EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As per my earlier Member’s Statement, I referred to the different teachers now teaching various subjects within our schools and that these teachers need proper classrooms and resources with our schools.
Here I specifically refer to the elders who teach traditional skills, such as sewing and hide preparation, and in the case of the males, the traditional hunt. Their classes tend to be space challenged.
In the Arctic, it is much easier to teach survival skills in the outdoors as those skills can only be taught with the materials on the land that they must use.
The women also teach the proper way to make cold-weather clothing, as youth need to be taught by our elders.
Perhaps I can direct my question to the Minister responsible for Education. I also want to note her return and for that I am happy. Now my question to the Minister of Education is: throughout Nunavut, has the minister been apprised of the issue of the cultural instruction programs needing more space?
Up to now, I haven’t received any concerns from Nunavummiut about the lack of space in the Inuit cultural programs, including from the teachers.
Since there are various courses being taught under this category, not all of them face this challenge and we now have many elders certified to teach various courses within our schools here in Nunavut.
Furthermore, when we went to open their new school in Sanikiluaq, I was quite happy to see the classroom was set up in a different manner. The floor had a drain which was said to be where they flensed the sealskins.
It was very uplifting to see that set-up as it showcased the Inuit cultural class difference in the set-up as it was geared to those classes.
Let me reiterate, to date, I haven’t been apprised of any concerns or issues related to limited classroom space for any of the Inuit cultural classes offered in our schools.
I envy the school in Sanikiluaq for their ingenuity.
As we all know, as elected officials, we are occasionally invited to attend events or classes at the schools.
Again, as we tour the schools, we are informed, “Here is the kindergarten classroom,” or let’s say, “Here are the grade 5 classrooms,” amongst other things.
Alternatively, we could be shown the kitchen or meat preparation room.
Again, some members are sometimes shown the classroom for traditional classes, such as a skin preparation room, workspace, qamutik-making area, and so on, but I haven’t ever been shown these types of classrooms.
Maybe at this time now, she can direct her officials in her department to look into the best types of classrooms they can provide for these cultural classes. They need proper places to learn.
I certainly hope that in our near future, much like the school in Sanikiluaq, the department includes these types of classrooms for future additions or new schools and that these are considered down the road.
The cultural classes’ teachers are provided different classrooms for their courses, and I have seen cases in quite a number of schools, much like Inuit do their sealskin work on the home floor, that they do their sealskin work on the school floor, as well as when they work on caribou skins.
It is very gratifying to see this in our schools, that they are offering traditional cultural skills to our students.
When they are preparing to develop new school facilities, they consult with the local DEA on how the design of the new facility should look like. The DEA has ample opportunities to make their suggestions, especially for a specialty room for sealskin work or other types of cultural classroom set-up, much like Sanikiluaq. Other communities have done that type of planning work, to incorporate these types of rooms for their cultural classes, where they have a dedicated sealskin working room.
If the older schools don’t have this type of room available, other areas can be utilized for these types of cultural activities.
However, during the design phase of our newest facilities, especially the new schools scheduled for construction in the immediate future, the local DEA has ample opportunity to express their wishes. They are provided options as to what can be included in the new facility when it is under construction.
Question 644 – 3(3): Government Office Space in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
One of the ongoing initiatives of the department is to assume full responsibility for community corrections in Nunavut.
As the minister is aware, Sanikiluaq continues to lack a permanent community corrections officer.
The department’s business plan indicates that, and I quote, “The biggest challenge is in securing office space and housing in several targeted communities.
Community Corrections and Community and Government Services are working closely to address these issues.”
Can the minister indicate where these discussions are today?
He’s absolutely right. Community corrections are an essential service that we have to try and provide in all communities.
In this case, we do have a vacant position in Sanikiluaq, as has been mentioned, and we continue to work with Community and Government Services to secure office space, which we haven’t done yet. That is ongoing and we also continue to secure housing for a vacant position we have there.
I’m wondering if the minister can confirm or clarify, for acquiring office space for the probation officer in Sanikiluaq, whether it now lies with Community and Government Services or if the Department of Justice has not placed a formal request to Community and Government Services.
I’m just wondering where it stands, whether they’re waiting for a response from Community and Government Services on the office space issue or if they’re still just in general discussions.
A request and discussion is ongoing with Community and Government Services.
They know our needs and what we require for office space. We have given them the specifications and what we need. They’re ongoing to try and secure space that is going to be most effective and efficient for our needs.
I thank the minister for his comments and answers.
