EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
>>House Recessed at 12:07 and resumed at 13:45
Deputy Speaker (Mr. Puqiqnak): This is our last session of the Legislative Assembly and I’m sitting as a Speaker.
Getting back to our agenda items.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was the only one who didn’t get to thank everybody.
I would like to recognize myself first of all because I’ve never recognized myself before in the House.
When I was eight years old, I wanted to become a politician and I now have my wish.
From that time when I wanted to become a politician, I have achieved my dreams and it is very important to me.
I would also like to recognize at this time, being a Member for five years, I would like to recognize the interpreters who have assisted me during my travels and interpreting in the House.
I thank them very much.
I would like to recognize also our researcher Leetia Nowdluk who has made my job as a co-chair at government operations committee easier.
I thank her very much; and Alex Baldwin and John Quirke and his capable staff, Nancy, everybody.
I thank everybody because I wanted to recognize everybody.
Mr. Ng mentioned to us that he will not be running next election.
And the other Minister followed his footstep by thanking Mr. Ng for assisting them.
And I finally found out that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit was not being used too much and I will remember Mr. Ng for the rest of my life.
But I would like to be able to, I know that he has not had a chance for the cabinet to have Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in place.
I would like to thank all the people who I represent in Clyde River and Broughton Island.
I will be seeing them in the near future.
Mr. Speaker, I haven’t had the opportunity to welcome many people to the gallery and I would just like to include today for welcoming first, Sue Cooper to the gallery.
She’s in the gallery right now, our excellent law clerk, who put in long nights.
Last night, the Assembly had a debate on the bill.
I’d also like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to thank the support staff of the Legislative Assembly who are also in the building, especially on the third floor, Siobhan, Leetia, of course, Steve Pollock and Alex Baldwin.
Irene Tagoona, an excellent worker of my phone.
And also Mr. Speaker, the Members talked about the interpreter and translating staff. They followed us on the road into Cambridge Bay and into Rankin Inlet, Mr. Speaker; they even followed us into Pangnirtung.
They have done yeoman service.
So, I would like to, I wanted to thank the interpreter translator staff who we have with us.
Some of them are my Constituents.
I would also like to, again Mr. Speaker, to thank the two Clerks, Nancy and Kooyoo for their excellent work.
And I want to remember one of the first Clerks of the Assembly at this time, too, who is in Baker Lake and a Constituent of Mr. McLean, who has helped us tremendously in the first months of this Assembly and year, Rhoda Perkensen, I would also like to say hi to Rhoda and her family in Baker Lake.
I wanted to recognize an individual this morning who was here, Raymond Ningeotsiaq from Rankin Inlet, even though he is not here.
I would like to recognize him, Raymond Ningeotsiaq.
When I was a child, I have known him that long and he is originally from Coral Harbour, where I am from originally and he has always been involved in politics and he has become an Elder.
I would also like to recognize individuals who are not here right now, but Neil Porter, Simon Ukpakkuk from Gjoa Haven and they worked tirelessly and never say no to my requests and I would also like to recognize three people who are interpreters, Blandina and Mary.
They have assisted us greatly in the provinces during CPA conferences. They have always assisted me as interpreters so I could be involved in the CPA conferences.
So, I would like to thank the interpreters Blandina and the others.
And someone mentioned that Inuktitut is the only language that we can use here, we are using here in this House and I would like to thank all the interpreters, Mikle Langenhan, Blandina Tulugarjuk, Mary Nashook and Ooleepika Ikkidluak and also, I would also like to recognize Kitikmeot interpreters, Inuinnaqtun interpreters, you are very professional, thank you.
Whenever I am trying to talk, my fellow Members interrupt me and I would also like to recognize my wife who is in my office, if you are watching me on TV, hi.
