EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It is disturbing that in this day and age, people are homeless. Too often, I hear about people living in shacks, on the streets, and beneath porches.
This is not the Nunavut that we envisioned when our land claims agreement was signed.
What leaves people without any option than to be homeless?
No one wants to be homeless.
Often, it is the shortage of public housing units that contribute to the problem, but often, it is because of arrears owing to housing authorities that prohibits re-entry into public housing.
New housing units are needed.
Assemblies like ours approve the construction of many new units. New units alone are not the answer.
I want to look into a program that helps people understand their responsibilities that come with maintaining their housing units, but to go further, I want to work with those who are showing a reasonable effort to live up to their responsibilities.
I will commit to working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to consider building more accessible housing and to take into consideration the disabled and elders’ mobility issues when planning for new units.
Mr. Speaker, the elders’ centre in Iqaluit is a home to many elders from Iqaluit and is a well utilized facility. There are, however, many elders and people who require more advanced and, in many instances, palliative care. A hospice centre in Iqaluit would alleviate the burden placed on the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
It would allow for more appropriate care and programming while keeping them closer to home with access to family, country food, and a familiar environment.
In the next Assembly, I will work towards the establishment of an Iqaluit hospice facility for elders and those requiring palliative care.
In Nunavut, we have suicide at epidemic rates. We all have lost someone to suicide and we all wonder why.
Since even before Nunavut was formed, understanding the issues and working on preventative strategies have cost a lot of money. The cost of life is staggeringly greater. It is quite apparent that no one has the answer or the solution.
My constituents will have my utmost commitment that I will work tirelessly with all groups of Nunavut to implement our suicide prevention strategy.
Mr. Speaker, having purpose in life through a good job and seeing a bright future is an important part of having a positive outlook about life.
It’s one integral part of seeing a brighter future for oneself.
Iqaluit-Manirajak is a home to some outstanding businesses. At the same time, some businesses in my constituency are not fully equipped to take advantage of some of the large development projects coming to Iqaluit and to Nunavut.
I am told time and again that there is no funding available for projects designed to keep money in Iqaluit, ideas such as training for a position that would have to otherwise be contracted to the south or even as basic as accessing basic business advice.
I will advocate for businesses.
We need to make business development programs less rigid and work towards better delivery of service between Nunavut, federal, and birthright organizations.
We have the same goals, so why do we work in isolation of each other?
Residents of Iqaluit-Manirajak have what it takes to succeed. So can’t all levels work together?
I want to create an environment where local businesses can take full advantage of development, including ongoing management of government projects, such as the new Iqaluit International Airport.
Infrastructure is as important as a robust economy is to hunters and healthy lifestyles.
For example, a marine facility in Iqaluit is equally important to businesses as it is to hunters and to recreational users.
One facility, such as a harbour in Iqaluit, can serve these three purposes:
Economic, by making it more efficient to load and offload ships;
By allowing traditional use, such as hunting, where people have easier access to country food and all the health benefits it provides;
Recreation is as important to mental health as it is to physical health.
I will work towards two important new projects for Iqaluit. As MLA, I will focus on the planning for the harbour for large and small vessels.
Equally important is a community centre to include performing arts, community feasts, and exhibitions.
Mr. Speaker, no politician, whether they are MLA, Premier, cabinet, or Prime Minister, or minister, can be all things to all people. No one person can solve all problems.
We must listen to what voters tell us, and then we must act on the opinions expressed to us by our constituents.
Acting to serve in the best interest of people living in Iqaluit-Manirajak is what I want to do for the next several years.
I don’t regret for one minute clicking that blue button on Facebook. It is the beginning of a great adventure.
Tabled Document 414 – 3(3): 2012 NNI Comprehensive Review, August 2013 (Taptuna)
I am pleased to table the 2012 NNI Comprehensive Review, August 2013.
Tabled Document 415 – 3(3): Nunavut Law Foundation Annual Report for the Year Ended October 31, 2011 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 416 – 3(3): Nunavut Law Foundation Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 417 – 3(3): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2009-2010 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 418 – 3(3): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2010-2011 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 419 – 3(3): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report 2011-2012 (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Law Foundation’s annual reports for the years 2011 and 2012.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Legal Services Board of Nunavut’s annual reports for the following periods: 2009-2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12.
Speaker: They didn’t hear that, eh?
It’s good. The button got fixed.
