, education, as we are all aware, really improves life and things become more available to you in terms of jobs or life skills. Things become more available to you after you have been educated.
Mr. Speaker, they have even higher points that they can strive for.
There are so many things that are available to us.
There are endless educational opportunities out there and everybody who is trying to complete grade 12, I would like them to consider different opportunities that they would be happy to become involved in. Carefully look at anything that you’re interested in, either Arctic College or universities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the teachers in Kimmirut who have supported the grade 12 graduates and the parents of the students who worked hard for them, obviously, and the fellow residents of the community. They can express their pride for the graduates as well.
Mr. Speaker, I would like everyone to join me in congratulating them. Brian and Allen finished their grade 12 and I wish them the best for the future.
Member’s Statement 310 – 4(2): Congratulations to Sanikiluaq’s NTEP Graduate (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today and congratulate Sanikiluaq’s latest graduate from the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Louisa Meeko, who is sitting behind me today, on her hard work and diligence, which has earned her a Bachelor of Education from Nunavut Arctic College in partnership with the University of Regina.
Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, Nunavut is in desperate need of qualified teachers. I was very pleased to learn that on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, Ms. Meeko was successful in her interview for a teaching position at Paatsaali High School in Sanikiluaq.
Louisa has been commended for her diligence, dedication, and positive work ethic. Paatsaali School and the community of Sanikiluaq are very fortunate to have her.
Member’s Statement 311 – 4(2): Implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Shooyook)
I rise today for the same reason that I have been rising here, which I will keep doing until I understand it fully.
When I’m going to be talking about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, I would like my colleagues to fully understand that I am very happy and I’m not trying to break any Canadian laws or anything like that in pushing it, but I am going to push hard for this and we have to push hard for this.
People have not understood what it is I am saying. Even my fellow MLAs have not fully understood and I want Nunavummiut to understand what I’m trying to do.
I would like all the people of Nunavut to fully understand that I support the Canadian Charter of Rights and I like it. I like the NWT laws as well.
However, we haven’t fully recognized something and for that, we are not whole. Inuit need to be genuinely involved in working together and honouring one another.
We have to work together and be proud of each other. It’s what we’re supposed to do. That’s what I keep repeating.
Mr. Speaker, I have nothing against the government in Ottawa’s laws and the NWT laws because I am a Canadian. I am not fighting any laws. However, there is a “but.”
We are following many rules that we can’t follow, Mr. Speaker.
We the people obtained Nunavut and we were told that we were going to be able to go back to our culture in the future.
Mr. Speaker, we heard the elders saying this and we believed them.
However, they were not telling the truth and today, our elders of today in Nunavut still have an expectation because they had been told and they had believed what they had been told. They’re still expecting something.
Mr. Speaker, the people should be told the truth.
Our elders still expect things and our elders have great abilities on their own.
I don’t hear any nays. Mr. Shooyook, please proceed.
I’m almost done. Let me go back.
Mr. Speaker, I wish we could be told true things that will actually occur.
Because the elders have great abilities, we’re still around today.
Mr. Speaker, let’s give them what they expect. Let’s be proud of them and thank them.
Member’s Statement 312 – 4(2): Appreciation to Canadian Rangers of Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
I rise today to express my pride to the Repulse Bay Canadian Rangers.
Mr. Speaker, on March 10, when they were holding an exercise, there was an incident where an elder got seriously injured and because of the ability of the fully trained Rangers, of which Luura Qingajak is the leader, and because they were properly trained in first aid, they were able to take that person back home to be medevaced by plane.
Mr. Speaker, had it not been for the trained Rangers with him, the person who was seriously injured would not have survived.
The training that they receive is very useful. Whenever someone is in need of help, they help.
Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues to join me in expressing our pride to the Canadian Rangers in Repulse Bay who worked very hard. The elder I was referring to is now back at home and recovering.
I would like my colleagues to join me in expressing our appreciation.
Member’s Statement 313 – 4(2): Search Effort in Kugaaruk (Ugyuk)
There’s a search happening in Kugaaruk and the children are expecting their parents. I urge all the members to think of the couple that are lost.
Sometimes it gets tiring when we have to do a search for many days.
Therefore, I ask Nunavummiut to think about the family in Kugaaruk during the search. The children of the missing couple are expecting their parents back.
Member’s Statement 314 – 4(2): Congratulations to Peter Evic (Mike)
I rise today to congratulate a person from Pangnirtung.
