EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In 2006-07, we also will complete public consultations and move ahead with the new Nunavut Education Act, an Act that will reflect the needs and aspirations of Nunavut’s people and Nunavut’s vision for the future.
Mr. Speaker, our commitment to education does not end with a high school education.
A well-trained labour force is critical to Nunavut’s future; giving Nunavummiut the opportunities they need to build their futures right here in our territory.
That’s where the Nunavut’s trade school will have such an important role to play. Just this past Friday, we announced that the new trades school would be located in Rankin Inlet.
Working with our partners in industry and training, we are examining the appropriate mix of programs and facilities that will be needed to make this school a boon for all of Nunavut.
Our government has committed $5.5 million to the development of the trade school. We expect it to be opened in 2009.
Minister Picco will also take steps this year to enhance pre-trades programs and increase our investment in Nunavut Arctic College.
Work will also begin this year on the Inuit Employment Plan. We are determined to meet the target of having at least 56 percent Inuit employment by 2009-10.
When new jobs and new opportunities are created in Nunavut, we are going to make sure all Nunavut people have the skills they need to fill those positions and benefit from Nunavut’s future growth.
A comprehensive human resource planning framework will be developed this year to help us meet the need for qualified people in a wide range of careers and professions.
That includes planned recruitment as well as comprehensive training and development programs to be piloted into decentralized communities.
New leadership and management programs will be developed and the Sivuliqtiksat Internship Program will be broadened to include paraprofessional and professional positions.
Taken together, these initiatives will give new hope to families and to future generations of Nunavummiut, hope that they can build their futures right here in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot invest in people without also investing in their communities, making sure they have adequate housing, and health and social service programs.
In healthcare we will improve access to essential healthcare services by following through on our ‘Closer to Home’ Strategy to strengthen community capacity, expand home care and continuing care programs, and expand the scope of services available in communities across the territory.
We will step up our commitment to train Nunavummiut for a wide range of healthcare positions, and a new ‘Return to Service’ Program will subsidize the tuition for Nunavummiut physiotherapists, social workers, dentists, and other health providers who return to Nunavut following graduation.
Combined with our investment in health professionals, we will build on investments in newly opened health centers in Cambridge Bay, and Rankin Inlet, and phase in new facilities in the near future.
Minister Aglukkaq will also take steps this year to develop a public healthcare strategy and step up our efforts to protect health, and not just treat people when they are injured or ill.
That includes a new initiative to support the Isaksimagit Inuusirmit Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council, in their efforts to reduce suicide in Nunavut.
As well, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has launched two pilot projects focused on Inuit societal values in Clyde River and Cambridge Bay with the support of the Inullariit Society in Igloolik.
In social services, we will provide an additional $2.2 million in Budget 2006 to provide financial security to people in need, and to those who need help to become more self-reliant.
Of all the challenges that we face, make no mistake, solving problems related to our current housing shortage is at the top of our list. We cannot build healthy communities unless Nunavummiut have access to adequate, suitable, and affordable housing.
We cannot attract professionals and businesses if there is nowhere for them to live. And, we cannot have healthy families and healthy individuals unless people can live in decent housing where they are not sharing substandard space with far too many family members.
We are determined to address this problem head on.
Last fall, Premier Okalik worked with his fellow First Ministers to reach an important agreement designed to address serious housing needs in Nunavut and other parts of the country.
With financial support from the federal government, and close cooperation from the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, we will be able to move forward on the 10-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan.
I can assure Members of this Legislative Assembly that Premier Okalik and our government will continue to make a strong case to the new federal government to encourage them to make the Kelowna commitment a reality.
During 2006, the Nunavut Housing Corporation will also continue its efforts to create more affordable housing for Nunavummiut. Ten communities will receive a new duplex, including Pond Inlet, Kimmirut, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Cape Dorset, Coral Harbour, Qikiqtarjuaq, Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet.
Two other communities- Resolute Bay and Kugaaruk- will see the final 20 units built under the Infrastructure Canada Initiative. Incremental staff housing units will be built in Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet.
Homeownership will continue to be a priority in 2006, with a special focus on new homeowners. Increased assistance with down payments will be available in most communities, and the New Material Assistance Program will be introduced to support new homeowners in building new homes.
Mr. Speaker, Minister Brown is committed to building strong communities and supporting economic growth. She is working hard to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place.