I would also like to recognize my daughter behind Mr. Iqaqrialu, Saimaiyuk and also from Cape Dorset, originally from Cape Dorset is Joanasie Tunu and also the interpreters, I would like to give them a recognition and to thank them, Ooleepika Ikkidluak, Mikle Langenhan, Blandina Tulugarjuk and Mary Nashook, also the Inuinnaqtun interpreters.
Even though I do not understand the Inuinnaqtun interpreters, I recognize them because I am beginning to understand them, too, as well.
Speaker: Mr. Picco, can we have some order here, please.
Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize all the interpreter/translators, but in particular two gentlemen who are in the booth today who do the Inuinnaqtun from Cambridge Bay, James Paneoyak and John Komak.
And Mr. Speaker, yesterday when I did my farewell address I omitted, I made one of my rare mistakes Mr. Speaker, when I was recognizing the media I forgot to recognize two gentlemen that have been around and have done lots of excellent interviews with myself and other Members of this House, and that is Mr. Vinny Karetak and Richard, and I apologize that I can’t pronounce his last name properly, Mr. Richard that cameraman.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. I have yet to name anybody in this House but you’ve come very close because of that mistake.
If it wasn’t for the interpreters, my cousin Mikel Langinhan, when I first started coming over here, I realized that she was my cousin.
She has been working for a long time, when she was a member of BRIA, I made her work very hard, Blandina Tulugarjuk.
I would like to recognize her for helping me greatly in the past.
The individual who was not with me for quite some time, when I was a Qikiqtani board member she also followed me just recently as she is very professional, everyone of them is professional, even though Mary isn’t here I would like to say thank you to her and Oleepeeka Ikkidluak.
If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be able to have a meeting in the House.
Perhaps if they were not our interprets I would be able to speak English.
I would also like to thank the staff. I have worked with him for quite some time before 1999 as the Interim Commissioner, Mr. John Quirke. I would like to say thank you to Mr. Quirke.
He does a lot of work, as well as Nancy Tupik.
And of course the interpreters; sometimes we don’t even bother to think that they’re keeping up with us but we just keep on talking very fast and it’s going to be nice for them to take a few months rest before the election.
I would like to thank them for that.
I would also like to thank Simanek Kilabuk who is our Sergeant at Arms.
When we started seeing the government I guess we didn’t think that we were going to have an Inuk Sergeant at Arms.
We are proud of him.
I didn’t know him before but I know him now because he told me one time when I couldn’t tow by boat here in Iqaluit.
I know that he is a very capable person in the House as well as out hunting.
I would like to recognize Simanek Kilabuk.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize you first of all Mr. Speaker.
Our staff, our communities, our constituents assistants should be recognized by the Members of the Legislative Assembly because they work very hard for us.
I would like to recognize my constituency assistant and also, all of the interpreters and George Metuq who worked tirelessly as a technician and his staff.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Speaker, I am sorry.
Well, if I may recognize my constituent workers over the last nine years, just to name a few, Rosie Mangart, Arviat, Vick Amarujjuaq, Diane Ingmak and Ms. Kuksuk.
So, I would like to recognize those people for their services and their hard work over the last many years.
Reply to Opening Address 006 – 1(6):
While I have an opportunity, I would like to make a reply to the Opening Address of the report.
I was able to be a Member of the first Assembly for the past five years and we faced some challenges and we came across some hard times, some hardships and some losses to our immediate families.
Even though that is the case, we were given the strength and the support by our family members, our parents and by our relatives and by our Colleagues.
They have all been there with their support.
I would also like to recognize the individuals, the two individuals who resigned from the Legislative Assembly: Mr. James Arvaluk and Levy Barnabus who, because of our laws, had to leave the Assembly, but we are still friends and we know, even through along the way in the upcoming years, they will be coming back to political life.
Again, in the House, we faced a lot of challenges during the course of our mandate so that we would have a solid foundation for Nunavut.
It is obvious, first of all that we worked extremely hard in regards to the single time zone and the regular Members and a lot of the people out there worked hard to oppose the single time zone proposal.
