EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Report on Bill 6 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 210
09 - 1(3): Opposition to Time Change Document (Iqaqrialu) 211
10 - 1(3): Budget Update Highlights and Expenditure Summaries (Ng) 211
11 - 1(3): Opposition to Time Change Document (Irqittuq) 211
12 - 1(3): Opposition to Time Change Letter (Kattuk) 211
02 - 1(3): Appointment of Languages Commissioner (Alakannuark) 212
Bill 1 - Loan Authorization Act of 99/2000 223
Bill 4 - An Act for Legal Services Act 224
Bill 6 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 224  Thursday, October 28, 1999
Thursday, October 28, 1999
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Honourable Levi Barnabas, Honourable Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glen McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Mr. Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson.
Speaker (interpretation): At this time I would like to ask Mr. Iqaqrialu to say the opening prayer.
Minister’s Statement 29 - 1(3): Budget Update
Today I have the pleasure of providing the Legislative Assembly and the people of Nunavut with an update on the fiscal position of our government.
Mr. Speaker, it is critical for Nunavut’s future that we manage our resources wisely.
Our fiscal plan recognized the need for the Nunavut government to be fiscally responsible and clearly committed to delivering needed services to our people within a balanced budget.
I am pleased to inform members that over the past six months many people have worked tirelessly to make Nunavut’s start successful.
This included ensuring our fiscal goals were realized.
We set this standard knowing that if we do things well, Nunavut will have a better future.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Legislative Assembly that based on the first six months of operation, the goal of a balanced budget for the Government of Nunavut for fiscal year 1999/2000 will be achieved.
Overall revenues for 1999/2000 are expected to be 1.77 million dollars higher than at the time of the budget.
While our tax system will generate less revenue than we anticipated, these reductions will be more than offset by increases in the fiscal transfers from the Government of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, total expenditures for 99/2000 are currently expected to be 10.3 million dollars less than originally budgeted.
Most departments are projecting modest expenditure savings for fiscal year 99/2000.
These savings are generally attributed to unfilled positions and associated operating costs such as travel.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note that we face a number of significant expenditure pressures, including health board deficits.
These pressures are expected to offset the additional revenues, the lower departmental operating spending and the balance of our 10 million contingency reserve.
We have funded strategic initiatives through this reserve, like the Nunavut Nursing Program and the Nunavut Teachers’ Education Program.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate our government’s commitment to managing our resources wisely.
A balanced budget in our first year is a significant contribution for our future.
By acting in a responsible manner we will ensure a better future for Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 30 - 1(3): Elders in Nunavut
I am glad for this opportunity to speak with the members of the House on the very important topic of elders.
Before I begin, I would like to thank our elders for their hard work, continuing guidance and contributions of wisdom and knowledge.
As the huge responsibility of elders has been given to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, I feel that it is my responsibility to speak to several issues and concerns. (interpretation ends) In a previous statement to the House, I explained how elders are a very special group of people in our Inuit society.
Our knowledge of our language and our culture was passed on through generations of Inuit over thousands of years.
(interpretation) Our elders are our living history.
(interpretation ends) Our elders can also guide us in the development of this new Government.
Their wisdom and insight contributes to our understanding of ourselves and our Inuit ways.
Much of their knowledge still needs to be told.
The importance of oral tradition and knowledge learned from our elders has directed my department's organization and mandate.
Our culture and heritage division will support and encourage services for elders.
It is through the programs in this division that we will be able to provide funding and assistance for the elders of Nunavut.
(interpretation) We have established numerous positions in the organizational structure of our department that will deal specifically with elders concerns and the preservation of their knowledge.
We have just received approval of our organizational chart and are now able to hire the Senior Advisor for Elders and an Ethnologist.
The Senior Advisor for Elders will be able to research the needs of the elders in the communities and develop strategies for addressing their needs.
(interpretation ends) The ethnologist will work to preserve oral tradition, record oral history and support the Senior Advisor in the development of programs and services for elders.
There will also be an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit co-ordinator who will work with the Senior Advisor for Elders and the Ethnologists.
They will work towards the practical application of our elders’ knowledge in the government.
I want to stress that we are working very hard to establish our department and are making elders our priority.
We have begun the process of gathering and recording Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit; we have attended elders conferences to listen to the concerns and direction of our elders; we have started consulting elders on the development of our department and the government as a whole.
We know the knowledge of the elders is a valuable asset and must be treated as such in policy development and program implementation.
We know that we must bridge the gap between the past, present and future by continuing our initiatives in co-ordinating youth and elders activities.
We know that elders have many special needs.
In addition to working with them we must also provide them with support.