Can the minister also confirm that his department has sent a request to the Nunavut Housing Corporation requiring housing for this position?
It’s my understanding that there has been a formal request.
They’re requesting housing for this vacant position.
Question 645 – 3(3): Solid Waste Management Plan (Oshutapik)
I forgot to express a good afternoon wish to my constituents earlier, so good afternoon to them as well as our fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the head honcho. Perhaps we should be referring these words to the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit to make a decision on how we should coin the ministers in Inuktitut since we are phonetically copying the English word for minister.
I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Community and Government Services, (interpretation ends) the Hon. Lorne Kusugak.
In my Member’s Statement today, I spoke about the importance of solid waste management in Nunavut.
The current business plan of the Department of Community and Government Services indicates that one of the priorities is to examine the feasibility of a public-private partnership model to “address solid waste infrastructure for all communities” in Nunavut.
Can the minister update the Legislative Assembly today on the status of this work?
Minister responsible for Community and Government Services, with the nice tie, Minister Kusugak.
>>Laughter  Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We will have to edit your statement in Hansard. It is a tie, I agree with you there, and it was a tie yesterday until overtime.
Mr. Speaker, (interpretation) in regard to the member’s questions about solid waste management in the communities, we are presently working to make it better for the solid waste in each community.
We are examining it right now in order to make sure that they are in the right place in each community and that they are operated in a better manner, Mr. Speaker.
In our communities, garbage is everywhere.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Department of Community and Government Services has been working with the Department of Environment to improve ways of managing solid waste in Nunavut and to develop a Nunavut-wide solid waste management strategy.
Can the minister indicate what new initiatives the two departments are currently working on?
We are working on solid waste management and how to keep it clean.
I would like to respond to the member by saying that we are now working to do some more work this summer to manage the landfill sites. We are now waiting for RFPs to be able to manage solid waste in each community.
This is what we will be doing this summer.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Oshutapik
He already responded to my second supplementary, but I just wanted some more clarification from the minister.
How long until the minister will know when this project will be started?
We will be doing the RFP this summer.
I feel that we have to be able to do a better job with solid waste management in each community.
Solid waste is in every community and we would like to be able to do that efficiently in each community’s landfill.
As soon as I find out, I will be providing the members with more information in this House.
Question 646 – 3(3): Indeterminate Nurses in Nunavut (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, it’s a well-known fact that Nunavut competes with many other jurisdictions to hire health professionals, such as nurses and doctors.
In many cases, we are forced to contract expensive agency nurses because we do not have enough staff to fill all the necessary positions.
Can the minister confirm whether or not it is still the government’s intention to fill as many nursing positions as possible with full-time, indeterminate nurses?
In response to Mr. Elliott’s questions, yes.
It has come to my attention that not one of the recent graduates from Nunavut’s own Nursing Program at Nunavut Arctic College has been offered a job within our health system.
Last week was National Nursing Week and I spoke of the tremendous benefit it is in the High Arctic to have long-term nurses working in our communities.
Can the minister explain why, when we have committed northerners living, studying, and graduating in Nunavut, in a health profession that is in high demand, these graduates are not immediately being hired to work in Nunavut?
Mr. Speaker, I would certainly hope that the graduates would have an opportunity to apply for positions in the Department of Health.
There is a process that they have to follow, but we do encourage potential nurses to approach our department. I will follow up and ask our officials what they have done to look at recruiting these individuals to work in our health centres.
In the past, it’s my understanding that the nurses were hired as student nurses before they actually completed their exams to put them in as full-time nurses. So it’s something that has happened in the past and for some reason, it’s not happening this year. I’m sure he will have a discussion with the Minister of Finance, who is now in charge of human resources.
In looking back over earlier Hansards, when Nunavut’s Nursing Program was in its beginning stages, I note that the government of the day committed to hiring all graduates from the Nunavut Arctic College Nursing Program to work in nursing jobs in Nunavut.
Can the minister clearly state whether the government of today stands by that commitment and, if not, why not?
I thank Mr. Elliott for his questions.
Yes, it is interesting when you can have opportunities, being the finance minister, talking to the HR minister and talking to the health minister and vice versa, so there are a lot of opportunities to resolve issues.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Elliott raises good concerns. I believe that the nurses, the graduates that he is asking about are… . There’s a process right now.
I believe that our health officials are talking to the nurses. There may even be offers planned to be made.
I don’t want to get into details in the House about HR issues, interviews, and job offers.
