EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And he can be very, very loud when he calls my mother Angutii, translated man, when he wants her attention.
Sometimes on more than one occasion, he would blurt out Ataniiq (My God), by mistake and you would understand why some of the people who happen to be visiting would wonder why he had just blurted out My God.
In my statement I was accidentally translated as referring to my mom as being a male and my dad being a female, which is very shocking to my dad. I would not dare say my dad would call my mom a man.
What I was trying to say is that on Mother’s Day, my previous statement before I said the conclusion was that, Mr. Speaker, that my mom calls my dad “man” instead of “husband”, and sometimes she called him ‘Ataniiq’ which is ‘my Lord’ in reference to God by mistake.
That was the joke, Mr. Speaker, and I just wanted to make a point that sometimes it is very difficult to translate Kablunaat jokes into Inuktitut and Inuk jokes into the Kablunaat language.
Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to say the humour here in the House, but Mr. Speaker, I know that my time is up.
I just wanted to make a clarification and apologies to my parents.
If they saw the unedited Hansard, which they won’t, I would not dare go into my dad’s house with that hanging over my head.
Speaker: Thank you, minister for that clarification.
Member’s Statement 142 – 1(6): Inadequate Distribution of Funds to Communities
It’s a good thing that I don’t tell jokes in the House.
And I am sure that would be a problem to translate them into English.
What I would like to say is that in Nunavut there are different communities.
Some are woefully behind and some are more up to par with everything.
It could be the equipment for their meetings.
There are different factors and as MLAs I think that we defend our communities more so when there are not enough financial resources for everyone.
It has to be fairer for the allocations in Nunavut.
I believe that there are twenty-six communities in Nunavut.
I think that there is a better system that we can use in Nunavut.
It was quite obvious that in the beginning of the Nunavut territory, that with the previous government, with the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Nunavut communities were always a last priority.
In some ways that has not changed be it for distribution of equipment, infrastructure, or dollars for operations and maintenance.
I want further review on the matter as it could be improved so that if one community is getting way more than the others it will be obvious that we are favouring some of them and I don’t want to see that happening with this government.
We have to see each community on an equal footing and equally distribute to the communities, so there are no have or have not communities.
Member’s Statement 143 – 1(6): Spring Piano Recital at Inuksuk High School
Mr. Speaker, I just want to today, make mention of an event that happened last Friday here in Iqaluit.
It was a spring piano recital that took place at the high school in which 21 of Janet Troje’s piano students held a recital to show off what they’ve learned over the past year during their piano lessons.
Mr. Speaker, some of these kids range from six years old to teenagers.
And I think that the opportunity to participate and take music lessons, like I said there’s only 21 students that did that.
I think it would be great to see more opportunities available like that to our young people.
Not only private lessons but maybe something offered in the education system.
I’d like to congratulate all the students that participated at the time.
I think that the recital went excellent.
Special recognition, I’d like to say is to my daughter Eden who played two songs, a “Whistling Tune” and “You Are My Sunshine.”
And also note, Mr. Speaker that Ms. Williams’s son, Virgil also played a couple of tunes at that recital and the song that he played is “My Heart Will Go On” and the theme from “Giovanni” by Mozart.
I’d like to ask all the members in this House to join me in congratulating all the young people on a job well done and to Janet as well.
Member’s Statement 144 – 1(6): Ordination of Reverend Bobby Patsak and Jean Simailak
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to talk about an event that happened in my community on March 24, 2002.
There was an ordination that was held by Bishop Chris Williams for Bobby Patsak of Baker Lake.
He was ordained a Minister of the Anglican Church and also Jean Simailak, was ordained as a deacon.
Assisting was the Reverend Fred Carson, Executive Director of SOMA Canada and the Reverend Mike Shouldice from Rankin Inlet.
Reverend Patsak trained from 1998-2000 at the Arthur Turning Training School in Pangnirtung.
Reverend Jean Simailak has had various courses over the years and has served as a Lay Reader at the same Anglican Church in Baker Lake since 1980.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate these two individuals for their success in their endeavours in life.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome some constituents of mine in the gallery, Mr. Scott Cooper with Uqsuq Fuel Oil, the General Manager, also Chris West, who is the Manager of Retail Operations for the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.
And also next to Chris is Dallas Letemplier, who is the Baffin Gas Manager and next to Dallas is Mr. Mike Hine, a well know Geologist, an employee of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.
I would like to recognize an individual from Rankin Inlet.
His name is Simon Ukpatauyak and he’s behind me.
