EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In Canada and around the world, governments and the people they serve take time to reflect on the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the United Nations on this day in 1989.
The convention spells out the basic human rights to which children everywhere are entitled.
As a signatory to the convention, Canada is committed to ensuring that all children are treated with dignity and respect.
This commitment includes that children and youth: be given the opportunity to have a voice; be protected from harm; and be provided with their basic needs and every opportunity to reach their full potential.
The convention also acknowledges the key role of parents and families in the lives of children and young people.
In Nunavut, special events are taking place around the regions to increase awareness of the rights of the child as set out in the UN convention.
Here in Iqaluit, on Saturday, the daycares are holding a parade, starting at 1 p.m. from the Cadet Hall.
I invite you and the members to join with me in parading around Iqaluit at one o’clock.
Mr. Speaker, our children are precious.
On behalf of the Government of Nunavut, the Department of Education does its best to encourage our children and youth to reach their full potential, whether it is physical, emotional, creative, intellectual, or spiritual.
Hundreds of volunteers in our communities work with children and youth towards the same purpose.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask members of this House to join me in showing our appreciation for all the good people who do their best to ensure that the rights of children are met right here in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 014 – 2(2): Sivuliqtiksat Program Graduates
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Human Resources, it is a great pleasure for me to rise today to congratulate the first graduates of Sivuliqtiksat, the Government of Nunavut’s management development program.
The six graduates are: Janet Brewster, Manager, Population Health, Department of Health and Social Services, Iqaluit; Brenda Jancke, Director, Career and Early Childhood, Department of Education, Cambridge Bay; Lorna Gee, Director, Motor Vehicles, Economic Development and Transportation, Gjoa Haven; Guy d’Argencourt, Claims Implementation Manager, Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Iqaluit; Joanna Nutarak, Language of Instruction Consultant, Department of Education, Pond Inlet; and Kevin Niptanatiak, Assistant Director, Regional Operations, Department of Community and Government Services, Cambridge Bay.
These six individuals have demonstrated initiative, leadership, and a genuine desire to ensure that Nunavummiut enjoy and have access to high quality programs and services.
They have successfully met the challenge of managing in today’s public service and are true role models for everyone.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the departments who have developed interim positions to support Inuit employment within our public service.
I would also like to recognize the dedicated supervisors, trainers, and mentors who are key to making on-the-job training programs, such as Sivuliqtiksat, a success.
The Sivuliqtiksat internship program demonstrates our commitment to the pinasuaqtavut principle of Ilippallianginnarniq-Continuing Learning and is a very effective way to help to develop a representative public service.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating these six individuals and to wish them the best in the future.
Speaker (interpretation): I congratulate you also.
Minister’s Statement 015 – 2(2): Implementation of Nunavut’s Human Rights Act
Hon. Paul Okalik: Mr. Speaker, last year the Legislative Assembly adopted a new Human Rights Act for Nunavut.
The new Act was adopted in order to give Nunavummiut greater access to human rights legislation in a manner that is more culturally sensitive and in their own language.
I am pleased to inform members that Nunavut’s human rights tribunal has been established.
Chairing the tribunal is Gela Oolayou-Pitsiulak, originally from Kimmirut.
The vice-chair is Susan Cooper, from Iqaliuit.
The tribunal members are Louise Haulli from Igloolik, Amie Ahegona from Kugluktuk and Robert Tookoomie, originally from Baker Lake.
In addition, the human rights tribunal office’s interim executive director, Marion Love, is in the process of establishing the office in Coral Harbour and administering the hiring process for the executive director and the two human rights officers.
I am confident that Nunavut’s human rights tribunal will benefit Nunavummiut by being more aware of Nunavut’s culture and language in a way that the Canadian Human Rights Commission is not able to do so.
Member's Statement 021 – 2(2): Economic Development in Nunavut
Mr. Peterson: Koana, Uqaqti.
