EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Nunavut Arts Council is ready to meet and we look forward to the things they will have to tell us.
They will form an important advisory body to support my staff and will ensure a fair and efficient process of awarding funding and support for the artistic community.
They will represent the artistic community in Nunavut, in Canada, and around the world.
The art proposals that Nunavut’s artists submitted for this fiscal year are being fairly and systematically reviewed by my staff, however, we have yet to benefit from the Council’s input.
We are arranging to have the Council meet as soon as possible to draft their terms of reference and mission statement.
The Members of the Council are: Brandy Kanayuk-Pond Inlet, Elizabeth Hadlari Cambridge Bay, Bobby Anavilok Kugluktuk, Lootie Pijamini Grise Fiord, Carla Ell Coral Harbour, and Mathew Nuqingaq Iqaluit.
We are very happy with these appointments to the Nunavut Arts Council and are confident in their abilities and the knowledge they have to contribute.
It is a time for the artistic community to feel that they have a voice in their government.
It is a good day for the artistic community in Nunavut.
I would just like to add to that is they will have their first meeting tomorrow in Iqaluit.
Koanna Mr. Speaker.
Going to the orders of the day, Ministers statements.
Minister for community government and Transportation. Mr. Anawak.
Minister’s Statement 84 - 1(3): Nunavut Transportation Strategy Contract Awarded to LPS Aviation INC
Hon. Jack Anawak (Interpretation): Mr. Speaker, a number if weeks ago I rose in the House to announce that the Department of Community Government and Transportation would be proceeding with the request for proposals for the development of the Nunavut Transportation Strategy.
While a number of the bids submitted were competitive, I am pleased to announce that I have accepted the proposals of LPS Aviation Inc.
This company has a solid track record of transportation planning in the North.
The project team will be led by Mr. Ted Lennox, an engineer with 25 years’ management and engineering experience.
Mr. Lennox and the rest of his team have comprehensive experience in air, land and sea transportation.
LPS Aviation’s proposal includes commitment to a number of issues important to Nunavut, including its intention to examine the effects of transportation systems on Inuit culture and employment, its strategy to consult widely with a broad range of stakeholders, from elders to youth, from the business sector to the municipalities, as well as its dedication to making the strategy comprehensive, credible and flexible.
I would like to reassure Members of the Legislature that we will also involve you by having full consultation to seek your input into the strategy.
LPS Aviation has teamed with four firms, two of which are based in Nunavut.
Ferguson, Simek, Clark is an established northern engineering firm with sixty employees in the North, including professional engineers, technologists and environmental staff.
Innirvik Services, which maintains a large office in Iqaluit, will provide the project with its consultation program.
In addition, LPS Aviation will be using a number if other Inuit and Northern firms for support throughout the course of the project.
Once completed, Nunavut will have a comprehensive multi-modal transportation strategy that promotes the economic and social well being of all Nunavut residents.
The long-term objective of the Transportation Strategy is to develop a realistic transportation system for Nunavut for the year 2020.
It will support the Bathurst Mandate’s healthy communities initiative with the improvement of strong transportation and communication links, and improve access to land and water.
LPS Aviation will present us with the final report at the end of October.
I will be tabling it in this House at the first opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that this process will lead to a Transportation Strategy for Nunavut that will benefit all Nunavummiut, regardless of which community they live in.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Minister Anawak.
Minister’s Statement 85 - 1(3): Income Support Policy Review
I am pleased to update the legislative assembly on the status of the Income Support Policy Review.
The Income Support Program, as inherited from the GNWT, is a program that requires new, proactive, thinking on the part of the Nunavut Government.
As the members of this assembly well know the blunt reality of the present Income Support program is that without a major overhaul and investment by the Nunavut government today, program expenditures will continue to grow.
The client caseload will grow.
Client dependency on government support will grow.
The Ministerial Income Support Policy Review will solicit the views of Nunavut citizens and provide direction to the Nunavut Government regarding the Income Support Program.
The Income Support Policy Review will form the basis for developing a new vision of Government support provided to the people of Nunavut through its Income Support Program.
I have now chosen the members for the Income Support Policy Review.
The selection process was based on letters of interest or resumes submitted by candidates.
I want to especially thank the members for participating in the gathering of candidates for consideration.
After reviewing over forty applicants, I am pleased to have appointed the following persons to conduct the Income Support Policy Review: David Arnatsiaq of Igloolik, Frank Ipakohak of Kugluktuk and Joan Scottie of Baker Lake.
These people will lead the consultation in the communities and report to me what the residents of Nunavut want from the Income Support Program.
The Income Support Policy Review will be travelling throughout Nunavut. This will give as many people as possible the opportunity to share how they believe the Income Support Program can work harder and better for the people who need it.
