EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation ends) Rest assured, Mr. Speaker, that senior officials of the Nunavut Housing Corporation are front and centre on the rural and remote housing working group and will ensure Nunavummiut's needs are fully and completely represented and addressed.
Mr. Speaker, this meeting was not an isolated case or a one-time thing.
All ministers are excited about the opportunities this forum presents and have agreed to meet again.
But, as positive as these results are I felt this was still not enough to adequately express our current housing situation in Nunavut.
So, while in Fredericton, I arranged with Minister Gagliano to meet with him and senior CMHC officials in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, the private meeting took place on October 5, 2000.
At the meeting we agreed in addition to all other initiatives, senior officials of the Nunavut Housing Corporation and CMHC will work together to ensure and address the specific housing needs of Nunavummiut in a one-on-one setting.
To sum up, Mr. Speaker, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers responsible for housing are committed to a continuing dialogue and meeting schedule.
Their senior officials are committed to action on housing through their working groups and we in housing in Nunavut are following a separate agenda with our Federal partners.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to rising again soon in this House to report on the progress we are making on housing for Nunavummiut on the Federal and pan-Canadian scene.
Minister's Statement 134 – 1(3): FPT Ministers of Justice Meeting.
Honorable Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am very pleased to advise the Legislative Assembly that on September 10, 11, 12, I hosted the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Justice here in Iqaluit.
This is an annual meeting that provides Ministers of Justice with the opportunity to discuss significant questions of mutual concern and also to plan strategies for dealing with emerging issues.
On September 10, I chaired a meeting of territorial and provincial ministers where we discussed common issues in preparation for the meetings with the Federal Minister of Justice and the Federal Solicitor General on September 11 and 12.
I co-chaired the full Federal-Provincial-Territorial meetings with Anne McLellan, the federal Minister of Justice.
Twenty-one issues were covered on the agenda, including several that were of particular interest to Nunavut.
The significant topics for us were family law, victims of crime, domestic violence, the renewal of the federal youth justice strategy and legal aid.
I believe that progress was made in each of these areas.
In some cases, the progress amounted to ministers clearly stating the concerns of their jurisdictions.
In other cases next steps were identified so that we can continue on a joint Federal, Provincial and Territorial basis.
The News Release following the meetings was issued for the first time in Inuktitut, as well as English and French.
This is an important step because it increases the accessibility of Nunavummiut to the results of this important set of meetings.
For your information the News Release is available on the Internet at the web site of the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat.
We can provide you with the Internet address for this site if you so wish.
(interpretation ends)We also hosted two social evenings for our guests, who numbered about 110.
These events as well as the meetings themselves were very successful, in large part due to the efforts of individuals in the Department of Justice.
I want to acknowledge with thanks all the hard work that Nunavut Justice employees put into the three days.
As well, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for allowing us to use the Legislature building to host the ministers and their staff for one of the social evenings.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the follow-up messages we have received from participants at the meetings say that these FPT Minister of Justice meetings were the best ever-because they were held in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 135 – 1(3): Uqausiit Tukingit Dictionary
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to be back here as well and I welcome the public in the chambers.
I am also very happy to welcome back all my colleagues.
I know we went through a difficult time during the past summer in Nunavut, not only us personally but the families that we represent out there.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand in our Legislative Assembly today to announce the publication of Uqausiit Tukingit in the Tunnuniq dialect.
The dictionary was compiled by a group of elders from Pond Inlet over a seven-year period and completed by Elisapee Ootoova, a Teaching and Learning Centre consultant with Qikiqtani School Services.
The dictionary will be distributed to all schools in Qikiqtani region and to other Nunavut schools at their request.
The dictionary is 630 pages long and has approximately 15,000 entries.
A celebration is taking place today and I would like to commend the elders for the extraordinary work they have done.
At the appropriate time I will be tabling this document.
Member's Statement 417 – 1(3): Success of Power Corporation Decentralization
Uqaqti, before I start my member's statement I would like to thank Manitok Thompson for her kind remarks about the province of New Brunswick.
It used to be my home 30 years ago but Nunavut is now my home.
It was great to hear somebody talk about the province of New Brunswick.
Uqaqti, today I speak with pride about what is happening in Baker Lake.
Uqaqti, earlier this month a historic first ever meeting of the Nunavut Power Corporation occurred in Baker Lake.
The directors approved the first ever budget for the Nunavut Power Corporation of over 40 million dollars.
Uqaqti, the establishment of the Power Corporation is a real success story for the community, residents of Nunavut, and for this government's decentralization plan.
Uqaqti, members know very well that I am not at all hesitant about speaking up when I think this government heads in the wrong direction.
But I want to sincerely acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Minister Picco, in ensuring that the set up of the Power Corporation headquarters has proceeded in a well-organized, community sensitive fashion, and also Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Premier for keeping his promise to the people of Baker Lake.
