EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allan Evyagotailak, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Mr. Patterk Netser, Honourable Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (interpretation): I call upon Mr. Alagalak to say the prayer.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Before we pray, in Arviat there is a father and a son missing.
They were supposed to come back on Sunday, but they haven’t, so Arviat residents are now searching for them.
We will pray for them.
Minister’s Statement 004 – 2(1) Minister Kilabuk Absent from the House (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise members that the Honourable Peter Kilabuk will be absent from the House today.
In our Orders of the Day.
Member’s Statement 024 – 2(1): Congratulations to Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk Graduates (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to recognize the recent success of a number of constituents from the communities of Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk.
On April 1 of this year, Ms. Godeliva Putulik graduated from the Community Health Representative Program at Nunavut Arctic College in Pangnirtung.
Ms. Putulik is currently doing her practicum in her home community of Repulse Bay.
On April 27 of this year six residents of the community of Kugaaruk completed their Early Childhood Education Program that was delivered over three years by the Kitikmeot Economic Development Commission and CEGEP de St. Felician College.
I would like to congratulate Helen Anaittuq, Sarah Immingark, Leona Apsaktaun, Magdallita Oogark, Kathy Anaituq, and Barbara Oogark of Kugaaruk on their achievements.
Sheila Anaituq will soon be joining them in their success.
Mr. Speaker, you and my colleagues all recognize the importance of community health representatives and early childhood educators.
These individuals contribute greatly to their communities.
These constituents are examples to all Nunavummiut of what can be accomplished when you work towards your goals and pursue educational opportunities.
I ask the members to join me in congratulating these individuals in their achievements.
Member’s Statement 025 – 2(1): New Members of the Nunavut Economic Forum (Tootoo)
I rise today to congratulate the new board members and executive officers of the Nunavut Economic Forum.
Last week the forum held its first annual general meeting here in Iqaluit.
More than 37 organizations have become members of the Nunavut Economic Forum.
The forum has taken on the task of preparing a list of territorial economic development priorities, organizing working groups to focus on the priority areas, and preparing a submission for federal funding under the new Northern Economic Development Fund.
All Members of this House are focused on the priority areas and on the preparing of submissions for federal funding under the new Northern Economic Development Fund.
All Members of this House are fully aware of how vitally important economic development is.
Last year, I spoke in this House about the exciting development of the Iqaluit Co-op.
Northern Co-ops have played a huge role in the development of the north, providing goods, services and jobs for Nunavummiut and co-op members.
I am a proud co-op member and I look forward to the new Iqaluit development.
I am pleased that these organizations have joined together to create a vision for economic development in Nunavut.
As members of this House where there are only 19 of us, we know that our diversity can make reaching a consensus a lengthy process.
The Nunavut Economic Forum, with no fewer than 37 member organizations, will definitely have their work cut out for them.
I am confident that they will succeed by ensuring that the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy does not simply gather dust but is used to create measurable economic development in our territory.
I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Monica Ell, the President of the Nunavut Economic Forum, George Bolander, the vice president, Doug Workman who was chosen secretary, and Tanya Scott, the treasurer.
Member’s Statement 026 – 2(1): Nunavut Association of Municipalities (Peterson)
I rise today to recognize the hard work of mayors, council members, senior ministerial officers, and all employees of municipalities across Nunavut.
The Nunavut Association of Municipalities held its 2004 Annual General Meeting in Pangnirtung earlier this month.
Members are well aware that I served as President of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities while I was mayor in Cambridge Bay.
I strongly believe that the Nunavut Association of Municipalities is a crucial force in lobbying the federal government for funding.
The Nunavut Association of Municipalities has also done some important work in conjunction with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
I am excited about the new deal that the federal government recently announced with the municipalities. This involved the municipal, territorial, and federal governments working together to improve the lives of people at the local level.
It is essential that all levels of government work together for common goals.
Those goals must be determined at a local level to ensure that they are relevant to the needs of Nunavummiut.
I strongly believe that the local hamlet councils are the backbone of life in the North and I strongly encourage the Nunavut Association of Municipalities to continue their work to better the lives of Nunavummiut.
Each year the association produces a number of resolutions regarding the needs of communities.
At the appropriate time I will be tabling the resolutions that were passed during the 2004 Annual General Meeting.
I urge the government to not only respond to the resolutions but to act on them.
Member’s Statement 027 – 2(1): Burdens for Homeowners (Barnabas)
I would like to rise today on the issue of fuel and utility subsidies for homeowners. (interpretation ends) Members are aware that it is difficult to be a homeowner in the North.
