EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In a jurisdiction where many families simply cannot afford to go on strike because of the fear of losing their homes or the ability to feed their children, this would avoid a climate where accepting any offer that is on the table is seen to be better than the alternative.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that when we reconvene in Iqaluit for the fall session, that the government will be in a position to tell the House that it has had a constructive summer building bridges to its employees and their representatives and not tearing them down.
Speaker: Mr. Tootoo, just a comment on your statement and that it does border on a point of order given the fact that it relates to the point of order that you raised yourself earlier that is still under review and has still not been ruled on by the chair.
In the spirit of trying to keep harmony in the House, we will let it go and I would remind members that in the future that when something has not yet been ruled on that members should stay away from it until it has been ruled on.
Member's Statement 248 – 1(5): Gratitude to Cambridge Bay Residents
Uqaqti, this is my last day in Cambridge Bay and I would like to thank everybody for their warm welcome.
Like I said earlier when I first got here this was my last home before I moved to Qamanittuaq.
I would like to thank the Mayor Keith Peterson, he has been vigilant and here every day watching us and I hope he has been impressed.
I would like to thank the hard working MLA for this riding that convinced us in a long debate to have the session here.
There were detractors, but he finally got his way and convinced us to come this way.
I would like to thank Dawn Wilson and the kids of this elementary school for giving up their gym and letting us sit here and listen to our debate.
I want to thank all the staff for their hard work because I know it has been stressful on them, there's a lot of hours that they put in behind the scenes.
I would like to thank the interpreters for putting up with my fast talking and I would like to thank just everybody for making our stay warm and welcome.
I felt really good here, I felt that this sitting was equal to Rankin's in regards to friendliness and I am hoping in the future, if we have Assembly sittings in other communities they make us feel this way.
I would also like to thank the people of Uqsuqtuq for their warm friendliness when we went over there to visit them.
Taloyoak, and I must point out that the mayor there gave me a bit of advice when I was in sort of a grumpy mood.
He said relax Glenn, Nunavut is still an infant.
It is only two years old, it will get better.
So I thank the mayor there for his good advice.
I would also like to thank the community of Kugaaruk and John Ningark and his wife for the fresh caribou heart stew that we all enjoyed over there and the coffee and I still think that John Ningark has the best lot in Nunavut when it comes to view.
I would also like to take the time to thank the press.
I guess, if we are not keeping cabinet accountable, behind the scenes and in the corners they whisper things to us in regards to sittings and in this Assembly.
I would also like to point out that there were a few good things that came out of this Assembly.
I think the young people that staged the mock Assembly here, there was really a tug at my heart strings here when they were asking questions that maybe we should be asking more in regards to why don't people get more money, why don't people get more houses, why don't people get more of the most basic necessities in life.
I would also like to remind members that the announcement of the parental leave, the Bill was a good one.
Minister Thompson's announcement this morning about homeownership and repairs was a good one.
That's stuff that this government is being proactive on and Inuit values and beliefs.
We just don't sit around here and debate and have fun after hours, we do serious things and we do try to help the people of Nunavut.
So I would like to say once again, before closing, I would like to thank everybody in this community for the hospitality and warmth that I received.
I also had a number of thank you's and recognitions and so on to make.
Approximately three pages.
But after listening to 19 members I really don't have anybody left.
Everybody has been thanked and acknowledged, but I would like to say that the real heroes throughout this whole session and our time spent here in Cambridge Bay have to be the people of Cambridge Bay as Mr. McLean has mentioned.
They have to be the friendliest, kindest and nicest people living.
When I went in the Northern Store, the Co-op, the local hotel, it has just been a great opportunity for myself and I know for all the members to be here and enjoy that hospitality.
So I think we should all rise now and thank the people of Cambridge Bay and Mr. Ng for allowing us to be a part of their community for the last three weeks.
I know I am getting signalled here to give consideration to a break, but in the interests of trying to get the work of the Assembly done, we will carry on for another short while.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a few guests in the gallery.
Of course we have Mayor Peterson with us again.
We have David Panigyuk who is involved with the Elders' Society.
We have Kim Crockett who is now with the Literacy Council but heavily involved in the Kitikmeot Heritage Society.
Jimmy and Ruby Haniliak, Bobby Kudlak, we have Mary Avalak, our Sergeant-At-Arms.
I would like to recognize a couple of people I haven't recognized yet but they have been with us since day one, that is the camera individuals.
We have Bobby Makhagak directly across from me, behind him we have Marjorie Komaktuk, and we have also had three Inuinnaqtun interpreters with us from Cambridge Bay that we don't see often but we hear.
James Panioyak, Joe Otokiak, and Gwen Ohokak.
Finally, I would like to also recognize some individuals that have been here with us off and on, that are working in the back and there was one that I was remiss in missing in my member's statement, some of these individuals.
