EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m not sure if this is well know in Nunavut, but in Rankin Inlet and Arviat they know that there is a youth conference going on in Rankin Inlet and I had a chance to attend it.
I was extremely pleased with Jackson Lindell who is the Chair of the Youth Association who has done wonders at a very young age for the youth of Nunavut.
At that time when I was talking to the youth, I was extremely surprised that they were very young.
I know some of them and I saw them as children, I talked to my sister and I told her that they looked extremely young and she told me that some of them were about twenty years old.
I saw them as children and then my sister told me maybe you are getting old.
But, as I stated earlier, I was very proud of the youth who attended that conference and the topics that they covered this past weekend.
We were told that there were four suicides over this week.
Maybe we are not affected as they are not our close relatives, but there have been four suicides over the weekend and that was shocking to hear.
I think that it is up to us as a Government to involve the children and the youth in suicide prevention, and to involve the youth in the decision making process.
I believe that if there is peer support it would be for the better for the youth and there would be less suicide.
Please proceed. Mr. Anawak.
As political figures, we worked extremely hard to create this Territory.
One of them was to better the lives of the youth and to decrease the number of suicides that are committed.
I think the solution is to involve the people out there and the youth in the decision making process.
I do not believe that if we keep silent about the issue of suicide that there would be less.
It is going to be an ongoing problem, and we have to work harder in order to give more support to the people that we represent.
We take it as a daily event now when we hear about suicide.
If my wife and I had a lot of children, we would be shocked and devastated if four of our children committed suicide.
These four individuals have immediate family members.
And on behalf of those people, we have to work harder and take new initiatives, but I feel that there are solutions.
(Interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make sure that I get the point across.
We are not going to make it go away by ignoring the issue of suicide.
The only way that we can do it is if we work together with the young people, the elders, and ourselves using the help of our constituents.
The Member for Uqquqmmiut. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Member’s Statement 349 – 1(6): Discussions of Suicide in the House
I am very pleased that we are back.
I would also like to say that with the issues that we are going to be dealing with for the month of March is going to have an effect on us all.
In regards to the issue of suicide, the Government has to do something.
We have to look at solutions; we have to look at the communities and what they can do.
What can we do to decrease the numbers of suicide?
Is there something that we can do as a Government to help the communities?
We, as Nunavummiut, have to come to some peace.
We have to hurdle those problems that created us.
We have to overcome the problems that we encountered in the past.
Forgive it and start going forward.
We have to take out that anger and make peace.
Members’ Statements. Member for Baffin South.
Member’s Statement 350 – 1(6): Canada Winter Games
I also extend my condolences to the people of Cape Dorset and to the immediate family members who lost their loved one.
Just recently, there was an athletic event called the Canada Winter Games and they are still going.
We have individuals from Cape Dorset who are participating as athletes and one of them was the flag bearer at the opening of the Canada Winter Games.
It is something that we are very proud of. They were David Joanasie and Mathewsie Ashevak; I congratulate them for continuing with their progression in their sport.
We hope to see more and more participants.
There are approximately 200 to 400 athletes from the other provinces and territories there and Nunavut had 28 athletes.
I am sure that it will provide some benefits to the youth of Nunavummiut with the exposure that we are experiencing and we hope to see more youth participating in those sporting activities provided that we show our support.
As I stated earlier, it is up to us to give them the support politically and figuratively to increase the number of participants because I am sure that it will be very beneficial to the people of Nunavut.
I would like to extend my congratulations to David Joanasie and Mathewsie Ashevak.
Member for Iqaluit Center.
Member’s Statement 351 – 1(6): Government of Nunavut Leadership Team
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and welcome back to all of the Members.
As Mr. Picco pointed out, welcome to our Capital City of Iqaluit, to the capital of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, it was four years ago tomorrow, when we first came together in the Cadet Hall here in Iqaluit to have our first Leadership Forum.
At that time, Nunavut was a few weeks away and we were a few weeks away from formally being our own Territory. I am certain that all Members who were there, all of us and all of the members of the audience and all of the people that were listening across Nunavut can remember the excitement and the pride that we all felt on that historic date.
Mr. Speaker, nearly 1500 days have passed since we selected our first Leadership Team.
Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize the word team.
As Members know and the people across Nunavut know, I have not always agreed with the decisions that our Government has made.
As a regular Member of this House, it is my privilege and my duty, and my job to speak out vocally on issues that are of concern to me and my constituents.
However, I do believe that it is vital that those Members of the Legislative Assembly elected to make up our Executive Council speak publicly with a single voice.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot let ourselves be in a situation where our Government’s position on certain and at times, controversial issues, is unclear.