I rise today on an issue that has been raised many times in this House; economic development.
Members are aware that the federal government has earmarked $90 million for economic development in the three territories.
On Wednesday, the minister revealed in the House that the funds will be administered by the federal government for the fiscal year 2004-05; a fiscal year with only four months remaining in it.
I am concerned that there is no mechanism in place to ensure that the funding is carried over to the next fiscal year if it is not allocated to projects before March 31, 2005.
Further, it is an outrage that the funds will not be administered within the territory, by our own people.
The Nunavut Economic Forum was formed to implement the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy.
I am concerned that this approach to funding effectively ties their hands.
The federal government has consistently expresses a rhetorical commitment to economic development in Nunavut but its actions do not always reflect that commitment.
Our economic development destiny is in Ottawa’s hands or one of their committees.
It seems to me that the federal government is attempting to give funding with one hand while raking it back with the other, especially if the cost to administer the $90 million is taken out of that amount.
This is an outrage, and I urge all Nunavummiut to make their voices heard.
It is time for our territory to be given the means and the authority to encourage economic development here at home.
Nunavut and Nunavummiut need a solid economic development agreement with the federal government that includes the ability to determine our own priorities.
The future development of an economic development agency could be a part of this process.
The Kitikmeot region has great potential for diamond mining and all the associated benefits, such as training opportunities and employment, both at the mine site itself and through spin-off businesses.
Members are aware that I invited the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to visit the Kitikmeot and to see this potential first-hand.
Study after study after study has been done.
Our own Nunavut Economic Development Strategy, the Conference Board of Canada’s economic outlook, and internal federal governmental studies all draw the same conclusions.
Large-scale investment in infrastructure is necessary in order for our territory to reduce its dependence on federal transfers.
Every study clearly demonstrates that there will be a sizeable return for the nation as a whole on that investment.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Economic Forum was created specifically to implement our economic development strategy.
It is time for them to be allowed to get on with that work.
Member's Statement 022 – 2(2): Recognition of Peter Kunilieusie
Before I start talking about my issue, I am very pleased to announce that the Qikiqtarjuaq hunters that were lost have now been found, and I am glad that they are okay.
I rise today to acknowledge an individual from my community, in my constituency, who has performed a very important service to this country for over fifty years: Peter Kunilieusie.
He joined the northern rangers right after World War II. The federal government started looking for Canadian Rangers after World War II to protect the sovereignty of northern Canada.
This individual has been a member of the Rangers ever since.
The Rangers fulfill an important role within the military and its operations in the North.
Mr. Kunilieusie is quite aware of traditional ways, and he is very professional in his work.
He is very knowledgeable about the northern climate, and he has been supporting and giving assistance to the military.
We heard, after the Canadian military’s Operation Narwhal that took place in Pangnirtung last summer, how essential these types of skills are. We have also heard that these skills are being lost from generation to generation.
Mr. Kunilieusie is going to resign from the Rangers, but he will not stop contributing his knowledge and skills.
The Rangers, in turn, play an active role in passing their skills on to the next generation.
There are no nays; please proceed, Mr. Arreak.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, my colleagues.
I am very proud that both of my constituencies have Junior Ranger programs.
Rangers and other members of the community are involved in instructing and running the programs.
These programs provide a structured environment for youth which promotes discipline and provides instruction in Ranger skills, traditional skills, and life skills.
There are over 550 young people who have joined the Junior Rangers in 14 Junior Ranger Patrols in communities across Nunavut.
This is the largest number of Junior Rangers across Canada.
Some of these youth have even been active in community service, such as supporting the community of Sanikiluaq after their power plant burnt down. Lucassie Meeko is the only Junior Ranger in Canada to have been awarded the Medal of Bravery for saving a youth from drowning.
From Mr. Peter Kunilieusie who is 74 years old to the youngest Junior Rangers is 12 years old, I am confident that Ranger skills such as first aid, navigation, the safe handling of weapons and preparing for land exercises are being maintained and passed on.