We must continue to ensure their honoured place in our society.
Because we value, cherish and respect our elders we are working to include them in all of the initiatives of our department.
We would like to encourage other departments in the government to consider ways they could do the same and to co-ordinate these efforts with our government's Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit initiatives.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak on our commitment to the elders of Nunavut.
Before I recognize another speaker I would like to remind people that the gallery is quite small in size.
For the elders who have no seat, you can sit down on the inner seats inside the gallery.
Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk.
Minister’s Statement 31 - 1(3): Millennium Scholarship
Today I will finally speak in English and tomorrow I will speak French.
(interpretation ends) It is with pleasure that I share this scholarship information with members.
I will sign a 10 year agreement with the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation representing some 2.3 million dollars in additional funds for student financial assistance.
The agreement between the Government of Nunavut and the Foundation creates two classes of awards.
General awards and exceptional merit awards.
Approximately 76 general awards will be given each year to Nunavut residents, representing more than 228 thousand dollars a year.
This corresponds to Nunavut’s share of the Canadian population, the basis on which the Foundation negotiated all agreements across Canada.
General awards will have a value of 3 thousand dollars.
To be eligible students must be in need, have successfully completed 60% of a year of post-secondary studies, be enrolled as a full time student in an eligible secondary educational institution and be in good standing at the time of the award.
All Nunavut students who apply for financial assistance under the Canada and Nunavut Student Loans Program for the academic year 1999/2000 will automatically be considered for the Foundation’s general award.
The first Nunavut general awards will be distributed by our government in early 2000.
The agreement also provides for the creation of three exceptional merit awards to be given each year to Nunavut students.
Exceptional merit awards like the general awards are grants.
These awards will vary from 3 thousand to 9 thousand dollars and will be available to Nunavut students entering post-secondary education for the first time.
These awards will be given for the first time in the fall of 2000 and the Foundation together with my department will develop criteria for an equitable and efficient method for identifying recipients for the exceptional merit award.
If you have any questions I would invite you to contact the executive director of our Scholarship Committee, Luke Issaluk at 867-857-3050 or the Chairperson Jean Cooper, 867-975-5600.
Minister’s Statement 32 - 1(3): Nunavut Sealing Strategy
Early in the life of this government and in the early days of my position as Minister of Sustainable Development, I accepted an invitation to the Montreal fur and fashion show.
This show was a great education for me on the vast market there is for fur fashion in this world.
It was also an opportunity for me to examine the issues that we face in Nunavut, in rebuilding a market for our seal products especially.
From that day forward, Mr. Speaker I resolved to dedicate my energy on this issue to implementing a Nunavut Sealing Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, I want to advise the members today that the first phase of the Nunavut Sealing Strategy is nearing completion and has involved three key elements.
First, Mr. Speaker, in a few weeks I will be inviting colleagues from this legislature along with members of the industry and media to join me for viewing a video on Inuit and sealing titled, “Waiting at the Edge”, which was produced as part of the Nunavut Sealing Strategy.
Mr. Speaker this video will speak to one of this governments core Bathurst principles, our self-reliance.
Secondly, at the time of releasing the video I will be releasing this governments first publication on sealing titled “Seals and Nunavut – Our Tradition, Our Future”, which is intended solely to educate the public about the role that seals play in the life of Inuit past and present.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I will also be releasing at the time Nunavut’s first “Manual”, which will be distributed to every sealing community in Nunavut to assist in improving the quality and price of skins in the marketplace.
Mr. Speaker, I believe Nunavummiut expect this government to focus on all aspects of our economy including the longest surviving, and the most sustainable economy, our seal hunt.
It is my commitment today that in the coming days I will do my very best to honour this expectation.
Good Minister’s Statement.
Minister’s Statement 33 - 1(3): Corrections Planning Committee Report
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. In the last session of the Legislative Assembly I announced that I had appointed a corrections planning committee to look into the current state of corrections in Nunavut and to develop recommendations about where we should go from here.
I did this for a number of reasons.
First we know that we have serious deficiencies in terms of our institutional facilities and our ability to provide adequate programming for our offenders.
Second, we recognize the serious need to have many offenders treated and healed in their communities rather than in jail in Iqaluit.
We needed a realistic assessment of the situation and recommendations that would work, therefore I appointed a number of individuals from the communities to the committee: Becky Kadloo from Baker Lake, Natsiq Kango from Iqaluit, Simeonie Natsiq from Repulse Bay, Elee Tuluganik from Cambridge Bay, Elijah Erkloo representing the Nunavut Social Development Council, Mosha Akavak representing the Baffin Correctional Centre and the RCMP and the Correctional Service of Canada are also represented on the committee.