Everything costs more than in the south.
To compensate for this the government and previous governments have offered home ownership programs such as HAP, housing access programs.
The most expensive part of home ownership is not always the purchase of the home itself; the costs of maintaining and operating the home can be overwhelming.
When many of us travel to Iqaluit from our home communities, we notice the difference in daylight hours: the difference between here and my High Arctic communities is especially remarkable.
It has come as no surprise that the darkest three months of the year are also the coldest.
The increased hours of darkness and cold lead to an increase in fuel and electricity bills for my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, these humongous costs mean that many homeowners cannot afford to do necessary renovations.
It’s time for the government to recognize the burden on homeowners.
I want all homeowners to be successful.
I don’t want them to sell their homes and move to public housing.
The government needs to improve assistance to current homeowners, rather than placing new buyers in similar situations.
Mr. Speaker, I will be addressing the appropriate minister, when he is present.
Member’s Statement 028 – 2(1): Roles and Responsibilities as Members of the Legislative Assembly (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a concern that has been raised by Nunavummiut.
Nunavummiut expect that the elected personnel have the highest mandate because the rules have to be abided by.
As elected people for the Legislative Assembly, our business does not conclude here in the House.
We have to work literally 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
We have not been asked to do this, but we have given that mandate to ourselves.
And when we were elected, we swore to our obligation.
For that reason, our responsibilities are higher.
That oath and these obligations were stated and sworn by our previous Speaker in the first Legislative Assembly.
I believe that respect was broken and trust was broken, and he broke the law.
I would like to say in the House and to the public, I personally will ask for a full investigation, and part of it will be who knew about it and when they found out about it.
Mr. Speaker, we have to start on our own to get the public’s respect in the House, in the Legislative Assembly, and within the government system.
I will be stating that I will personally, to the best of my ability, go ahead.
Minister Simailak.
Member’s Statement 029 – 2(1): Care and Support Received When Uncle Passed Away (Simailak)
I apologize first of all for not being able to attend the meeting yesterday: my uncle from Baker Lake passed away on Monday morning.
At this time, they’re starting to gather in churches for the funeral and I’m thinking of them.
I rise today to thank all the people who cared and took care of my uncle at the Bobby Taloruksat Centre in Baker Lake.
For caring for him during the day of his death, I would like thank these people: Daisie Avalas, Suzie Taipanaq, Martha Singaqti, Eva Singaqti and also the nurse, Linda Lafontaine.
These people cared for him and they took care of him properly.
I would like to thank them very much for all the care and support they had given us, as family members were taken care of, and everybody was sympathetic, by the staff and my family. I apologize to my family members in Baker Lake for not being able to attend the funeral.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 3.
Member’s Statement 030 – 2(1): Annual Fishing Derby in Coral Harbour (Netser)
I am very pleased to rise today in celebration of an upcoming event in my community of Coral Harbour.
The Annual Fishing Derby is a time when families come together in celebration of our bond with the land and the sea.
Starting later this week, the community will be full of activities as elders, parents, and youth head out to test their skills and mostly their luck.
While fishing derbies are a lot of fun for our youth, they also provide an opportunity for our traditional skills and values to be passed from generation to generation.
This is a time when the community comes together in the spirit of friendly competition.
Mr. Speaker, if I were able to be at home in the community for this year’s event, I think that I might even have a chance to win some of the excellent prizes that are available for the most successful catch. Probably not!
But Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the community to make sure that everyone brings their garbage back to the community.
We have a responsibility as Inuit to keep our land and our waters clean and everyone has a part to play.
Mr. Speaker, good luck to everyone in the derby.
Speaker (interpretation): I envy the people who are going to the fishing derby.
Member’s Statement 031 – 2(1): Arviat School Choir Recognition (Alagalak)
I rise today for a number of reasons and though it was not intentional, I was late the first day of the session.
I had to go to Baker Lake yesterday and that was one reason that I was not able to make it on Monday, and I apologize.
I would like to focus on two items. You probably know that in Arviat, they have a lot of work to do and they are starting to get recognition internationally.
We have the school choir which is becoming very popular and we are starting to see them in the international media. It is a way of promoting Nunavummiut culture and language and possibly of promoting the use of traditional clothing and contemporary clothing that is used today.
And again, with the different songs, the traditional songs and contemporary songs, they are starting to get recognition internationally.