But it was unfortunate that even if we turned down the proposal, it was going to go ahead anyway, which is exactly what happened.
A lot of the regular Members thought that we had a long debate on it and we were told that even if we opposed it, it would go ahead.
That is the information that we received.
It would have been okay if we didn’t deal with it but it did give us a deeper understanding of truly representing the majority of the people out there.
Mr. Speaker, the government realized that the majority will always win.
At that time, on the same issue, the regular Members, especially the Baffin representatives fought hard and we now have our three time zones in the Baffin, Kitikmeot and Keewatin.
Today, we are still functioning even though we have different time zones in Nunavut.
We also know that we have today’s technology that we can use to get the information out there through the internet and other tools.
We are still functioning as a government and the three time zones does not create a problem.
I just wanted to mention that because there was a huge debate on this issue.
We had some problems especially with bad gas and many people lost their equipment as a result so we fought hard on this issue as all Nunavummiut started to voice their concerns.
Now we can make the government realize that as a collective voice we can turn things around.
A good example for that was the bad gas compensation as a way of apology to the people of Nunavut.
The gasoline prices were discounted until we got the new shipment.
When we fight hard for what we believe, at first it seems impossible, but once we start working together we can get things done and we have realized that over course of our mandate.
The Human Rights legislation is well intentioned; however, it became apparent that there are many people who are unhappy about it.
As regular Members we fight hard for the Inuit way, and to ensure the government’s legislation are better suited for our people.
We don’t only think of our own thoughts when we voice our concerns.
Unfortunately it was passed; in the future we’ll see more amendments to that legislation.
Our rights as Inuit did not seem to be recognized through that Human Rights legislation.
It seemed like a waste of time to have to recognize the rights that we already have.
Inuit rights and traditions are very strong if we apply it.
I can use for example, in Igloolik, an elder had requested some muktaaq while he was still alive and because we were forbidden to hunt Bowhead Whales when I first became a Member of the Inuit organization, they were just about charged because it was an international regulation that they breached.
Mr. Speaker, we realized that the strength of the elders and the strength of the Inuit.
If the elder had not requested it then the hunters would have been charged and have to pay a hefty fine.
And because we followed with the needs of Inuit, the lawyer was able to win the case and not have them charged, and that is how we realized the strength of Inuit and the elders.
We still have that strength.
We can still use it, even when it is not in legislation.
We all know the issues in our communities and we all know the wrongs that were done to Inuit.
As Inuit, we have fought collectively for our needs in 2003 and now we have buildings like these that are for Inuit.
We were set up in 1999 as the Fist Assembly, because Inuit were seen as money objects.
If we were not money objects then we would just be considered the people of the cold climate, but because we are seen as money objects there are a lot of people who have good high paying jobs, as a result.
That can be our strength collectively; as well we have to be well represented.
If we make our case heard, and Mr. Speaker, we have often struggled on the issue of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit that was set up by the Commissioner to ensure the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit was applied within Government.
However, the recognition for that was often too little over the years.
It was just lip service by the Government that they would use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit just as lip service; we knew full well that it was just to make themselves look good.
So because some of the staff do not know the concepts of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, it cannot be applied until we really make the effort.
If we were to apply Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in the future they would follow it right from the Inuit and use the actual Inuit knowledge.
I am very glad today that Bill 35 was concurred with, and that is a good example that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit can be properly applied within legislation.
I am sure in the future that will follow suit in other areas.
As well, the money saving efforts by the Government, I will speak of a few of those examples. I am not an expert in this field but we use a lot of money, and a lot of it is being wasted due to mismanagement.
Mr. Speaker, for example, the bad gas situation and the contracting procedures also were a waste of money.
I bring these up because more than once the Government have chartered a plane for the petroleum products in transporting fuel in Igloolik, and Kugaaruk, I think it was.
Those big planes are very expensive.
