EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Applications for this program are available from the Nunavut Housing Corporation district offices or on the Nunavut Housing web site at www.nunavuthousing.ca.
Minister’s Statement 107 – 2(4): Language Legislation (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
First of all, I would like to thank the members of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit for conducting hearings on Bill 6, Official Languages Act, and Bill 7, Inuit Language Protection Act, with Nunavut stakeholders on October 18 and 19, 2007.
From the perspective of the Nunavut Government, the work on the language legislative project actively began in 2000, with the consultations held by the Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly, and followed by a wide variety of policy research and evaluation efforts, and by the additional consultations led by Iliqqusilirijikkut from 2004 to the present.
Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to working with Ajauqtiit to ensure that Nunavut has the best legislative tools, so that the government and stakeholders will have very broad authority and scope of action that they need to promote all official languages and protect and advance the Inuit language in Nunavut.
This is an important moment in the history of our territory.
This legislation will confirm to all Canadians that Nunavut, while being an inclusive society, is where the Inuit language is the spoken and preferred language of a majority of Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, our elders have long waited for this sort of recognition. I believe through collaborative work with the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit and other stakeholders this will lead to a made-in-Nunavut language legislation that will cause great pride and celebrations amongst us all.
Member’s Statement 227 – 2(4): George Metuq’s 40th Birthday (Aglukkaq)
You don’t hear him.
You don’t see him. He sits above us all. I said he sits above us all and keeps us all sane.
He’s the backbone of our organization in this House when it comes to our IT systems, whether it is the translations or the television and whatnot.  Anyway, I would like to wish George Metuq, who sits up here, a 40th birthday today.
So happy birthday, George, and I hope we don’t keep you here too long today so that you can go home and celebrate your 40th.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Aglukkaq. (interpretation ends) A big happy birthday to George Metuq.
(interpretation) Item 3. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 228 – 2(4): Dangerous Activity in Clyde River (Arreak)
I rise today to talk about... (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to a dangerous activity that is risking the safety of our children.
Mr. Speaker, later today I shall be tabling pictures of children who are sledding down the slope leading from the door of the Clyde River Health Centre and onto the main road.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that our community health workers are far too busy with their work to be going out of their building and policing the activities outside their doors.
However, something must be done to address the situation.
Mr. Speaker, as the owner of any building will be aware, there are serious liability issues should an accident occur on their property.
I fear that an accident could easily happen and steps should be taken to prevent it. I also should mention, Mr. Speaker, that there have been near misses in that area.
I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to work with the Minister of Community and Government Services to assess the situation of the slope immediately outside the health centre doors and leading to the road.
Member’s Statement 229 – 2(4): Recognition of Inuit Special Constables (Peterson)
I rise today to update the House on an important issue that I spoke earlier this year.
Mr. Speaker, last March I informed the House about the recognition of Inuit Special Constables in Cambridge Bay.
At that time, the community had identified four individuals from Cambridge Bay whom we believed had served as Special Constables for the RCMP.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the RCMP ‘V’ Division here in Iqaluit, working with the RCMP archives in Ottawa, have successfully confirmed that two of the individuals were, indeed, Special Constables.
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP have ordered special commemorative headstones for their gravesites. Next summer, there will be special gravesite ceremonies for these constables who served their country and communities.
Their families are very proud that these two Special Constables are finally being honoured.
Mr. Speaker, we have not given up on the other two individuals.
Their families firmly believe that they served with the RCMP – we are turning over every rock looking for clues that will help us identify their service records.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite possible that they worked for the RCMP in the capacity as guides and provided invaluable services to the RCMP.
They could have been paid out of detachment contingency funds instead of being on the regular RCMP payroll.
We are investigating this possibility.
Mr. Speaker, regardless, if they worked for the RCMP as a guide they were still serving their country and their communities during some very difficult times.
As such, they are still worthy of some recognition even if they do not fall into a special category.
Mr. Speaker, if it turns out that the two individuals were guides I will be recommending to the RCMP that they recognize them “as friends of the Force” complete with the RCMP insignia. I will keep you and all members posted.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to join me in saluting the service of these individuals.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. (interpretation ends) Member for Iqaluit East, Minister Ed. Picco.
Member’s Statement 230 – 2(4): Embrace Life Council Fundraising Supper (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker.
