EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As one of three members who were elected in by-elections, I have been very grateful for the support that I have received from you and all of my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, when I made my first statement in the Legislative Assembly, I spoke about my commitment to addressing Pangnirtung’s priorities and issues.
Over the past two years, I have raised such issues as the need to support our fishing industry, improve our infrastructure, and strengthen programs and services for our people.
Mr. Speaker, earlier in this sitting, I was very pleased to have voted for new funding to provide renovations… .
Thank you, my colleagues, for allowing me to complete my statement.
Earlier in this sitting, I was very pleased to have voted for new funding to provide renovations to the community’s arena and also towards the relocation of the community’s airport.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am confident that we can make progress.
I want to take this opportunity to inform the people of Pangnirtung that I will be seeking re-election in next month’s election.
This decision was made after close consultation with my family, and I am grateful for the strength that they gave me while I served as a Member for the Legislative Assembly. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 584 – 3(3): Reflections on Representing Quttiktuq (Elliott)
I rise today to offer my reflections on representing Quttiktuq in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, during this final sitting of the House, a number of my colleagues have offered their thoughts and feelings about the extraordinary experience that we have shared together over the past five years.
Mr. Speaker, I have listened to their words with care, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment and passion to representing their constituencies and communities.
Mr. Speaker, I recently took the opportunity to review the first statement that I made in this House on November 19, 2008.
At that time, I committed to vigorously raising the issues of my constituents in Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay and I pledged to seek action and solutions.
Mr. Speaker, although much work remains ahead of us, we have accomplished a great deal together.
Over the past five years, a number of important projects for new infrastructure in the High Arctic have moved forward on our capital plan.
I am very proud to have pushed hard for the government to recognize community needs in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay. These include a new community learning centre for Grise Fiord, a new utilidor for Resolute Bay, a new health centre for Arctic Bay, a new arena for Resolute Bay, and a new government office facility in Grise Fiord.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, addressing the high cost of living in the High Arctic has been one of my priorities as the Member for Quttiktuq.
Although the government has not moved as quickly as I would have liked in implementing its High Arctic Transportation Strategy, we now have a foundation of work on which to build in the next Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the work that we have accomplished together as a Legislative Assembly on the issues of food security, poverty reduction, and the federal Nutrition North Canada Program has been extremely important.
Our public hearings on the Nutrition North Canada Program and the recent motion that we unanimously passed calling on the Auditor General to review it have raised awareness across the country about the issue of food security in the north.
I would also like to take this opportunity to again thank my colleagues in this House for their support for the Private Member’s Bill that I introduced concerning the donation of food.
Mr. Speaker, during my term of office, I have appreciated opportunities to spend time in all three communities that I have the honour of representing in this House.
I would like to pay public tribute to the mayors, councillors, and other elected leaders in Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord, and Arctic Bay for their support and advice to me.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to request consent to continue with my Member’s Statement.
Mr. Speaker, the need for government accountability, economic development, a progressive education system, strong environmental protection, and a caring social safety net for our society’s most vulnerable are extremely important issues.
I have been proud to work with Members of this House, stakeholders, and my constituents to achieve progress in all of these areas.
Mr. Speaker, the accomplishments of such groups as the Arctic Fishery Alliance demonstrate what can be achieved when communities work together for a common goal.
The hearings over which I have presided as a standing committee chair on such matters as the annual reports of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly have been important occasions for ensuring government transparency and accountability.
Our passage of Bill 40 and other important pieces of legislation during the life of this Assembly shows that our commitment to the well-being of our children and our society is strong.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my constituency assistants, Irene Willie and Lysa Watsko, for their dedication and support.
As we are all aware, MLAs cannot always be in the community, and these two individuals were always there when I could not.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude today by expressing my deepest appreciation to all of my constituents in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay for the trust and confidence that they have placed in me. It has truly been an honour to serve.
Item 3. Members’ Statements. Member for Tununiq, Mr. Enook.
Member’s Statement 585 – 3(3): Congratulations to Crew of First Air Flight 822 (Enook)
Good morning to my fellow community members and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my warmest congratulations to the crew of First Air Flight 822.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, First Air Flight 822 made its usual round trip from Iqaluit to Igloolik and Hall Beach.
What distinguished this flight from the many others that are made on a daily basis was that the entire crew was Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, Captain Mike Innuksuk was in command of the aircraft. Captain Innuksuk lives in Pond Inlet and I know that his young family is very proud of him.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, First Officer Jimmy Merkosak is originally from Pond Inlet and currently resides in Iqaluit.