The committee is chaired by Rebecca Williams, Assistant Deputy Minister of Justice.
I am pleased to report that the corrections planning committee has submitted it’s final report to me.
I believe that the committee has done an excellent job of reviewing the state of corrections in Nunavut.
They have clearly assessed the problems and have provided a set of recommendations that should have significant impacts on improving our justice system.
Also, their recommendations are aimed at ensuring adequate correctional facilities with effective programming, as well as involving the communities in helping offenders to heal and re-integrate to the communities.
I would like to point out that the corrections planning committee has been consistent with the principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The committee members were selected from the communities and so reflect the interests of those communities.
The recommendations reflect the need to handle these issues in a way that is relevant to the needs and aspirations of our residents.
I am providing members with copies of the report, and I intend to review it more thoroughly in the coming weeks.
I plan to have further statements for the next sitting of the legislature.
In the meantime I would be grateful for any comments or suggestions that members might have to give me.
The time is up for Ministers’ Statements unless there is a request to extend.
We are going back to the Orders of the Day.
Item 3, Members’ Statements. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 49 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Elder's Advice to MLAs
When we invited our elders for the official opening of this House, the elder that I invited from my community wanted to give some advice to the members of the Legislative Assembly.
He gave me a message he wanted to relay to the members and he talked about the traditional ways he had learned.
That elder stated, and in no way am I pointing to anybody, that he did not really like to hear about our leaders having problems with alcohol or for criminal actions.
He has heard about members of the previous Legislative Assemblies having problems and he does not want to see this present legislature have any problems like that.
Member’s Statement 50 - 1(3): Opposition to Time Zone
In regards to the single time zone that is being proposed.
I am going to do the best I can to let you know of the strong opposition from my community and the other Baffin communities that are opposed to this proposal.
It is going to take a while for us to get used to the new time zone and at 2 o’clock we will be going back two hours.
I don’t know whether we are going to have to stay up for an extra two hours or I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Sure it may be very funny, it might be amusing.
I am concerned about the people of the Baffin region.
There is a allot of us in the Baffin region and if we are going to go ahead with this proposal, I am going to do the best I can to convince members otherwise.
Believe me this is very important to me, I feel very strongly about this.
I want you to know that I am going to work very hard on it, my problem is that the Baffin region will have to go two hours and the other regions one.
I know that it is going to be good for the people of the Keewatin region, it is not going to effect them and the Kitikmeot region will not be effected as much.
It is going to be the people of the Baffin region most effected.
I would like you to consider compromising and think about the population of the Baffin region.
Even if you combine both the Kitikmeot and the Keewatin populations, the Baffin region total population will always be more.
If I lose on this one, if the change goes ahead, I will not give up because I know very many people in Baffin region and we have the largest population in Nunavut, I am going to keep fighting.
Those ministers laughing across me right now will stop laughing, I assure you..
Speaker (interpretation): Point of Order, Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, my point of order is that his statement was not quite proper, he said he is representing Pangnirtung, he is representing Igloolik.
I would like that corrected.
That will be edited.
Member’s Statement 51 - 1(3): Recognition of Elders
Yesterday I recognized Mister and Mrs. Ittinuar who worked very hard in their lifetime.
Because we feel for our elders I would again like to recognize some of the elders.
He is not in good health but these two couples from Rankin Inlet have worked very hard, they used to live in Ukkusiksalik, Nattaq and his wife.
We never seem to recognize the volunteers but I would like you to know that we appreciate them.
Member’s Statement 52 - 1(3): Recognition of Elder
I rise today since I am very glad that this is the year of the elders.
In my community of Pelly Bay, there is an elder who takes young people out on the land to teach them traditional skills.
He is now a widower and works extremely hard.
I would like to recognize this person.
Item 4, returns to oral questions.
Hon. Donald Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. (technical difficulties)
Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Premier.
My brother in law left already and I wanted to recognize him.
He has been a friend of mine for a long time and we have worked together.
I would like to recognize Mr. Thomas Tiktak, who keeps you smiling when you are together with him.
I would like to recognize my constituency assistant for both Kimmirut and Cape Dorset, he is a very good assistant, Kavavou Peter.
I would like to recognize Raymond Piqaksaq who is the chairperson in Repulse Bay.
I would like to recognize a person who assisted me when I was campaigning.
This person is now working for me in the community of Clyde River and also my other community.
He has assisted me since he was a student through correspondence, as an interpreter, and as a translator.
These two have assisted me when we have all worked very hard, Jaypetee Arnaquq, and Levi Pallituq.