Highlights of this year’s commitment to communities and infrastructure initiatives include:
Continuing additional funding to municipalities to offset increased energy and utility costs;
Continued implementation of the Fire Protection Strategy to increase training and equipment, and to support community-based search and rescue organizations;
Increased investment in the Community Access Road Program;
Completion of negotiations with the federal government for the Safe Harbours Program;
Upgrades to Nunavut airports;
Major water and sewage treatment projects in Cape Dorset, Qikiqtarjuaq, Resolute Bay, Rankin Inlet, Kugaaruk, and Kugluktuk;
Work on new Community Hall in Pond Inlet and Gjoa Haven; and
Public consultation to help select a route for the Manitoba-Nunavut Highway.
Thanks to the federal government’s Municipal Rural Infrastructure Program and the Gas Tax Program agreements reached last summer, we will invest and additional $53.5 million in municipal infrastructure programs over the next five years.
As we seize the opportunities ahead, strengthen Nunavut’s economy and communities, and invest in Nunavummiut, we cannot and will not compromise Nunavut’s culture, heritage, and languages.
It is what defines us as Nunavummiut, and is not only part of our past, it is key to our future.
This year the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will invest over $19 million to preserve Nunavut’s culture, heritage, and languages.
Minister Tapardjuk will expand programs for both Sport Nunavut and Community Programs.
This year’s budget will provide close to $5.5 million in grants and support to community-based initiatives, and it will support the development of new language legislation and strengthen Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun language programs and training.
In addition, our government will invest $10 million from the Northern Strategy Trust Fund in the development of the new Nunavut Heritage Centre.
The Heritage Centre moved one step closer to reality with the announcement last Friday that it will be built in Iqaluit.
With the help of a trilateral working group, work will proceed this year on plans for this new centre to house Nunavut’s invaluable artefacts and archives.
We will continue to work with our elders to strengthen their role in preserving Inuit values and using those values to address some of the pressing problems in our society.
Mr. Speaker, up to this point my focus has been what we will do as a government to build a better future for Nunavut and for people and communities across this territory.
Let me turn my attention now to our partnership with the federal government.
We cannot escape the reality that the vast majority of our resources come from the federal government.
We rely on them for territorial formula financing. We rely on them to support essential housing programs, build the necessary infrastructure in our communities, support healthy communities, and provide good education for our children.
That reliance is inevitable in the short term.
We are a young territory faced with the enormous challenge of providing essential public service in spite of high costs, the vast expanse of territory with small, remote communities, the lowest mean income in Canada, and the highest unemployment levels in the country.
No one can, or should, expect us to solve those challenges overnight.
But continuing to tie our future to the generosity of the federal government is not in the long-term best interests for our territory and Nunavummiut.
We need to seize control of our own future and to turn our attention to the longer-term future; a future where we are self-reliant, and able to take control of our own destiny.
Today Premier Okalik and our government are calling on Prime Minister Harper to work with us on three critical issues that will help set us on the path of greater independence.
On an immediate basis, that means putting in place new Territorial Formula Financing arrangements and moving ahead on an urgent basis to reach a new agreement on devolution of responsibilities to our territory.
Let me address territorial formula financing first.
This is by far our largest source of revenue. And along with the other two territories, we watched in dismay as the previous government introduced a new framework that totally failed to acknowledge or respond to the needs of our territory.
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Harper agreed that the current arrangement needs to be reviewed.
As I mentioned at the outset, we take this as a sign of hope that our views are being heard and our needs will be addressed.
In the simplest terms we are looking for a new deal with the federal government.
That deal must include:
separate agreements with each territory,
no fixed envelope,
consideration of Nunavut’s population growth rate,
an adequate gross expenditure base reflecting our unique needs and challenges,
and assurance that increases in our own sources of revenue will not have a negative impact on our entitlement under Territorial Formula Financing.
In the past year, we have worked with the advisory panel established by the Council of the Federation.
We have worked with the Expert Panel established by the former government. We are optimistic that our concerns have been heard. Now we are eager and ready to work with the new federal government with the new arrangements in place.
We urge the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Flaherty to make new Territorial Formula Financial arrangements a top priority as they develop their agenda for 2006.
We urge them to release the report of the expert panel as soon as it is ready. We urge them to consider proposals in the report from the Council of the Federation.
And we urge them not to wait until larger and more complex issues related to the fiscal imbalance and Canada’s equalization program are addressed.
Territorial Formula Financing is unique to the territories. The needs in the North, and especially in Nunavut, are vastly different from the provinces.
And we urgently need new arrangements that acknowledge and address the serious challenges in Nunavut.