I have known Jimmy for many years and am proud to call him a friend.
Mr. Speaker, Flight Attendant Jane Flaherty-Lambe is originally from Grise Fiord.
She recently joined First Air.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this is a success story of which we must all be proud.
Becoming a trained and certified aviation professional is a significant accomplishment.
The hard work, dedication, and perseverance demonstrated by Mike, Jimmy, and Jane in earning their credentials should be and must be an inspiration to our youth.
It shows that if you put in enough hard work, your dreams can literally take flight.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to First Air’s commitment to training and employment opportunities for our people.
This is exactly the kind of commitment that will build our territory.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the entire crew of First Air Flight 822.
Member’s Statement 586 – 3(3): The Ineffective Nutrition North Canada Program (Schell)
In May, this House approved a motion calling upon the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a performance audit of the Nutrition North Canada Program. The motion passed unanimously.
In addition, our territorial counterparts in the NWT and Yukon also passed similar motions with unanimous consent.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure all members welcome the news that the Auditor General has heard our collective voices and agreed to take on this important work. The only bad news is Nunavummiut will have to struggle for another year under this ineffective program. I’m sure the Auditor General will discover that federal tax dollars are being spent.
However, I doubt that he will believe that they are being spent to help consumers.
Without knowing the freight rates that these major retailers are paying to the airlines, it will be impossible to determine whether or not the total subsidy is being passed on.
I’m not a mathematician, but I do know that you can’t calculate any equation if you’re missing too many variables.
If we don’t know the freight rates or the cost of goods, we will never be able to accurately determine whether or not we’re receiving any of that subsidy.
Mr. Speaker, under the old food program, everybody knew what the freight rate was and it was applied equally to all communities. Here’s an example.
I have compared the price of 3 lbs. of apples in four communities from the Kitikmeot to the Baffin and the cost varied from $8.50 to $10.95.
There is a small supplier in Montreal who supplies produce to small retailers in Nunavut and receives a 30 percent discount from the airlines for its freight.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that our two major northern retailers are receiving freight discounts of up to 50 percent. When you factor in those discounts and apply the subsidy that the retailers are getting from Nutrition North, it’s easy to conclude that they’re making a profit on the freight.
They actually make a profit of $2.20 on every kilo of freight flown into Arctic Bay. Three lbs. of apples costs $2.50 down south and in Arctic Bay, they actually make a profit of $3.80 on those apples.
They could give away these apples and still make a profit of 58 cents for three lbs. of apple.
An Hon. Member: No!
Mr. Schell: The actual percentage of profit in these four communities on three lbs. of apples varied from 300 to 1,000 percent.
Unless the Auditor General obtains the actual freight rate the retailers pay to the airlines, we will never be able to determine if the total subsidy is passed on.
Member’s Statement 587 – 3(3): Reflections on Representing Nattilik (Ugyuk)
Since I believe that this is our last day, I want to express my gratitude and I am quite pleased today.
As the Member for Nattilik, I wish to extend my thanks to Nunavummiut for their support no matter where they come from.
Many people have expressed their support and for that, I thank all Nunavummiut who have sent me their thoughts.
Also, I have the good people of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak to thank for having had the confidence to elect me as their representative.
Further, even small children comment that they saw me on the television.
I respond by saying that some day, they too may reach that platform in the future.
The children are the most endearing, as they are so proud of recognizing the people they see on television and they express pride in all of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Let us continue to encourage all of our youth to work towards a brighter future.
Also, a big thank you to the many residents of Nunavut who extend their support through their prayers for the leaders of Nunavut and the MLAs here to provide guidance in governing Nunavut that is beneficial to all of the residents.
This is especially the case amongst our elders, and I thank those in my riding, particularly the elders of Gjoa Haven, Aaquaq and the family, my mother-in-law Mary Takkiruq, and the elders of Taloyoak.
Molly Tootalik, thank you for providing me all the concerns of the elders. I also thank Tucktoo.
I would like to especially thank these elders, as they are always sending their thoughts on issues.
I thank my family, my mother, my siblings, and all of my relatives in Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven for their support. I love them all, my relatives such as my nieces and nephews.
I am also quite happy to state that in the next election, Taloyoak and Kugaaruk will now be in the same riding.
The people have wanted this ever since the electoral boundaries were established prior to Nunavut. I am very appreciative of that fact.
Are there any nays? There are none. Please proceed, Ms. Ugyuk.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I thank my colleagues for their consent.
Last but not least, I would like to thank both First Air and Canadian North, as we use these airlines to fly to Iqaluit and with no direct flights. Kitikmeot is quite far, with overnight stoppages required. I would like to thank those airlines for providing transportation and safe flights back and forth from our home to our sessions here.
