EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We are working hard to seek funds for such projects, but this project is not included in the department’s five-year plan.
If we were to find 1.5 million dollars, those funds could be used for this project.
At the moment, we don’t have money that will be going towards this project and Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of communities in Nunavut that need community halls.
We would be able to build more community halls if we were able to find more money but regarding the member’s statement and questions, I will meet with the council and the department regarding this.
This is the same response I received in 1999 and I am aware of the shortage of money.
In our community this is an important project as there is not enough room in the building to have a community gathering.
So this is for the health of the community.
I’m wondering if this has been looked into by the Department of Health to see if there’s something that can be done.
I’m not aware of whether the Department of Health has inspected the building but if the building is too small, the school gymnasium could also be used for certain activities.
I didn’t realize I didn’t need to go through the Minister of Education for such a request so thank you for that information.
I am wondering if this facility has been inspected by the fire marshal.
I am not aware whether the fire marshal has looked into this or whether it would be closed due to the size.
There are no funds available, the 1 million dollars required to make an expansion of the building under the department's five-year plan.
If the building was to be closed by the Fire Marshal, I know that the Department of Education would be able make the school gymnasium available.
Mr. Speaker if you can give me this opportunity, we need new community halls in Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Resolute Bay, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, Arctic Bay, Cape Dorset, Grise Fiord and Taloyoak.
Those are the communities that have requested new community halls.
But we have no money available for these projects.
I am aware of the letter from Gjoa Haven's mayor and that he's made this a priority.
When I meet with the recreation ministers, I'll make them aware of this, as well as the federal government.
Minister Thompson this is not directed at you but just in general.
I have had complaints and concerns raised by the members about the length of preambles and the preambles on the preambles, and also some of the lengthy answers by the ministers.
So I would ask you to be precise and exact as possible.
And gee whiz don't get frustrated with me there, Mr. Puqiqnak.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Just briefly, Mr. Speaker.
I know that there are 26 communities in Nunavut and recreation is an important area for the health of the communities.
So can the minister commit to ensuring that the community hall for Gjoa Haven is a priority?
There are a lot of communities that want to be on the priority list and I am not sure which community would be the highest priority if money was made available.
I apologize but quite often I make my preambles long just to make it clear to the public, but I cannot state whether this community would be a priority.
Speaker: That was your last supplementary, Mr. Puqiqnak.
Question 481 – 1(5): Migratory Patterns of Wildlife – Surveying With Nunavummiut
Mr. Speaker, during my Member’s Statement I said that I was going to raise questions with the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to wildlife migratory patterns.
I’m wondering if Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has been used during studies done on the migratory patterns of wildlife.
I’d also like to say good afternoon to the communities that I represent.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in wildlife studies is very important for me.
I’ve discussed this over the weekend with my officials as to what more we can do in regards to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and surveying wildlife.
We talked about how we could better use the knowledge of elders and how we could work better with the communities.
The Members of the Legislative Assembly and the public need to work together so that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is incorporated into these kinds of activities.
I appreciate the response and I am aware of the wildlife surveys that are conducted in Nunavut.
Quite often there are surveys done in Nunavut on the migratory patterns, but will there be more surveys done using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Yes, we’ll use the knowledge of Inuit and get some input from the communities in regards to migratory patterns of wildlife.
We’ll have to get input as to where they feel the wildlife is travelling or moving.
I think this will be very beneficial for the people that are seeking this information.
When will they start involving elders or when will they start having the Inuit do these surveys.
We are presently using the knowledge of Inuit.
We did this during a recent polar bear survey.
We worked with people from Kugluktuk and Gjoa Haven. So we have used the knowledge of the Inuit in the past and we will continue this practice.
Question 482 – 1(5): Regulations Followed by Status of Women Council
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth regarding his earlier statement.
I support the women's organizations, and I am wondering if they have regulations that they follow, or terms of reference that they follow within their organization?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
The Qulliit Group was formed through a motion of this House.
They put together their own terms of reference and they are appointed through the House.
I understand the response but I am not aware of what kind of regulations they have, or terms of reference.
Are there copies of their terms of reference that can be made available?
This council was formed through a motion of this House.
I can make the terms of reference available to the House once I get them.
I would also like to ask the minister, if he could make the terms of reference available I would appreciate that and would he be able to have the terms of reference translated before they are presented to the House or to myself.