So the money that we could have used elsewhere was wasted on chartering those Hercules’ and if there was proper management in the area of Petroleum Products, and if they followed their guidelines well we would not have had to have wasted all that money.
And we also could invest money in the area of decentralization, if it were planned properly.
We have heard of many cases through, although they were not written on paper, that a lot of them that were newly hired had to stay in hotels for many days at a time.
Those are things that you heard on the street, but it makes a big impact and some of the wrongs that we have faced and we have to take measures to prevent that in the future at the next Assembly.
As well, in the future, the next Assembly will have to take a closer look on the issue of education and one of their big priorities is, will be to come up with the proper Education Act in recognizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
In Arviat, it is very encouraging that there is a lot of work being done in the area of curriculum development and we should ensure that there is more recognition of the Inuit culture within the schools and so that we have a stronger foundation in the future for our people.
We have the rights and freedoms that we are well aware of now.
However, the teachers, I think, should make a better effort because we hear time and again that it is very hard that when you go down south for further schooling, it is very hard, although you have done grade 12.
When we went to lobby Ottawa, it was unfortunate that watered down provisions were attempted.
Fortunately, someone spoke up and we were able to change a better situation in that sector.
Mr. Speaker, those are some of the things that I wanted to bring up so that the next Assembly will take these seriously and make them a priority, Mr. Speaker, because education is so critical and our children have to be taught properly and given the tools for their future.
And because it is not traditionally our way, we often lose sight of our Inuit culture and we will know that if we slap or spank our children that we can be brought into the court system and a lot of that has been imposed on us that is against our tradition.
For example, and Mr. Speaker, in the future, we have to really start taking hold of our culture and it has to be taken seriously and strengthened in the system.
And as well, our language has to be strengthened because it was quite embarrassing as aboriginal peoples Ottawa conference the first nations, me and Iqaqrialu and Mr. Akesuk we could not say what, we could not stand up and voice our concerns, but we could ask questions.
But, they could not, they did not use their own language, the other first nations people and very select few used their own mother tongue in speaking at this conference and we should not be embarrassed in using our own language.
We should further strengthen it and I wanted to bring it up in this House that we really have to make a better effort to strengthen and preserve our language because it is a source of our strength.
Those are just some of the comments that I wanted to talk about during our last sitting of the first Assembly and I am sure that they will be taken into consideration by the next Assembly.
Lastly, I would like to say thank you to the individuals who supported me, my constituents, Members of the Legislative Assembly, I would like to thank you all for your support over the years and during the challenging times.
I'm not the only one that just about gave up, but I feel that the caring personality of the individuals sitting around the table gives us strength.
Speaker: Replies to Opening Address.
Petition 011 - 1(6): Skyward Aviation
I have a petition from the communities of Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet and Arviat asking the Government to give Skyward Aviation a fair and equal chance to do business in the Kivalliq.
I did not count how many signatures there are.
You have to do them yourself.
I want to tell you that there are many.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Netser.
We’ll certainly do the counting.
Are there any further Petitions on our last day: Item 11.
Tabled Document 177 – 1(6): Workforce Profile March 31, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following Workforce Profile as of March 31, 2003 on behalf of the Government of Nunavut.
As of March 31, 2003 we had 2,459 employees in the Government of Nunavut. 1,492 employees were female, and 967 were males.
Female employees made up 61 percent of the total employees. Male employees made up 39 percent of the total employees.
I think we have done very well for the female population in the territory.
I have one document to table.
Tabled Document 178 – 1(6): Annual Report of the Language Commissioner of Nunavut 2002/2003
I wish to table the Annual Report of the Language Commissioner of Nunavut 2002/2003.
Item 16: Motions.
Item 17: First Reading of Bills.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bill and other Matters.
Bill 50, Bill 51, Bill 52, Bill 53 and Bill 54, with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the Chair, and in accordance with authority provided to me by Motion 002-1(6) the Committee of the Whole will stay in Session until it reports itself out.
