EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Minister’s Statement 150 – 1(6): Nutrition Project for the Baffin
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to provide the members of this House and the people of Nunavut with news of a project in the making, and it coincides with national nutrition month.
Mr. Speaker, my department has been exploring a community based nutrition pilot project with the Community Nutrition division of Nestle Canada.
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of developing this project and I wanted members to know that my department is committed to working on this multi-phased project and get an overview of what the project is about.
Mr. Speaker, it is expected that a North Baffin Community will selected within the next couple of months to participate in a needs assessment to determine both the health status of the community and the next steps to be taken.
The resources for this would be provided by Nestle Canada.
Mr. Speaker, during this initial phase we will invite our partner, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, along with the Baffin Regional Nutritionist, the Community Health Resource person or the local Health and Social Service Committee.
The project will be under the direction of the community Health and Social Service director, while the regional advisory committee will lead and approve project recommendations and determine the feasibility of later phases.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I am pleased that our government, through my department, is continuing to explore such joint venture projects that will benefit all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 151– 1(6): Inuinnaqtun Interpreter/Translator Program
Good afternoon Mr. Speaker, colleagues and my constituents of Kimmirut and Cape Dorset.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that my department is working with Nunavut Arctic College and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to develop an Inuinnaqtun Interpreter/Translator training program.
We are pleased to report that Nunavut is making great strides toward protecting all forms of our Inuit Language, including Inuinnaqtun.
The work of our interpreters and translators is crucial in allowing us to achieve our Bathurst Mandate goal and in communicating with Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends)It is essential to ensure that Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun remains a living language for future generations.
Mr. Speaker, for years an Inuktitut Interpreter/Translator program has been offered to Nunavummiut and many Nunavummiut have taken the opportunity to take the program and establish careers as language professionals.
The same opportunity will soon be available to the Inuinnaqtun community.
When this program is up and running it will provide students with the skills they need for employment opportunities in their community.
It will ensure that a new generation of Inuit will develop fully their language skills in Inuinnaqtun.
Member’s Statement 497 – 1(6): Water Quality and Supply
It was heart warming news that the Government will be promoting the Inuinnaqtun language.
That is the first item that I really appreciate the Minister for talking in Inuinnaqtun.
I will be speaking in English, and I am very pleased to hear that you are going to be training Interpreter/Translators.
(Interpretation ends) I rise today to recognize the important contribution being made by our Government and by the Federal Government to develop a Nunavut infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, Minister Thompson announced four new projects which will address infrastructure needs in the communities of Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Pangnirtung, and Kugluktuk.
The projects all focussed in improving water quality, and this in turn will improve our quality of life.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of water quality is often a concern to Nunavummiut.
To take my community of Kugluktuk, as an example, this past winter there has been serious problems with the water supply.
At times the Hamlet crew had to drill holes through the ice to get to the water from the River.
When it is -30, -40 degrees outside, this is a very difficult task.
As a result of the problem with the water supply, water delivery was seriously affected.
Water truck crews would be three or four days with their deliveries.
Some houses were completely out of water and Hamlet officials were considering closing down the School.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you can appreciate the seriousness of the situation.
If there had been an emergency, such as a fire in the community, the consequences could have been very bad.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the Department of Community Government and Transportation had successfully been accessing federal funding for these projects.
Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that the Water Supply Line Realignment Project, funded through the Canada/Nunavut Infrastructure Agreement, will ensure that the people of Kugluktuk will not see a repetition of water problems that we experienced this winter.
I look forward to many more announcements like this in the near future.
Member’s Statement 498 – 1(6): Gun Legislation
Mr. Speaker, like millions of other people across this country I was outraged to wake up this morning only to hear that another $59 million of our hard earned tax dollars was flushed down the toilet yesterday in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, it is not secret that the National Gun Registry has been a complete and utter disaster from day one.
Mr. Speaker, each and every Member of this House is well aware of the legitimate place that firearms have in our northern communities and households.
Across the North and in the rural areas of southern Canada, people are appalled at what they see to be an assault on their way of life.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents tell me that they have had nothing but trouble in dealing with these new requirements under this half baked federal legislation.
This system is simply not working for people in small northern communities, who depend on access to firearms and ammunition for harvesting and protection against dangerous animals.
Mr. Speaker, this is another example of a system designed to meet the concerns of a big city, not smaller communities.
It is a system that is certainly not working for our unilingual constituents.
It is a system where cost appears to be totally out of control.