The members of the Ladies Group that put on the feast and have been catering our snacks and the bannock and all the things that we have been having during our breaks.
We have Helen Tologanak here with us, we have there in the back there has been Mary Kidlaulak who is the President of the Ladies' Group, Susie Manigyogina, Gwen Tikhak, Kitty Taipaga, Lynn and Jessie Tologanak and Anna Nahogaloak.
So I think they all deserve a round of applause too for all that they have done.
Today as this is our last day I want to recognize some people from Cambridge Bay.
First of all the mayor from Cambridge Bay, Mr. Peterson.
My cousins, I want to recognize both of them there beside each other, Helen Tologanak and Mary Avalak.
Thank you, good to see you both.
My brother-in-law and sister, Jimmy Haniliak and my wife's sister, Ruby Haniliak.
I am not going to recognize visitors at the moment but I would just like to state that Jokeypah from my community said that I never smile when I get up to speak so I would just like to look into the camera and smile at him.
Joanna Nutarak, my wife, I would like to thank her for her patience and being there.
Mr. Speaker, I have a number of people that I would like to recognize at this time since it is our last day.
I would like to recognize Mr. Keith Peterson, the mayor.
You did an excellent job while we were here and since it is our last day I would also like to recognize the pages.
Chuck Bissell Lyall, Meagan Lyall, Jacob Jayko, Sheila Tulurialik, Irene Kayutinuaq, and Nee Porter.
I would like to thank the staff for providing their services here during this session.
Thank you, very much.
They are from the Taloyoak school.
I’d like to recognize my executive assistant for few days, he’s done a great job…
A Member: He wants to be permanent.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk:…no, he doesn’t want the job he says.
But he did a really great job as my executive assistant for the last few days since my executive assistance left.
He is the director of the Kitikmeot Region for my department Steve Hanna.
Boy I’m homesick.
(interpretation ends) I would like to recognize a constituent of mine who has been interpreting for us all this time, with the rest of the interpreters, Jeanne Kusugak who is sitting there in the interpreter booth.
She’s been a friend of mine for a long, long time and sometimes even when we just look at each other, we just start laughing because we remember all the good times and we’ve had a lot of good times.
She used to live with us in Yellowknife for a year and she also used to baby sit my son Trevor along with other girls who went to Akaitcho Hall.
And I would like to also say Happy Reunion to all the Akaitcho Hall students for this summer and I’m not switching my EA at this time because he’s the best in the country at this time.
Say hi to my husband. (interpretation) And I thank all the people of Cambridge Bay and out of Cambridge Bay, my parents and in Salluit Maggie and Mark, I say hi to the people of Nunavik and also to my riding in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to recognize a couple of people.
The translators and interpreters of course who have been with us, you have done an excellent job over the past several days and Mr. McLean you speak a bit fast coming from east coast, I know it’s sometimes difficult so I appreciate good work on their behalf.
Also Mr. Speaker, there is an individual who is here, who me and Mr. Akesuk have enjoyed the services of.
He’s what we call the water boy, he’s sitting behind me and I just want to welcome him to the gallery officially and he threw us for spin earlier when we asked what his name was and he said his name was Chuck and we thought he said Picco and I said, my god there can’t be two Piccos in Cambridge Bay and I asked him to spell it out and of course it was Pizzo, so I would like to take this opportunity to welcome a compatriot, a very good fine young gentleman, a son of our good friend Charlie Lyall.
Mr. Chuck Pizzo Lyall, welcome to the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the mayor who was tremendously helpful during our session here.
And also our interpreters who like they are usually right, usually don’t like my statements, I just do orally and I’m sure that it’s hard on the interpreters at times.
I would like to thank them all and also recognize them all.
I’ve been travelling for a long time and I never said hello to my wife, so I will take this opportunity now to say hi to my wife and my children and they have grown up while I was still on the road, it’s been approximately 20 years since I was travelling.
And also Manitok for making delicious food for us over those weeks and also Ms. Rebekah Williams.
I would like to thank everyone at the clerk’s table, they have been very helpful to us.
I believe some of the members are calling for a health break.
Before we move on to Item 6 which is Oral Questions, we will take a 15 minute break and return back to the Chamber.
>>House recessed at 11.51 a.m. and resumed at 12.35 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a member from my constituency of Uqsuqtuq, he has been carving for the past 27 years and he has been working for Northwestel and for the past 18 years, he’s been the cable man.
He recently received a plaque from Northwestel recognizing his service and his name is Tommy Porter.
Mr. Speaker, I never thought having a session in Cambridge Bay that I’d be able to recognize a constituent of mine.
I’d like to recognize Phoebe Hainnu, back there and Sue Cooper, that are here from Iqaluit.
Speaker’s Ruling on Point of Order
Before we proceed to Item 6.