Uqaqti, 15 trainees, all of them residents of Baker Lake, have been hired by the Corporation.
These much needed jobs are an investment in the skills development of our local work force and is an important step toward greater self-reliance in our community and also reflects the Bathurst mandate.
Decentralization has not been an easy road.
The government has come under fire from a number of quarters, especially from the print media here, for its attempt to provide opportunities to our smaller communities.  Uqaqti, what’s happening in Baker Lake for the Power Corporation is a lesson for us all.
Make the tough decisions, provide training opportunities for our residents, follow through with adequate support and resources.
Uqaqti, I urge this government to take the lessons it has learned with this success story and apply them across all of Nunavut.
Member's Statement 418 – 1(3): Gjoa Haven Water Update
First of all I would like to say hello to my constituents in Uqsuqtuq and Taloyoak and to my family that I have left behind, especially my grandchild, Eetuk.
I rise today to bring back to the attention of all members the Gjoa Haven water situation.
We have been discussing this water situation in Gjoa Haven and we have raised it, as members know, a number of times over the past year by the Mayor and Hamlet Council as well as others.
I would like to thank the Ministers of Health and CGT for all the work they have done for my constituency on this issue.
Now that we are back in session I plan to ask more questions on this matter.
Later today I will be tabling a document entitled "Gjoa Haven 2000 Water Study."
Member's Statement 419 – 1(3): Open and Accountable Government
Mr.Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome back my colleagues and fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I’m sure everyone has returned refreshed and energised from this summer.
It’s been a busy time for many of us, out on the land, out on the water, spending quality time with our families as well as spending some busy days, usually the nicest ones of the year in summer, in committee meeting rooms.
We have a great many challenges before us, but we’ve also had a year and a half of solid experience behind us.
We have made mistakes and we have learned from them.
The people of Nunavut expect to see an open and accountable government and I believe that we have made a commitment to meet that expectation.
Mr. Speaker I look forward to a productive session.
I welcome the opportunity to continue raising issues, seeking clarification and reaching solutions, all in the spirit of consensus government.
Our work lies ahead of us and with strong will and determination, I know that we will continue to serve the people of Nunavut well.
Member's Statement 420 – 1(3): Finding Solutions for Suicide Problems
Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is nice to be back in session again and I would like to say hello to my relatives.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to indicate how I think the suicide issue is very important in Nunavut.
It is very emotional for us and it effects us all.
We all have ideas on how the government should be responding to this kind of crisis.
We have to look for solutions for this serious problem.
Mr. Speaker, a lot of our people don't know what they are supposed to be doing in their lives.
This government, the Nunavut Government, should be addressing these crises and I will be raising questions in regards to that because it effects all of us and effects all of the people of Nunavut.
We know we have to start dealing with that because it still exists today.
While this effects us it also effects people in other parts of the country.
We all know now that this is a very important and serious issue.
For the Inuit our culture, even though we might not be able to go back to our original ways, we have to scratch the surface about how to start finding solutions for this urgent problem.
Speaker: Thank you. Members' statements.
Member's Statement 421 – 1(3): Coral Harbour Bowhead Whale Hunt
Welcome Ms. Aglukkaq to the Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, last summer there was a Bowhead hunt in Coral Harbour and we were very proud of the way it was handled.
It didn't take them very long to make the kill because they were prepared very far in advance.
So on behalf of my constituents I would like to recognize the captain Mikijuk Bruce and co-captain, Johnny Nakoolak.
We are very proud of their accomplishments because they were able to handle it very well and they were very well prepared.
Mr. Speaker, for generations we could not hunt Bowhead whales but our people told stories about how our ancestors used to go on these hunts, a lot of times they were emotional because they were thinking about their ancestors.
We were happy to see that we were able to pass this knowledge along to the younger generation so it will go into the future.
We would like to thank the Coral Harbour residents from all Nunavummiut and I hope the people that wanted the muktuk of the Bowhead received some.
For the next Bowhead whale hunt, if it is possible, we would like to see them prepared well in advance as well, so this kind of hunt will be able to go on in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 422 - 1(3): Time Zone Change Process
I am very happy to be here and to see the rest of my colleagues.
I would like to thank and say hello to the people of Kugluktuk, who are watching today.
I rise today on behalf of my constituents in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, for almost a year now, we have been trying as MLAs to deal with the single time zone issue.
Mr. Speaker, we have been working as MLAs to encourage unity across all parts of Nunavut.
This single time zone was an attempt to encourage this.
But, Mr. Speaker, the experience of the past year has been a painful one.
We found that the Baffin was clearly unhappy with the change.