QIA had a bi-election recently on April 7 this year and Peter Evic was elected. He works very hard. He also works with the community recreation committee and helps prepare community events.
Peter will be representing the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and he is very easy to work with.
For that reason, I would like to recognize Peter Evic and his wife and children, as well as his entire family.
I just want to congratulate him for being elected to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association Board of Directors.
Member’s Statement 315 – 4(2): Tribute to Louise Uyarak (Quassa)
There are quite a few teachers who will be retiring and I would also like to extend my appreciation to those teachers who will be retiring in Nunavut.
In my community of Igloolik, Louise Uyarak is a long-serving teacher. Perhaps her last name is now Qamaniq since she is married now.
This individual has been working as a teacher for over 20 years in Igloolik and she will be retiring.
She provided a lot of support to our children and I am very proud of her.
We have heard that some teachers end up living in Nunavut and they become long-term residents of Nunavut. However, I am very proud of the Nunavut beneficiaries that are teachers.
I urge the young people of Nunavut to take the Nunavut Teacher Education Program so that they would all be bilingual and they would become great teachers.
Therefore, I would also like to congratulate the long-serving teacher, Louise Uyarak. Her nickname is Siigalaakuluk.
I rise today to express my pride in her, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 316 – 4(2): Tribute to Marvin McKay Keenan (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Good day to my fellow Nunavummiut and residents of Arviat and Whale Cove.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to offer congratulations similar to my colleague’s statement regarding a retiring teacher. I would like to recognize a teacher in Arviat who spent 35 years teaching and will be retiring at the end of the school year.
I wish him a very good and happy retirement.
Mr. Marvin McKay Keenan knows all the communities and all the people who know him know that he has provided support to various communities.
For example, annually, he set up the fishing derby.
I don’t know how many fish he has measured so far because he takes part in the fishing derby.
I wish him well in his retirement. Once the school calendar year is over, he will be retiring.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to congratulate the retiring teacher and wish him well.
We will move on. (interpretation ends) Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions.
Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
Return to Oral Question 482 – 4(2): Update on Repulse Bay’s New Sewage Lagoon (Mike)
I am very pleased to respond to a question posed on May 26, 2015, an update on Repulse Bay’s new sewage lagoon.
Member Mapsalak had directed his question to me as the Minister of Community and Government Services.
He had asked a question to get an update on Repulse Bay’s new sewage lagoon.
I can respond this way:
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Repulse Bay was granted a new water licence on April 9, 2015. The new water licence says that a containment structure is required at the site to comply with the Nunavut Water Board water licence.
The design is complete and there is approximately $6 million identified in the capital plan for it.
The project will be tendered this fall, with construction anticipated to start in the summer of 2016.
This coming weekend in Iqaluit, there’s going to be a volleyball tournament and they’re planning for the winter volleyball trials.
My community residents are able to visit here from Pond Inlet, the young junior volleyball team. I would like to welcome them to the gallery. It’s always enjoyable to see your fellow community residents come to the legislature.
When I say your name, please rise so that you will be properly recognized. They are:
Savannah Killiktee
Crystal Nutarak
Cara Killiktee
Shirley Nasook
Sarah Arreak
Jillian Kyak
Lynn Angnatsiak, and
Lindsey Qanguq
The coaches are Brenda Panipakoochoo and her assistant coach is Linda Milton-Kyak.
Welcome and I ask the members to welcome them as well.
When this individual was a small child, the first time I met him was in Taloyoak and he was a very young person and then became a young man. My father’s cousin, Betty Brewster, is one of the interpreters and she wasn’t here and I think she just left.
Novalinga from Taloyoak, the first time I met her, I remember that she was always helpful to Nunavummiut through her interpreting services and I also would like to acknowledge her.
It’s not too often I get to recognize visitors in the gallery.
Today, I get the opportunity to introduce two. The first one is Louisa Meeko, who I talked about earlier, who has graduated from the NTEP program. The second person is Caroline Meeko, who just completed her second year of the NTEP program.
I would like to welcome to the gallery Paul Sammurtok.
Question 504 – 4(2): Iqaluit Marine Infrastructure (Angnakak)
As the minister will recall, her department spent approximately $39,200 from its small craft harbours budget on much needed repairs to Iqaluit’s causeway and breakwater during the 2014-15 fiscal year.