I have the interim ruling on Mr. Tootoo’s point of order.
I’ll read from the text here, the Member for Iqaluit Centre raised a point of order in relation to a document which was tabled yesterday by the Member from Cambridge Bay.
The document in question was a copy of an e-mail correspondence between an unknown number of individuals received from an unidentified source. Prior to tabling the document, the member quoted from it in his member’s statement.
It is important to note that the correspondence was not addressed to the member, as the member himself noted in describing its contents.
While there is no general prohibition on the tabling of private correspondence, or indeed e-mail correspondence, the language used and the comments made must be such that they would be in order if spoken by a member.
Further when such correspondence are referred to there must be some way of authenticating the source as stated in the House of Commons Procedure and Practice Rules, page 5.17.
Accordingly the document tabled is out of order.
I’m directing the Clerk to withdraw the e-mailed correspondence from the working papers of this Assembly until further review of the full and complete document.
During the debate of the point of order earlier today, the Member for Cambridge Bay indicated that he would be willing if so directed to table the document in question with the names of the correspondents not blacked out.
The Chair must advise members that it has not yet had sufficient time to consider the very important issue of whether it is appropriate for any member to table what appears to be a private communication between individuals not intended for the member or for general public distribution.
This is a non-precedented procedural question in our Assembly and the Chair wishes to proceed with this with the utmost caution.
It is mindful of the comments made earlier with respect to the need to ensure a balance for the members’ right to draw attention to public issues and the right of all residents to appropriate levels of privacy, especially in respect to the statements that may have been intended for private communication only.
I’ve asked the member from Cambridge Bay to present the Chair with the original version of the document so the Chair will have all the facts at his disposal prior to delivering the final ruling, which I intend to serve as guidance for all members in the future.
I would further suggest that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges, which is currently engaged in the process of reviewing the rules of this House, may wish to consider bringing forward recommendations for all members with respect to the procedures and protocols concerning the tabling of documents in this House.
Copies of this ruling and its translation will be provided to all members in the very near future.
To item 6.
Question 263 – 1(5): Kivalliq Transmission Pre-Feasibility & Feasibility Studies
Uqaqti, today my question is to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation.
Uqaqti, he tabled his Kivalliq Line Transmission Pre-Feasibility Study and I want to go back a little bit and I will try to keep my preamble short.
The minister showed a lot of vision by going out and creating the Nunavut Power Corporation and I give him a lot of credit for that.
I think he did the right thing at the right time.
The future will tell us if it was the right decision and in my humble opinion I think it was the right decision at this point.
Getting back to the Kivalliq Transmission Line Pre-Feasibility Study, there are a lot of as, whens, ifs, buts, how, maybe, we don't know, too much, too little, things like that.
There is a lot of innuendo in sixteen or seventeen pages.
When they built the CNR in this great country of ours there were a lot of naysayers also and I know the Kivalliq Transmission Line Pre-Feasibility Study affects one region.
But, I think that it will benefit all of Nunavut and there are a lot of questions in here in regards to if there is more consumption, if we convert to this, if we convert to that, if the price of diesel fuel goes up, fossil fuels, greenhouse effects and things like that.
But we are talking about a basic need that people in Nunavut need and it is called power.
Whether we generate it ourselves and export it that will give us revenue.
Whether we import it that may save us money down the road.
When utility companies invest in power and lines it is a long term investment.
So my question today to the minister responsible, where is he going to go at this point with this Kivalliq Transmission Study and will he go into a feasibility study in the very near future.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would be remiss in not thanking the member for his excellent compliments to yours truly.
I thank you sincerely for those comments, Mr. McLean.
I think it is fair to point out Mr. Speaker, that the pre-feasibility study was done in conjunction with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation along with the Manitoba Hydro, prior to division.
After division we had to set up a new power corporation as the member has stated.
Now what the Manitoba Hydro Commission study states is basically that it is technically possible to build a line.
That's what the pre-feasibility states.
However Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note as the member has just said himself, we should look at what alternatives are out there.
Is there the possibility for wind generation, hydro development and so on.
The Kivalliq Transmission Study never answered many of the basic facts.
What do we do with the increase in the oil, diesel generation.
Everyone in this room, everyone in Nunavut receives their power supply directly from diesel generation.
Mr. Speaker, we know that there need to be alternative mechanisms in place.
Mr. Speaker, what I am about to do Mr. Speaker, is bring forward to my cabinet colleagues an opportunity to look at some of the alternative energy options that are available to this government.
I have heard what the member has had to say, I have heard what my colleagues on this side of the House have had to say, I have heard what the Nunavummiut have had to say.
What I would like to do Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation is to move forward on the next stage of this program.
That is to look at the alternatives that present themselves.
The Manitoba Hydro link, as the member has pointed out is only one option.