On Saturday, November 3, here in Iqaluit, the Embrace Life Council will hold their second AGM. Later that same evening, the Embrace Life Council will also host a fundraising banquet at the Frobisher Inn. Mr. Speaker, the tickets cost only $60 and all proceeds go toward the Embrace Life Council and its activities.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of suicide has been raised many times in this House. The work of the Embrace Life Council cannot be overstated.
Their proactive and positive messaging is well welcomed in our communities throughout Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all members to attend the fundraising supper at 6 p.m. at the Frobisher this Saturday.
Tickets are available from members of the Embrace Life Council, as well as I understand, there are a limited number available at the door.
See you there, Mr. Speaker.
>>Applause  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Picco.
Member’s Statement 231 – 2(4): “Staking the Claim” Film – Recognition of Late Sam Raddi (Curley)
I rise today to recognize the film makers for filming “Staking the Claim” along with people from Ottawa. They were working for Sivuniksavut.
David Joanasi and Tommy Akulukjuk worked really hard interviewing people, and I read in Nunatsiaq News on October 26 that in the first paragraph it states that the young Inuit with sideburns and there’s a picture with glasses.
So, Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the Inuit who have helped us in Nunavut.
It states that the person in glasses cannot be here, Sam Raddi.
Sam Raddi was President of COPE.
He just didn’t wear glasses, Mr. Raddi, who has passed on, but was he was the Chairman of COPE.
He wore sunglasses because he was 95 percent blind.
So that’s why I rise today.
In Inuktitut Today it states how he lived, where he was a family man and a very good hunter. He helped us a lot with land claims because he was in ITC, and he was a good friend.
The other picture I’ll ask the Government Leader and maybe inform the Assembly.
Member’s Statement 232 – 2(4): Recognition of Panipakoochoo and Kyak (Arvaluk)
I rise today to recognize the Panipakoocho and Kyak families.
When they had dog teams they helped the St. Roch Ship and their Captain Henry Larson.
They went through the Lancaster Sound to go to Alaska from Pond Inlet.
They originated from down south, but we can see different stories now, and the stories we hear, they only seem to praise Henry Larson’s capabilities and they don’t even mention Panipakoocho and Kyak and their family.
I have been searching to read on this.
It was the Inuit who were guides that made it all possible.
From what I’ve heard, because I know the story where they had to keep them alive, especially Henry Larson’s crew, where they had to keep them warm and feed them.
They went through a very difficult time.
It states how difficult it was for Henry Larson and how challenging it was because it was very cold.
Because it’s the Inuit way of life, they were able to help them survive.
I believe the Department of Defence probably uses snafu if it’s okay.
We look for stories that recognize the Inuit.
Mr. Arvaluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.
There’s very, very little information from the public archives of a recorded version part of Inuit participation in this successful Northwest Passage.
I think it would be in the onuses of the CLEY and the federal government to do more research on the participation on making successful, the Kyak and the Panipakoochoo family to make this a success.
It’s not too late.
The records have been corrected now. For example, the land claims agreement is a correction of the history, the federal government’s acceptance and apology to the residential school victims is a correction.
I think those kinds of corrections make the federal government’s activities in the arctic helped by the Inuit like Panipakoochoo and Kyak, would be part of the correction.
I would urge CLEY to do some research and express to the federal government the editions that is needed in public archives.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Panipakoochoo and Kyak family, Nunavummiut, and all of Canada, I would like to thank and congratulate Kyak and the Panipakoochoo family to make this great contribution in making the Northwest Passage a success for the first time for the Qallunaat Northwest Passage.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 233 – 2(4): Recognition of Seporah Kalluk Aronson of Resolute Bay (Barnabas)
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, also to recognize my constituency in Resolute Bay.
Seporah Kalluk Aronson was awarded for excellent entrepreneurship.
They had an outfitting service called Uuttuq & Meetuq Outfitting.
But even after her husband passed away, she was able to continue on.
Seporah sits on the hamlet council, and brings up concerns and issues to me.
She is very open and I have learned a lot from her.
I am very proud of her. Even though she doesn’t have a husband anymore, she is very strong and is able to keep the business going.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not too often I get up to recognize people in the Gallery.
I would like to recognize people from Clyde River.
The closest is Levi Pallituq, who works as a guide and is a sergeant of the rangers.
At this time, rangers are involved, they’re usually involved now with searches, with very difficult tasks for the whole community.
Next to him is Jayko Enuaraq and following next to him is Jimmy Tasugat. They are from my community and I want them to be welcomed to the House.