As the Minister for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, when we are going to table a document or present a document it would have to be translated into Inuktitut.
I, as the minister, will make sure that it is translated.
Once it's been tabled, I will be raising more questions on this matter.
Before it has been tabled, can he give me a copy of the terms of reference so that I am able to go through them for myself to put together some questions?
The member has to realize that even though they were formed through a motion, the organization is responsible for putting together their terms of reference. They are responsible for dealing with social issues in the communities in Nunavut.
They are an independent organization, but I will ensure that the information is made available.
Question 483 – 1(5): What Will The 3 Thousand Dollars Be Used For at Joamie School
I want to remind members that Pond Inlet also is waiting for a community hall, which was left out in an earlier response.
I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Education about the Joamie School.
He indicated that there is going to be money for Joamie School in the amount of 3 thousand dollars.
What is it going to be used for?
This money for the Youth Art Initiative will be used when they go out on the land.
It will be used by the school to send students out to camp for cultural inclusion trips.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): This amount of three thousand dollars that is going towards the school for cultural inclusion, is that the usual amount?
The Marion Scott Gallery in Vancouver provided this money for the artwork that they did with the school children.
This was the first time.
You indicated that this is the first time that this amount of money was given to the school for art in Joamie School.
Is this going to be the same amount given each time to other schools?
This is very good to see as the Marion Scott Gallery did a very good deed and good service for the school. However, I am not sure if this is going to be an ongoing budget for the school.
Question 484 – 1(5): PTR or Class Size in School – Clarification of Radio Broadcast
Mr. Speaker, as members will probably recall, last week I asked the minister if he could consider legislating the class size in the new Education Act.
The minister wasn't able to respond whether they were looking at doing it or not.
Mr. Speaker, I heard on the radio this morning an interview by the minister where he’d indicated that this is something that they wouldn’t be doing.
I would just like to ask the minister for some clarification, based on the interview that he gave on CBC that was aired this morning, that this is something that they are not considering putting into the new legislation.
I am glad my colleague brought this up.
We go by the number of school children in school.
We are not doing it by legislation.
So then I take it, in a roundabout way this is something that the minister will not include in the new Education Act.
That it is something that the NWT did where they legislated the PTR, the class size or what ever you want to call it in legislation and they’re going to leave it in regulation.
I’d just like him to clarify it for sure whether it’s a yes or no.
In regards to his question, we have no plans for putting it in the new Education Act.
Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Tootoo.
I would still like to ask the minister if he could clarify yes or no that this is something that they are planning on legislating in the  Education Act, not in the regulations.
A simple yes or no would be great.
No, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, can I ask the minister why they would not consider putting something like this in the legislation?
The Education Act is being reviewed by the communities at this time.
This review has not been completed.
If we were just to put it in the Act, there would be some financial implications and it would put a hardship on the schools.
Question 485 – 1(5): Closure of Nanisivik Mine
I’ll direct my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to the closure of the Nanisivik mine, the reclamation plan.
The plan was supposed to have been completed on February 13, is it ready?
Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Akesuk
In regards to the clean-up of the Nanisivik mine, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have to work with the mining company first.
We’re available to help in any way we can, they are still in the process of planning the closure of the mine and for reclaiming the area.
I understood his response, but I would like to get information in regards to what the Nunavut Government’s input will be.
Also is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans going to be working closely with DIOs?
We are going to be working with the Nunavut Water Board closely, so we will keep each other informed.
We are going to be involved with everything while the Nanisivik mine is being closed.
We had very good discussions with both the Nunavut Water Board and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
We are going to be keeping in close touch with them.
I will be asking in English because I don't think I am getting my question across properly.
On February 28 the Nanisivik mine was going to come up with a reclamation plan.
It should available to the Department of Sustainable Development.
Does he have the report now that they have the plan and who will review this plan from the Nunavut Government?
I don't have the plan right now but it is the job of the Nunavut Water Board and the Federal Government to make sure they clean the mining area properly.
I am pretty sure the Department of Sustainable Development will also be very careful that the mining company is doing a good job in cleaning the place up before they close it and after they close it.
I know that everybody would like to work together and that is very good to know that everybody will be working closely together.
I am asking if the Government of Nunavut will be reviewing the plan so they can contribute to make sure that things are on time and make sure that it is done in a proper way.