Mr. Speaker, I applauded, I applauded our Government and the NTI when they joined forces to oppose this lunatic scheme that was no doubt hatched by out of touch bureaucrats in southern Canada.
Other Provincial Governments are also unhappy about the impact that it has had.
Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear, I am not encouraging anyone in this territory to break the law.
However, we need to keep fighting for changes that makes sense for our residents.
Member’s Statement 499 – 1(6): Illness in Pond Inlet
There are some illnesses in Nunavut.
There are two schools in Pond Inlet that are closed down.
The other one is the Olayuk School and the high school, Natsivvik School is closed down due to an illness.
It came to the point where so many teachers and students were sick they had to close down.
The two schools and I hope that this will not continue too long.
Member’s Statement 500 – 1(6): Iraq War
We have been seeing more coverage in Iraq on television that is now taking place.
History shows that Inuit do not make war to acquire and take control of land and animals, for that I am thankful.
Mr. Speaker, we were taught that the land, the soil and living things to not belong to any one person.
All of these things are for everyone to share.
Mr. Speaker, to all of those who suffer the consequences of war in Iraq, let us, the people of Nunavut, pray for them.
To the future generations and the people of Nunavut, I want to say to you, let there never be war fought on Nunavut soil.
Member’s Statement 501 – 1(6): Photo I.D for Patients
I rise today to show my gratitude and for some good news regarding my mother.
She is close to 90 years old and went to a hospital in Ottawa.
When she was coming back, she was told not to fly back on the airline because she had no photo identification.
And so, I am grateful for the Community Government and Transportation who allowed her to get photo I.D. The department helped my mother and it became very apparent that for Elders, who are unilingual Inuktitut speaking, that the Government is always willing to help and I thank them for that.
Member’s Statement 502 – 1(6): Funding Assistance for Elders
I rise today to talk about the things we hear.
We all go through a hard time; I am not going against anyone who has made comments regarding the decentralized communities.
For Elders and youth programs, there is funding available from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for assistance in those programs.
The Qikiqtani Association are also running programs in that regard.
I’m not putting them down in any way, but the term, I think should be changed.
We are planning as a new government and with Nunavut being in it’s infancy, that the planning we are doing for programming.
I’m not putting down anyone when I say this, however, the term we often hear about the youth and elders will go to a conference.
The elders that were born many years ago have no grasp of the things we use now.
The youth, being up to date with technology, there’s a big gap between our elders and youth.
What I’d like to say, is those of us who are in between the elders and youth, I’m not saying we’re just being pushed aside, we should try to bride the gap between those two age groups.
Please proceed, Mr. Irqittuq.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you my colleagues.
My statement regarding the elders and youth, I’m not saying they are able or unable, but there are so many people between those two age groups that also have a lot of knowledge.
I have a bit of Inuit traditional knowledge and I’m also aware of the new technology that you have to deal with.
So, with all the funding and programs that are available, the people in the middle don’t seem to get a lot of recognition.
I’m not saying the elders and youth are getting a little bit too much, I’m not saying that, but we also need to bridge that gap with the middle aged people.
So, Mr. Speaker, we have a grasp of both worlds.
A lot of us can speak in either English or Inuktitut, others besides me.
Member’s Statement 503 – 1(6): Illnesses in the Past
Mr. Speaker, when I was a young child many years ago and I’d like to share my experience with everybody so that they’re on the record.
Mr. Speaker, when I was a child, in the months of February, March and April were the months that most people got sick and when there were periods of starvation.
As a child, some of the areas where I lived had very bad conditions in those seasons so it was hard to get to the food source in those three months that I mentioned.
There were a lot of illnesses.
There were deaths from those illnesses and that’s how it was in the old days.
Today, with the changes coming on and with a lot more technology today, it doesn’t seem to be as recurring in those months.
My colleague from Amittuq mentioned when I was a child I knew how Inuit lived traditionally and I also am aware of what the youth are going through.
In understanding both of these worlds I understand that there are not as many illnesses as many years ago and not as many people going hungry.
That is how we live on the old days as Inuit and I wanted to put that on the record.
If not, we’ll move onto Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize visitors to Nunavut.
First of all, the visitors are from Quebec.
The people behind me are from the Transportation Department if Quebec.
Mr. Speaker, they are up here for some meetings with my departmental staff regarding transportation.
There are also negotiations regarding training and access roads in the communities for camp sites or hunting sites.
They are also looking at the types of breakwaters and they are having a workshop with my departmental staff.
We know there are Inuit in Nunavik and there are a lot of similarities.