I am proud that the Junior Ranger program also supports traditional skills such as those needed for surviving on the land as well as arts and culture.
Mr. Kunilieusie has been a leader in training and assisting the younger Canadian Rangers for a long time, and I believe that Mr. Kunilieusie’s work is very important.
I would like to urge the members of the Legislative Assembly to congratulate Peter Kunilieusie.
Member's Statement 023 – 2(2): Life Issues in the High Arctic
I rise today to add my voice to those who have been expressing concerns about the difficulties that our elders face in the High Arctic.
During my recent community tour of the High Arctic, elders told me that their lives are not necessarily getting any easier today.
In many cases, especially in communities with very high unemployment rates, elders’ pensions are required to help feed families and to put gas in the hunters’ snowmobile tanks.
I have heard disturbing accounts of power being cut in people’s homes, especially elders’ homes, without adequate notice.
I know that people are worried about the cost of fuel as we enter the long, cold winter months ahead.
Here is an example of how life in the smaller communities differs from life in the capital city.
We are very far away from the banks.
Here you can walk into one of the two banks and set up an account in about 30 minutes or less. (interpretation ends) For many of my elders, if the plane is weathered out, there are no pension checks.
(interpretation) I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
There are no nays; please proceed, Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) For many of my elders, if the plane is weathered out, there are no pension checks to cash at the Northern or the Co-Op.
If the plane doesn’t get in for a few days, that is tough.
I am pleased to see that the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated have recently been making moves toward looking at ways to expand access to financial services for our residents, especially in smaller communities.
This will make life easier, and I support the movement forward.
I will raise these quality of life issues throughout our session.
Member's Statement 024 – 2(2): School Program Funding
You heard in the news that the individual who had committed a murder in a southern province is said to be from Coral Harbour.
I would like to set the record straight by saying that this individual, the one who is accused of murder, is not from Coral Harbour.
(interpretation ends) The district education authority in Chesterfield Inlet is very concerned about the recent cutbacks that they have experienced in the operating budget for this year over the previous year.
Mr. Speaker, $53,000 has been cut from the district education authority operating budget in Chesterfield Inlet.
Over the years, we know that the district education authorities have always tried to balance their budgets by hiring local program instructors, such as people who teach sewing skills and hunting skills, and we know these programs are very important to our culture and also to our students.
These programs don’t even last all year because of the lack of funds.
There has always been a lack of money to fund these programs under the district education authority.
If our culture is taken seriously, as the government always says it is, then why would the operations and maintenance funding be cut?
As one of the members of this legislature, I was very disturbed by this action.
I would think that instead of building bureaucracy in the Department of Education and thinking of new divisions and setting up new divisions just to fill in the right number of government staff in decentralized places, such as Pangnirtung, the education department dollars could be spent more wisely.
Our priority as a government should be our students.
Another of these priorities should be how can we help the local district education authorities deliver programs with proper funding.
Our culture and skills as a people depend on it, and we can’t be cutting back the program dollars.
At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be addressing the minister.
Speaker (interpretation): You have to stick to one subject when you are making your statements.
I would like to caution the members.
Member's Statement 025 – 2(2): Acknowledgement of Family Members
I had wanted to make two statements, but I am keeping it down to one.
I would like to make a comment, first of all, to acknowledge my brother and my relatives in Pangnirtung; I will not be going up to Pangnirtung this week.
Again, I would like to say hi to Kevin in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Yesterday, my relatives came in, and I am sure that they are watching on TV: my daughter Jenna and my son Joseph.
Ever since I arrived, my son has been ill, and Rosie has not been able to come to Iqaluit because of the weather.
I say hello to my wife Rosie.
Member's Statement 026 – 2(2): Dog Team Steering
Since today is Friday, I will take it easy, because we will be working extremely hard next week.
I would like to say hello to my father, my wife and children, and Annie Epoo.
