EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Also, the construction of the seven SIP units will have to be completed by this fall, as per our expectations. We will try to stick to the dates in this work plan. NCC Dowland has been awarded the construction contract for these units.
We expect that the units will be completed in October.
Once the gravel has been laid down and the snow has melted, the work will begin immediately.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your first supplementary question, Ms. Ugyuk.
Yes, I also wish to thank Lyall Construction for working on the gravel needs. However, I was informed that the gravel crusher is not in Taloyoak. Will this present a problem?
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): I will look into that. We haven’t heard from Lyall Construction whether or not they require a gravel crusher or if this will present a problem.
They haven’t informed us, but perhaps they have informed you of the situation.
However, once we have all of the information about the issues, we can deal with any issues. If this is a problem, we will be notified as soon as possible.
However, based on our current plans, we expect to have these units completed by October. We don’t want to go beyond that date and that’s our deadline.
I will commit to looking into the gravel issue and whether it will present a problem.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your second supplementary. (interpretation) Are you finished?
Question 092 – 3(3): Elder Advisor Positions in the Government of Nunavut (Tapardjuk)
I really want to direct a question to my Annuraaqatik, the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
I did some research amongst my constituents in the two communities as to the questions they wanted raised on their behalf.
That is one of the duties of an elected official and that is why I ran for election to represent them, to raise questions on their behalf.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has offices in Igloolik, Kugluktuk, Iqaluit, and Baker Lake, broken into regional offices serving their regions.
In reviewing the government’s current staff directory, I noted that the Department of CLEY has an elder advisor position that would provide advice to the department on elders’ issues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to first ask this question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth: in the departmental offices of CLEY at Igloolik, has the elder advisor position been filled?
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, James Arreak.
I also would like to thank my Annuraaqatik for raising that question.
At this time, the elder advisor positions haven’t been filled in any of the communities, even at the Iqaluit office.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Tapardjuk.
In the mission statement of the department listed under the main estimates we reviewed in March, it states that the government will work hard to promote “Inuit Societal Values through the application of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.”
This is one of the goals of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. That is stated in the mission statement and that is one of their goals.
With this goal and the 2011-12 main estimates budget stating that they would work on that goal, can the minister tell me, Mr. Speaker, what the reasons are for not filling these elder advisory positions who would serve as the experts for the department? What is the reason for the delay? Let me raise that question firstly.
Minister James Arreak.
We haven’t stated that this is a problem at CLEY.
At present, we can fill the position on a casual basis.
No doubt Mr. Tapardjuk remembers that CLEY hired a previous elder advisor on a contract basis because his old-age pension would have been deducted were he hired on a permanent basis. This was set up mutually between both parties.
That contract is now ended.
We can now hire on a casual basis for a four to six month period.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Arreak.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Tapardjuk.
I would also like to thank the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
From my perspective, I imagined that elders had looked forward to applying for these positions. Further, in March of this year, the minister tabled the Elders Program Strategy and it outlines the programs for the elderly as a policy that CLEY would be administering.
When you are looking at casual employees to meet this need for elder advisors who are to assist the government via the CLEY department, what is the reason for these casual hires?
I would like to get this clarified as it is my impression that permanent hires cannot be hired as the department is hiring elders only on a temporary basis, seemingly on an as needed basis, and it seems that they’re considered extraneous as they will only work on a casual basis.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister clearly identify what kind of goals they have in hiring an elder advisor? Is the role of elders considered to be pointless?
I would like to thank my Annuraaqatik for asking that question and for calling for respect for elders. Yes, we are always urging respect for elders.
We rely on the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee as our primary advisors on elders’ issues.
I believe there are 15 board members who were appointed in 2009.
With respect to the Elders Program Strategy, the strategy is being applied to the best ability of our department. If my Annuraaqatik recalls, when they tried to hire elder advisors, their pensions were going to be reduced if they were hired full time. We decided to hire the elder through a contractual agreement and that contract will be in place until it expires.
If we’re going to be hiring elder advisors, I believe that this situation is going to continue.
Unfortunately, with contracts, the elder would be considered as self-employed, would be unable to work out of our offices, and would have to make his own office arrangements.  Furthermore, we really rely on the elders committee to provide advice and we consider their input invaluable.
As I stated, these elder advisors would be hired on a casual basis. The elders will work for a few months, but we haven’t worked out other details, such as the length of the contract, and if we need to extend their contract, we will do that.
Your third and final supplementary, Mr. Tapardjuk.
I may need to review the Hansard to read the minister’s response as it may raise more questions. That seems quite obvious and I’ll get back to it.