I would like to invite you to welcome them to Nunavut and I'm sure we will learn from each other from these discussions.
I will try to say their names.
I apologize if I don’t get it right.
We will probably never see them again.
First of all Dennis Blair, Director for Northern Quebec.
Josie Asinaa.
Luke Ampleman, Transportation Planner.
(interpretation ends) Those are the Native Affairs Coordinators and Luke, the Transportation Planner, Ms. Annette Guimond, Professional in Charge of Technical Follow-Up for the Marine Infrastructures Environmental Files and Climate Changes.
Maybe she can learn a few things from me.
Caroline Renault, Professional in Charge of the Technical and Administrative Follow-Up for Air Transport, Social Economic Impact and Collective Transport Files.
Big titles.
Mr. Speaker, my staff member Chad, his name is also complicated but that is Chad.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and welcome to the House the ones who are keeping up with the progress in the House, as the MLA for Pangnirtung, they supported me first.
The mayor of Pangnirtung, Hezekiah Oshutapik and right before I begin, Greg Morash, the SAO.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize them in the House.
So that you can listen.
I would like to recognize and welcome someone as well. When I first came here with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association as a Board Member, I started working with her as an interpreter.
Very able person in English, I am sure, Ooleepika Ikkidluaq, welcome to the House, and Blandina as well.
Welcome to the House, Thank you.
I have not had the opportunity to welcome the, but we have some regular visitors in the Gallery.
The individuals from Kugluktuk and she works at the Language Bureau, Agnas Allan.
She is here from Cambridge Bay, she is here for some workshops on women’s issues.
She works with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society and with the elders in Cambridge Bay and she is following along the footsteps of her recently deceased mother in the preservation of culture and language and I would like to recognize her and ask Members to join me in welcoming Ms. Emily Angulaalik.
Question 498 – 1(6): Water Supply System in Kugluktuk
Earlier on I stated in my statement that I want to direct a question to the Department of Community Government and Transportation.
I had mentioned that we are having water problems; we had big water problems in Kugluktuk through our water treatment plant.
I am wondering if the Minister has made any improvements in that water supply system in Kugluktuk.
In regards to the Kugluktuk plant, I went to go see it not too long ago when I went over there and it was evident that there has to be something done about it.
My staff is aware of your situation and just recently, the federal government and the Nunavut Government jointly made an agreement where the Kugluktuk plant would eventually be changed.
The federal government and the territorial government are both going to be putting in money in together to replace the plant.
And the road leading to that area, it has been more than once that there had been problems with the water pipes in Kugluktuk.
Thank you Minister, for your response.
We like to hear some positive things in regards to water related issues.
Once the Water trucks go out to deliver water, we have problems in the -40 temperatures.
As you stated that the Federal Government and your department would be working on this.
When would you have an update as to the replacement of it so that we do not have problems during the winter?
In regards to the Water pipe, we are going to be putting in $700 thousand, and the Federal Government will be putting in $307 thousand dollars.
If we use Cambridge Bay, Pangnirtung, and in Gjoa Haven, were our priority if we are going to be working on those issues, we are going to be starting up those projects, and Kugluktuk is in the list.
I believe that we can start working on the Project this summer.
(Interpretation ends) One more question in regards to the Water Treatment Plant.
Last year we had some problems not only in the pipes, and also the filtration.
I am just wondering if that is included in the project as to if there is going to be done some work done on the filtration, because spring is almost here and there is going to be muddy water again in the springtime.
Is that kind of work included in that amount of money that you just mentioned?
Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask my staff who specializes in this area to brief the Member on what we are going to do with the water problem in Kugluktuk.
I am aware of the mud that is going into the water system, and I also aware that two feeder systems were put in that water pump for the community.
In regards to the technical aspects of the water, the water pumps, and the waterlines, and so on, I will have my staff brief him fully on that and what is going to be happening with his water pipes, and water lines this summer.
Question 499 – 1(6): Integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the Government System
I am not quite sure exactly which Minister to direct my question to so I will give it to the Premier.
The Nunavut Government came up with an agreement where they would include it in the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and how it could be integrated into the Government system.
My question to the Premier is I am sure that there are Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Specialists in each of the departments.
Do these Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Specialists have meetings on how they could integrate more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the Government system?
In regards to the statement that I made yesterday on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, a committee called Tuqtarvik is being set up a that will be working on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The government departments are will be utilizing IQ and work with the communities to make sure that more of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is integrated into the Government of Nunavut departments.