Tabled Document 420 – 3(3): Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Arreak)
Tabled Document 421 – 3(3): Nunavut Public Library Services Annual Report 2011-2012 (Arreak)
I have a couple of items to table.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a summary record of the sixth session of the committee, from the 16th meeting of the conference of the parties in Bangkok, Thailand, March 3 to 14, 2013. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to table the Nunavut Public Library Services Annual Report for 2011-12.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker: Thank you, Minister Arreak.
Tabled Document 422 – 3(3): Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances, Benefits and Expenses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2013 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 423 – 3(3): Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut Annual Report 2012-2013 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 424 – 3(3): Report of the Integrity Commissioner for the Period April 1, 2013 to September 8, 2013 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 425 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Fund Financial Statements March 31, 2013 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 426 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund Financial Statements March 31, 2013 (Speaker)
I have five documents to table today.
The first document is the Annual Report of Members’ Indemnities, Expenses, Benefits and Allowances for the period April 2012 to March 2013.
The second document is the Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for the year ending March 31, 2013.
The third document is a report of the Integrity Commissioner for the period April 1, 2013 to September 8, 2013.
The next two documents are the financial statements and audit reports for the retiring and supplementary retiring allowances for the year ended March 31, 2013.
Motion 057 – 3(3): Extended Hours and Days (Kusugak)
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Quttiktuq, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker deems fit to assist with the business before the House during this present sitting of the Assembly.
Bills 40, 58, and 64 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority granted to me by Motion 57 – 3(3), the committee will stay in session until it reports itself out.
Prior to proceeding to Committee of the Whole, we will take a 22-minute break.
>>House adjourned at 15:41 and Committee resumed at 16:09
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you.
Good afternoon, Nunavummiut, those listening on the radio and watching the televised proceedings.
As you will recall, on Friday, I stated that I will make my ruling on the point of order that was raised.
I would like to make my ruling before we proceed with the committee meeting.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, colleagues.
Before resuming consideration of Bill 40, the proposed Representative for Children and Youth Act, I am now prepared to deliver my ruling on the point of order raised by the Member for Rankin Inlet North during last Wednesday’s proceedings of the Committee of the Whole.
In raising his point of order, the Member for Rankin Inlet North took issue with remarks made by the Member for Quttiktuq during his general comments on Bill 40, the proposed Representative for Children and Youth Act.
The remarks made reference to statements made during the November 14, 2008 proceedings of the Nunavut Leadership Forum, which took place in this Chamber.
On September 12, 2013, the Member for Cambridge Bay tabled an excerpt from the transcript of the November 14, 2008 proceedings of the Nunavut Leadership Forum.
I remind members that it is not the role of the Chair to make determinations concerning disputes between members on such matters as the meaning of a member’s comments that were made at an earlier proceeding.
These are matters of debate.
Nonetheless, both members’ positions are clearly on the public record, and the contents of the transcript of the November 14, 2008 proceedings of the Nunavut Leadership Forum are self-explanatory.
Consequently, the Member for Rankin Inlet North does not have a valid point of order, no further action on the part of the Chair is required, and this matter is concluded.
Before proceeding with our business, I wish to also take this opportunity to remind all members of the importance of using respectful and temperate language at all times during our proceedings.
I remind all members that Rule 23(k) provides that a member shall be called to order if he or she “uses abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder.”
I ask all members to govern themselves accordingly. (interpretation) Thank you.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 40, 58, and 64.
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 40 and, if time permits, we will commence the review of Bill 58 and Bill 64.
Do we agree that we will first deal with Bill 40?
Chairman (interpretation): Do we agree to bring in Minister Aariak and her officials to the witness table?
Madam Minister, please proceed to the witness table.
Madam Minister, please be welcome at the witness table. For the record, please introduce your witnesses.
To my right is Mr. Daniel Vandermeulen, Deputy Minister of EIA, and to my left is Anne Macintosh, who is a legislative drafter from the Department of Justice.
Mr. Vandermeulen and Ms. Macintosh, welcome.
Prior to our adjournment on Friday, I stated that I would give the minister an opportunity to reply to the general comments. Madam Minister, you now have the floor.
I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me an opportunity to make a statement.
Mr. Chairman, I’ll read it in English and I’m sure they will be translated into Inuktitut.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, I would like to add to my opening comments.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to remind the members that when cabinet brought forward our Tamapta priorities, we clearly identified that we must help those at risk in our communities.