I would also like to welcome a person who used to live in Rankin Inlet or perhaps is still a resident, (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize another individual who has worked at the Northern Store where everybody got to know him very well.
He’s sitting right over there.
But I think he’s working for a different department now.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery, Simon.
I’d like to recognize two individuals from First Air that are sitting behind us, Mr. Jim Ballingall who’s the Vice President and Mr. Rick Lefebvre, who everybody in here knows as the Director of Nunavut operations.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery Rick, Jim.
Question 165 – 1(6): Effect of Cape Dorset Disaster on Capital Projects
Very briefly and I’ll try to keep it concise, the government makes plans for emergencies.
Contingency funds.
For example, this past winter there was a community, Cape Dorset, which was designated as a disaster community when the pipes froze and burst and they had to use the contingency funds held in reserve by the Community Government and Transportation to resolve this emergency.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
Is that disaster going to have an impact on the capital funds that will be used in the summer?
To use the communities as an example, is there going to be some delay in the projects that were slotted to go ahead in the fall. Is there going to be an effect on these projects after the situation that occurred in Cape Dorset, on the capital funds?
The matter dealt with in Cape Dorset will not have an effect on the capital projects that are planned already.
We had to set aside some capital funds to repair the damage to the pipes that was caused by the freeze up but it’s not going to have an effect on any of the projects that are upcoming.
I thank the minister for the understandable response.
It was a concern that was voiced by my two communities and I’m sure that the people from my two communities are assured that there will be no delay in any of the projects that are slotted to go ahead this fall.
I have no questions just that I have understood.
Question 166 – 1(6): Assessment of Decentralization Plans for Kugluktuk and Igloolik
Yesterday, I made a statement on the Evaluation Report on Decentralization.
Today I wanted to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Decentralization.
On that report you made some recommendations and one of the recommendations, if I may I can say the recommendation number 10 says the decentralization of the Department of Health and Social Services operation to Kugluktuk and for the decentralization for the Department of Sustainable Development, Wildlife Division, Igloolik will be assessed.
I am just wondering when will they begin to do the assessment in these two decentralized communities?
Each department is in charge of what kind of employees are transferred to each of the communities.
Our main concern is to provide support to each of the departments and that decentralization does occur.
What we are doing right now is ensuring that there is sufficient staff housing for each of the communities who are decentralized.
We have been working with the Minister responsible on that issue.
And issuing RFP’s trying to get additional housing in this area.
We are very supportive of efforts to try to decentralize at this point.
I know that the two departments are talked about…maybe the rest of the departments.
My question was there will be an assessment, the assessment in those two communities.
Do you have a timeframe as to when these will be done?
I will ask again.
At this point no timeframe that has been set, as of right now, the commitment is still there to ensure that the number of jobs that are committed to those communities will take place.
We have not formally developed a position on the recommendations that have been put forward and we will be doing that in the near future.
We have not responded to the recommendations yet, we are still examining them.
The commitment is there for each and every one of the communities that were identified and put things to and we have no response to date.
Question 167 – 1(6): Plans for Provision of School Buses
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I apologize Mr. Speaker, I didn’t quite hear you.
I will be directing my question to the Minister for Education.
Last year, there was one time funding when they dissolved the divisional boards.
They had a one million surplus, and the one million dollars was distributed to the communities.
And two of the communities had purchased a school bus.
Due to this surplus they spent this extra funding for two buses.
This was a one time funding surplus.
I would like to ask the Minister of Education in regards to the necessity of school buses.
In regards to the school buses, do you have any plans for providing school buses to other communities or is this a non issue?
Yes, we usually communicate directly with the communities on these types of issues.
For bussing services I would like to explain to him because we have two different ways of operating them.
Some communities provide school bussing through contracts and some of the municipalities administer the bussing service.
We look at the bussing services with the communities as their situation is unique and we usually discuss the matter according to the problems that they’re experiencing.
A couple of years ago, they could only provide bussing services through contracts and last year the system was different because they had used the surplus funds to purchase two school busses for two communities.
The bussing system was different from the year before in that regard.
And in regards to the two different services regarding bussing through contract or municipal services, the minister stated that these two systems they’re using are different.
I thought I understood you last year that providing school bussing through contract services would come to an end.
So I was wondering if the contracting of school bus services was terminated or are communities that are requesting a school bus contract, will they will be allowed to get their school busses?
We are using both systems right now either contract services and through municipal services.
For the communities that provide school busses, we do have a contract for school bussing.
