EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
205 – 4(3): Tribute to Inusiq Nashalik (Mike) 1565
Return to Oral Question 248 – 4(3): Medical Travel Escort Policy (Ell-Kanayuk) 1567
271 – 4(3): Role of Elders in Court Proceedings (Shooyook) 1567
272 – 4(3): Open Custody Placements for Young Offenders (Angnakak) 1569
273 – 4(3): Medical Transient Centre in Churchill, Manitoba (Sammurtok, T) 1571
274 – 4(3): Nunavut Food Strategy and the Niqittiavak Committee (Akoak) 1571
275 – 4(3): Supporting the Mianiqsijit Society (Mikkungwak) 1572
276 – 4(3): Medical Travel Escort Policy (Enook) 1573
277 – 4(3): Status of Children’s Group Home in Rankin Inlet (Sammurtok) 1575
278 – 4(3): Legal Training Program (Okalik) 1575
279 – 4(3): Nunavut’s Water Supply (Angnakak) 1576
280 – 4(3): Nunavut Arctic College Course to Replace CARS Training (Sammurtok) 1578
101 – 4(3): Letter to Minister Bill Morneau, PC MP Regarding the Northern Residents Deduction (Peterson) 1580
102 – 4(3): Environmental Rights Act Annual Report, January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 (Mike) 1581
103 – 4(3): Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers under the Ministerial Benefits Policies, Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2015 (Taptuna) 1581
104 – 4(3): Nunavummit Kiglisiniartiit Annual Report April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 (Taptuna) 1581
105 – 4(3): Nipiit – Canada’s Inuit Youth Magazine – 11th Issue (Enook) 1581
106 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period July to September 2015 (Speaker) 1582
107 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses for the Period October to December 2015 (Speaker) 1582
108 – 4(3): Report to the Management and Services Board on Contracting Activity for the Legislative Assembly Year Ended March 31, 2015 (Speaker) 1582
022 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Mikkungwak) 1582
023 – 4(3): Addressing the Needs of Elders – Notice (Angnakak) 1582
022 – 4(3): Extended Adjournment (Mikkungwak) 1583
003 – 4(3): Deferral of the Consideration of the Proposed 2016-2017 Main Estimates of the Department of Environment (Enook) 1611
Bill 13 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 1584
Bill 13 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017 – Culture and Heritage – Consideration in Committee 1612
Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk, Mr. Joe Enook, Hon. George Hickes, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. Johnny Mike, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak, Mr. Paul Okalik, Hon. Keith Peterson, Mr. Emiliano Qirngnuq, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Tom Sammurtok, Hon. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Health, Ms. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Minister’s Statement 093 – 4(3): Clinical Nurse Educator Certified to Teach Courses (Ell-Kanayuk)
It gives me pleasure to provide the Legislative Assembly with an update on Qikiqtani General Hospital’s increased ability to train our health staff.
The clinical nurse educator at Qikiqtani General Hospital is now a certified instructor in several advanced life-saving training programs.
Mr. Speaker, this instructor certification designation is a positive step to providing training to our health care professionals on site, on a timely basis, and offered with more regularity and consistency.
Our clinical nurse educator is able to offer advanced training in:
Basic life support;
Neonatal resuscitation for newborns;
Pediatric advanced life support;  Advanced cardiac life support; and
Non-violent crisis intervention.
Previously, this form of training was only offered out-of-territory and at higher cost.
Mr. Speaker, the training certification speaks to the importance of promoting educational opportunities for our staff and Nunavummiut and offer health care skills development in Nunavut.
Doing so also enhances our life-saving intervention capacity.
Minister’s Statement 094 – 4(3): FPT Ministers of Environment Meeting in Ottawa (Mike)
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to discuss the federal/provincial/territorial ministers of environment meeting on climate change that I attended in January in Ottawa.
The two days of meetings with my fellow provincial and territorial ministers were hosted by the Hon. Federal Minister of Environment, Catherine McKenna.
This was the first time that all of our country’s environment ministers have come together to establish a pan-Canadian framework to address climate change.
This framework will be developed over the course of the next year.
During these meetings, I spoke with my fellow ministers about some of the challenges that Nunavut faces:
our reliance on fossil fuels
Nunavut’s high cost of living, and
the impacts that other nations’ carbon emissions are having on Nunavut’s land, placing our northern region at the forefront of climate change.
I also emphasized the importance of incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into these national discussions on our changing climate.
Mr. Speaker, my department is very concerned about the impacts of climate change and we are working closely with our federal leaders to ensure that they are aware of our unique challenges and continue to support the climate change adaptation initiatives that the Government of Nunavut is leading.
Mr. Speaker, my department will continue to do its part to contribute to this significant national framework in order to ensure that it reflects the needs and concerns of the people of Nunavut.
Members, the Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie, will be arriving late this afternoon.