I would like them to be recognized.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you I apologize I am never good with names at times, but there is a person here from Rankin Inlet, I don’t know whether she has moved here or not it is Angela Panika.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker and good afternoon.
Mr. Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to welcome in the gallery, my brother in law Mr. Jaypetee Arnaquq and two people who are almost in the gallery. They are hard workers and they are my constituents, Blandina Tulugarjuk and Mary Nashook, our interpreters and also an old friend of mine from Igloolik and Hall Beach, our Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Timothy Kamookak.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Ng.
Since we are doing so many recognitions today I thought that I would have the honour of having at least one constituent in the gallery.
I would like to recognize Bernice Lyall behind me from Cambridge Bay and also in the interpreter booth I have Attima Hadlari and Gwen Ohokak.
We also have Tara Tailleur from CBC in Cambridge Bay here with us as well.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Welcome to the gallery.
Item 6, oral questions.
Question 74 - 1(3): Cigarette Smoking
Mr. McLean: Ma’na Uqaqti. Mr. Speaker.
It is with great delight today that I stand up and ask a question to the member responsible for smoking.
He gave us an interesting statistic last week in our committee meetings that said 93% of teenage girls in Nunavut smoke.
When I heard that statistic I was appalled, totally appalled that the statistics up here seem to be more than the national average.
But in that statistic I was just reflecting back, I have not seen one poster in my community on anti-smoking.
I wonder if the minister responsible has got any kind of plan to implement an anti-smoking plan in Nunavut and more so, combine it where it is in the schools also.
Mr. Speaker the member brings up a very serious and very important topic.
Here in Nunavut we have the highest average per capita of smokers in the country.
Smoking related diseases, respiratory diseases, are highly preventable, if we could stem the tide of smoking.
Indeed, many of the members of this House, including myself, suffer from that affliction and it is a very difficult habit to break although many of us have tried and are in the process of trying to quit.
In general Mr. Speaker, to answer the member’s question, smoking and anti-smoking campaigns are normally run through our regional health boards.
They target the priorities for public information and then they deliver the messages out to the public.
What we are doing right now in the Department of Health, is trying to identify some ways and means for the community level, at the local level, at the territorial level, to be able to bring forward a plan and a strategic initiative to be able to hopefully stem the tide.
Some good work has been done, I attended the Health Ministers’ meeting, Mr. Speaker, in Charlottetown PEI, where the province of British Columbia released a very strong strategic plan about stemming the tide of smoking and specifically aimed at young people where the highest rates are of people who are smokers.
I have had a chance to review that and our Deputy Minister and our health people are looking at it and hopefully we will be able to bring something like that forward in Nunavut.
Question 75 - 1(3): Health Boarding Homes
I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services in regards to the patients who go down to Ottawa for medical services.
The other day we heard on the radio some of the patients went down there and they were having problems with patients and escorts who went down.
They are not welcomed in that facility, Rotel, and especially the Rotel is being heavily used by the people of the Baffin region.
The patients who go down there and the escorts, are they going to be put down by this Rotel that we use.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member bringing this question forward and let me make it perfectly clear right now, Mr. Speaker, that if any of our patients are being treated badly in any of the boarding homes that we run, which include Edmonton, Winnipeg, Churchill, Iqaluit, Yellowknife and Ottawa, it is not acceptable and will not be acceptable.
If the member has a particular circumstance or incident that he is aware of where a person or a patient from Nunavut was treated unfairly or told that they were not welcome at that boarding home then put it in writing and bring it to me and we will deal with it.
Because it isn’t acceptable.
Supplementary Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Since we pay per diems through the budget for these facilities the federal government gives us money to pay for accommodations, meals and other incidentals, the patients who stay in these facilities have to be treated properly.
Because when we pay for services we expect them to be treated properly.
Are these monies being used properly for what they were intended.
If they are not then we will have to find some other facility for our patients and our escorts because of that money.
Can you do that as the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, if you would bear with me, I think that at this time we should probably explain the situation and the logistics around the running of the boarding home.
In the Baffin region, Mr. Speaker, as you are acutely aware, and the members of this House, the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board, transferred services from Montreal to Ottawa.
So under Ottawa we have a group called the OHSNI which is the Ottawa Health Services Incorporated Network.
They facilitate our patients coming from the Baffin region of Nunavut to Ottawa.
In Montreal Mr. Speaker, as many of the members of this House remember, we used to have Baffin House which was owned by the government, which housed our clients and our patients there. In Ottawa, Mr. Speaker, we did not have a Baffin House of course because we just transferred the services.
In Ottawa there is a facility called the Rotel.