Would the government take a position to make sure that they have a voice into what is happening?
We have a person working in the Department of Sustainable Development who is concentrating on the mine closure.
We've are just about to hire a person from Arctic Bay to work with us towards the closure of the mine.
I am pretty sure that we will have a say and we will look into the plans for the reclamation of the Nanisivik mine.
Question 486 – 1(5): Grave Relocation Workers – When Was the Last Time They Corresponded with Each Other
Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue with my questions to the Minister of Justice.
I have been asking this question for quite some time now about the graves being relocated.
I was given an answer that the Federal Government and the Premier's Office are working together for payment on the relocation of the graves.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question, when was the last time they corresponded with each other in this regard and when was the last time they met each other in regards to the relocation and the payment for the relocation of the graves?
Our office has been working with the Federal Government.
The member has directed a lot of questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services and there was some correspondence between the Health Department and the Federal Government.
I think it was in November the last time we received a letter on this issue.
We have the letter but it has to be translated and I will table it in the House when it’s translated tomorrow.
Perhaps I can get some information on the latest correspondence.
Did you talk with the Federal Government since you got the letter in October or was it November?
The last letter I received was October 19th 2001, which was last year.
If there has been more recent correspondence, then I would like to get a copy of it.
Yes, the last time we received correspondence was October the 19th.
I thought it was November and I’m sorry for the mistake.
We will be having it translated so that I can provide it to the House tomorrow.
He stated that they are working closely with the Federal Government.
The latest correspondence from them was from Minister Robert Nault, and according to that letter, they said they are reviewing what happened during the transferring of the gravesites.
It seems like this is not really an answer.
Speaker: Mr. Irqittuq, you are referring to a letter that nobody else has a copy of at this time.
If they do, they don’t know which letter it is, so you will have to rephrase the question.
Mr. Speaker, I lost my train of thought.
But I would like to ask the Government Leader, have they been working together and corresponding for a year now with the Federal Government?
Yes, this has been an ongoing thing with the Federal Government and they have stated that they are still reviewing it and we are waiting for their decision.
So I will be providing the correspondence with the translation in Inuktitut.
But we are working with the federal government on this.
Mr. Irqittuq, if you wish to table that document, you may do so under tabling of documents.
I will be tabling the correspondence today in the House.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Government has been saying that they are working with the Federal Government and the letter that I have was written in October.
Has there been any more recent correspondence on this subject?
Yes, the Federal Government is trying to deal with the member's issue.
So the effort is ongoing.
Question 487 – 1(5): Clarification on Women
This is a question to the Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
I wanted to get some information or some clarification.
On the first question that I asked, he did not answer my question.
Although the Status of Women's Council guidelines have not been provided to the House, he did not answer my question, is he saying yes or no?
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Anawak for that precise and concise answer.
Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Question 488 – 1(5): RCMP Staff House in Grise Fiord
I asked a question last week and I just want to get some clarification on it.
If the RCMP does not have a staff house in Grise Fiord, are they planning for a staff house for the RCMP in Grise Fiord?
I believe that I took this matter as notice and I am awaiting a response from the department.
Hopefully, I can respond to it tomorrow.
Question 489 – 1(5): Incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit with Health and Social Services
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health & Social Services about the statement I made this morning about incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into Health & Social Services.
He did not completely answer my question yes or no whether there could be a committee set up to do Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is incorporated within the framework and the operational procedures and policies of the Department of Health and Social Services every day by counselling people and so on.
So that is occurring right now.
I have not seen any Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in your department.
I wonder if the minister can provide us with proof that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is being incorporated in the Department of Health and Social Services.
Can you provide us with a copy so that we can truly know that it is incorporated?
Mr. Speaker, instead of providing him with copies I can tell him what we have been doing and things that he has been aware of.
Mr. Speaker, in the Department of Health and Social Services suicide program, which we launched over a year and a half ago, that was in consultation with groups across the territory of Nunavut including elders, youth groups and so on Mr. Speaker.
The message that we put into that program incorporated Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The anti-tobacco smoking program incorporated Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We talked to communities, health committees, Mr. Speaker we had two youth Inuit delegates that attended the anti-tobacco forum and used those in our messages.