We cannot have a Leadership Team whose members go off in different directions.
We cannot have a government like that.
Mr. Speaker, nobody said that public office was going to be easy and I believe we need to respect the principal of unity and democracy and I believe that the least we can expect from our Government and our constituents can expect is that it speaks to us and to them with a single voice.
Orders of the Day. Members' Statements.
Member’s Statement 352 – 1(6): Congratulations to Cambridge Bay Basketball Participants
On February 21-23rd, two basketball teams from Cambridge Bay, a senior men’s and junior women’s team, travelled to Yellowknife to participate in the annual Cager Tournament that they have.
It’s the biggest tournament that they hold and a lot of teams from all over the Northwest Territories participate. Nunavut was represented by Cambridge Bay.
I would like to at this time congratulate and commend the young men and ladies from Cambridge Bay that participated in that tournament.
I would also like to add, particularly for the young ladies, the junior women’s, proved to be successful in that they won the overall championship.
So I think it did us proud that they represented us well during that tournament.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Members' Statements.
Member for Iqaluit East.
Member’s Statement 353 – 1(6): Hockey Day in Canada Events
Last month, Iqaluit and Nunavut had the great pleasure of hosting CBC T.V. Hockey Day in Canada. Mr. Speaker, Hockey Night celebrities, Mr. Don Cherry and Mr. Ron McLean were joined by well known hockey alumni Ken Dryden, Mike Gardner, Wendell Clark, Paul Henderson, and of course, Mr. Speaker, my favourite former NHL star, the Chicago Black Hawks, I know Mr. Irqittuq, from Amittuq loves this guy, number 28, Steve Larmer.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to say that we were very pleased to have Jordon Tootoo’s parents, Barney and Rose Tootoo here also during that week. Mr. Speaker, hockey clinics were held with the NHL players and our young people.
A charity auction and dinner was held and the hockey stars visited all the Iqaluit schools.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the NHL Hockey Players Association, several sets of hockey equipment were also donated to Nunavut communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank CBC and a special thanks to Mr. Glenn Higgins, president of the Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association, Mr. Mike Courtney and Mr. Ben Kovic and the Amateur Hockey Association for the excellent work that they put into the visit.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to point out that the T.V. broadcast was also simulcast into the Bell Centre in Montreal where the Joamie School Choir had an opportunity to sing Oh Canada in Inuktitut, which was seen nationally across the country of Canada.
This was a good profile for Nunavut and it demonstrated our pride and the love of our national sport here at home in Canada's newest jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to add that on the National Hockey League Players Association, the players that came up, Mr. Larmer, Mr. Gardner et al, were very down to earth people.
They had an opportunity to visit some homes.
I had a chance to drive Mr. Dryden around and at one point, my son Pakak was getting dressed at the dressing room and he’s seven years old, and I was saying come on Pak, hurry up, and Mr. Dryden came over to me and said, Mr. Picco, you must really be a big hockey fan to name your son after a puck.
And I said no his name is Pakak, look at his helmet, we call him Pak for short.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Members who also signed their names and auctioned off two Nunavut Legislative Assembly hockey sweaters that went for two thousand dollars for charities here in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some individuals as I finally have some constituency residents to recognize.
First of all, Steve Audlakiak; he is the one who initiated the diving program in Qikiqtarjuaq.
And on my right, James Arreak, from my community of Clyde River.
He is a business entrepreneur who was one of the first ones to start a business in our community.
And another Audlakiak beside him, but I just cannot remember his first name.
I would like to recognize and welcome them to the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Welcome to the Gallery. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to recognize two residents from Arctic Bay who were here for a Search and Rescue course.
Niorie Iqalukjuaq, he has been the Mayor of Arctic Bay and also he has been a councillor in our Hamlet Council and he works for Housing.
As well, on his right is my nephew, Joelie Qammaniq from Arctic Bay, who also works for the Hamlet Council.
I am sure that you have heard about the North Baffin Dog team races.
These two Inuit were the initiators of the race and they are still working hard at it, so I would like to welcome them to the House.
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to welcome to the Gallery a couple of people.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the Reverend Daniel Aupaluk.
Mr. Speaker, I was at a wedding Saturday night where Daniel officiated and did a very good job.
And if you have an opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to be at Church on Sundays when Daniel is giving a sermon, like he did last week, I think that it would bring you back to Church on a regular basis.
Daniel has been very active in the community here in Iqaluit.
He has done an excellent job for the Church, but also for the people of Iqaluit.
I want to thank Daniel for a job well done.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not welcome Mr. James Arreak to the Assembly; a former MLA, business person, a very good hunter, and a guy who has given, at times, tons of very good advice to yours truly.