Mr. Chairman, cabinet agreed that during this mandate, the government will also create an independent child and youth representative who will report to the Legislative Assembly and ensure that Nunavut’s children are being adequately served by the government.
Bill 40 will, thankfully, not be needed by all children and youth in Nunavut. It will be there to help only those most vulnerable, only those who need help.
Our children and youth are all precious and we should not allow any to be left behind or fall through the cracks. The representative for children and youth will help the children, youth, and their families deal with the system to get the services they need.
Mr. Chairman, the Government of Nunavut always strives to improve all of the programs across all of the departments that offer programming for children and youth. The representative for children and youth will help the Members of this Assembly and this government to do just that by providing objective advice.
Mr. Chairman, concerns have been raised about not having Inuit social service workers. Currently, 6 of 40 community social service worker positions are filled by beneficiaries. Of the 40 positions, 7 are currently vacant.
I have high hopes that some of those vacancies will also be filled by beneficiaries. I am hopeful those positions will be filled by beneficiaries because, from 2005 to 2013, Nunavut Arctic College has graduated 23 students from the two-year diploma program for social service workers. This year, at the Nunavut Arctic College Cambridge Bay Campus, there are another eight students enrolled in the certificate program and four in the diploma program.
Mr. Chairman, I further note that beneficiaries hold two of the three supervisory positions in the regions and a beneficiary, Ms. Aluki Rojas, who is well known to you all, is the Deputy Minister of the new Department of Family Services.
However, Mr. Chairman, improving how family services are delivered in Nunavut is only one aspect of what the representative for children and youth will examine as the next Assembly and the government look to improve services to our children and youth.
The representative for children and youth also will be able to examine all children and youth programs from all departments, for example, the Department of Education, CGS, probably in the realm of Sport Nunavut, and Culture and Heritage. This is an example. The representative for children and youth will also be able to look at legislation, such as the Child and Family Services Act and the Education Act, and be able to identify gaps in programming and delivery and point to solutions for improvement.
Mr. Chairman, I also heard that since we are unique, Nunavut needs a made-in-Nunavut approach. I would like to point out that Bill 40 was built in Nunavut by extensive consultations.
NTI not only approved of the bill, but participated in the process that built it. NTI has publicly praised Bill 40 in their 2010-11 annual report on the state of Inuit culture and society and in letters of support from President Towtongie.
I ask how more built-in-Nunavut could a piece of legislation be that requires the representative for children and youth to apply Inuit societal values, that requires the representative for children and youth to use a collaborative process in a manner consistent with Inuit societal values and Inuit culture when seeking to resolve disputes, that requires the Legislative Assembly to consider the understanding of Inuit societal values, culture, language, traditions, beliefs, and history before appointing a person to be the representative for children and youth.
Mr. Chairman, Bill 40 is made in Nunavut. The representative for children and youth will not replace parents nor will the representative for children and youth replace government departments that provide programs for the benefit of children and youth.
Mr. Chairman, the representative for children and youth will be our watchdog to ensure that our most vulnerable children and youth get the service they need and deserve. As an independent officer of this Assembly, the representative is independent from the government, but not independent from you.
The representative will not only submit an annual report to you, the MLAs, but will also be accountable to your Management and Services Board when required to do so.
The representative can also make interim reports to a government department, a designated authority, or an individual and the representative must report all findings, advice, and recommendations to MLAs.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to finish my comments by reminding members of the similarity between the representative for children and youth and the Languages Commissioner.
The Languages Commissioner is independent from government but accountable to the Assembly. This individual does not replace any government department, but instead, reports on how well they meet their official languages obligations. The Languages Commissioner’s report enables the government to improve its language programs and services.
In the same way, I assure you that the representative for children and youth will enable the government to continually improve its services to our children and youth.
I once again, in the spirit of our Tamapta commitment, urge all members to support Bill 40 and ensure that Nunavut’s children are adequately served by the government.
As I stated on Friday, using my discretion as the Chair, we can now begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill 40.
Mr. Curley: My point of order is this: No. 1, we are not provided with the additional comments the Premier made that are, in fact, part of the opening statement.
We are not provided with copies of the additional opening comments in Inuktitut or in any other official languages.
I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that we take a break and allow the minister to table a copy and make available for us formal comments and be presented to all members before we go on to the details of the bill.
>>Committee adjourned at 16:24 and resumed at 16:37
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, members.
