EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Our commitment to a national strategy on climate change will be met through funding our government has accessed under the National Climate Change Action Fund.
Our government will continue efforts to identify investment opportunities in Nunavut’s new economy by supporting new business ideas and expansion through the Business Development Fund.
As well, the department will invest $2.8 million in planned capital projects.
Mr. Speaker, the department will place increased emphasis on communities that are not receiving jobs through our decentralization efforts.
Initiatives related to this include funding for the Nunavut Development Corporation for investments in non-decentralized communities, the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Board has been directed to increase their effort at lending into non-decentralized communities, and through the Nunavut Job Corps we have commenced running pilot projects in Repulse Bay, Chesterfield Inlet, Taloyoak and soon hope to have new projects in Kugaaruk and Arctic Bay.
Mr. Speaker, initiatives of the Department of Community Government and Transportation address many of the priorities of communities.
The department will manage a budget of $78.4 million, including $65.4 million for operations and maintenance, as well as $12.9 million for planned capital projects.
The department will oversee $34.7 million in grants and contributions, including over $20 million for the Municipal Operating Assistance Program.
In all, community funding will be increased by almost $4 million in 2001-2002, nearly double last year’s increase of $2 million.
These increases are a result of the ongoing Municipal Finance Review, which is restructuring the department’s funding formula to better meet the fiscal needs of our communities.
The Community Government Branch of the department will spend over $6.3 million on buildings and works.
This amount includes funding for the construction of a new arena in Kimmirut, the water supply system in Kugluktuk, water supply improvements in Grise Fiord, and cost-shared paving of Iqaluit roads.
The branch also will invest in essential mobile equipment purchases and upgrades across the territory.
The Transportation Branch will spend over $2.3 million on buildings and works.
This amount includes new monies for the Rankin Inlet Airport apron expansion, Resolute Bay airport improvements, and construction of an airport garage in Cambridge Bay.
As well, the branch has allocated funds to acquire equipment such as snow blowers, graders and inspection vehicles.
As in the past two years, the Transportation Branch will dedicate funds this fiscal year to develop a new Transportation Strategy for Nunavut.
This strategy will set out our vision and direction for the development of transportation in Nunavut to the year 2021.
Public Works and Services
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Public Works and Services has been allocated a total budget of $92.5 million.
Of that amount, $86.3 million is budgeted for operations and maintenance as well as $6.2 million intended for capital projects.
The department will direct $1.2 million to decentralization-related activities.
This would include the purchase of new office furnishings, transporting new and existing office equipment and furnishings, and the installation of new communications systems in communities.
The department is responsible for providing fuel to the communities throughout the territory.
This year, $5.2 million in capital funding has been budgeted for maintenance and enhancement of bulk fuel storage facilities across Nunavut, including over $1.9 million for improved facilities in Sanikiluaq.
Recently, the department signed an agreement with the community of Gjoa Haven under the Community Transfer Initiative.
This agreement will see the Department of Public Works and Services transfer funds to the community through the Department of Community Government and Transportation to strengthen community capacity building.
Mr. Speaker, implementing the Government of Nunavut’s ambitious agenda requires that we equip our employees with the tools they need to do their jobs well.
The Department of Human Resources is mandated with this responsibility.
Part of this mandate is to ensure the wellness of our government’s most valuable assets – our employees.
To fulfil this mandate, this year the department is committing $750,000 to the government-wide Workplace Wellness Program for Government of Nunavut employees and their families.
In the coming year the department will be placing greater emphasis on the implementation of our Inuit Employment Plan.
This will be accomplished by focusing on training and development, as well as greater coordination of initiatives in all departments.
As part of the decentralization initiative, a pre-employment program will be delivered in communities through Arctic College.
Funding of $500,000 has been set aside for this program.
As well, the department will continue to be involved in the delivery of employment orientation, Inuktitut language, specialized training programs and summer students.
These initiatives, which complement the training efforts of other departments, will help ensure that the Government of Nunavut has a well-trained and professional public service.
For 2001-2002 the Department of Human Resources has been provided a total budget of nearly $18.5 million.
For 2001-2002 the Department of Finance and Administration will manage a total budget of nearly $39 million.
The increased funding of over $8 million is required to cover the costs of office building leases in 10 decentralized communities.
The department will continue to provide the electrical power subsidy to ensure that all Nunavut residents continue to have access to reasonable electricity rates.
The cost of this very worthwhile subsidy will be over $4.7 million next year.
Mr. Speaker, our government’s three-year decentralization plan was successfully launched this past year.
The focus in our first year was preparing homes and offices for new employees, and developing procedures to move employees between communities.
In the upcoming year the relocation of positions and employees will continue.
In years two and three the Decentralization Secretariat has been directed to focus on the recruitment of staff from decentralized communities and to address their training needs.