I encourage everyone to speak to write or phone these review team members with their suggestions for the future of the income Support Program. (interpretation ends)
(interpretation ends) After completing their orientation, the members will begin travelling to Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour, Igloolik and Iqaluit.
In addition, my department has set up a toll free number (1-877-722-4922) and an e-mail address for those people from communities that are not visited and who wish to voice their comments.ISReview@gov.nu.ca.
The Income Support Policy Review members’ report will be used as the foundation for the development of a responsive and effective Income Support Program in Nunavut.
I look forward to sharing this report with the legislative assembly in the fall.
Qujaanami Uqaqti.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Minister of Education.
Item 2. Ministers' Statements.
Going to Item 3.
Member for Qamanittuaq. Mr. McLean.
Member’s Statement 205 - 1(3): Decentralization
Mr. McLean: Today I rise to speak about decentralization. My favourite topic.
Sometimes as a regular member you lose a little faith in our cabinet colleagues.
But, they sometimes shine through.
In this case, last June at the Apex summit, Baker Lake jobs were taken away.
I’m referring to the Workers Compensation Board positions at the time.
At the time, Premier Okalik promised he would make these jobs up to the community and he is true to his word today.
The Honourable Minister Ed Picco announced in the Rankin Assembly that the newly created Nunavut Power Corporation head office will be moving to Baker Lake.
Since that wondrous announcement the mood and talking in the community has been very positive, and the Honourable Minister promised that he would work hard at making sure that there are training programs in place to maximize the amount of locate people to fill these positions.
This is the type of minister that is sensitive to the feelings and to the well being to communities outside of Iqaluit.
On behalf of the people of Baker Lake, I would like to thank the Premier and Mr. Picco.
On that topic Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge Minister Thompson for her recent appointment of a long term friend of mine, Alex Sammurtok to the position of Regional Superintendent in Pond Inlet.
Also to a constituent of mine that was appointed as the Regional Electrical Inspector of Rankin Inlet, Mr. Nick Nungnik.
Member’s Statement 206 - 1(3): Passing of Joy Halauk
I rise today to respectfully acknowledge a very special and unique individual and was also well recognized world wide for her special carvings.
Mr Speaker Joy Halauk was one of the true treasures of Nunavut and will be remembered fondly for her family and friends.
Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my fellow members to keep Joy and her family in her thoughts and prayers.
We will certainly send a letter of condolence on behalf of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
Member’s Statement 207 - 1(3): Decentralization to Pond Inlet
When the minister for PWTTS announced that a position was moving to Pond Inlet. I was very interested to hear that in her minister's statement.
It is evident now that staff will actually move to Pond Inlet and we will be very happy to , if the Minister of Education had the same transfer.
Member’s Statement 208 - 1(3): Help Line Celebration
Mr. Speaker this weekend I had the pleasure of attending the annual fund raising banquet of the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut help line.
This year's banquet was a special one because it marked the tenth anniversary of the crisis line.
Mr Speaker the crisis line is run totally by volunteers.
Over the last 10 years Mr. Speaker this has resulted in the total of seventeen thousand hours of dedicated and caring volunteers staffing the phones and probably double that in the training and organising of the services for those who need it.
Mr. Speaker I would like to recognize today the dedication of board members.
They are Sheila Levy, Alexina Kublu, John Maurice, Rhoda Onalik, Steve Lowe, Mary Fletcher, Mary Nylund and Louis Budgole.
From these I would especially acknowledge four of the original members for their vision in establishing this service.
They are Errol Fletcher, John Maurice, Sheila Levy and Rhoda Onalik.
Also, I would like to thank many volunteers who worked the phones.
I want to ensure that they know they have and continue to make a difference.
Mr. Speaker I would also like, at this time, to thank Mr. Picco and Mr. Okalik who were also there and did a tremendous job of driving up the prices of the silent auction over the weekend.
I thank them for that very much.
I'm also sure that all the members of this house will join me in thanking the many people who's caring and giving ways have been there for Nunavummiut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you member for Iqaluit Centre.
For Iqaluit East, Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 209 - 1(3): New Anglican Ministers and Help Line Celebration
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Speaker this past weekend two special events occurred here in Iqaluit and I would like to tell the House about these events.
Mr. Speaker two long time Iqaluit residents became fully ordained members of the Anglican Church.
The Anglican cathedral was over flowing as bishop Chris Williams accompanied by our resident bishop Paul Idlout performed a service of ordination.
Methuselah Kunuk, a long time government employee, and now senior manager with Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and Mr. Mike Ferris our own deputy minister of Community Government and Transportation were ordained full ministers within the Anglican community and serving a tenure of deacons of the church.
Mr. Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and several members of this House who joined us yesterday and Standing Committees. Saint Jude's Cathedral for this special event and congratulate Mike and Methuselah for their achievement.