The Arviat Choir is very popular and it is starting to pick up, not only in the territories, but also in the provinces. I hear that the southern population is starting to promote traditional singing in the schools.
I would like to congratulate the staff and the students who have revived Inuit culture through these programs. I can say that it is a way of promoting our economics through their ambassadorship and visiting nationally and internationally, and I would like them to be given support by the Nunavut government.
The next item: the people of Arviat are going to be celebrating a fishing derby. Though it is not the traditional way, we enjoy the community coming together by way of fishing derbies and other games.
As I said in my opening prayer, we have to think of the people of Arviat because they are looking for a 12- to14-year old child; there is a search and rescue going on 24 hours a day.
The Honourable Peter Kilabuk is not here, but I have spoken with him.
There are always going to be search and rescue parties.
Please go ahead, Mr. Alagalak.
The news media and the GPS that we use now… I had a discussion with the Honourable Peter Kilabuk and I would like to let people know that there are locators that will be made available to the whole of Arviat.
The locator is going to be used in a pilot project to see if it works up here and I am looking forward to findings from the project.
If we use those locators, we are going to save a lot of money on search and rescue parties.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to bring up these two issues in this meeting.
Speaker (interpretation): To the Orders of the Day.
Honourable Paul Okalik.
Member’s Statement 032 – 2(1): Congratulate the Toonik Tyme Committee (Okalik)
I just want to acknowledge the Toonik Tyme Committee; they had a wonderful organizing committee again this year and it was fun taking part.
I got to go up again this year, and again Honourable Peter Kilabuk managed to beat me on the sea ice.
That is the unfortunate part of the games: he gets to beat me every year. I think I’ll have a rematch next year and I look forward to winning.
There is a lot of good stuff that happened: I heard about Fear Factor where a local Inuk ate a lot of worms and caribou droppings, and all those wonderful things, to take home a prize.
I’m sure there will be similar events next year, and I look forward to taking part.
The elders also took part in some games and everybody had a lot of fun.
I invite everyone to come again next year.
Honourable Leona Aglukark.
Member’s Statement 033 – 2(1): Congratulate Gjoa Haven Graduates (Aglukkaq)
I would like to offer my congratulations to the graduates of the Inuit Child Care Services Program in Gjoa Haven.
On April 27 there were nine students who graduated, and my colleagues and I had the pleasure of meeting with them and congratulating the following: Lucy Alaralik, Leena Tungilik, Irene Iqulik, Teresa Oogak, Rebecca Ikuallaq, Luisa Oogak, Mary Porter, Eva Aquptangoak and Veronica Ullulaq.
I also want to thank members from the House —Mr. Mapsalak, the Minister of Education, the Premier, and Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, for attending the graduation.
I would like to recognize my constituency assistant in Repulse Bay who completed completed her course: Rachel Siusaarnaaq is sitting by the interpreters’ booth.
Question 005 – 2(1): Affordable Energy Fund Coming Into Force (Tootoo)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.
An Act to Amend the Power Utilities Act And Certain Other Acts in Consequence was assented to on March 28, 2003.
Section 16 of that act provides for the establishment of an Affordable Energy Fund.
Can the minister tell the House when section 16 will come into force?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Simailak.
This is part and parcel; it’s a clause in the act and it will be part of the general rate application.
Maybe I could ask the minister if he could explain why, if there is something in the act that sets an Affordable Energy Fund within the government accounts, does that have to be part of a general rate application and not just a fund that’s set up.
I wonder if he could explain why it has to be part of a general rate application.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It will be part of a comprehensive package, when we put everything together into one and bring it all forward as a general rate application.
In the past, I’ve often raised the issue of putting all our subsidies in one pot, and I’m assuming that’s what this is going to be.
But the minister is indicating that it’s going to be part of a general rate application.
Is he indicating, then, that it will not be the subsidy funds that are already appropriated by the government as funding coming directly from the government, but will be something that is contributed to through fees and payments made by consumers?
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak: It will be a part of a very transparent process and therefore will be brought forward in that way.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Can the minister indicate whether the Affordable Energy Fund will be a conglomeration of the subsidies already provided by the government through electricity, fuel, and other subsidies that the government provides to consumers in Nunavut, or whether it will be a fund that is replenished or contributed to through rates and fees by consumers?
It would be as it is outlined in the Ikuma II Report.
Question 006 – 2(1): Programs for Non-decentralized Communities (Mapsalak)
This question is being directed to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
The communities of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay are not decentralized; there are not enough jobs there and in the past five years they haven’t received any kind of programs or any employment.