In the days and weeks ahead, I intend to take our case directly to Mr. Flaherty and I am optimistic we will be able to negotiate new arrangements before decisions are made about territorial formula financing for 2007-08.
The second issue is just as pressing, but certainly more complex. As I said at the outset, this budget is about hope and the best hope for our future lies in being able to capitalize and seeing the benefits of resource development in our territory.
In today’s environment, the federal government is the prime beneficiary of resource development in Nunavut.
Inuit have used this land for centuries and will continue to use the land and assert Arctic Sovereignty. Nunavummiut should be the principal beneficiaries of Nunavut’s natural resources.
That’s the position we start from. The next step is to begin negotiations with the new federal government on devolution agreements that will make that principle a reality.
Prime Minister Harper has said his party believes that Northerners should control their own future. He expressed his commitment to the orderly devolution of decision-making away from Ottawa.
That commitment was echoed in even stronger words by Minister Jim Prentice, the new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
We take those words as a positive sign that devolution is a real commitment and not just an idle promise because for us, Mr. Speaker, there’s nothing more important than achieving a devolution agreement that allows Nunavut to benefit from the tremendous economic opportunities ahead. We are not talking about the simple administrative transfer. We are talking about strengthening our territory.
We are talking about giving us more responsibility for our resources and allowing us to keep the revenues from resource developments right here in Nunavut. We are talking about giving us the opportunity to invest those resources in building a better future for our territory. And we are talking about creating the best hope our territory has for a more self-reliant, independent and prosperous future.
Mr. Speaker, I want to make a strong point that achieving devolution agreements for Nunavut is not only good for our territory - it’s good for Canada because Canada can only be a strong country if each of its provinces and territories are able to develop their full capacity and diminish their reliance on federal transfers.
That’s the case Newfoundland and Labrador made to the federal government.
It’s the case Nova Scotia made and Saskatchewan is now pursuing.
In Nunavut, we expect nothing less than the ability to capitalize on our own potential for economic growth and realize the full benefits of resource developments within our own territory.
We are ready to begin negotiations immediately.
Nunavut Tunngavik will be actively engaged throughout the process.
Our government has created a new devolution branch, appointed a chief negotiator, and approved the negotiations mandate. We are counting on the federal government to take similar steps so negotiations can begin with a clear understanding of our respective goals and expectations.
Mr. Speaker, we know this will take time, but I have repeatedly talked about hope and our hope is that devolution negotiations will begin this spring and be concluded by the end of 2008.
Hon. David Simailak: Our goals and our dreams for Nunavummiut are that by April 2011, we will be able to assume the responsibilities and the powers we need to take control of our own destiny.
The third issue involves reaching an agreement with the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs on an implementation contract for the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The lack of an implementation contract has had a negative effect on Inuit training, institutions of public government, and Inuit organizations.
In May 2005, former Supreme Court of British Columbia Justice Thomas Berger was appointed as conciliator for the implementation contract negotiations. Our government looks forward to his final report and his advice on how to resolve outstanding issues.
Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, we have our work cut out for us. There’s no doubt that we face difficult challenges in achieving the goals of Pinasuaqtavut. With your help and with the help of Inuit birthright organizations, businesses and industry leaders, volunteer groups, our elders, the federal government, and all of our dedicated public services, I have every confidence that we will tackle those challenges head-on and build a better future for Nunavut and Nunavummiut across this territory.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Premier Okalik for his confidence in me and for giving me the opportunity to present this budget and help shape the future of our territory.
I want to leave you all with my message of hope. I believe that hope is what the future of Nunavut is all about; hope that the potential for economic growth will create new opportunities for Nunavummiut and for our communities; hope that our investment in people will pay off for future generations of Nunavummiut; hope that together, we will build stronger and healthier communities and overcome some of the serious challenges we face today. And hope that this budget will help turn our dreams into a positive and prosperous future for our territory and for Nunavummiut.
Member’s Statement 108 – 2(3): Sixth Annual Kitikmeot Trade Show (Peterson)
Earlier this month, Cambridge Bay hosted the Sixth Annual Kitikmeot Trade Show. I rise today to share with members some of the new initiatives that helped to make this year’s trade show another great success.
Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot has vast economic potential in many sectors including; tourism, construction, mining, and renewable resources.
Nunavut’s first diamond mine, Tahera Corporation, is ushering in a sparkling future for the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, Kitikmeot entrepreneurs have been working hard over the past few years to develop business deals with companies in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the provinces that will strengthen our economic base.