The other issue is the Piqqusilirivvik facility in Clyde River that was just recently opened.
It incorporates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and utilizes elders’ knowledge.
Nunavummiut need to understand the processes of the government and they have to feel that the Nunavut government is their own. Inuit have to believe in their government.
Elders also need to understand that it’s their government and they have to feel comfortable dealing with it, as well as to understand its processes. The group that requires the most assistance seems to be the group that is being underserved as they are the ones that have the least understanding of the government.
Mr. Speaker, I am voicing my concerns on this topic verbally for the time being, and once I’ve had the opportunity to peruse the response, I will have further questions later on. That is all I have for now.
Question period is now over and we will move on to (interpretation ends) Item 7.
Written Question 004 – 3(3): Foster Care (Elliott)
I have a written question for the Minister of Health and Social Services concerning the issue of foster care.
As members will recall from our recent public hearings on the 2011 Report of the Auditor General on Children, Youth and Family Programs and Services in Nunavut, I had asked a similar written question to the government last year. In light of the Auditor General’s finding that the department is actually not meeting many requirements of the Child and Family Services Act and its own standards and procedures, I had publicly committed during our hearings to resubmitting my written question, which I am pleased to do today.
Mr. Speaker, my written question is lengthy, so I ask that it be entered into the record as read.
During the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the 2010-11 Main Estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services, testimony to the Committee indicated that 60 Nunavut children and youth are fostered outside of Nunavut at an estimated annual cost of $6.1 million (See March 9, 2010 Hansard, page 1269).
Written Question 15 – 3(2) was posed in the House on March 23, 2010.
The 2011 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was tabled in the House on March 8, 2011.
The report noted that the Department of Health and Social Services is “not meeting many other requirements of the Child and Family Services Act and its own standards and procedures.
For example, it does not perform the required safety checks of foster homes, nor does it complete annual compliance reviews of child protection files.”
As of March 31, 2011, broken down by province or territory of temporary residence, how many Nunavut children and youth are in foster care out of territory in the following categories:
As of March 31, 2011, broken down by type of specialized care, how many Nunavut children and youth are receiving specialized care out of territory?
As of March 31, 2011, what is the average annual cost of foster care for a single Nunavut child or youth outside of Nunavut?
What standards and procedures have been developed by the Department of Health and Social Services to screen Nunavut-based foster parent applicants before they receive a foster child or youth into their care?
In approximately how many cases between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2011 did the department deviate from its prescribed standards and procedures regarding the screening of Nunavut-based foster parent applications?
What factors are taken into account by the department in making a determination to deviate from its prescribed standards and procedures regarding the screening of Nunavut-based foster parent applications?
What standards and procedures have been developed by the Department of Health and Social Services to screen out-of-territory foster parent applicants with respect to the following criteria:
In approximately how many cases between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2011 did the department deviate from its prescribed standards and procedures regarding the screening of out-of-territory foster parent applications?
What factors are taken into account by the department in making a determination to deviate from its prescribed standards and procedures regarding the screening of out-of-territory foster parent applications?
Within the meaning of the Provincial/Territorial Protocol on Children and Families Moving Between Provinces and Territories that was signed by the Government of Nunavut on December 15, 2006, how does the department’s residential care compliance coordinator work with relevant authorities in receiving jurisdictions to conduct on-site visits of foster homes and care facilities in which Nunavut children have been placed?
Between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011, how many on-site visits were conducted of extra-territorial foster homes and care facilities in which Nunavut children have been placed?
Under what circumstances are Nunavut parents entitled to contact and communicate with their children who are in foster care outside of the territory?
It will be taken as read to the House.
At this time, we will go to Item 8.
Return to Written Question 001 – 3(3): Suicide Prevention Training (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 002 – 3(3): School Non-attenders (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 003 – 3(3): Municipal Governance and Financial Management (Clerk)
I have the following responses to written questions No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 – 3(3).
*See Appendix for full text of Returns to Written Questions 1 – 3(3), 2 – 3(3), and 3 – 3(3) filed with the Clerk.
I would like to ask our Sergeant-at-Arms to come by. We will have a 15-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:06 and resumed at 15:28
Going to the (interpretation ends) orders of the day. Item 9.
Reply to Opening Address 002 – 3(3): Mr. Tagak Curley (Curley)
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
I wanted to make a statement regardless of time limits.
I would like to make comments on behalf of all Nunavutmiut and they’re not aimed at any community in particular.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all Nunavutmiut, whether they are parents or youth, elders and children, everyone both Inuit and Qallunaat in Nunavut.