We do have a commitment to hire nurses, indeterminate nurses, and we do support Nunavummiut to take the Nursing Program in Nunavut or elsewhere in Canada and work in our facilities.
There’s a good chance that home-grown and educated nurses are going to make a very long commitment to nursing in Nunavut and provide continuity in our health centres and our hospitals.
So I again thank Mr. Elliott for asking about nurses.
Question 647 – 3(3): Status of New High School for Coral Harbour (Ningeongan)
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that we have already reviewed and approved the government’s 2013-14 capital budget and that the most recent five-year capital plan for 2014-18 indicates that a new school project for Coral Harbour will begin in 2014-15.
However, I am sure the minister will appreciate that community residents would like some reassurance that what is on paper will actually become reality on the ground.
For the public record, especially for the people of Coral Harbour, will the minister confirm that Coral Harbour’s new school project is planned to begin in 2014-15?
Yes, my colleague’s understanding is factual for this issue.
The new school for Coral Harbour is included in the five-year capital plan.
The planning phase is scheduled for 2014-15 and (interpretation ends) the design phase will be in 2015-16. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for the response.
I was interested to note that for (interpretation ends) Bill 61, (interpretation) the government’s recent (interpretation ends) capital supplementary appropriation No. 2, (interpretation) we approved funding for a brand-new school project in another community.
This means that there may be eight school capital projects underway in 2014-15 instead of the seven originally planned.
Can the minister provide some assurances to the listening public that the plans for a new school in Coral Harbour will not be delayed as a result of adding new projects to the department’s capital plan?
Yes, I want my colleague to completely understand the situation, including the residents of Coral Harbour, with respect to the capital plan inclusion of their school. Based on what I know, this won’t change.
The school isn’t totally overcrowded in Coral Harbour, but we have been notified that we will have to plan for a new facility to be constructed.
Based on the information I have, this aspect of the planning won’t change.
This will be my last question on behalf of my home community of Coral Harbour.
The residents of Coral Harbour are aware that the year 2014 is still quite a long ways off, and we would like to see more communication between the community and the Department of Education.
Perhaps the minister can have the preparations completed after having visited the community. I note that the term of this current government is nearing its end and these plans may change with the transfer to a new government.
Has this been taken into consideration by her department to ensure communication continues between the parties seamlessly?
With respect to this current government, I am extremely proud of it as they plan for our future priorities. They list them by priority following the different activities we are required to complete over the life of this government over several years up to now.
Such decisions as which schools require urgent replacement, which community has the most pressing need for a hockey arena, and so on, this government has been quite adept at identifying these priorities over the last several years.
I am quite happy and concur with the member that the Department of Education keep a good line of communication with the community. I seem to be having trouble speaking Inuktitut today, but we will endeavour to keep the Coral Harbour DEA informed about this middle school project and the planned construction.
I will further direct the officials at the Department of Education to maintain the lines of communication with the Coral Harbour DEA on the new school project.
Question 648 – 3(3): GN’s Position on Seismic Testing (Enook)
Good afternoon to the people of Pond Inlet and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I want to start off with questions directed to the Minister responsible for the Environment, the Hon. Minister Arreak.
I am unsure whether or not it touches up on transportation, so you can clarify that for me afterwards.
Mr. Speaker, last summer and the year prior, representatives have been visiting our community and the communities of Clyde River and Arctic Bay to present their seismic testing off Button Point in Baffin Bay and they want to test that entire area offshore to determine what the seabed holds.
Mr. Speaker, I tabled a document yesterday outlining the concerns of the Pond Inlet HTO, if the seismic testing is to occur, on the possible effects on marine mammals.
Further, this morning, I heard on the radio that the Clyde River hamlet council is very concerned about this potential testing.
I want to ask the minister about this issue. Has our government provided their position on this seismic testing proposal to the National Energy Board?
The document tabled by the member has been reviewed by our officials, including the concerns expressed by Clyde River in their correspondence. The project proposals are being reviewed and proposed developments are reviewed by our offices.
We are trying to work with the National Energy Board.
However, they want to conduct seismic testing with compressed air to determine seabed topography and to map out the seabed. This includes the delineation of petroleum resources, if any, as well as the sea life and ecology of the seabed being tested.
I would like to hear from the minister, including the people of Nunavut, particularly the residents of Pond Inlet.
What is the status on the seismic testing proposal? Is it supported by this government?
These companies have been proposing to do seismic testing.
We usually support the community in trying to get feedback of any projects.
For the lands department, we will have to consult with the councils of the community to see what concerns they have. We will keep the hamlet council informed of any project.