Also, the Member for Aivilik, Steve Mapsalak, is ill today, so he won’t be attending the session.
Member’s Statement 198 – 4(3): Tribute to the Late Stuart Hodgson, C.M. (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, the north lost one of its greatest admirers and advocates on December 18 of 2015.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Stuart Hodgson, C.M., was larger than life.
He was a Second World War veteran, a founding member of the federal NDP party, a Member of the Order of Canada, and of course, the first Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to live full time North of 60.
Mr. Speaker, in his role as Commissioner for the NWT, Mr. Hodgson visited every community at least once a year.
He would hold public meetings and Mr. Speaker, as you may remember, every meeting was jam-packed with standing-room-only crowds. Community members would raise questions and concerns, they would ask more questions and make requests to Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Hodgson would deliver.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hodgson set up the beginnings of an elected legislative government for the Northwest Territories.
He also introduced Project Surname, which led the well-known Abe Okpik to travel throughout the Northwest Territories and what is now known as Nunavut to record and register surnames for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, as a teenager growing up in Kugluktuk in the 1960s and ‘70s, a visit by Commissioner Hodgson was one of celebration and awe. He was an imposing man, he stood well over six feet, yet he was friendly and open to everyone.
He took a keen interest in the Franklin Expedition. He visited Beechey Island several times and took Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and even Prince Charles and Prince Andrew to the site.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to ask members to join me in remembering the late Stuart Hodgson and his contributions to Nunavut and the north.
Member’s Statement 199 – 4(3): Success of Arctic Winter Games Participants from Arviat (Savikataaq)
I rise today to celebrate the success of the 2016 Arctic Winter Games participants from my constituency of Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, all who participate in the territorial Arctic Winter Games, even if they didn’t win an ulu, are still a winner in my book because not just anyone can go to the Arctic Winter Games. You have to be good, you have to be dedicated, and you have to be committed. Anyone who has made it to the Arctic Winter Games worked hard and they deserve to be there.
Mr. Speaker, we have 14 participants from Arviat and 8 of them brought home ulus for us. I would just like to read their names and what sports they were in.
Andrew Bell in arctic sports in the one-foot high kick open males, he got a silver; on the two-foot high kick open males, he placed fifth; on the knee jump open males, he got a silver; one hand reach open males, a silver; head pull open males, a silver; and triple jump open males, a gold.
Benjamin Manik was in the male junior basketball team with Team Nunavut and they placed fourth.
Mahasi Nateela, female junior basketball team with Nunavut, they won bronze.
Ryan O’Connor and Connor Fudge were both coaching the male bantam hockey teams and they placed fourth.
Jillian Kaviok was in the female junior volleyball with Team Nunavut and they placed fourth.
Shelby Angalik was in wrestling and wrestling individual class up to 50 kilograms junior females and she got a silver; on the Inuit wrestling up to 50 kilograms junior females, she got a silver.
Sylvia Kablutsiaq in wrestling individuals up to 60 kilograms junior females, she got a bronze; Inuit wrestling up to 60 kilograms junior females, she got a bronze.
Mr. Speaker, overall in the wrestling team, Team Nunavut junior females placed fourth.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to all join me in congratulating all these participants of the 2016 Arctic Winter Games that were held in Nuuk, Greenland.
Member for Gjoa Heaven, Mr. Tony Akoak.
Member’s Statement 200 – 4(3): NTI Board Meeting in Gjoa Haven (Akoak)
I rise today to welcome the members of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s Board of Directors who will be meeting this week in Gjoa Heaven.
I was asked to deliver an opening remark at that meeting, but since I am not there, this is why I am doing a Member’s Statement this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, NTI’s board meeting will be held from March 15 to 17.
Mr. Speaker, I note that the live proceedings of the meetings will be aired via live audiocast from NTI’s website.
In a news release, Ms. Towtongie said, and I quote, “NTI is offering this service so that Inuit have the ability to listen to live proceedings of the NTI Board meetings while they are being conducted.
The goal in hosting our Board meetings in communities was to bring NTI closer to Inuit.
This is another step in that same process.
We hope this initiative is popular and well received.”
Mr. Speaker, a community feast will be held on Wednesday evening on March 16, and to let this government know, the size of their community hall is very small at this time.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming NTI’s leadership to Gjoa Haven.
Member’s Statement 201 – 4(3): Supporting the Mianiqsijit Society (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to lend my support to the ongoing work of the Mianiqsijit Society of Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, the Mianiqsijit Project was initiated in 1989 when an upcoming court case raised awareness of the limited resources available in the community to provide counselling, support, and assistance to victims of abuse and their families.
Mr. Speaker, over the years, the Mianiqsijit Society has expanded its counselling services by providing community-based workshops and supporting many individuals and their families in addressing past trauma, such as the residential school experience.