As I recall, the government’s tender call for this work was issued quite late in the season. I think it was some time in mid-July.
Can the minister indicate when her department will be issuing a tender call for work to be performed in the coming months on Iqaluit’s breakwater and causeway?
I have been asking my officials in regard to this issue.
This spring, we will issue a tender and we’re trying to negotiate with the city.
They’re considering if they can make an agreement to do the work.
They just recently hired an individual. If this was not set up or complete, we will be able to go ahead with the contract.
I am glad that she is working with the city, but can the minister also indicate what other Iqaluit stakeholders will be consulted by her department when it comes to the development of the scope of work for this year’s maintenance and repairs?
The hunters and other users of these facilities are usually the ones we discuss with our department on these issues.
That’s very good news to hear.
Earlier this week, I tabled an excerpt from a recent presentation on marine infrastructure that NEAS provided at this year’s mining symposium.
This presentation pointed out that Iqaluit “accounts for 1/3rd of all Nunavut marine cargo” and that “increasing efficiency of Iqaluit will reduce bottleneck and expedite delivery in other communities.”
Can the minister describe what specific actions her department is taking to address the need for longer term strategic improvements to Iqaluit’s marine infrastructure?
Regarding boat owners and for other forms of local transportation, the Iqaluit facilities are different.
With regard to ships delivering cargo, it’s totally different when it comes to marine infrastructure.
We have recognized that there is a need for port for cargo ships and other larger vessels.
Our department, the City of Iqaluit, and also the marine carriers like Transport Canada, DFO, and other entities are looking at how to improve the docking system in Iqaluit.
Question 505 – 4(2): Review of Harvester Support Programs (Savikataaq)
As the minister will recall, I asked a number of questions during our recent winter sitting concerning his department’s review of its Harvester Support Program.
In response on March 11, 2015, the minister stated that his department would consult with Nunavut HTOs and the communities on the results of the review and that the final product can be here in early spring, before the spring session.
Can the minister indicate if this review has been completed and, if not, when will it be completed?
I would also like to thank the member for persistently asking those questions.
The review has now been completed and my staff is now looking at the review.
I can respond by saying that my staff is now looking at the results of that review.
Can the minister indicate when the changes or the new Harvester Support Program will be revealed?
When is it coming out with any additions or alterations?
When is the new Harvester Support Program coming out?
As I indicated earlier, my staff is currently looking at the results of the review and we are going to be doing an assessment of the Harvester Support Program.
While we are working on this issue, we will also look at the provision of country foods.
The results are being reviewed by our departmental staff to see if we are providing adequate benefits to the hunters.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for that response, but I didn’t get an answer.
He told me the review is done.
His officials are looking at the review and going through it and he listed a whole bunch of other stuff that is being done, but I did not get a date from him on when his officials will be done and when the new program, if it will be new and if there are any changes, will be out.
I would like the minister to confirm when it will be out. Is it like within a month or a year? We wouldn’t want it to drag on like the wildlife regs.
We don’t have that kind of time.
Since the review has been completed, it does have to be scrutinized by the department to see where we could provide better services or benefits. Within the government, we work towards those kinds of issues.
I think that there will be something coming out in the summer.
Question 506 – 4(2): Update on the Office Space Strategy (Rumbolt)
During our recent winter sitting, I asked the minister of the day if his department had completed a final report on his Office Space Strategy. In response, the minister indicated that a draft report had been presented to the Deputy Ministers’ Committee.
Can the minister indicate if a final report on the Office Space Strategy has been completed and when he will be tabling it in the Legislative Assembly?
I will have to look into this and I will get back to the member once I have the information.
I will have to get back to the member on this issue.
I am not taking it as notice, but I will get the information and get back to the member directly.
I’m grateful that he didn’t take the question as notice because my follow-up questions are along the same lines and he can look up that information too as well, maybe.
In the department’s 2015-18 business plan, it indicates that “An office space needs assessment has been completed for Iqaluit” and that “Assessments are being expanded [to include] all Nunavut communities.”
Will the minister commit to providing specific information of Nunavut’s office space needs, broken down by community, to the Legislative Assembly at the earliest opportunity?
I will have to look at this issue because there are quite a number of communities and we are anticipating making changes to the Office Space Strategy.
We want to know exactly what is available in all the communities, but I can say that it will be completed in the summer break. I will make another announcement in the fall about this issue.