And sitting next to James is Jaypeetee Audlakiak.
Jay used to live in Hall Beach many years when I lived in Hall Beach and I know that he is a good guy on the land.
I think that he might be back in Qikiqtarjuaq now.
Maybe he is living back in Broughton, but I would like to say welcome to Jay to the Assembly.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to Nunavut’s Legislature.
I would like to recognize a person from Pond Inlet here on a Search and Rescue Course, or to be an instructor for the Search and Rescue course.
One of them from Pond Inlet is here, David Arnatsiaq.
He is also a member of Search and Rescue and also a diver.
Lucien Ukaliannuk, I know him as an individual.
I think that he lives in Iqaluit and I would like to recognize him, because I have never had the opportunity to recognize him.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to our Legislature.
Mr. Speaker, you pronounce our names properly and Mr. Nutarak is finally Mr. Nutarak.
First of all, I would like to recognize Marco Ukaliannuk, who is sitting behind me from Igloolik.
He used to live in Igloolik, but I think he is living in Iqaluit now.
And further I wish to recognize my friend, Jacobie Audlakiak, who Mr. Picco thought was from Qikiqtarjuaq, we arrived from Hall Beach yesterday and he is from the same community where I am from and he is here for a course.
I would like to welcome him to the Legislature.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
Even though they have been recognized, I too would like to recognize them as well.
Daniel Aupaluk, when I was growing up, he used to visit our household and he is still very receptive.
I thank him for his continuing hospitality and steadfastness.
And Lucien Ukalianuk, he is my father figure.
This is because we have proper names, our last names run with each other so he calls me son, and because I do not have a father,  I also call him dad.
When I was quite young, the first time I got a job, he was in support of my selection and in my capacity as his employee.
He still supports me to this day.
So I would really like to thank him at this time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to welcome everyone to the Legislative Assembly and I know Mr. Aupaluk because he lived in Taloyoak before.
I would like to welcome each and everyone of the people who were recognized.
I would like to recognize Valerie Puqiqnak, my daughter, a Page and I would like to welcome her.
Question 349 – 1(6): RCMP Postings
My question will be directed to the Minister responsible for Justice.
First I wish to recognize the hard work and contributions of the police and that we are very grateful for them.
I know the RCMP move to different communities every so often, but it is really hard to see how they’re going to help our communities because they tend to move to different communities every few years.
It is kind of hard for people to help the policemen in our communities because just when we are getting to know them, they are moved somewhere else.
Perhaps we can talk to Ottawa, that perhaps if the police stayed longer in our communities then they could help support our young people.
I would like to ask the Minister, what could you do to get the policemen to stay in the community?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister responsible for the Department of Justice.
Although I’m the Minister of the Department of Justice, I completely concur with my colleague and I will definitely talk to the RCMP about this issue.
They operate through the Federal Government and their policies are also operated through there as well.
So, I agree with my colleague and we would like to make sure that we have full staff of RCMP officers within the regions and that the communities support them so I would like to state that I concur with that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Okalik.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Minister Okalik for your support of this issue.
The police officers we have in Kugluktuk, our people are just starting to know them, but they are being transferred to another community in Nunavut.
I would like to see the Minister deal with this matter in all urgency so that we can be informed as to what is happening with our request to keep our officers in Kugluktuk.
We will work on this as soon as possible but I don’t know for sure if I will have any say in it because as I said earlier, the RCMP manages own their affairs and the Federal Government is responsible for the RCMP in the Nunavut area.
Speaker (interpretation): Supplementary. Mr. Havioyak.
Thank you, again.
I understand your response because it is hard at times to respond to an urgent matter like this, it is difficult to deal with these issues of transferral of officers.  I would like to urge the Minister to respond to this before the Officers move to another community.
Mr. Speaker, I will look into this and I am aware of the issue that you are talking about.
The Attorney General of Canada will be travelling to Nunavut to begin discussing this issue with me.
I will bring that up to his attention.
Question 350 – 1(6): Number of Nurses Needed by Population in Communities
As I mentioned earlier, I was going to be bringing up a question to the Department of Health and Social Services.
I think it was last year or the year before when I raised a question about the nurses within the communities and the population ratio that is used to allocate positions within communities.
We call them Isuarsaijiit in Amittuq, the nurses that work in the Health Centers.
If there is a population of 1,500 in your community, is it true that they require at least five nurses for that many people or do they need more nurses?
I believe that this can be answered right away, although I note that the Minister is speaking to his staff at this time.
And since we are on the subject, I wanted to raise this question.
And I would like to know about the ratio and the number of nurses per community.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Picco.