I want to especially thank the residents of Iqaluit for their warm hospitality.
I also wish to thank all of my colleagues here in the House, whether they are members of the cabinet or regular members. I thank each and every one of you.
I also wanted to state that the youth and children are, indeed, our future of Nunavut and it is theirs to hold.
We will have a great voice in the future of Nunavut and I am grateful to have that opportunity to see that in our future.
I wish all youth a great future and to embrace life and not to contemplate suicide.
I also wish that each and every resident of Nunavut has a good future and to wish that upon their fellow Nunavummiut.
Member’s Statement 588 – 3(3): Reflections on Representing Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove (Kusugak)
Good morning. I also say “good morning” to the people of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, I also wish to say a few words.
Now and then, I remember when I was elected to this House and I greatly appreciate the residents of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet for choosing me to represent them. I also thank the other candidate who ran during that election.
During the time when I was elected, I had three daughters, whom I still have, and my wife who has been very supportive of me. Today is our last day of our session and I now have a grandchild who is four years old.
I have seen great change in life, especially within Nunavut.
I have lost relatives who are close to me, but I have also gained many more relatives.
Let me talk about my four-year-old grandson. A few days ago, his mother asked him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. (interpretation ends) “What kind of cake do you want?”
“I don’t want to turn four,” he said.
“Well, you’re going to turn four. What kind of cake do you want?”
“I don’t want turn four!”
“So what kind of cake do you want?”
He says, “I want a ‘yuck’ cake then!”
If he has to turn four, he’s going to have a “yuck” cake because it’s a “yuck” birthday. We found out that a “yuck” cake meant a cake designed with the Toronto Maple Leaf colours…
…from no influence from me, Mr. Speaker.
He has since changed his mind and decided he’s going to celebrate his fourth birthday properly and is now going to celebrate it today with a cake designed with the Montreal Canadiens colours.
Over the five years, I have seen a lot of changes. I’ve had a few bets with my colleague from Cambridge Bay. We have won some and lost some.
I have never seen anyone go through so many markers in my life. He’s got every shade under the sun of highlighters. He’s borrowed a few of mine over the years.
I’m sure I have the record… .
Mr. Speaker, if I may ask for unanimous consent to continue and finish my statement.
Thank you for allowing me to finish my statement.
I’m sure I have the record for seconding the most motions of any assembly anywhere. It was my privilege.
(interpretation) To wrap up my statement, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my gratitude to my colleagues for being able to work closely together, especially my Executive Council colleagues and my questioners on the other side over there.
It has been exciting, despite being challenging at all times and not always in agreement, but that is how the process works. What matters is that we worked together and that has been gratifying.
In particular, having to spent a great deal of time living here, I give a huge “thank you” to Iqalummiut for always being receptive to me and my wife and my children whenever they come here.
It is unfortunate that I was unable to spend a lot more time with residents of Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove and their understanding why that was the case is something I appreciate very much.
Thank you to my relatives, to my wife especially and children. They have been very important support for me, even though I spent a lot of time without them over these past years.
We still have considerable work to do. My old riding of Rankin Inlet South will now just be all Rankin Inlet. I’m giving notice that I will seek re-election. The work that I have to do is still considerable.
We need an elders’ facility. We need a boarding home for Kivalliq patients and for mental health. We need a mental health home in Kivalliq, especially perhaps in Nunavut.
Yes, we have so much work to do. I, too, would like to work again with those issues. I would like to announce to the people of Rankin Inlet that I will be running again.
Lastly, it has been an enjoyable time and I hope we see each other again in the future.
Member’s Statement 589 – 3(3): Reflections on Representing Iqaluit East (Aariak)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my gratitude to my constituents from Iqaluit East constituency for putting their confidence in me and providing their support.
Since I became a Member of the Legislative Assembly, time has passed very quickly.
It has been a short four years, and I am very pleased and proud to have been able to serve my constituency and Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) What a privilege and an honour it has been to serve the people of Nunavut and my constituency.
(interpretation) I especially would like to thank Adamie Itorcheak, my constituency assistant, for working very hard. Sometimes he had too much work to do. Thank you very much, Adamie, even though you have a different job now.
I also thank Eva Akpalialuk, who has been my CM, and Amanda Ford for providing their support to me. I thank each and every one of you.
I also thank my colleagues at the cabinet level. Thank you very much.
As we are working towards the best interests of the people, we work very hard under the consensus style of government.
We may not agree at times, but majority rules.