The contract school bussing is up and running but also we did try out that new initiative last year where we purchased two school busses that were provided to the municipality to provide bus services for the school children.
Both are still running. Thank you.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): For communities that have contracted bussing services, would they have just contracted services for eternity or could it go through the hamlet council or through the District Education Authority.
How would it work when the community is requesting for providing school busses and it is already contracted out?
I was wondering if the minister is willing to provide some clarification.
If there was a contracted service for school bussing, and the municipality wanted to provide the bussing service, if they had the possibility of going that route or would they have no choice but to extend the contract?
Perhaps the communities would have to identify what their needs are, what they’re requesting and also, looking at if they can provide better services and if the costs are lower, then we usually look at these options with the District Education Authorities as to which services they would like to see.
Providing that there’s funding, they set up the service program for the communities.
In Pond Inlet, we have one bus but it’s evident now that they require an additional bus because the school population is increasing as the minister might already be aware of.
They made amendments to the bussing policy, so if the District Education Authority in Pond Inlet wanted to get an additional bus, I was wondering if the minister is willing to look for funding for an additional bus.
Also just to elaborate a bit, the students are sometimes only able to have a half hour for lunch as they have to immediately get ready for the school bus as it is already making its rounds and the children are sometimes forced to eat really fast.
There is a problem with the bus service in the regard and that is what I am trying to raise.
The Pond Inlet DEA, if they wanted to get another bus would you be willing to look into the matter with the DEA or if there was no funding, that it is impossible?
If we went to that situation, yes.
I would have to say that we would have to look at the safety aspects involved.
We would look at how long or how far the homes are from the school and also we automatically look at, as I stated before, in the House, when we were dealing with bussing service, the priority needs and the safety issues and the distance from the school and the homes.
Those are the strategies that we use and I would like to, yes, we provide and work with the DEAs very closely in those issues.
Question 168 – 1(6): Plans for Mauling by Problem Polar Bears
I will be directing my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to polar bears.
Yes, this summer in my community we are expecting to have polar bear problems in my community because the adjacent areas from Clyde River all the way up to Mittimatalik and down to Qikiqtarjuaq, there are numerous polar bears roaming around and the polar bears have moved into that area.
My question is, although we don’t want to use the polar bears as an excuse to dislike the government, we seem to disagree about this issue because we feel for our Inuit people and we don’t want to see any polar bear mauling human beings in our communities.
My question is, if a polar bear had fatally mauled an individual or if the polar bear injures a human being, what kinds of plans do you have to give support or reasonable assistance to the Inuit?
Last year my son was almost mauled by a polar bear.
If he was mauled, I would be very hurt because there were two polar bears right close to him and he just ran away from them and that’s why he didn’t get mauled.
So, my question to the minister is, what kinds of plans do you have if an Inuk should be mauled by a polar bear?
Good morning, my colleagues.
The Wildlife Officers work with individuals if there is an incident of a polar bear mauling any individuals and they work with the people.
If the polar bear had mauled an individual fatally, the polar bear would have to be found and shot.
The Wildlife Officers are responsible; they work very well when situations like this arise.
Yes, the wildlife officers are working on this issue, do you have any funding available if a polar bear should maul an individual, do you have any funding to compensate the victim’s family for their loss or death?
I am wondering if there are any funds set aside for this purpose.
Yes we would review the matter with the individual or the families of the individual and WCB because there are options that they could apply to their situation and the forms which have to be filled out.
I am not saying there is definitely funding available, but we could probably use the WCB if there should be an incident such as this.
I like the sound of his response but my colleague asked yesterday about grizzly bears destroying hunters’ property.
Ever since we can recall, the property of the hunters has always been destroyed by polar bears.
Sometimes they totally destroy the equipment and render it useless and they even destroy the cabins outside of the communities.
They destroy the cabins and the polar bears break into the cottages so I was wondering what kind of plans the minister has to support the individuals or hunters who lose their equipment or if compensation is even feasible?
Yes there is usually insurance for homes or buildings.
If there was an insurance policy on these cabins, yes they could be paid through their insurance providing that they pay their premiums…I would urge the cabin owners to insure their cabins so that they will have less problems when and if they should experience polar bears destroying them.
When we were under the GNWT, we used to fight for protection and funding and now that we set up the Nunavut Government, it seems like there’s no insurance available when we request it for the cabins. When we look to the department for assistance, there is never really anything set up.
So I was wondering for Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq, those two communities that I represent both have large numbers of areas where the polar bears roam around.