Before we proceed with the Committee of the Whole we will break for five minutes just to get set up for the meeting.
Five minutes back in the House.
Members, thank you.
>>House recessed at 14:26 and resumed at 14:37
Item 19: Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bill and other Matters
Chairman (Mr. Iqaqrialu) (interpretation): Thank you, for coming back for Committee of the Whole.
First before we go back to our agenda, I forgot to mention CBC for their attention to the Legislative Assembly.
They are able to help us inform the public, so, thank you to CBC, very much and those Igalaaq show, I thank them for getting the information out and it is very encouraging to see Inuktitut programming.
And back to our Orders of the Day for Committee of the Whole, we have for consideration Bill 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54.
We would like to start with first of all, Bill 50 and then 51, 52, and then 53 and finally Bill 54.
Chairman (interpretation): At this time, I would like the Finance Minister Kelvin Ng to do his Opening Remarks, Mr. Ng.
I am pleased to appear before you to speak to Bill 50, the Interim Appropriation Act April 1st to June 30th 2004.
This Act authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make interim appropriations for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
This is required to enable the Government to maintain operations during the first quarter of 2004-2005, until the new Government finalizes and submits 2004-2005 Main Estimates to the Legislature for approval.
Mr. Chairman, the total amount of appropriation is $190 million 640 thousand dollars.
This represents one quarter of the expected annual appropriations for the Departments.
Exceptions to this are the Legislative Assembly, and the Departments of Education and Community Government and Transportation.
These Departments have higher than average expenditures in the first quarter.
Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to answer any questions from Committee members on this Bill.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. I will ask you go to the Witness Table and if you have Officials, please take them with you.
Thank you, Minister Ng, for coming to the Witness Table.
Please introduce your staff.
Kelvin Ng.
From the right is Mr. David Akeeagok, Assistant Deputy Minister and to my left is Mr. Paul Vardy, Director of Expenditure Management.
Both would be capable at the Department of Finance.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. At this time, according to the Rule, if you have General Comments, you may have 10-minutes each and afterwards, you will also have an additional 10-minutes to ask questions.
Any General Comments?
If not, would you like to go Clause-by-Clause?
Bill 50, Interim Appropriation Act April 1 to June 30 2004, do you have it in front of you?
Clause-by-Clause?
Chairman (interpretation): Do you agree the Bill as a whole is ready for Third Reading?
Do you also agree that that the Bill is now ready for Third Reading?
We have concluded that, Agreed?
We will go to Bill 51. Minister Ng do you have Opening Comments?
Mr. Chairman, this Bill will provide $5 million 900 thousand dollars in additional capital funds for the construction of condominium units for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. At this time, according to the Rule, I will allow 10-minutes for each Member, any General Comments or Questions?
I am sorry, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act #3 2003-2004, any comments?
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): My wife will be leaving, so, I am a little bit late because I had to go to the airport. For the Supplementary Appropriation for $5 million 900 thousand, have they allocated where this will be allotted to?
Which communities will be this in?
Mr. Chairman, this is to complete the condominium program that was initiated last year.
All the communities that currently have them are in place, but as the purpose of being finalized, this is to pay off the condominium program for those particular communities.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. We’ll go clause by clause.
Supplementary Appropriation Act. No. 3.
Please distribute copies.
Turn my microphone off.
Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 3.
Do you all have copies?
If not. Supplementary Appropriation. $5 million, 900 thousand.
Total. $5 million, 900 thousand.
Chairman (interpretation): Going to Bill 51.
Supplementary Appropriation Act No 3. 2003/2004.
Chairman (interpretation): Do Members agree that Bill 51 is ready for third reading?
Going onto Bill 52.
Supplementary Appropriation (O and M) Act No. 2.
On page 4.
Total. $4 million.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department. $4 million.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn to page 5.
Total. $545 thousand. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department. $545 thousand. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Turn to page 6.