These efforts are being undertaken in conjunction with Arctic College and the impacted departments.
Mr. Speaker, to effectively implement our government's obligations under the Access to Information Act, the department has been given funding to support and train employees throughout government.
This will enable departments to better respond to requests for information.
The Nunavut Law Review is currently scheduled to conclude its work by the end of December.
The department has allocated funding to ensure that the mandate of this important initiative is fulfilled.
The Nunavut Power Corporation Implementation Secretariat is also concluding its work.
Effective April 1, 2001 the Nunavut Power Corporation will become a stand-alone self-funded entity.
No funding has been allocated for the secretariat for the upcoming year and, as a consequence, the department’s budget has been substantially reduced.
The department has been provided funding to support the regulatory body charged with overseeing how utility rates are set across our territory.
This regulatory function will be designed to provide a public window into the rate setting process.
Members of the Legislature will have an opportunity to review the implementing legislation.
For 2001-2002 the total budget for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs has been established at $8.6 million.
Concluding Comments
And you thought it wouldn’t come, these are my concluding comments.
Mr. Speaker, this document describes where our government will invest in the coming year.
How those dollars are put to use rests with each of us.
As guardians of the public purse, we have a responsibility to make sure our programs and services truly reflect, and respond, to the needs of our constituents.
Our duty, as elected representatives of the people, is to ensure these investments are put to optimal use and that they produce the desired results.
To accomplish this we will need to use our financial resources wisely and carefully manage our expenditures.
Mr. Speaker, over the past two years we have not only maintained the programs we inherited but enhanced them for the benefit of our people, while being fiscally responsible.
In light of growing demands, we must assess whether we can realistically continue on this path without additional support.
We have to recognize Mr. Speaker, as well, that financial solutions are not the entire solution to the social and economic issues we face.
There are serious challenges ahead – challenges this budget aggressively tackles head on.
Consistent with the priorities identified by the people of Nunavut and the Bathurst Mandate we are putting more resources where they are urgently needed – into education and other social programs.
With the necessary investments in infrastructure and community development, we will help ensure Nunavut’s economy continues to develop and grow.
And we will continue our efforts to capitalize on our territory’s considerable natural resource potential to make sure that benefits for our citizens are maximized.
For this reason, we will actively pursue skills development and employment opportunities for Nunavummiut while supporting our culture, heritage and traditional economic activities.
We also will continue to implement our decentralization plan to increase opportunities in communities throughout the territory.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to working co-operatively and productively with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Designated Inuit Organizations, and with our federal partners as we strive to realize our territory’s promise.
Mr. Speaker, we have worked diligently to identify issues that matter in the daily lives of the people of Nunavut.
We have listened carefully to what the people have to say – something we will continue to do as we deliver the programs and services outlined in this budget.
We will hold ourselves accountable for our actions.
In the end though Mr. Speaker, of course, this budget belongs to all Nunavummiut.
As citizens of our truly amazing new territory, we all have a responsibility to contribute to its growth and well-being.
We possess the power to make the Nunavut dream come alive.
Mr. Speaker, The onus is on all of us to ensure our shared dream becomes our children’s reality.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng for that lengthy and detailed budget address.
We will break now for fifteen minutes and I would like to invite the members and people in the gallery to attend a reception in the foyer.
>>Assembly recessed at 2.20 and resumed at 2.52 p.m.
Minister's Statement 009 - 1(5): Minister Absent from the House
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise members that the Honourable Jack Anawak will be absent from the House today to attend a funeral in Coral Harbour.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ministers’ Statements.
Member's Statement 045 - 1(5): Stone Church at Kugaaruk
Mr. Speaker, in the community of Kugaaruk there is a historic stone church made of stone, mud and seal oil.
It is starting to deteriorate although it was renovated in 1993.
In the winter time it cracks up inside the building as well the outside.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Kugaaruk would like to have the old stone church renovated.
Can the government help with the cost of renovation of the old stone church.
It is an historical site and we would like to keep it in good shape.
By the way, I was married in that church.
Member's Statement 046 - 1(5): Donation from Harris Gallery
The Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset is getting assistance from a private individual who owns the Harris Gallery of Toronto.
This person taught in Cape Dorset quite a while ago at Peter Pitseolak School, and now owns a gallery in Toronto, and wants to help the students who make carvings.
The students will be receiving financial support from him during this school year.
We would like to thank James Parson for assisting the students financially.
They will be receiving funding in the amount of $500.00 for things like sports team jackets and if the students have to travel from the community.
I would also like to thank Mr. David Harris for this initiative to help the people of Cape Dorset.
If we have no other members’ statements, we'll move onto Item 5.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to the gallery today an individual who I haven't seen for quite some time.