Perhaps I can state that starting from Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay, and the rest of the Kitikmeot, the Kivalliq region from Repulse Bay onwards to Arviat, along with the Baffin region, and we won’t forget the residents of Sanikiluaq.
During this day and age, Mr. Speaker, many Inuit are being criticized in our communities.
Criticism is being made secretively, seemingly under the table.
Regional Inuit associations or even ministers are being criticized for the smallest things and they experience difficulties. Leaders are being criticized. That’s unacceptable.
I don’t really see any incorporation of the best practices of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, even though it’s often touted as being the best when it comes to dealing with challenges.
When our forefathers came across challenges, they had to overcome them in order to move forward.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I’m concerned about what’s facing Nunavut today, particularly the Inuit people.
I see what I see. Not only through the debates in this House but even the press will continue to try and undermine the integrity of the Inuit leadership.
It’s alarming. Aren’t you concerned about it as a representative?
I think we need to break away from that antagonistic approach and seek and maybe reflect back to the Inuit culture to adopt the survival skills in very adverse circumstances, and yet survive and encourage others to survive and bring hope to those less fortunate.
I heard from one of my colleagues today and I agree with him, Mr. Speaker.
He said that you can have all of the policies, strategies, whatever else, and work plans you have, but it’s not going to be enough. It’s going to take more than that.
That means that you and I are going to have to cooperate. That means that you and I are going to have to build trusting relationships. Building that trust factor is not easy, boy, but once you overcome that, all things are possible.
Without it, we’re fooling Nunavutmiut. Nunavutmiut are not made of green, yellow, red, and blue parties.
Mr. Speaker, the destiny of the Inuit people began… . When did it actually begin?
I think we can say that it began and it’s deeply rooted in centuries, not decades but centuries ago, to survive as a unique people and to bring hope to our families and our children for the future. However adverse the circumstances are, economically speaking… .
The economy was based on the resources that were limited and pretty much impacted by the challenges that I have seen and have heard that were so difficult, yet our forefathers brought us to today without the goodness of the western culture and society that was brought in by the European people.
I believe that we need to reflect on all of those as we face the challenges that are before us. Instead, we see today that there is no hope in Nunavut. Even the national newspaper will say that and it’s concurred by my friend sitting behind me.
They believe in one reporter, for instance, by the name of Patrick White, who is now known as an arctic expert, I am told.
Wow! If all I needed were those credentials, oh boy, I would be more than an expert.
But I’m afraid of those kinds of characters, really, because in my view, they have not associated themselves with elders and people they should be speaking with.
Instead, what they want is to proclaim a headline stating that Nunavut is really not capable of running. It is really not adequately supplied. It doesn’t have adequate leadership because the current leadership has their head under the snow.
I don’t believe that is the case, Mr. Speaker.
(interpretation) This is how I perceive the situation: Nunavutmiut inherited stoicism from their ancestors who suffered great hardship, yet never gave up no matter how bleak or overwhelming life seemed.
The problems today seem insurmountable, especially when we don’t enjoy the quality of life enjoyed elsewhere in Canada.
Our resources are still undeveloped and further, it’s only been about 15 years since the agreement was made for the Territory of Nunavut.
However, what I really want to state is that our life is still moving forward.
I know that 30 years ago, our language wasn’t recognized and nowhere near being accepted in law. In those days, we were even punished for speaking our language in school. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I used to feel sorry for an older student who was maybe five years older.
He would blurt out in Inuktitut in the school and the teacher would slap his fingers. They now call it high-fiving or something similar to that. With a ruler, he would be slapped at least five times for speaking in Inuktitut.
Mr. Speaker, if my colleagues don’t agree with how angry I am, and I am angry, I get angry when I read a national newspaper that tries to portray Nunavut as hopeless. It has no hope. The leaders have their faces under the snow and they’re not willing to admit it.
Mr. Speaker, when I met that reporter, I said that one suicide is enough. It’s too many.
I spent half an hour with him, Mr. Speaker, and yet what did you read? Five words: mischaracterization of what I said.
I said, in context with the information that we now have, we’re in a lot better position than we were 10 or 15 years ago. We didn’t have any programs. We didn’t have any strategies.
I am angry, Mr. Speaker.
The destiny of the Inuit people will continue.
It will not be conditional upon the serious challenges and adversities that we have in Nunavut: lack of federal funding, lack of housing, all of these social issues like overcrowding, and lack of opportunities for the young to enjoy themselves as athletes or not having the facilities that they need so that they could preoccupy themselves with positive things.