The unhappiness that this decision caused was felt throughout Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the house that the government’s announcement earlier this month may have solved one problem, but it has created another.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Kugluktuk feel that the time zone problem has been dumped onto the Kitikmeot.
They do not feel that this new change will benefit them at all.
Later today I will be tabling letters received from the people of Kugluktuk on this issue, and I will be asking questions to the appropriate minister.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I also want to speak out on the process that led to the governments recent announcement.
I cannot speak for all of my colleagues, but I certainly do not believe I was adequately involved in the decision to make this change.
In fact, I was only advised of the change a couple of hours before it was announced.
That is not real consultation.
Speaker: I would like to remind members, I know it has been a fair bit of time, it is our first day back.
But for members themselves and the members that sit alongside them, if they could also try to remind them when their time is up, so that everybody gets a chance to speak.
I would like to add a little bit more.
If the members agree I would like unanimous consent to conclude my member's statement.
Speaker: The member is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, all of you.
Mr. Speaker, the government showed that it was willing to listen to the concerns of the people of the Baffin.
It heard their concerns, and it acted.
I would like to see the government listen in the coming months to the people of my region, and to commit to reviewing this issue again.
Member's Statement 423 – 1(3): Iqaluit Town Council Elections
Welcome back to Iqaluit to the members and also just to add, a special welcome to our new Deputy Clerk, Leona Aglukkaq.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday a new council and Mayor were elected for the Town of Iqaluit.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Kilabuk, Deputy Mayor Ben Ell, and the members who served on council over the past term.
They were elected and served through a term of tremendous growth, change and development in our community.
Changes in the senior administration at the town also compounded some of the issues that they had to deal with.
Mr. Speaker, Mayor Kilabuk and his council have laid some good ground work for town development and now it is time to move forward with our new council on these issues.
This new council will be ably led by Mayor-elect John Matthews.
Mr. Speaker, I have known John for the past 16 years and I know that John is hard-working, honest and a team builder.
With a mix of old and new faces the council will need to address the thorny issues of, yes Mr. Speaker, pavement as well as development, increased population and the pressures of a growing community.
I will be again formally requesting that the Town Council review and adopt the Nunavut Capital Commission Report.
This report tabled by myself here in this Assembly this past spring has not been adopted by the council and I sincerely believe that it does give the Town Council good suggestions and ideas on setting up a Capital Commission as well as a development plan for heritage and historic areas for our community.
Mr. Speaker, I do look forward to working with the Mayor-elect Matthews and our new council and hopefully with our two other colleagues Mr. Speaker, Mr. Tootoo and Mr. Okalik, sitting down over the coming weeks with our new council to address these and other issues and I would ask you and this House to join me in congratulating Mayor-elect Matthews and the new council.
>>Applause  Speaker: Thank you Mr. Picco.
Member's Statement 424 – 1(3): High Arctic Constituency Concerns
Mr. Speaker, as you know the people of Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord and Resolute do not currently have representation in this House.
I rise today to tell the people of those communities that as members of this Assembly we would like to assist them while they do not have an MLA to represent them.
Should they have any concerns or questions that they want to see raised in the Legislative Assembly during this session by members, they can fax us, to any members, they can be assisted by any of the members.
They can send letters to us by fax at 867-975-5190.
Public notices will also be posted in the Hamlet offices of those communities with the fax numbers and contact information, if they wish to voice their concerns to any of the members.
Member's Statement 425 – 1(3): Kivalliq Boating Tragedy
First of all, eighteen years ago my son Robin was born this day and I wanted to wish him happy birthday in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to mention the loss of the loved ones either through accidents or through suicide.
All of us felt the effects of the tragedy that happened in Kivalliq.
I think everybody in Nunavut was effected by this tragedy.
Larry Ussak, David Kadjuk, Sandy Sateana and Louis Pilakapsi unfortunately lost their lives in this accident.
In memory of those lost loved ones I want to extend my condolences to Jane Ussak, Sarah Kadjuk, Wendy Kusugak and Kathy Pilakapsi and all of the other affected people.
They have lost someone that was their partner, their confidant and we feel that loss with them.
I think everybody here knows who Louis Pilakapsi was because he has been one of the significant leaders here in Nunavut.
Some of us have felt this loss a great deal.
Louis Pilakapsi was one of the noted leaders and negotiators for Nunavut land claims.
He was very much involved with land claims negotiations.
I just wanted them to be recognized for all the work they did in helping with land claims negotiations and with Inuit organizations such as KIA.
One of the persons who died was a member of KIA and was a former mayor of Rankin Inlet.
This loss will be felt by all of us in Nunavut.
Again, we want to extend our condolences to the families that were left behind.
Mr. Speaker, we have striven hard to comfort these people, despite these tragedies life goes on.
We can only offer our support to those who lost their loved ones by extending our condolences and by being there for them.