He's a well known educator, northern educator, who's gone on to become a very successful entrepreneur, a very famous business person who's raking in the dough, as it were.
Mr. Speaker, this guy also in 1988 went on to be my best man at my wedding.
Fortunately, as opposed to unfortunately, at that time my wife went into labour and the delivery of our first son Wiley occurred on our supposed wedding day.
That gentlemen I'm going to introduce was the best man who had to turn everyone away from the church here in Iqaluit who had showed up for the wedding, which did not take place.
I've never had a chance to actually thank him for that so it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the assembly the well-known educator, entrepreneur, and a good friend of mine, Mr. Ron Ryan.
I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the President of the Federation of Nunavut Teachers, Ms. Donna Stephenia, to the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a couple of people in the gallery today.
Being a gentleman I'll go ladies first and recognize Ms. Eva Onalik, a representative for Canadian North here in Iqaluit, welcome to the gallery.
I hope I didn't offend my younger brother Mr. Victor Tootoo, who's sitting in the gallery over there by not putting him first, I hope he doesn't mind.
Victor's here in the gallery today and he's also the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Department of Finance.
Question 033 - 1(3): Timing of Language Week
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Yesterday, thank you Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services about Language Week and Anti-Smoking Week.
I would like to ask the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, whether they are going to have the Language Week on the same week as the Anti-Smoking Week again, as they did last time.
Speaker: Mr. Kattuk
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I have not had a question in two days so it has felt like a holiday.
The Language Week that was held was organized by NSDC.
I would think that they would want to do the same thing next year.
The Anti-Smoking Week and the Language Week were held in the same week.
I just wondered whether they are going to be holding it at the same time again.
When Language Week was held the last time, I was in Kugluktuk on a community tour
They also told me in Kugluktuk that they didn’t like the Language Week and the Anti-Smoking Week on the same week and I would tend to agree.
There are no other oral questions so we’ll move on to Item 8.
Returns to the Written Questions.
Tabled Document 004 - 1(5): Repulse Bay Time Zone Survey
I would like to table a document from the Mayor of Repulse Bay, Donut Milortuk.
They conducted a survey regarding the time zone issue.
There were 123 people who chose to stay with the same time zone and 53 to change to the Nunavut Time Zone.
Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 2001-2002 - First Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, that Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 2001-2002, be read for the first time.
Bill 1 has had first reading. Item 20.
Second Reading of Bills. Mr. Ng.
Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 2001-2002 - Second Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 2001-2002, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this Bill authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make operations and maintenance expenditures and capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2002.
All those opposed. Motion is carried.
Bill 1 has had second reading and is therefore referred to Committee of the Whole.
As per our understanding and agreement, there will be no Committee of the Whole today.
Item 23.
Item 24.
Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 28:
Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 2001-2002
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 28 at 1:30 p.m. Sergeant-At-Arms.
>>House adjourned at 3:09 p.m.
Wednesday February 28, 2001
Pages 155 - 210
Point of Order 4
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4
Report of Committee of the Whole 4
Wednesday February 28, 2001 4
010 - 1(5): Nunavut Heating Fuel Rebate (Thompson) 4
011 - 1(5): High School Graduates Increasing (Kilabuk) 4
047 – 1(5): Pond Inlet Church Volunteers (Nutarak) 4
048 - 1(5): Federal Firearms Registration Backlog (Havioyak) 4
049 - 1(5): Support for Senior Citizens (Puqiqnak) 4
050 - 1(5): Economic Impact of Polar Bear Quota Reduction (Williams) 4
051 - 1(5): Selection of Chairs for Special Committee (Alakannuark) 4
052 - 1(5): Media Observations of Budget (Tootoo) 4
053 - 1(5): MLAs vs. Junior Girls Hockey Game (Okalik) 4
054 - 1(5): Hall Beach High School Graduates (Irqittuq) 4
055 - 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit on Ancestry (Arvaluk) 4
056 - 1(5): Simon Tookoome (McLean) 4
057 - 1(5): Iqaluit Taxi Strike (Picco) 4
058 - 1(5): Lost Voice and Inuktitut (Iqaqrialu) 4
034 - 1(5): Nunavut Heating Fuel Rebate (Nutarak) 4
035 - 1(5): Seniors’ Discount (Puqiqnak) 4
036 - 1(5): Status of GN Staff Housing Allowance (McLean) 4
037 - 1(5): Kugaaruk Stone Church Renovations (Alakannuark) 4
038 - 1(5): Fuel Rebates for Tenants (Williams) 4
039 - 1(5): Criteria for Fuel Rebate Program (Arvaluk) 4
040 - 1(5): Fiscal and Political Stability (Tootoo) 4
041 - 1(5): Improvements Required for Firearms Registration (Havioyak) 4
042 - 1(5): Funding for Smoking Cessation Program (Irqittuq) 4
043 - 1(3): Clarification on Education Minister’s Statement (Nutarak) 4
044 - 1(5): Inuktitut School for Nunavut (Iqaqrialu) 4
045 - 1(3): Review of Housing Subsidies for Staff (Tootoo) 4
005 – 1(5): Rankin Inlet Session Incremental Costs (Ng) 4
006 – 1(5): Response to Petition 005 - 1(4) (Clerk) 4
002 - 1(5): Extended Sitting Hours (Havioyak) 4
Wednesday February 28, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Wednesday February 28, 2001  Members Present:
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O'Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O'Brien): The members have asked me to say the prayer today.