We’re not going to be deterred from our forefathers’ message that your destiny is to survive regardless of the adversity that you’re facing. That’s how I was taught. We have many in Nunavut.
I’m proud of our Inuit organizations that continue to be undermined by experts. They are there. Eventually they will help us identify which direction we should be heading.
Forty years ago, we didn’t have such opportunities, but a few of us took a gamble. We had no hope.
I didn’t have hope. All I had was that I was trained as a hunter and trapper. At least I had that opportunity to get back to.
I spent at least six months one time with our Sergeant-at-Arms. That was an opportunity him and I were accorded by the federal government.
It wasn’t a program but by chance, we took upon it and we went to BC for six months to train as heavy equipment operators.
I could have remained in that job. I did get a job and I was eventually offered to be an airport manager of Coral Harbour.
When I did spend my time working at the airport, you know what I felt, Mr. Speaker?
You are from my hometown of Coral Harbour.
I felt personally that I had stolen a job because there were people in that community who could do that, operate heavy equipment, and I could do other things. As a young man, I learned to step aside and give that opportunity to someone else.
I wasn’t trained other than being a hunter and an operator like my friend, but that’s the way we were taught.
I will never forget a statement, Mr. Speaker, that I once heard, and I’m proud of it and I value that statement, from an elder in Northern Quebec. (interpretation) The comment that this elder made was quite poignant. Mr. Speaker, this really old person whom I heard on the radio made this statement.
His father taught him this life lesson: when you have the wherewithal to share with others, you must do so. If your equipment or property can be split into pieces, you share it. With food, if you can break it into smaller pieces, please share it.
He said that he lives by that rule to this day.
I didn’t hear whose name it was but I heard him on the radio saying that as long as you can cut a piece of meat down to bite size, you can give the other half to somebody. (interpretation ends) Right down to the bite size, he was taught to share.
And I believe these principles are the principles that we need in Nunavut because we’re not going to survive with the goodness of Canadian people, if I may say that. The reason I say that, Mr. Speaker, is… . (interpretation) Let me say it in Inuktitut.
Our transportation infrastructure in Nunavut, such as aircraft and ships that bring in annual supplies to the communities, is free enterprise. They are not owned by government. They are the property of individuals and they are used to help develop Nunavut economically.
(interpretation ends) When I read Canadian history, the Canadian government provided Canada’s early settlers with a railroad service paid for in full by the Canadian government.
Roads were built by the Canadian government. Even the airlines were provided for early Canadian settlers to settle in Canadian provinces.
Wow! No wonder they can complain. We don’t have such opportunities up here.
They say that if it’s affordable, you’ve got to do it on your own. So Nunavutmiut have learned to share and I value that principle.
When I read only parts of The Globe and Mail article, it did stagger me, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) This winter, one of the national newspapers, The Globe and Mail, mentioned Nunavut as being a failure. The journalist trashed Nunavut in their story. That journalist arrived to conduct an interview whereby I was interviewed for 20 minutes in my office and I informed the journalist that I would only agree to the interview if their story was balanced and not just focussed on negative and derogatory issues. (interpretation ends) He violated his agreement with me.
It’s personal too, Mr. Speaker.
About 25 years ago, my uncle died. Actually it’s closer to 30 years ago.
I was a regular MLA in Yellowknife. In the early ‘80s, my uncle died and he had three or four little kids and one of them was a teenager. Just imagine, he was about 40-some-odd years old and he had a massive heart attack.
He was my mother’s youngest brother. I did not imagine that they would remain fatherless for life. (interpretation) My maternal uncle passed away around 1982.
We attended the funeral in Repulse Bay.
His children were now fatherless.
I found out when I read up on the story.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, it is important to acknowledge the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
I support that commission. I have seen some of the individuals, including my own sister, who have appeared before the commission.
It’s the first time we’re learning about the tragedies and violations of these kids by the authorities they trusted and the religious leaders that they looked up to.
They were violated and they would come home not being able to explain what happened. They were changed forever.
(interpretation) They returned home after spending a year in school, where they were sexually abused as little children by the authorities. (interpretation ends) And I’m sure there are some in this House who have experienced that.
For a lifetime, they could not explain to their parents what they went through.
It takes a national commission to give them enough courage and support from the people, including my department and mental health workers, to be around them to be able to have courage to say it.
One of them was that young man that Mr. Patrick White also partook in violating, in my opinion, of the very issue that he is not comfortable speaking further about, but it became a subject of a national newspaper.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, I have the right to be angry about that individual.
You don’t take advantage of an individual who may be at risk to do further harm to oneself.