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would like to ask the minister in regard to the communities of Pond Inlet, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, and Pangnirtung that are on the eastern side of where the proposed seismic testing will be.
The communities are talking about all the concerns that they have.
Can this government support the local governments if they go against this project?
In any kind of testing of our waters, we have to know what’s going on within Nunavut.
We will closely look into what is being proposed, but I cannot state whether or not we’re going to support or how we can work closer with the communities.
We will keep working with the communities.
The response to the letters and their concerns is being worked on. We will respond to their concerns and let the council know if there’s anything coming.
Of course, we will discuss the pros and cons of this project.
Question 649 – 3(3): Additional Office Space at Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, I have made it clear in the past to the Department of Health that the health centre in Sanikiluaq is overcrowded and too small for our community needs.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I wrote a letter to the minister with suggestions on how to help with the overcrowding at the health centre. In that letter, I suggested that office space be acquired outside the health centre for the social worker and other frontline workers.
Can the minister update the House today what his department is doing to acquire to additional office space for frontline workers in Sanikiluaq?
Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rumbolt did write me a letter and he invited me to Sanikiluaq.
I had an opportunity to go down there on March 25. It was a very nice visit and I appreciate the people of Sanikiluaq for inviting us and hosting us.
We did have an opportunity to meet with the mayor and some officials down there. We brought some Community and Government Services people and my health officials. They did meet with officials down there.
I believe that they will be discussing the information they received from their meetings this week. They will update me with respect to how they will go forward with trying to provide office space in Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the minister can confirm if acquiring additional office space for frontline workers in Sanikiluaq now lies with the Department of Community and Government Services and he’s awaiting their response.
As I mentioned, the officials from both departments will be getting together this week to meet and discuss how to move forward on the office space issue.
Question 650 – 3(3): Update on Devolution (Elliott)
On April 25 of this year, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated hosted a live Inuit language phone-in show to talk about devolution and explain how a devolution deal could help Nunavummiut.
Can the Premier update the House on the outcome of this public awareness campaign?
The Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut collaborated to go on TV to get feedback from the people and also to provide information about devolution.
I am very pleased that different people were able to call to ask some questions and they were able to express their concerns.
We will continue to try and educate the people of Nunavut in regard to devolution.
In May 2012, last year, David Akeeagok was named the Government of Nunavut’s chief negotiator for devolution.
Can the Premier update the House on what has transpired on this file over the past year and indicate our government’s timetable with respect to achieving a devolution agreement?
I also thank the member for asking that question as the member feels this is an important matter for Nunavut to work towards devolution down the road.
Yes, our negotiator, the NTI negotiator, along with the federal government chief negotiator, held discussions. Besides the continuing discussions, they have also toured various communities to meet over this matter.
Additionally, with these discussions, the federal chief negotiator will be submitting a report to the AANDC minister as he has completed his report.
I am now expecting to hear what the next project is. Last month, I met with the new minister of social services.
We have heard that we are expecting some good news and the report has been done.
I’m just as anxious as you are to hear about what is going to happen, whether the mandate is going to be approved by the federal government.
The Government of Nunavut’s chief negotiator for devolution was quoted as saying “NTI is a full partner. This will be a three-party negotiation, similar to Yukon and NWT, where aboriginal groups were involved in their devolution agreements.”
Mr. Speaker, my question for the Premier is: how will Inuit involvement be incorporated into the negotiations? Is NTI solely speaking for Inuit of Nunavut around the negotiation table, or will the regional Inuit associations be there?
I think it has been four years that we have been trying to inform the people of Nunavut about devolution.
NTI is in full support of what we’re doing and they support Inuit because they are the body that represents Inuit.
They have a negotiator and that’s how they’re going to negotiate these things.
Question 651 – 3(3): Status of Iqaluit International Airport Project (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, sooner or later, whether they like it or not, every resident of Baffin Island has to travel through Iqaluit’s airport.
This airport is very important to the residents of Baffin Island as well as Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the government’s plans to construct a new air terminal building and undertake other improvements to Iqaluit’s airport is expected to cost well over $100 million.
Can the minister provide an update today on the status of this major project?
Mr. Speaker, that process is moving forward. As the member is well aware, we are in the RFP process and that’s ongoing. All the targets that we have indicated for our advisory committee to target for are on track.
We expect that we will be awarding the RFPs sooner rather than later. We expect the date to be next month.
Speaker: Mr. Enook.
Thank you, hon. minister.