Mr. Speaker Mike and Methuselah are well known in Iqaluit for their selfless dedication.
Iqalummiut are justifiably proud of their achievement.
As Mr. Tootoo said earlier the second special event to occur was the help line, which was celebrating their tenth year of service to the people of Nunavut with their annual banquet and fund raising dinner.
Mr. Speaker the help line was founded 10 years ago by Iqaluit volunteers to help us deal with the issue of suicide.
At first it was called the Baffin Crisis Line and that name has know evolved to the Nunavut help line.
The confidential and anonymous nature of the line quickly made it very popular and today more than forty-seven volunteers man the lines every evening answering calls from all over Nunavut and even in Northern Quebec.
Mr. Speaker the keynote speaker at the banquet was a help line volunteer.
That person Mr. Speaker was our own Jack Anawak.
The Honourable Jack Anawak spoke with compassion and concern and delivered a fine speech on behalf of the crisis line.
Mr. Speaker I too would like to thank the many Iqaluit volunteers who work at the help line and the people and businesses that continue to support the operation of this excellent community and Nunavut service.
Nunavut Catering and owner Doug Lem and corporate sponsor First Air deserve special recognition for their outstanding contribution to the line.
On a personal note Mr. Speaker I would like to thank the crisis line for being there for our family when we needed it.
I would also ask Mr. Speaker that this house join me in congratulating the Nunavut help line and the Reverend Mike Ferris and the Reverend Methuselah Kunuk for their achievements.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you for the members statement because I attended that church and the church was filled to capacity and we were so proud to see that and I am so proud to hear your statement about yesterday.
Member for Rankin South, Mr. Anawak.
Member’s Statement 210 - 1(3): Chesterfield Inlet Residential School
I would like to make a member's statement on an issue that I’m sure a lot of people have been touched by .
A lot of Inuit have gone through the Chesterfield Inlet residential school as the residential school was open for a long time.
We were taught in English and we were not allowed to speak Inuktitut at all.
I know that a lot of Nunavut leaders went to that school and got a very good education.
We appreciate the fact we were taught very well in that school in Chesterfield Inlet.
However, there are a lot of people who attended the residential school who have a lot of personal problems and they have had emotional problems as well.
Although the Chesterfield Inlet residential school is closed today, a lot of people are having a lot of problems because they were greatly affected by the experience.
Having to go through a lot of changes within a short period of time.
There was a lot of abuse whether it was physical or emotional.
We had a hard time adapting to the qallunaq way of life.
Although a lot of people have been trying to get some healing done there has been a lot of difficulty along with them and their families.
Although there are some people that say they don't feel anything we can see they are hurting inside and I just wanted to talk about this situation too.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you for your statement.
Members’ statements. Mr. Irqittuq.
Member’s Statement 211 - 1(3): Family Well - Being
I would like to make a member's statement today Mr. Speaker.
During this past month it has been a very difficult one for us listening to the news reports about suicides and family difficulties.
Although I had made an earlier statement regarding these problems I would like to bring it up again, during this session. We all are often affected by people who commit suicide. Everyone often gets affected.
I have been thinking a lot about this and we have had sad experiences such as suicides and I personally have gone through a lot of difficulties in my lifetime. Because three of my immediate family had also committed suicide and they would be alive today if it weren’t for suicide.
These things that do occur really affect me personally. I'm sure a lot of people are affected by these suicides.
Whenever I have a chance to talk about it and deal with it I would like to be given the opportunity to do so.
I want to encourage the people of Nunavut to consider this seriously and be more open about it so we can discuss problems.
I just wanted to talk about this today.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you member.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statements.
There are no nays you can finish your statement.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Yes the problem that we have with suicides is something difficult to deal with.
We have been trying to work on this problem for a number of years, beginning in 1984.
Particularly in my community there are some groups that have been trying to deal with it.
Also, there have been a lot of public hearings regarding this and people have been going to training programs to deal with suicide intervention and prevention.
How ever we have not come up with any solutions to deal with this directly.
There are a lot of people who still commit suicide within our community.
Perhaps every month we have been hearing about a suicide in some communities.
We as members of the legislative assembly have to work hard and to try and give more support to those people who are working suicide prevention and intervention.
Although we can come up with all kinds of ideas we still do not know how to deal with this in a constructive way.
We have also had a funding problem.
Although we have some obstacles we have to go through with this because there is always going to be problems occurring. I'm not saying I'm a deeply religious person but I would like to be able to help people in dealing with suicides and I want to be open to the public to give input.
Even if we say to our children that we love them I think it is a good start in supporting them, morally and emotionally.
Or even if we sit down together as a family for a meal perhaps if we can give a prayer of thanks then it would help in any way for our children.
I think prayer is the only thing that can help us right now even if we put in so much money and support I think prayer is the only way we can deal with this very heavy issue.