Also, I would like to thank the regular members from across the room.
We gained many friends.
During the question period, we don’t seem to be friends, but when we get out of this Chamber, we seem to be friends. I am very pleased to see that. Some members are announcing that they want to run again.
Are there any nays? There are none. Please proceed, Ms. Aariak.
Piliriqatigiittiarniq, having a good working relationship, is very important and our goal and objective is to ensure that we work for the best interests of our people. Thank you for pushing us to do that to make sure that we can succeed.
We still have a lot of work to do, but we have many success stories too. We have worked very hard to improve social issues so that we are working to support economic development in the communities and self-sufficiency at the local level. That is what we work towards.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the Legislative Assembly staff. John Quirke, thank you for your guidance.
In the beginning, when we were all new members, I’m sure it was like herding cats. I think we have come a long way since then.
Thank you for guiding us with sometimes what is a very foreign concept for us here in conducting Legislative Assembly business.
You guided us well.
Thank you to all your staff.
Thank you to the interpreters, who have probably one of the toughest jobs here. (interpretation) Thank you very much to the interpreter/translators in English and in Inuktitut.
They have the most difficult job, especially when we start speaking very fast.
They have to try to keep up in a different language.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my staff, Paul Crowley, my principal secretary, Emily Woods, Madeleine Allakariallak, my EA, and Dorcas Nattaq.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the deputy ministers that I have been working with in EIA, Daniel Vandermeulen, and the Deputy Minister of Education, Kathy Okpik, for their very hard work.
Also, I would also like to extend my gratitude from inside to my family, to my children, especially Karliin and Jamal, for their great support.
When my son goes to school, my daughter and her husband were literally parents when I would be travelling away from home.
My son is now attending another school outside of Iqaluit.
Thank you very much for helping me to raise and help with my children. I was able to do my work better with the support of my family members.
I am sure you have heard two weeks ago through the news media that if I was elected again, I would not be running for the Premier’s position. There are many capable people who are out there.
I give them an opportunity to take this.
Mr. Speaker, I heard from my family that I will be giving my name out for the next election next month.
Also, our constituency has changed, and now there are four constituencies now in Iqaluit.
I wasn’t really sure which constituency I would be putting my name in for, but at this time, I would like to say that I have made up my mind which constituency I will be running in.
I will be running in Tasiluk.
It is part of my old constituency and it has been added.
I feel it is very important that the election of the Members of the Legislative Assembly is important and for everyone to be able to have the opportunity to go and vote.
You can vote for whoever you feel will be capable.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank you all.
Member’s Statement 590 – 3(3): Reflections on Representing Kugluktuk (Taptuna)
Good morning to Kuglukturmiut. I know it’s early there.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I recognize that it’s the last session that we will be holding this year.
I want to congratulate the crew from First Air, the first and only Inuit crew, Flight 822. I recall when the past president approached me to strengthen their training programs within First Air and I gladly obliged him.
With the help of my colleagues here, we can see the results after several years.
Mr. Speaker, I want to start off this morning in gratitude. I’ve had the great pleasure of having the opportunity to represent my constituents of Kugluktuk as their MLA and as the representative for Nunavummiut in the number of portfolios that I held.
The last five years have been a humbling experience. I have gone through ups and downs, just like a lot of my fellow Members of the Assembly, and through that, I have learned a lot.
Mr. Speaker, I have learned that you can’t do everything for everybody even if you want to and that there’s never enough money to do things that you know needs addressing.
It’s real hard work trying to get more money out of the federal government for projects when you think you need more money to get the work done.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I have learned that regular MLAs are good people too…
…even though they can’t seem to understand my answers because it isn’t the answer that they want or expect.
All things aside, I want to thank the regular MLAs on that side of the House for their patience and trust provided to me over the last five years.
That means a lot and for that, I am grateful.
It has been a great pleasure to serve with my fellow cabinet members. Thank you for your guidance and support.
I believe all of us have worked very hard in trying to do what we think was the best for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, partnerships are an important aspect of the work we do as a government and so our partnerships with Inuit organizations, the federal government, and other organizations have been truly appreciated and important.
It has not always been easy to come to agreement, but I believe that we all have the best at heart when we all strive to get the best possible results on common issues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to thank the various departments.
Are there any nays? There are none. Please proceed, Mr. Taptuna.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to thank the various departments that have worked under my ministerialship. I want to stress how grateful I am to your work and dedication in getting the right message out to the people we all serve.
Thank you for your patience and loyalty.
I don’t say it often enough, but I thank you all for what you have done on behalf of the people of Nunavut and on my behalf.