When I was growing up, we used to travel by dog team.
My uncle didn’t have any sons, so I used to go with him frequently.
My father, on the other hand, used to follow his father-in-law more often.
I would like to continue an approach that I’ve adopted for the second Assembly and make reference to the past.
Back in the old days when I was growing up, we didn’t worry so much about gasoline and fuel oil.
My uncle, the one I followed, didn’t need to use commands with his dog team as he had them very well trained.
He knew exactly what to do when they smelled a seal hole.
My uncle had one dog that was vicious, and when my uncle was waiting for the seals, I would hold a knife just in case the dog attacked me.
I am very glad that the dog never attacked me.
A long time ago, when the hunter was over the seal hole, the dogs would be very alert and go as soon as the seal was caught.
There are no nays; please proceed, Mr. Kattuk.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Let me explain why I want to take it easy today: my body feels a little sore and tired today.
Some of the hunters had a way of steering their dog teams with voice commands and sometimes with a whip.
But, by the time leg-hold traps were introduced, the people of Sanikiluaq were no longer using whips anymore.
The kinds of voice commands they would use would be, “Bah- bala-bala! Auk, auk!
Taikkua taga, taikkua taga! Udlee, udlee, udlee, udlee!” That was one of the ways of steering the dogs, either to the left or the right.
My uncle used to steer his dogs using these kinds of signals.
Member's Statement 027 – 2(2): Whale Cove Daycare Opening
Very briefly, in Whale Cove, when I went there on November 15, when they were going to be having the grand opening of the daycare... .
Whale Cove is a very small community, but the individuals worked extremely hard to set up the daycare.
The daycare has a board of directors.
There was an excellent working relationship with the hamlet in order to get the daycare up and running.
We all know that there are people who have children who would like to enter the workforce, and there are also single parents who don’t have proper facilities for the care of their children.
I am sure that it is very hard on these individuals.
A lot of people say that they need proper daycare facilities in order to participate in the workforce.
Sometimes they use private individuals to take care of their children.
I would like to ask the members to congratulate Whale Cove.
Member's Statement 028 – 2(2): Trip to Igloolik
First of all, I too would like to join Mr. Arreak in congratulating Mr. Peter Kunilieusie.
Peter is my wife’s uncle, and I know him very well.
So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service.
First of all, Friday is usually a day, as Mr. Kattuk said earlier, for a bit of levity.
A very serious incident occurred this past summer that involved several prominent residents of Nunavut.
The incident was full of drama, worry, frustration, camaraderie, heroism, and singing.
On a trip to meet with the good people of Igloolik, Ministers Simailak, Tapardjuk, Akesuk, and me, yes, me, Mr. Speaker, were asked to visit the diamond mining camp located about 35 kilometers northwest of Igloolik.
With the mayor of Igloolik, Mr. Elijah Evaluajuk, and other Government of Nunavut staff and residents, we left on two helicopters for the camp.
The mining potential north of Igloolik for diamonds holds great promise and we were treated very well by the camp staff. On our return to Igloolik, our helicopter was forced to put down several kilometers from Igloolik.
It was foggy, windy, rainy, and cold.
The visibility was only a few hundred yards.
The pilot expertly landed us at at least three different locations on some small islands about 30 kilometers northwest of Igloolik.
We had no shelter other than the cramped helicopter.
Our fuel was low and it was cold.
We waited for a long time, and Minister Tapardjuk, a lifelong, born-and-raised resident of Igloolik, told the pilot to head in the direction of Avajaq, the abandoned island that contains an abandoned church, an old church with no windows, no doors.
After some very harrowing moments, we put down near this abandoned old church.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
There are no nays; please proceed, Mr. Picco.
I thank my colleagues.
I do not want to get into a lot of detail about the trip, about the fright, the scary issue, the crying, the wailing, the fright.