There are some other provinces, Saskatchewan for example has hydro lines directly on the Nunavut border that may be interested in power transmission.
So our next point would be Mr. Speaker, is for a thorough study of Nunavut's alternative energy opportunities and potential and then Mr. Speaker, to look at whatever types of emerging technologies we may be able to use and Mr. Speaker, I am in the process of trying to bring that forward as we speak.
Speaker: Supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker, it is nice to see that myself and the minister are on the same wave length here when it comes to power in Nunavut.
In the pre-feasibility study it says, "that in these circumstances we recommend that the pre-feasibility study be used as a starting point for a thorough study of Nunavut's energy options, including hydro transmission lines, wind power, low head hydro and other emerging technologies".
Mr. Speaker, when we brought this issue up and you brought it up as a regular member yourself two years ago and I followed up in the last year or so, the issue here is the transmission line from wherever it is, Manitoba or Saskatchewan into the Kivalliq.
Now the reason that we are pushing this and emphasizing it is that there may be some mines on the bubble.
We know there is tremendous mining potential and we can't go to the mining companies and say listen if you guys open up the mine will you buy power from us.
They are going to say sure, if you can deliver at a certain price.
On this he wants to do a study of all Nunavut a thorough study of Nunavut's energy options.
Could the minister commit today that he would look at doing a thorough study of all Nunavut's power options, but also try to fast track this transmission study or the next part of this transmission line in the Kivalliq also.
So there are two different things here that I would like to see the minister commit to doing.
Do the thorough of Nunavut's energy options, but also maybe fast track this and see where he can go with it immediately on the transmission line.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I think this line of debate here today gives us an opportunity to look at something in Nunavut, for a vision.
You have to be able to strategically look ahead and have some vision.
When we went forward with the power corporation creating the Nunavut Power Corporation, there were quite a few people within government, outside of government, in the private sector, in the public sector, in the Northwest Territories, in Hay River in the head office saying it can't be done, it wouldn't be done.
Minister Picco is out to lunch moving forward.
I believe we proved that by hiring I think it was sixteen individuals, all from Baker Lake that we were able to move forward.
That takes guts, that takes vision.
What I am saying now Mr. Speaker, is that we need to be able to look at the full range of energy alternatives available to people in Nunavut.
A few weeks ago, I brought to cabinet an opportunity to do this and my cabinet colleagues have given me the direction to look at those alternatives and I am doing exactly what Mr. McLean has asked me to do.
Mr. Speaker, at the same time the Manitoba Hydro Transmission Line has not fallen off the wagon.
I have had discussions as late as this past April in Rankin Inlet with the people from Manitoba Hydro on the next steps and I hope to be able to follow that up.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, you cannot be afraid to look at some of the potential down the road.
I have been in communications with the power corporation and the mining interests in the Keewatin.
They have approached the power corporation.
I am not at liberty to discuss some of those things right now, those types of things.
But we are following that up, there are some opportunities there with the power corporation.
I would suggest to you Mr. Speaker, that I appreciate the support the members have given me as the Minister for the Power Corporation and I will ask for their support and let's have some vision here and look at the alternatives.
Low head hydro technology Mr. Speaker, at the present time means that you don't have to have major dams or reservoirs.
Mr. Speaker, that is environmentally friendly, that is one of the potential technologies that we need to be able to look at.
Look at solar power Mr. Speaker, and potential wind energy.
But to do that Mr. Speaker, I may have to move away from the power corporation and have some type of corporate entity and that's the direction we are taking.
Uqaqti, the minister brings up a very valid point of moving maybe this tremendous task of studying Nunavut's future power needs, because I think we have to look at thirty or forty years down the road, not just two or three.
Nobody has, we don’t have the expertise, I’ll be the first one to recognize that we don’t have the expertise in our territory to really go out and look at alternate sources of power, or talk about looking for funding, outside sources of funding.
The minister brought that point up, would the minister commit to the House that he will go out and look for outside sources of funding to maybe finance this Kivalliq transmission line.
Mr. Speaker, not only would I commit to looking at the alternatives, Mr. Speaker, I’ve said we’re moving forward in that direction.
Right now under the auspices of the Nunavut Power Corporation Implementation Secretariat, NPCIS, we have some of the best utility minds available in the country.
They put together the Ikuma Report One.
We also did the Transmission Line Pre-Feasibility study that the member has been referring to, the tabled document.
Mr. Speaker, we need to be able to move forward aggressively with the climate that we have right now, the Federal Government has been talking about other alternative energy sources, we’ve seen the price of diesel rising.
Minister Thompson has been talking about that.
There are several recommendation in the Ikuma report which we are trying to follow, if the members remember the debate we had in Rankin Inlet and we had a quite a debate on the Ikuma report.
I’ve put those recommendations in place and we are moving forward on them.