It is a great pleasure to introduce to the House, no stranger to many of the members here, she is a community activist who works tirelessly here for the community here in Iqaluit and works with the Embrace Life Council, and she may have tickets for the members, she is sitting right over there behind Mr. Curley, Ms. Annie Quirke, the wife of our wonderful Clerk, Mr. John Quirke.
Welcome to the Gallery Ms. Quirke.
Centre for Iqaluit, Mr. Tootoo.
Question 295 – 2(4): Appointments to the Liquor Licensing Board (Tootoo)
My questions are for the new Minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board, the Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, eight individuals from a variety of communities were appointed to this important board in October 2005. However, their appointments expired within the last couple of weeks and it appears from the Gazette that only two new appointments have been made.
Can the minister indicate to the House today who’s on the Liquor Licensing Board?
I’m the minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board and they are continuing on.
I received applications for appointments to that board.
Can the minister indicate if there are more than two individuals that were listed in the Gazette that are on the board as of today?
We have two that are appointed and they haven’t met yet as of today.
It will be made obvious when they are going to be appointed and we are just preparing for their next meeting.
I think the minister indicated that there are just two people on the board. There were eight people on there before. Can the board function with just two people appointed on it because, as of October, there were only two people on there.
So can the board function with just two people in it?
Yes, we need to work on it.
October just ended and they didn’t have any agenda items to meet about yet.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They haven’t met yet.
I’m just wondering if it’s an eight-person board and there are only two people on it.
Is that a functioning board? I guess my question to the minister is; it’s probably good that they haven’t met. They don’t have a quorum.
Can the minister indicate when he plans on filling the vacant positions on the board, so that there can be a functioning board?
It’s a good thing that they haven’t had anything to review yet because there really isn’t a functioning board there.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I said, I have solicited requests for names. I appreciate all the members that have put forward names and the members of the public.
I want to give everybody an opportunity, a time to nominate.
That has been done.
Right now, we’re just reviewing all the names and coming out with a list that we will present to Cabinet in the very near future. So I look forward to making that announcement in the coming days. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 296 – 2(4): Dust Control of Community Roads (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.  Mr. Speaker, dust from the roads and runways in most Nunavut hamlets is a serious issue every summer.
Dust is thrown up into the air with our four wheelers and trucks. For three or four months every summer it’s difficult to breathe for many residents and it’s dangerous. In Cambridge Bay, for example, along to airport road it is dangerous to walk or drive due to the billowing clouds of dust.
Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister: could the minister tell the House what specific program her department has to provide funding to hamlets to control dust in their communities each year?
I know that’s happening throughout Nunavut and the increase in vehicles coming into the communities.
Although CGS funds the hamlet councils, I’m not sure what the situation is.
I will be able to talk to him later on as to how the funding is dispersed to the hamlet councils and use them for repairs of the roads and for the roads that have too much dust blowing around in summer.
I thank the minister for that answer. I was actually reading a story on the weekend from last summer, “Rankin Inlet Hits the Dust.” It reminded me to ask the minister about that, even though it’s winter time, summer comes quickly up in the North.
Mr. Speaker, studies have shown that health problems are associated with dust. It includes aggravates existing heart and lung diseases, damage lung tissue, in fact, impacts mostly children, elders, and people with asthma, and people with heart conditions.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell the House if her department conducts community dust monitoring studies to ensure that dust conditions are within acceptable health levels for residents, and if not, why not?
I take his comments to heart.
There are also particles that are coming down in the air. We are aware of these situations.
The question he raised in this House this afternoon, I don’t know if I am responsible for it and maybe another department deals with that.
I will be getting back to my staff and officials to find out more about the situation and I will return to him with answers.
I hope she is able to clarify that. Hamlets fall under the jurisdiction of Community Government and Services; fixing the roads; so I thought maybe monitoring the dust conditions would be in that category as well.
Mr. Speaker, there are five or six dust control methods that are available. These include water, chemical additives, speed limits, rerouting the traffic, and paving. Each method had advantages and disadvantages.
Water, for example, needs frequent application; the opposite of that, too much water, makes the road muddy.  My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if her department is working with hamlets to identify appropriate dust control methods that will provide long lasting relief from dust in communities during the three or fours months of summer that we have dust?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Peterson, for your questions.
I’m aware of the situation and I’ve been involved with the hamlet councils in the past. What we used to do was spray the water along the roads and up to now, I think they still use that process.