The society has adapted to the needs of the community over time. Staff have been available to counsel court witnesses throughout the court process, provide grief and relationship counselling as well as crisis counselling in cooperation with the school crisis response team.
Mr. Speaker, the Mianiqsijit Society participates in many community events and youth programs.
Last year, the society ran a sewing program for youth making sealskin mittens.
This year, they are focusing on making hats and duffle socks.
Mr. Speaker, the Mianiqsijit Society has received funding from such sources as the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Government of Nunavut to carry on its important work.
However, funding is proving more and more difficult to access.
As we have heard during this sitting, organizations which have consistently provided important services to assist Nunavummiut in achieving good mental health and well-being are struggling to keep their doors open.
Mr. Speaker, I fully support the good work of the Mianiqsijit Society and encourage the government to give positive consideration to providing ongoing financial support for their activities.
Member’s Statement 202 – 4(3): In Remembrance of Meeka Kilabuk (Angnakak)
Before I begin my Member’s Statement, I would like to say “happy birthday” to my son, who is celebrating a birthday today, Matthew Angnakak.
I rise today to thank and acknowledge an outspoken leader, teacher, artist, and politician who has, sadly, left us.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka Kilabuk, affectionately known as “Aunty Meeka,” was born in Pangnirtung to Jim and Alukie Kilabuk.
As an adult, Meeka went on to become the first elected secretary treasurer of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, the national Inuit organization that became Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka always had a role in politics when it came to Nunavut. She was a member of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, the group charged with planning for the new territory of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka took a keen interest when it came to helping the homeless, the sick, and the poor.
She was a person who was not afraid to speak out on behalf of those who couldn’t.
Meeka was also very active beyond politics and social advocacy. She was well known for her artistic abilities.
She received first place in the North American Fur and Fashions Exposition in 2008 and came in second the following year.
Meeka was the first Inuk women to place as one of the eight finalists out of 300 worldwide entries to the International Fur Trade Federation’s competition for emerging designers.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka was inspired artistically by her father to paint and draw and by her mother to sew. Her beadwork was done with techniques that were immaculately intricate and equally stunning.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka always had a place for you in her heart.
Her smile, her laugh, and her boldness will always be remembered by all.
She was the strength and foundation of her family and was truly one of a kind.
Mr. Speaker, Meeka passed away from cancer on November 7, 2015.
We all miss her very much and I am happy that she was my friend, a member of my family, and that she included my family and me in her life.
Member’s Statement 203 – 4(3): A Recent Youth Suicide in Taloyoak (Qirngnuq)
I rise today to speak about an event that occurred last week on Thursday.
On that day, Taloyoak residents underwent a trying time when a youth committed suicide.
This person was 15 years old, who acted as a leader amongst his student peers and was a good leader.
Further, the person was also one of the officers for the Junior Rangers.
Mr. Speaker, Taloyoak has experienced two acts of suicide recently, which results in grief and misery.
Mr. Speaker, as Inuit, we cannot control another person’s life.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder how we can deliberate on this important issue here in this House, to try to lower the numbers of youth contemplating this act.
I want to share in remembering this youth and his act of suicide. Colleagues, the residents of Taloyoak are mired in sadness due to this action. Let us remember them in our thoughts as well as in our prayers.
Member’s Statement 204 – 4(3): The Passing of Inusiq Nashalik (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, my colleagues and residents of my community.
Undoubtedly for those of us who are Nunavummiut, our elders are a significant part of our cultural knowledge, as they are the last generation who practised the real Inuit traditional lifestyle and our ancient pooled knowledge, but whom are dying off as we live the cycle of life.
Let us ensure we remember the legacy of these real Inuit elders who lived with only Inuit knowledge and ancient customs as their foundation. When they pass on, we lose an immeasurable pool of knowledge related to Inuit traditions.
Some of us older generations experienced a tiny portion of this traditional lifestyle, but these true Inuit elders didn’t just hear about it; they actually practised this past, pre-colonial lifestyle.
Although this elder is not a fellow community resident of mine, we share the sense of pride as Nunavummiut. This man was Inusiq Nashalik.
He was an aged elder, attaining 98 years of age before passing on just recently in his home community of Pangnirtung.
This man was a camp leader. If people can recall our traditional leadership practices when we were nomadic and had seasonal lands, which are associated with outpost camps today, we always had a “wise leader” and this man was one that exemplified that role at Qimmiqtuuraarjuk across from Pangnirtung. We recall this man’s life with respect.
He had six daughters and two sons.
These elders, who are our last great sources of knowledge, are slowly dwindling in numbers and that is quite noticeable. Nonetheless, let us practise our traditional respect and admiration for our elders as well as extend our appreciation.
We are here today only because of our elders’ undying commitment to protect the younger generations, even to today. That is what I wanted to express here in recalling this good man and that is why I rose to voice these feelings, Mr. Speaker.