Member's Statement 426 – 1(3): Passing of Rosie Oolooyuk
I am glad to be back here with my colleagues and welcome Leona Aglukkaq to the Assembly.
We had a really good spring and summer.
We were with our loved ones and now summer is over and we have to move on again.
Like Mr. Anawak said we had a relatively difficult summer, there were many tragedies that occurred.
Some of those people whose lives were lost were noted leaders.
In Hall Beach we have lost loved ones as well and I wanted to mention one of the leaders who passed away.
Rosie Oolooyuk was close to 100 years old.
She led a very good life and was very pleasant.
I wanted to extend my condolences to the family that she left behind.
There were many tragic occurrences that effected the lives of people in Nunavut.
I regret those tragic occurrences happened, but despite these losses life does go on and we as Inuit all know that we can only continue to move forward.
Member's Statement 427 – 1(3): Role as New Minister
I want to start by saying hello to my relatives in Sanikiluaq first, my father, my siblings.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that it is good to be back here with all my colleagues.
This past spring I was appointed as a minister, before spring I was not a minister, but today I can stand as a minister and you are all aware that if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to ask me.
If I can respond correctly to your questions then I will.
The ministers are accountable for all the programs run by our department and Mr. Speaker, the members here will be asking questions towards the ministers in the coming week.
I look forward to hearing your questions and hope to respond in compliance with your questions.
Our respected elder member and my good friend, Mr. Alakannuark.
Member's Statement 428 – 1(3): Improved Roads for Kugaaruk
I am glad to be here today and I look forward to working with all the other members here again.
I am sure we will have fun as well.
It is good to be here and I want to welcome Leona Aglukkaq to the Assembly as well.
I want to share some good news.
The road development in Kugaaruk is going ahead as was planned.
We needed new roads in Kugaaruk and it is good to see these roads being built.
This has been a concern for quite some time.
These roads will now improve all the municipal services in the community and those who came to visit us in our community, Premier Okalik and Mr. Anawak, I want to thank you for visiting our community.
Your visit meant a great deal.
It showed that we are working closely together.
While they were visiting we went on a fishing trip with them.
We had fun there and perhaps when they come into our community again and go out on an all-terrain vehicle, they will have a much smoother ride this time around.
Member's Statement 429 – 1(3): Inuktitut Language Dictionary
I would like to thank the elders of Pond Inlet who produced a very good dictionary that was mentioned earlier by the Premier in his minister’s statement.
I am sure they had a difficult time in trying to compile the terminology in Inuktitut.
I wish to extend my gratitude to the Minister of Education who was able to assist us while producing this dictionary that will be useful to all Nunavummiut.
There will be a lot of old Inuktitut words in the dictionary.
Mr. Speaker, in addition I also wish to say hello to my grandchildren who might be watching me on TV today.
Member's Statement 430 – 1(3): Visit to Pangnirtung
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and the Premier, my colleagues and staff.
I was in Ottawa earlier this morning and despite bad weather I was able to make it here and I am happy to be back in Iqaluit, back to this snow covered land of ours.
I was attending the Federal Ministers of the Environment meeting in Ottawa.
Once I got off the plane our weather was quite bad, but I was able to make it on time to this session.
I just wish to indicate that we had a very busy summer and I wish to thank all my fellow colleagues and especially my constituents of Pangnirtung.
I will be travelling to Pangnirtung this weekend.
I was not able to make it last weekend due to weather, however I intend to make my visit to Pangnirtung this weekend.
I also wish to thank all the people who have assisted us in our department and I am sure that we will be working well together again.
If I could beg your indulgence, I would just like to make a comment in reference to Mr. Anawak's statement about the tragic loss of the men in a boating accident outside of Arviat.
I think it should be noted that many thanks should be given to the many people that worked very hard to try to save these men.
The search went on for many days and weeks and there were some key people that played a very important role in the search from various communities, including my own of Arviat and Rankin Inlet and others.
Just to note a few, Mr. Joe Kaludjak from Rankin, Shawn Maley who co-ordinated parts of the search, Mayor David Alagalak from my home community.
Mr. Flynn, Mr. James Tagalik and many others that worked in vain to try to locate these men and save their lives.
I think it should be noted that these people did try as hard as they did and I am sure that all the people of Nunavut and members of this Assembly will keep the memories of these men that were lost in their thoughts.
Speaker: If I may members, I would like to recognize a former member of my community from Arviat, Mr. Illniq in the gallery here.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I’d like to welcome to the gallery a well known libertarian, as opposed to librarian, an environmentalist, an activist, and a web master, Mr. Marcel Mason.
I’d also like to welcome to the gallery, from News North, our intrepid media reporter, Kerry McCluskey, and I’d like to apologise to Kerry for missing our meeting yesterday.