Hon. Ed. Picco: First of all, I want to say that the Member has been very proactive in bringing forward concerns, especially health concerns, to myself, personally and to the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, there was a problem, I heard the Member’s Statement, there was a problem in Igloolik, we were down to three nurses and that was causing the delay with the referrals and patients’ services.
Right now, Mr. Speaker, we are up to a full complement of five nurses in Igloolik and the Member was correct.
One of the things we are undergoing right now is the review of what the staffing needs are per community.
And one way of doing that is to look at it by population.
The good news in Igloolik is that we have a full complement of nurses in place and that we will be able to facilitate a quicker turn around for people who want to see the nursing staff.
Is the Minister saying that we will get two additional nurses within our community in the very near future?
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that we were down to three nurses in Igloolik.
We are now back up to a full complement of nurses in Igloolik, that is five.
Five nurses at the Health Center there.
Are you going to be sending two more nurses to our community in the near future?
Mr. Speaker, the community of Igloolik and the size, based on current projections Mr. Speaker, five is the full complement of nursing staff in the community.
However, there may be some movement with the budget that will be presented in the House which may give me the opportunity of looking at other positions.
As the member knows, we’re also putting extra psychiatric nurses in communities to deal with some of the issues that have been discussed already today in Members' statements.
That will add to the complement of staff in particular communities.
As the Minister stated earlier, that there’s only three nurses in the community when there should be five, now he is saying that the number of nurses within the community is now adequate.
As I stated earlier, according to the number of nurses that we have, they have such a heavy work load that it has come to a point where it is urgent that we get additional nurses within our community.
As I would say in English, it is very urgent at this point.
I think there are only three nurses that we have in our community right now.
As you stated, we have a full complement of five nurses.
Are you planning on sending two more then?
My understanding again, Mr. Speaker, the Member raised this issue with me, was that we were having problems in Igloolik, with the staffing.
We only had three nurses in Igloolik, and the Member is correct, the work load in Igloolik is very high.
I have had discussions with the lead people within the department on Human Resources to look at the opportunity for increased staffing.
As of today, Mr. Speaker, and of the last couple of weeks, there are five positions now in Igloolik.
There were three, the Member is correct.
We had increased that by two.
There are now five.
If I want to increase this more, I have to look at other issues on the ground in Igloolik; do I have housing for them and so on.
So, Mr. Speaker, right now, we’re up to a full complement of nurses in Igloolik, the number is five.
And that has been inflated over the last couple of weeks.
So, that is my understanding as of today.
Mr. Speaker, what we would like to do as a department, is to increase the number of staff again, but that is reflected in the budgetary submission of the department, how much money you have to allocate for various positions and so on.
So, the Member is correct, there are five nurses, a full complement in Igloolik.
Member responsible for Nanulik, Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 351 – 1(6): Number of People Compensated for Bad Gas
My question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Finance.
Although we will be talking about bad fuel in Cape Dorset, we’re patient on that subject.
My question is, we get calls and letters to date in my constituency and I would like to find out how many more people are still awaiting compensation for the bad fuel we had just a little while ago.
Minister responsible for Finance, Minister Ng.
Mr. Speaker, there’s been a total of approximately 2,200 claims that have been submitted.
Of those claims, 76 percent of them have been finalized.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I should note that of those 2,200, 1,950 were prior to the deadline.
So there were approximately 250 that came in just by the deadline; so of the ones that came in prior to the deadline, 85 percent of those claims that have been finalized.
So there was a small amount that had been outstanding.
If there is any individual in any Constituency or they feel that their claim has not been addressed in a timely fashion, so if there was any submitted prior to December 31st, please let me know, because I understand that the bulk of those have been paid out now.
Prior to December 31st, the people who had requested returns for bad gas some have not received their refund.
So of this certain percentage that has not received the funds that they have requested, when do you think that they will receive the money?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Ng.
Mr. Speaker, it should be a matter of weeks.
There were some last payables required in some communities; I don’t have the specifics on which ones.
If that were the case, like I said if there was a significant backlog then we will certainly move to address that as expediently as possible.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Can the Minister inform me, because of the people who have requested to be compensated have been waiting for a long time. They have to continue on with having machinery, such as ski-doos and outboard motors; can the Minister inform us when you will be compensating those people who have been waiting for a long time?
Will it be in the springtime, or in the summer?
Mr. Speaker, as I had indicated, eighty-five percent of those who have submitted claims prior to December 31st, have been paid in full in respect of compensation for their damages.
For the remaining fifteen percent, it should be a matter of weeks as far as finalizing those legitimate claims that have been approved.
So if there are individuals who are out there, that the Member or any Members are aware of who have not received their payments, for whatever reasons, then certainly please bring it up to my attention, and then I will have my officials address that.
Last supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.