I’m aware of other products that are used to stop the dust flowing around in the communities, such as oil in the water.
Although it takes longer to spread it on the roads, it is better than using water because the water evaporates.
I’m aware of that situation.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay was using water this summer. They would water the roads three to four times a day but it doesn’t do the job. The dust was kicking up within hours of dousing water.
As well, we were using water trucks. The water trucks are needed for refilling the houses and the hospital in Cambridge Bay, so I don’t think that’s a viable solution.
My question for the minister, Mr. Speaker: will the minister commit that her department will immediately consult the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and hamlets to develop a Dust Control Policy that will come into effect on or before June 2008 to address the large dust control issues in our hamlets?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Brown.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can talk with them and the hamlet councils in the communities. I know they meet in the communities, so we can start the discussions to do their repairs for the roads.
Regarding what Mr. Peterson said to me about the road concerns and the dust flowing around in the community, I will bring that to the hamlet council in Cambridge Bay and we’ll be talking about it in their next council meeting. I think you can bring this to your community to the hamlet council so they can deal with it.
Question 297 – 2(4): Hudson Bay Summit (Kattuk)
Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be tabling the Federal Review Panel Report on the Environmental Assessment of the Eastmain 1-A and Rupert Diversion Project.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the GN is providing $100,000 towards the hosting of a Hudson Bay Summit in 2009. This conference will be held in Sanikiluaq.
Can the minister update me today on the preparations for this conference?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the Northern Strategy funding, we will be supporting that summit that will be held in 2009.
I’m glad they are preparing for that.
My supplementary will be: as the minister knows, my constituents and I are very concerned about this project as it will have a serious impact on the Hudson Bay ecosystem.
This could change our diet and our environment significantly.
Can the minister indicate to me how his department is monitoring this issue?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. Minister of Environment, Minister Netser.
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) We are working with the NTK group to ensure that the member’s community concerns are addressed for the hydro development project.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your second supplementary, Mr. Kattuk.
Can the minister tell me if he has had the opportunity to personally discuss this issue with his federal counterpart or his Quebec counterpart?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So far I have not but we are monitoring the issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Kattuk.
He said he has not. Will he be willing to do that in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’m willing to sit down with any of my counterparts to address the issues of the member’s concerns over Sanikiluaq. Thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Item 6. Oral Questions.
Question 298 – 2(4): Correspondence on the Need for a Mental Health Worker for Kugaaruk (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, last week I raised the issue of the lack of mental health workers and social workers in my constituency. I received a copy of letters sent by the municipality to the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue.
Can the minister confirm whether or not she has received correspondence on this issue dated August 20, 2007 from the Mayor of Kugaaruk?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I received correspondence from the Mayor of Kugaaruk some time over this summer.
Whether it’s that same letter or not, I need to confirm that. Thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Can the minister provide an update as to what steps have been taken to address the concerns raised in the correspondence from the Hamlet of Kugaaruk?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If it’s that same letter that I received from the Mayor of Kugaaruk related to the vacancies in Kugaaruk, related to health, from what I understand, the jobs are posted.
It takes about on average 60 days to complete a competition.
So whether there’s an offer that has been made or not, I’m not aware, but I do know I have seen the ad out for the vacant positions in the community. I would have to get that information from my staff to see if those competitions have been finalized.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister. Your second supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
I believe in that letter, it stated that they wanted mental health workers that can work with their traditions, cultures and so on. They wanted to see someone that they can work with.
Has the minister put that into consideration?
All positions of the Public Service are filled through a competition process, as we have a central HR process that we follow. Every vacant position is put out for advertisement and its through the public process.
Last March the minister indicated that her department was looking at recruiting a director of mental health.
Can the minister update this House on the progress of that recruitment?
We’ve had to run that competition two or three times already because we were not able to find applicants for that file. We’ve since advertised in the south for that particular position, and to date, as far as I’m aware, the competition is not yet complete.
Question 299 – 2(4): Medical Travel Policy (Arvaluk)
Mr. Speaker, last spring I brought forward a motion to relocate the medical travel service back to Iqaluit from Pangnirtung.
When she spoke to the motion on March 29, the minister assured this House that her department was trying to improve services delivered by the medical travel office in Pangnirtung.
Can the minister inform this House, what specific steps have been taken to improve medical services in the Baffin since last March?
I had spoken to that very question many times in this House in terms of what we’re doing to try and improve the system in providing travel services to our clients.