A point of order was raised.
According to our rules, there is no point of order.
If you understand and read what I said, I had stated that I would give Madam Minister an opportunity to speak.
I will now leave the point of order and continue.
We are on Bill 40. We will now go to Bill 40 in your white legislation binder.
While you locate the bill, Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s officials to the witness table.
We will be considering Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act.
Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. Welcome, minister and your officials. Thank you for returning to the witness table.
I would now like to discuss Bill 40.
Bill 40. Reprint. Representative for Children and Youth Act.
Turn to page 22.
Page 22. Schedule.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. We will now go back to page 3.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) Mr. Chairman, the minister’s additional opening remarks are not here and I cannot read all of them right now, but she said the representative was similar to the Languages Commissioner.
Will the budget be similar to that of the Languages Commissioner? Can the minister state to me whether the budget will be similar to the Languages Commissioner?
If that individual is a special representative according to Bill 40, the government must know how much money the representative will have for an operating budget. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
The operation of the representative will be similar.
The term of the representative will be similar to that of the Languages Commissioner and it will be independent from the government, even though the budget of the representative will be a little bit different from the Languages Commissioner’s budget.
The approximate amount of budget of the representative in 2013-14 will be $1,536,000, and in 2014-15 and 2015-16, it will be approximately $1,350,000.
Under clause 3, one of the duties of the representative is “to ensure that the rights and interests of children and youth, individually and collectively, are protected…”
I would like to ask a question. When we were responded to our questions during the committee stage, the representative will be reviewing what the government has done, but looking under 3(a), it talks about the rights and interests of children and youth, even though they are not a part of the government services or in a school.
I would like to find out what the rights and interests of children and youth might be. Can you give us an example here in Nunavut?
The individual will be the representative of children and youth. When the individual is doing reviews, as the member mentioned, he or she will be looking at the rights and interests of children and youth.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. I want to try a bit more. This is legal wording, obviously, and it’s kind of hard for me, as an Inuk, to understand exactly what it means, and I’m sure there are many out there, when it says that the special representative has the following duties: “to ensure that the rights...” My question is: what are these rights and interests?
During the committee processes that we had for a few times, it was always made clear that the special representative will deal only mainly with the children and youth who are impacted in relation to government services.
So now we’re going much more beyond that. We’re talking about the rights of children prescribed by whom? Does that include the United Nations or any other rights that may or may not be prescribed?
I can take a break if the minister wants to consult with her officials, but I want to be clear: what are the rights that we’re talking about other than the ones the children and youth are involved in the government programs and services?
As I said in Inuktitut, when the representative is conducting his or her duties, the rights and interests of children and youth will have to be considered, of course. These rights and interests are the rights that the child or youth has.
If the member had read the full report, I think he would have a better understanding, but this is saying that while the representative is carrying out his or her duties, it is to ensure that the rights and interests of children and youth are respected and protected. In fact, it states here, “and advanced and that their views are heard and considered in matters affecting them by government departments and designated authorities,” while the representative is conducting his or her duties.
Mr. Chairman, if the minister can help me a bit more in explaining exactly what 4 is, now, this is specifically relating to one of the powers, at least, of the special representative.
I think it distinguishes between the powers of the parent. In this case, we’re dealing with the powers of the special representative which are, unlike any parents in Nunavut, specifically accorded with very broad powers.
The particular question I have concerns 4(a), that one of the duties of the special representative is to “receive and review any matter…” I need to try and clearly understand what “any matter” means.
Madam Minister, if you can clarify that.
Any matter in relation to the services of the government departments, as you read through (a), “any matter in relation to the services of any government department or designated authority,” and this is the important part, “as the matter relates to any child or youth or to any group of children or youth that comes to the Representative’s attention regardless of the source and advise, assist, and advocate for the child, youth or group.” (interpretation) The representative can review any matter.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I understand it too.
I don’t think that it should be any matter. (interpretation ends) I think it should be a specific matter that is brought before the special representative.
That’s what I would have preferred. Unlike many of my colleagues, I think the legislation, as introduced, should be improved. In this case, we don’t have an opportunity to do that.
I have tried a number of times. The broad powers that are accorded to the special representative should not be at any cost. Let’s just go for it.
If a special representative is asked to review the rights and interests of my children, I don’t think I want to give the special representative broad powers. I want to give him specific cases if he is going to be looking at my children’s rights and interests, if they have been brought before him.