Sometimes it seems that these agreements are signed overnight, but it takes years of hard work to hammer out the details. The Kitikmeot Trade Show involves an ideal forum for that work to take place.
Mr. Speaker, this year, the Kitikmeot Trade Show added a new event. Organizers hosted a Transportation Panel that brought together representatives from the mining sector, northern airlines, the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and the Government of Nunavut to name a few.
Mr. Speaker, for three hours, a facilitator directed transportation related questions to the panel. This format also allowed for the audience to interact with members of the panel.
They tackled such issues as the food mail contract, the NNI Policy, Road and Port Infrastructure, the paving of the runway at the Cambridge Bay airport, economic links to other jurisdictions.
A final report from the panel will be produced and distributed.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Akesuk for attending as a keynote speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was also very good that delegates from the Baffin and Kivalliq Regions were able to attend.
They had valuable discussions with Kitikmeot businesses about establishing a Nunavut Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, we owe a great debt of gratitude to our high school students for allowing us to use their gym and other facilities for the booths.
Students enjoyed participating in the trade show, and asked intelligent questions at the booths. According to national statistics, 90 percent of jobs created every year are created by small businesses. And so, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the entrepreneurial spirit of these students was sparked by their participation at the trade show.
Member’s Statement 109 – 2(3): Fishing Industry in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk)
Mr. Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because of fisheries. It’s very important in our community of Pangnirtung and this helps not just for the community, but also to the businesses in Pangnirtung and outside of Pangnirtung.
When we talk about fishing, fisheries, I like to keep in mind about the fishermen in Pangnirtung because it is their livelihood.
They’ve tried requesting compensation and they want to be hopeful because they have a business, and I was very glad to hear that there will be more funding for fisheries.
I am very hopeful.
Mr. Speaker, up to today the fishermen in Pangnirtung have been handed obstacles over and over again.
It’s because of the storms, and they lose their equipment and they haven’t heard any positive replies up to now.
But this definitely has to change because they are issued licenses from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans so they can fish.
They are not given by the hamlet. They are not a business, or even by the government here.
They’re not told: you have a license because you have a business.
They are issued a license from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the fishing industry helps families in the community and the fishing season is open now.
They will be starting to fish pretty soon.
The government says that there is such compensation available for natural disasters, such as; storms...
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, hopefully the storms and natural disasters by the Department of Environment can be prevented, and turned into calming sunrises we can all look forward to.
Member’s Statement 110 – 2(3): Two Snakes Kept in School in Coral Harbour (Netser)
I rise today to make a Members’ Statement that might seem like a minor matter, but which I think is really about an important principle.
My Members’ Statement concerns two snakes, which are kept in the school in my home community of Coral Harbour.
These snakes apparently are pets of one of the teachers from our school.
For some reason, this particular teacher does not want to keep his pet snakes at home; instead the snakes are kept in the school. Parents have told me that these snakes have a strong odour and attract flies.
We also don’t like to see our children being encouraged to kill lemmings and snow buntings to feed these snakes.
It is not an animal that is found in our land, so when the district education authority had held a public meeting in my community and invited members of the public to express their concern about the school as a parent, and as an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly, I have expressed my concerns about the snakes and gave the reasons why they shouldn’t be there.
After some discussion, the DEA agreed with my concern and later passed a motion asking the snakes to be removed from the school.
The next day, without informing the DEA, the principal called a staff meeting to discuss the DEA recommendations.
He then said that the concern was expressed by one man; that no parents had complained and there was no health concern.
The principal then informed his staff that the DEA motion would be disregarded and the snakes would remain in the school.
I am not just one man; I am an elected representative of Coral Harbour, and I have a mandate to represent the views of my community.
On top of that my concerns were accepted by the elected members of the Coral Harbour DEA.
Mr. Speaker, when I began this Members’ Statement, I said that this was about an important principle.
The principle is that persons elected to represent the views of the community on the local school, administration should be respected. The principle is that the district education authority should have some real authority, but in our community it seems that a school principal, who has been an education leader...
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask for unanimous consent to finish my statement.
Mr. Netser, you could proceed.
But in our community it seems that a school principal, who has been the education leader in my community for less than one year, has the idea that his authority and opinion about even something as minor as whether a snake should be in our school, are more important than the respectfully expressed concerns of the elected members of the elected district education authority.
Mr. Speaker, was this why we got Nunavut so that principals could come into our communities and dictate the opinions of the elected people? I hope not.
I am a bit concerned about the snakes but I am more concerned about what this says about who is in charge of our local schools.