I will not say much about how we were using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the leadership and the wonderful singing that was heard near that old church that day, but after five hours we were rescued by a boat from Igloolik, a boat driven by the famous director Zach Kunuk.
I can tell in all seriousness that the ministers could not wait to get off that island.
Mr. Speaker, in the boat, on the return to Igloolik with ice and fog and not knowing where we were going, one of the ministers said that the singing kept them going that day.
I wanted to thank the expert work of the pilot and our colleague ministers who were excellent company during a very difficult time.
If I had an opportunity to get shanghaied and shipwrecked with different individuals again, it would not be the same for it.
Member's Statement 029 – 2(2): Congratulate Lorne Kusugak
I rise today this morning to congratulate the mayor in Rankin Inlet, Mr. Lorne Kusugak, acclaimed recently to the mayor’s seat.
The nominations closed recently, on November 8; the present mayor of Rankin Inlet will be the mayor again for as long as the term is.
I know Mr. Kusugak; he is married to my neice.
I hope to be working him closely, in the years to come, to try to make improvements in the community of Rankin Inlet.
I would like to thank him.
At this time I would like to encourage the other candidates for the municipal elections.
And I would to congratulate Mr. Lorne Kusugak for being acclaimed as mayor to work again for the next few years.
Member's Statement 030 – 2(2): Passing of a Respected Elder
We talk about, on Fridays, good things and bad things.
This is not really a sad thing that I am going to talk about, but I would like to inform the members that we just recently had an elder pass away in Arviat.
That elder in Arviat died this morning, I think.
I saw him as an individual, as an Inuk person, as a traditional person, and as a really good role model, because he respected the animals out on the land and respected his fellow citizens.
He would never talk about anybody; he would smile at everybody and say hello to them.
He was a fox trapper when he was younger.
He was a very able person and he knew about the Inuit traditional ways.
He was seen by young people as a respected elder, and I would like to be like him, to able to know the animals on the land and all the other stuff out on the land.
So, for this reason, I would like to pay my respects to his family.
I know that he respected tradition and looked after his fellow citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to be able to say that today.
Member's Statement 031 – 2(2): Anniversary Wish to Sister
I would like to say hello to Taloyoarmiut today.
(interpretation ends) I just wanted to say a few words for my sister Celine Pauloosie and Inuk Pauloosie.
Today I wanted to wish my sister and my brother-in-law a happy anniversary.
They’ve been married now for 25 years.
(interpretation) I’m thinking of them today as it is their anniversary.
There is also a birthday today, although we didn’t know.
Happy birthday to Nancy Tupiq.
Speaker (interpretation) I think she forgot her birthday.
>>Singing Happy Birthday
I am happy to recognize our Mayor, Iqalukjuaq.
Noirie Iqalukjuaq has assisted and helped out with the Nunavut Quest, which is a dog team race.
He is one of the people who helped organize that event.
Also, I would like to recognize Andrew Taqtu who is a businessman and outfitter and who has been on TV, on the Discovery Channel.
I would also like to recognize Noirie Iqalukjuaq.
He has been a leader in Arctic Bay.
I would also like to recognize Steve Audlakiak from Broughton Island, who is residing in Iqaluit for a short time.
He has been a very good leader as well, in Qikiqtarjuaq, even though he is not in an elected position.
I would also like to recognize Andrew Taqtu as well.
I would also like to recognize an individual who has been recognized already by a few of the members.
Steve Audlakiak is my constitutent while he is residing here in Iqaluit, and I would like to welcome him to the gallery.
We have known each other for some time.
I would also like to welcome the mayor.
I would like to recognize some individuals, even though they have already been recognized: Andrew Taqtu and Steve Audlakiak.
Along with the members of this House, I would like to congratulate the mayors that went to a meeting here in Iqaluit recently.
Mary Audlakiak is the youngest member here in Baffin.
It is Friday, and as Mr. Picco pointed out earlier, it seems to be a jolly day.
I would just like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone else in the gallery that has not been recognized already.