I will then ask my question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
We have been a government over the past three years and my question to the Minister is, is this year the starting point of integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the government system.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth started setting up an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit task force and from there we set up an entity who will be responsible for the implementation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The recommendations that were made by the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit task force are now being reviewed by the Katimajiit and Tuqtarvik.
With that, we are looking into the recommendations that were made.
Do the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit specialist coordinators that are in each of the government departments have meetings on a regular basis?
The Minister of Health and Social Services made a statement in the house that he now has an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit coordinator in his department and I’m sure Human Resources has one too.
As for the other government departments, do they have meetings at regular intervals to have discussions on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and how it could be implemented?
The policies will have to be established, there has to be terms of references set up before we do anything, start anything with the government departments.
We know it is going to be a good start with the government departments.
If they have terms of references, it will be better coordinated and properly implemented.
As I stated earlier, we have the Katimajiit and the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit and the Tuqtarvik that I mentioned earlier who will be doing all of this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister stated that there will be terms of reference set out and then it will start from there.
Are we looking at a month or six months or a year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’m sure that they will have a lot of work to do in implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the government system.
They will have to work closely together between the Katimajiit and Tuttarvik and what we’re doing is we’re going to be appointing members next month.
We will be waiting for submission of names from the members and we will accelerate it so that we can start incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the government system.
Question 500 – 1(6): Detail of Increase in Power Rates
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I’m hearing not officially from the Minister but there may be a rise in power rates for all of Nunavut.
If it is in fact true, can the Minister explain to this house, the details?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Nunavut Power Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, no it’s not true.
Mr. Speaker, there is a process that the member is aware of and most members of the house are aware of for increasing any utility rates or power rates.
We have a utility rate review council in place, called URCC, that would review any rate application that came forward from the Nunavut Power Corporation.
It’s nice to hear the Minister responsible is not raising our power rates and we know in the last two years, there have been new power plants going into communities in Nunavut.
Baker Lake is one of the communities that is receiving a power plant this year.
Can the Minister assure the community of Baker Lake that there will be no power rate increases in the future?
I guess some people don’t like hearing that answer.
The member asked me if there’s going to be any rate increases and there is no rate increase proposed, Mr. Speaker.
In the past, the Nunavut Power Corporation, the rates that we had in place, when a capital project was built, then community itself, through an increase their rates, would pay for that capital project.
There’s a good example in Clyde River.
Mr. Speaker, when we built the 4 million dollar plant in Clyde River, there was no way we would expect the people in Clyde River, increase their rates by 50 or 60 or 70 percent to pay for the capital costs of that plan.
In the case of Baker Lake, there is over an 8 to 10 million dollar project, maybe a little bit more going on there on a capital improvement.
Indeed a new plant is being built there and we wouldn’t expect the people of Baker Lake to have their rates increased by 60 or 70 or 80 percent to pay for that capital project.
As a power corporation itself, Mr. Speaker, has look at the opportunity to bring forward a fuel rider on the power bill, like we had in the past.
We have not talked about increasing the power rates themselves.
I’m not sure if “…we would not expect…”, is an answer.
But, can the Minister confirm to me that the community of Baker Lake with the new power plant that had to be installed through no fault of their own, will not result in a 60 or 70 percent increase in rates.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not trying to be ambiguous in my answer.
There is no way we can expect the community of Baker Lake to be able cover to the total amortization costs of the power plant.
The Member had asked me, do I foresee rate increases for power.
I can’t see the future; I can say we have to take into account the different factors, the increase in oil costs for example.
I can say, Mr. Speaker, that the electrical rates in Nunavut have not increased since 1998, five years ago.
So, sometime I would expect this year, probably this fall, the power corporation, on reviewing their rates, may look at some time of an increase across the board in Nunavut.
I don’t know what that amount would be, but I can say with some certainty, that we would not see the rates increase by 60, 70 or 80 percent.
I’m glad the honourable Minister brought up the topic that he is not Nostradamus and can’t predict utility rate increases.
When they build a capital project in a community in regards to the power corporation, that they have to amortize this power plant over 20-40 years, and I’m sure the Minister’s people do that, so they know what the true costs will be no power rates in a community that really doesn’t really have a strong economic base yet and that any increase whether it’s 5-10 percent has devastating effects on the constituents that I represent.
It is not a government town.
It is just a traditional community.
Has the Minister submitted an application to the utility rate for an increase, and how much and when does it come into effect.
Yes, that is a good question, Mr. Speaker and I will answer it in a good way.