Mr. Speaker the home and community care, 44 people were trained from across Nunavut, 92% being Inuit in the taking care of people with disabilities and so on at the community level. All are incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago we had the wellness conference in Iqaluit with people from the member's community, incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit at the community wellness level.
Mr. Speaker the money, over 4 million dollars is being spent for community wellness and brighter futures at the community level with programs that are supported and put in place by Inuit, by mayors and hamlets.
They incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, the adoption programs and policies on custom adoption include of course Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
It is all around the member.
Specifically Mr. Speaker, the department is incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit every day.
Sorry Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I just wondered when the things that he is talking about would be brought to the Members of this House.
If there is something like that can he provide them to us?
If there is none, then he won't provide them to us.
Speaker: Just to caution members in their choice of words.
Mr. Speaker, I don't want to be aggressive.
I've tried to answer to the member’s questions.
Every day Mr. Speaker, when you are dealing with social issues, when you are dealing with health issues, dealing with family violence issues, the social workers that we have in the field, the community counsellors, the wellness people, so on and so forth.
They all incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit every day.
Is there a specific policy within the government that says Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit should be incorporated?
Maybe the member could define an indication of what Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is.
You define Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and I will implement it.
It is more than just traditional hunting practices Mr. Speaker.
It is the way we deal with our families, our children, our neighbours.
Mr. Speaker, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is more than just how to set a trap.
Mr. Speaker, today we are living in the year 2002.
This weekend I had a man come to see me that this guy knows very well, telling me about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I spent time with my mother in law this weekend.
Does that incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit?
Mr. Speaker I would suggest to the member that when people deal with other people they incorporate specific areas of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I don't have a specific policy that says put Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to work, unless you could define what the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is.
Is it counselling people?
Is that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit?
When we changed the escort travel policy Mr. Speaker, to reflect all of Nunavut, that was incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
When Mr. Kilabuk talks about education matters, Mr. Speaker that is incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
When Minister Anawak talks about the Status of Women Council that is incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
So Mr. Speaker I don't have a written submission, statement saying what or defining what Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is.
But Mr. Speaker, we are trying to do it every day.
That is why Mr. Speaker, this government has incorporated the policy, the programs, the way of doing business as it were within the Bathurst mandate.
Mr. Speaker, he says that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is incorporated, but the minister cannot produce a written thing.
Just before a program is set up, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit should be incorporated.
I just want him to provide a committee that deals with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit so we can define it solidly.
Is the minister in agreement?
You realise that there is a committee.
I think the member is asking the minister if he will construct or put together a committee in his department.
Mr. Picco, would you care to answer that.
Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, throughout government under the leadership and the authority of Mr. Anawak, we have an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit group that is looking at policies and programs including the Department of Health and Social Services.
That is occurring, and I should point out Mr. Speaker, specifically, when you look at laws, which the member talked about earlier and I think that this is an important discussion.
Last week the member talked about laws and regulations, under the Child and Family Services Act of this government, the statutory training that we did two weeks ago, under the Custom Adoption Act, the Custom Adoption Act is a good example of legislation that is in place that recognises custom adoption of Inuit to adopt children to other people.
That’s unique, Mr. Speaker, to the Government of Nunavut and it’s recognized in law so I can demonstrate and show the member that.
I will Mr. Speaker, under the mental health strategy, that the member said we don’t have, it’s something like 250 pages, it just got completed and I’m hoping to bring it forward in the new budget session, I’m having that work translated.
I will be bringing that to the member and he will see in that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit all through the mental health strategy which includes family violence, social programs and so on.
So I hope that will help answer the member’s question.
Question 490 – 1(5): Arena Planned for Pond Inlet - Update
There was a statement made by one of the members about the Members of the Legislative Assembly playing hockey with the women’s team.
We played at the new arena and I was one of the players.
There has been a long-term plan to build an arena in Pond Inlet and it seems that this is an appropriate time to direct a question to the minister as to where they are on the arena that has been planned for Pond Inlet.
When we had our retreat in Pond Inlet, the mayor went to show us the unheated arena that is currently being used in Pond Inlet.
The building of the new of arena is one of the higher priorities of that community.
I do know that this member has brought up this issue quite a number of times with the previous Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
In the year 2004-2005 there will be architectural drawings done.
If it goes ahead as planned, we will probably have the material come in 2005-2006.