If we are more open to our children and we can talk to them I think that is a very good start in our homes.
I have gone through a lot of personal problems in my lifetime and even my family members have committed suicide and I'm sure a lot of people in this House have been affected by suicide.
Their family members have also committed suicide.
I would be willing to talk more openly in the future.
Yes I recognize where you are coming from.
We hope that in the future this problem can be resolved.
Going back to our orders of the day, item number 3, Members’ statements.
Member’s Statement 212 - 1(3): Air Links to Sanikiluaq
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker I want to speak about a particular concern that I have.
Last year we had stated when the Nunavut Government first came into place that it would be more accessible to the people of Nunavut.
The concern that I have is the routing of airlines.
I think they should more accessible to the communities of Nunavut. Particularly in my riding.
I have had a lot of problems trying to get to Iqaluit from Sanikiluaq.
Of course this has been a problem for some time in my riding.
When we had a meeting in Hall Beach for the Baffin Leaders Summit, the mayor of Sanikiluaq came to me to make a presentation about this airline scheduling problems.
This has been a problem for some time for Sanikiluaq residents particularly for unilingual people who have to attend meetings because they have to go via Montreal and take the southern routes.
This has been complained about by the Sanikiluaq residents so I am making the same complaint about it.
Members’ statements. Mr. Alakannuark.
Member’s Statement 213 - 1(3): Concerns of Akulliq Communities
I rise today to make a pleasant statement regarding the recognition of my communities.
They have been working hard to improve community conditions.
I believe we can have a close working relationship with the communities and the Government of the Nunavut.
We will not always meet the needs of the people but I believe we should have a close working relationship with the communities. Especially in Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay it is getting more urgent where we have to start working with the elders right away.
I think the elders and the youth are the ones we should focus on. We should close the gap between the elders and the youth. If we start working on the elders and the youth it will alleviate the problems with suicide.
Speaker (interpretation): Members statements.
Going back to the orders, item number 4.
Back to the orders of the day, item number 5.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
Mr. Speaker I would like to welcome to the house Fauna Kingdon who served in Yellowknife as a page and then again last year here in Iqaluit during our sessions in March and April, in addition, to these past few weeks again.
Fauna was an Arctic Winter Games Participant Mr. Speaker and is an excellent role model for Iqaluit and Nunavut youth.
Fauna will be travelling to Ottawa with youth across Canada to learn about entrepreneur -ship and business next month.
Later Mr. Speaker I believe it is this summer she will be going to the country of Ecuador.
In Ecuador she will be involved in social development issues.
Mr. Speaker Fauna is an excellent ambassador for the youth of Nunavut and I would like to take the opportunity to welcome her to the assembly.
That is very good news because we want to see more youth becoming prominent.
Question 286 - 1(3): Municipal Financing and Legislation Review
My question is directed to the Minister of Community Government.
In the budget it stated (interpretation ends) that 150 thousand will be allocated this year for the review of Municipal financing and Municipal legislation.
Mr. Speaker, is the minister aware that a review of Nunavut's Municipal legislation just 15 months ago by the GNWT and the Northwest Territories Association of Municipalities.
The report of the review committee has been made public and was presented to the Minister in December 1998.
My question to the minister is why is it necessary to take another 150 thousand to study this point.
When we became the Nunavut Government during the review it became evident that we needed to make some changes so we had to review that program again so we had to come up with some funding for the second review.
We have to review all the Nunavut municipal government legislation to be able to review all the funding that is allocated for each community.
If we are going to be working more efficiently we are going to have to review the Nunavut municipal legislation.
If we have to give them more funding then we will try to do that.
We have also noticed that there are some differences in some communities when it comes to municipal legislation.
In 1998 they had made this report public.
I think if they are going to be reviewing the legislation again, can he look to each community individually.
Minister for Community Government.
That was the purpose of the review in 1998.
I think we can make real changes to the legislation so it can reflect the communities' needs.
This is going to be Nunavut made legislation and that is why we are having the review now.
How long do you think the review will take, after all of the reviews, how long will this second review take.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): My apologies Mr. Speaker.
Maybe I can get back to the member and I will take his question as notice.
Speaker (interpretation): I understand the minister will take this as notice and get back to the member.
Member for Tunnuniq, Mr. Nutarak.
Question 287 - 1(3): Income Support Review Locations
During the Ministers' Statements, one of the ministers made a statement regarding the Income Support policy and the creation of a council.
Are you going to be going to all the Nunavut communities.
No, we won't be going to all of them.
It is going to be impossible to visit all of the communities.
The Department of Education will be providing the funds and we are not going to be looking at any new dollars.
With that we won't be able to go to all the communities but we will be utilizing the telephones, faxes and so on.
I directed my question to the Minister of Social Services.