If you were brought up in the real traditional Inuit way, you were never to say an older person’s given name and to even practise that is culturally inappropriate, but as is the custom today, I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Inusiq Nashalik’s legacy.
Member’s Statement 205 – 4(3): Tribute to Inusiq Nashalik (Mike)
Good day to the people of Nunavut and Pangnirtung.
I will talk about the elder that was just mentioned some more.
Inusiq Nashalik was a good advisor of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and everything you can imagine about the ice and the animals.
He will be missed. The people of Pangnirtung will miss him a great deal because he was always on the community radio.
He was my late father’s older brother-in-law and I have followed my father’s and Inusiq’s footsteps.
They went hunting and I followed them through some rough ice and Inusiq left his qamutik behind, not knowing the qamutik came off.
I couldn’t catch up to him through the rough ice while he was travelling by snowmobile.
I finally caught up with him and his qamutik was miles away by then. I just couldn’t catch up to him, even though he was really old at that time, he was an elder.
That’s how able he was.
Especially around December, when we were in Pangnirtung, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association had a 40-year anniversary celebration.
When they were trying to get land claims, they needed four committee members from the communities.
At that time, Inusiq was one of them, representing the elders when land claims was being worked on.
I was asked to be there.
I was quite young then and there were four of us, like I said.
I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
There were four of us on the committee and Inusiq represented the elders, Norman Komoartok represented QIA, and Jaypeetee Akpalialuk represented the HTO. They have also passed away now.
Inusiq participated fully. I was representing the hamlet. He was very important back then during the negotiations.
He passed away when he was 98 years old. He experienced things that we have never seen or ever experienced.
He was there from day one.
At the time our land claims agreement was being worked on, if we were getting confused, when he started talking, he would put things in perspective, not just the Inuit perspective, but the government perspective as well.
We got an award in December just last year from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association when they recognized us. Even though some of our committee members were no longer alive, they were awarded posthumously.
He has helped a great deal for the South Baffin. He helped the land claims for the South Baffin and he enabled us to get the largest land parcel.
We managed to get more than 22 percent of Baffin Island while the other regions only got 18 percent. I know that he was fully involved with that.
We love the family that he left behind.
We have lost a big person, Inusiq Nashalik.
Returns to Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Health, Ms. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Return to Oral Question 248 – 4(3): Medical Travel Escort Policy (Ell-Kanayuk)
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Return to an oral question asked by Joe Enook, MLA for Tununiq, asked the Minister of Health, me, No. 248 – 4(3), on March 9, 2016 on the Medical Travel Escort Policy.
“Do I understand correctly that a nurse or a doctor, when they want a sick person to have an escort, that decision can be taken down by a director, yes or no?
Practitioners send escort requests to a health director for approval. Health directors may seek out more information if necessary and will approve or deny an escort request according to Health’s Medical Travel Policy escort criteria.
Medical travel clients are eligible for an escort if they meet one of the following criteria:
There is a need for legal consent by parent or guardian; or
The client has a mental or physical condition of a nature that he or she is not able to travel without additional assistance; or
A unilingual Inuit language-speaking client requires travel to an approved centre where interpreter services are not available.
The client escort will be required to speak both the client’s language and English; or  The client escort will participate in the client’s treatment program and receive instructions on specific and essential home medical/nursing procedures that cannot be given to the client only; or
The client is a unilingual Inuit language-speaking client age 65 or older. The client escort will be required to speak both the client’s language and English.
Returns to Oral Questions. I have no more names on my list.
Oral Questions. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Isaac Shooyook.
Question 271 – 4(3): Role of Elders in Court Proceedings (Shooyook)
Good afternoon, people of Nunavut and Arctic Bay, our Premier, and my colleagues. Welcome.
Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed, as per instructions from one of my constituents, to the Minister of Justice.
One of my constituents wanted me to query the minister during one of our sessions about elders who are involved in local court cases.
Elders are now usually included as participants in the trial of an accused.
This person asked me about his role. He wanted to know exactly for what purpose our elders are asked to sit in on these court cases.
Can the minister provide some clarification on this issue?
Minister of Justice, Mr. Peterson.
I didn’t get a clear translation. If the member could repeat his question and if I could get a clear translation, please.
The minister didn’t understand your question. Please clarify your question, Mr. Shooyook.
I was asking about the roles during court proceedings in the communities, where certain elders are involved in the actual court process.
I was talking about when a person is facing criminal charges in our justice system.
This elder, who is usually appointed to take part in these court trials, wanted a question asked about the actual role of elders when they are included in these proceedings. He conveyed his experiences during these trials. He stated that he seems to be there just for show, as he is provided with a seat but isn’t allowed to try to assert his opinion or to defend the accused.
He wanted to find out the reason why elders are included in these court trials. That is what he wanted to understand.