Speaker: Before we proceed with the Orders of the Day, it is my sad duty to inform Members of the Assembly that the Honourable Gildas Molgat, the former Speaker of the Senate of Canada passed away early this morning.
As members know, Senator Molgat was a good friend of Nunavut.
When we sat for the first time as an Assembly on April 1, 1999 Senator Molgat was the one that provided the Speaker’s chair until this chamber opened.
It was also Senator Molgat, along with the Speaker of the House of Commons that sponsored the creation and the donation of this chair that I sit in today.
I would ask members to join me in extending our deep condolences to the Molgat family.
Returning to the Orders of the Day. Item 2.
Ministers’ Statements. Ms. Thompson.
Minister's Statement 010 - 1(5): Nunavut Heating Fuel Rebate
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be smiling today. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the members of the Nunavut heating fuel rebate. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that the Nunavut Government has approved a fuel rebate of 450 dollars for low and medium income homeowners paying their own heating fuel costs to heat the home they live in.
Nunavummiut who have a household income of less than 125 thousand dollars per year are eligible to receive the rebate.
(interpretation ends) This one-time payment represents, on average, the increased cost of the recent 13.9 cent per litre fuel price increase to the average home in Nunavut for a year.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, members will remember that the price increase went into effect in November 2000.
With this rebate, we are covering the period from November 2000 to October 2001.
The program will be reviewed in October 2001 once the fuel resupply has been concluded.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation has a system in place to allow homeowners to apply for the rebate.
Applications will be available in each community on Monday March 5, 2001.
(interpretation) Eligible homeowners who pay the Nunavut Housing Corporation for their mortgage will receive the rebate automatically.
Others who are eligible to apply for this rebate may complete the form and mail it to the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we will mail the rebate cheques out to households shortly after receiving their application so they may use it to fill their fuel tanks and help offset some of the heating costs over the rest of this winter.
Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Ministers’ Statements. Mr. Kilabuk.
Minister's Statement 011 - 1(5): High School Graduates Increasing
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I pleased to announce that the number of high school students receiving Grade 12 Diplomas has increased again this past year for the sixth straight year.
Mr. Speaker, the number of graduates has more than doubled from the 65 students in 1997 to 135 students in 2000.
Further, of the graduates last year, 88% were Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, often we hear that Inuit are not graduating from High School; this is just not the case.
In the last two years, Inuit have made up over 80% of the graduates.
The increase in graduates is a result of several factors; the community high school initiative has been a success.
Two thirds of all graduates are from communities other than Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay or Rankin Inlet.
In fact, Repulse Bay had the first graduate from their school last fall.
Mr. Speaker, ten years ago there were only 22 high school graduates for 1990 in all of Nunavut.
The results this past year show that we are moving in the right direction.
Our young people are staying in school longer and are achieving higher than ever before.
Young people today recognize that Nunavut will provide opportunities that were not previously available.
Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the dedication of parents that have encouraged their children to finish school.
It is through the active and continued support and guidance of parents that we are seeing this increase.
When parents are involved in the education of their children, those children do better in school.
Mr. Speaker, the current trend in High School graduates is good news, this is excellent for the future of Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 047 – 1(5): Pond Inlet Church Volunteers
Today I rise to share with the members that I am proud of the people in my community of Pond Inlet who recently received certificates of appreciation from the Anglican Church for their volunteer services.
They are Elisapee Ootoova, Jayko Peterloosie, Eeseemailee Katsak, Joanasie Makpah and Jokeepee Katsak.
I would like to thank these people and rise to recognize them in the Legislative Assembly.
Member's Statement 048 - 1(5): Federal Firearms Registration Backlog
I rise again to address the issue of how the federal firearms registration system is affecting my constituents in Kugluktuk.
Yesterday Mr. Speaker, I took the time to visit in person the Iqaluit Firearm Office that has been set up by the federal government.
I was startled by the fact that only one staff person was working in the office.
This is seriously affecting the speed with which licence applications are being processed.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, I myself submitted my application back in October of last year and still haven’t received my licence Mr. Speaker, and I really don’t know when I will.