I’m pretty sure the minister won’t have the information for my next question, but I’ll ask it anyways.
I had previously raised concerns that essential services in the communities, such as frontline health workers, are limited by the lack of office space.
Can the minister provide us with specific solutions his department is considering to address the lack of office space throughout Nunavut?
Yes, it’s very obvious that there’s a lack of office space in all communities.
There will be something concrete at a later date.
I’m very well aware that there’s a lack of office space in the communities.
We know that the health workers, frontline workers, and social service workers need to be placed as a priority due to health and safety issues.
We also have to look at the leasing of offices and the exploration of the lease agreements.
We will look at all these issues and I will be able to give you follow-up information afterwards.
Question 507 – 4(2): Number of Social Assistance/Income Support Clients (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to get some clarification on how the Government of Nunavut coordinates its efforts to address food security issues across the territory.
Can the minister indicate how many government programs provide direct funding for Nunavummiut to put food on their tables?
Poverty reduction is the responsibility of the Department of Family Services and the Nunavut Food Security Coalition is an entity that was formed under that category.
They look at food issues, the laws, and other policies.
The Nunavut Food Security Coalition is under the responsibility of the Department of Health.
We have outlined the changes and it’s directed toward country food, how we can have it made available to the communities to be consumed more and how we can provide better services for the people with food security issues, including the subsidies that are provided to the retail outlets.
Those are some of the issues that I can cover.
I thought I was going to hear a number because I asked how many there were.
For my supplementary question, social assistance is one of the largest benefits that the government provides to Nunavummiut to help pay for basic necessities, such as clothing and food.
As MLAs, we have been anticipating a comprehensive review of income assistance programs that are dealt with by the Department of Family Services.
Can the minister provide an update on the status of the comprehensive review of income assistance programs and when it is expected to be completed?
Are you talking about food security? I apologize.
Now I understand your question about social assistance.
Yesterday, we heard that there would be around $37 million per year for social assistance for clothing and food.
About half the people of Nunavut are on social assistance.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): I think she answered a part of my question.
Approximately 14,000, or almost half, of the territory’s population are supported by income assistance programs.
Can the minister clarify how her department has involved Nunavummiut and consulted with those that receive social assistance benefits during the comprehensive review on income assistance programs?
I also thank my colleague for asking for clarification.
We are looking at the income support policies right now and we will be reviewing them in the fall. We will be going to the Kitikmeot region for the Act.
My employees are dealing with this as well. They have had many meetings on how we could make this better and be a benefit to Inuit.
We have to look at how much an individual is making.
We support the daycares and the elders. We also have a fuel subsidy for the elders.
We will be dealing with it this coming fall.
Before I proceed, I would like to inform my colleagues that the people who were lost in Kugaaruk have been found. They are okay and alive.
Question 508 – 4(2): Apprenticeship (Sammurtok)
Mr. Speaker, the government’s mandate document, Sivummut Abluqta, states that we will “Enable Nunavummiut to enter into training to become trades apprentices and to complete their certification requirements on the job.”
Several years ago, the Department of Community and Government Services employed several individuals as apprentices in the carpentry, plumbing, and electrical fields. Can the minister confirm whether the Department of Community and Government Services currently employs any trades apprentices?
I will be able to properly answer after I find out for myself and to what extent this is being followed.
I cannot answer as to how many.
Once I have the information, I will respond accordingly.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Alex Sammurtok.
I believe that it would be a long way to supporting the government’s Sivummut Abluqta mandate if the government itself invests in trades training.
Will the minister commit to looking into the possibility of hiring trades apprentices within his department?
Yes, I will check into this and I will get back on apprentices as I need to know this too. As he mentioned apprentices, I will completely check it out or even my cabinet members who might have responsibility in this area, as education is involved.
I will check with CGS to see where things are at with the (interpretation ends) apprenticeship program. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) He answered my question already, but not all of it.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Department of Family Services and Nunavut Arctic College both play a role in the Nunavut Apprenticeship Program.
Will the minister commit to raising this issue with his cabinet colleagues and getting back to me on the results of the discussions?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the member for enquiring about this and being concerned about this.
I have been an apprentice myself and have been one to receive my papers, so I know what this is about.
I know I have to work with my colleagues on this and I will get back to him.
Question 509 – 4(2): Waste Management in Nunavut (Angnakak)