I was very happy to hear, when the cabinet was in Qikiqtarjuaq, that the places which are not decentralized will be given more jobs and employment.
Can the minister tell me what kind of programs will be brought into the communities that are not decentralized?
The communities that are not decentralized, we will be looking at them this year, do have economic development officers.
I don’t know if there is a development officer in Repulse Bay. We will be working closely together with agencies in the communities, through the hamlets.
And we will be looking at these for the next five years: how we can start bringing more opportunities to the smaller communities?
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Yes, we know it was very expensive to decentralize. Can the minister tell me; for the communities that are not decentralized, is he going to make sure that there will be no cuts in these communities, because it’s important that all the communities have programs.
We are just following what the First Assembly did when they were decentralizing, and right now I believe that there will be no major cuts in these communities.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
I will clarify my statements.
Especially for the smaller communities that are not decentralized, and we do receive funding through economic development, I am asking if there will there be any cuts this year to the economic development programs.
Speaker: Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): No, there will not be any cuts.
We have not tried to look at the funding in the communities. Right now, we have to make cuts in our offices; we did not do this in the communities.
Question 007 – 2(1): Kugluktuk Healing Facility Update (Evyagotailak)
Last year, the community of Kugluktuk heard the welcome news that a new healing centre will be coming to the community.
The community and the whole Kitikmeot region were pleased to hear this.
My question to the minister today is: can he update the House on the status of this project for the community of Kugluktuk?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Justice, Premier Okalik.
I am pleased to report that we recently hired the manager for the new facility, Ms. Helen Larocque, who is from Kugluktuk. I am very pleased to report that from here on in we will be looking at staffing the facility and training the people that will be working there.
So, we have agreed to open the facility hopefully this September.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Evyagotailak.
My supplementary question: as we know, there is always a need for employment in the community.
How many local residents will be hired at the centre and when can we hear of the hiring?
As I stated, we do have a general manager right now; we just hired a manager and we will be hiring, probably, about 12 people.
Question 008 – 2(1): Top Three Priorities for Non-decentralized Communities – Kivalliq (Netser)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. (interpretation) I am a Member of the Legislative Assembly for communities that are not decentralized, and we heard that you will be looking at the smaller communities when you were in Qikiqtarjuaq, especially the smaller communities that are non-decentralized, in Chesterfield and Coral Harbour. We are looking into more economic development in those communities; they would like to have a meat plant.
(interpretation ends) To conclude my question for the minister today: what are the top three priorities of his department with respect to non-decentralized communities in the Kivalliq?
The smaller communities in the Kivalliq region have been making preparations on how there could be employment. We would be working with the Members of the Legislative Assembly and through economic development and also with the hamlets.
We will be working very closely with these communities that are not decentralized.
Also, how can we make transportation better through the hamlets, and their staff? We will be working on these issues, such as transportation in the communities, and how we could create more employment in the smaller communities that are not decentralized.
Definitely we will be working closely together with the hamlets and the members of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Netser.
Yes, these communities expect to the have the department come to them to meet with hamlet representatives about their plan.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Transportation, Mr. Simailak.
We will be contacting the hamlet councils and also the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
We are going to be communicating with them very shortly to organize meetings with these communities.
Question 009 – 2(1): Nunavut Mining Strategy Report (Peterson)
My question is directed to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Yesterday I rose in the House to discuss mining in Nunavut.
The question is: when will the minister table a new findings strategy?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of transportation, Mr. Simailak.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): I’m sorry; I’m just looking at it.
Mr. Speaker, I will take this as notice and I will come back to you.  Speaker (interpretation): The minister will take this as notice and will come back to you with the answer.
Member for Arviat, Mr. Alagalak.
Question 010 – 2(1): Update on the Arviat Choir Funding Application (Alagalak)
When this was started in April, when you became the minister, I believe that you were speaking with the Department of Education and also the new Department of Environment, about how the Arviat Choir was going to be going to Israel. The Department of Education knows that they practice a lot and that they have to go to other countries. They have to do this in the school, they have to get professionals to teach them with the singing, and it is very expensive.
I would like to ask Minister Louis Tapardjuk of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, if there was an application that was sent to him on that issue.
I would like to know where it is at right now.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Mr. Tapardjuk.
At the end of March 31 there were quite a few applicants for funding, and usually there are various committees that review the application forms.
There are two bodies that review the application in regard to this question.