I am wondering if you could identify a definite place or person should any property damage occur where these hunters can get compensation.
If the member can give me a report on any hunters or individuals who could not get any funding or insurance, so if he can give me the names and the wildlife officers can help the individuals if they want to insure their cabins. I apologize for any inconvenience caused to the individuals, perhaps the community HTO can also assist in this matter.
But Mr. Speaker, I would like the member to give me correspondence as to whether any individuals have requested compensation for losses or insurance for their equipment in either Clyde River or Qikiqtarjuaq.
Question 169 – 1(6): Clarification of Responses Re: Consultation on Bill 1
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Education. I would like to quote from the Hansard Mr. Speaker.
On Thursday April 25, last month I had asked the minister regarding the results of the consultations and the list of changes to the proposed, to Bill 1.
The minister replied, “Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes the member is right about consultation proceedings have been requested by members and by the committee.”
Mr. Speaker, two weeks later on Wednesday May 8th, I basically asked the same question, asking for an update when I could get that information.
I’ll quote from the Hansard that the minister’s reply said, “Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To date we still have no specific request from the standing committee for this information.”
I’d like to ask the minister if he could clarify those two different responses.
The quotations, I regret that I don’t have a copy of the Hansard with me, but at that time when I responded to the member’s question that I had yet to receive any specific requests from the special committee.
When I spoke to the member about the issue, I had agreed to make the information they requested available so that the standing committee can have the information when discussing the issue but the standing committee has not given me a list of their questions or information requests.
Mr. Speaker, on April 25th, I specifically asked for the results of the consultation and a list of the changes and the minister specifically said yes, that that information has been requested.
Two weeks later he said he had no specific request.
So I would maybe like to ask the minister, on the 25th of April he said yes and answered that this information was asked for by the standing committee and by members.
I know I’d indicated that day, that I myself had asked for that information.
I’d like to ask the minister, it indicated yes at that time, we had and I guess again, ask when we can expect to get that information.
Just to remind the minister that when we’re dealing with issues like this where you have documents that you don’t have in front of you, there’s different dates with different figures, you have the option to take the question as notice or leave the question unanswered.
I would like to respond so that there won’t be any confusion.
I think there has been some confusion or misunderstanding by the member in that there are two requests made by the member and there was a request made by the standing committee and on top of that the standing committee was requesting results of the consultation process.
Mr. Speaker, if I had explained further, I would elaborate to them further and give them explanations.
Mr. Speaker, the minister also went on to say that he would provide us with that information and at that time as a member in this house for that information.
So does he plan on providing it to me and the other members in this House or just to the Standing Committee?
At the end of the week, I stated that I would give them at the end of the week and we delivered them in an envelope to the member’s office.
Mr. Speaker, on that date, on April 25th, I specifically asked for the results of the consultations and a list of changes and the minister had indicated that they will provide them to the members for this House and to the committee.
I’d like to ask the minister if that’s the information that he provided to the members or was it just that very brief overview of some of the major changes that he had tabled earlier in this House, that he delivered to the members.
The information that I provided was a list, a short summarized list.
As well, the special committee that is going to be travelling throughout Nunavut, I just want to make it clear that we don’t want any confusion.
I have given my department further direction and there’s somebody that’s doing some work on gathering information that would be provided to the Standing Committee.
The individual that is going to be working for us will be compiling the information and which communities they consulted with and what kinds of discussions happened in the communities.
I said yesterday again, when I told the members of this House that there’s about, over three thousand information items or questions that have been dealt with so far.
So, I will be providing some information to the Standing Committees so they will know what to do.
Just for the record I’ve indicated that Mr. Anawak would not be in the House today.
Mr. Anawak is in the House.
Question 170 – 1(6): Clarification of New Immunization for Infants
Mr. Speaker, when I made my member’s statement, I said that I would ask the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
I’m not intentionally trying to pick on the minister but as an elected member I have to represent my constituency.
The Inuit are a very curious people and they try to find out what is causing the problems, and whereby the babies when immunized with too much of a dose, they encounter problems later on in their lives, such as having lung problems and some of them have developed mental problems.
Health and social services told us that the babies would be immunized again, with a new kind of a serum or medication that has been approved for use in Nunavut.
We would like to know exactly what kind of serum or medication is going to be used to immunize children if it’s something new.
Mr. Speaker, immunization programs by departments of health, not only the Department of Health in Nunavut, have been carried out over the last 50 or 60 years going back to I guess the major one would have been the Polio vaccination.