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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update the Members of this Assembly on a study on the high cost of travel in the High Arctic my department has been undertaking over the last two years.
High Arctic communities endure even higher costs of transportation than the rest of us in Nunavut.
Airfare and freight costs are out of reach for normal residents; there is a lack of connectivity to other communities in Nunavut and to the rest of Canada; and in our most northerly community, Grise Fiord, the frequency of services is inadequate for a properly functioning community.
This results in extreme isolation for residents and a very high cost of goods.
Mr. Speaker, our study has also shown that governments of other circumpolar countries facing similar challenges support their remote communities through various forms of assistance.
A survey conducted in conjunction with the study indicated that any relief from the high costs of transportation, either in freight or in travel, would be most welcome.
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe our government is in a position to provide a subsidy to transportation services in our territory. However, recognizing the situation in our northernmost communities, it is clear that even a small improvement could make a positive impact in the quality of people’s lives in the High Arctic.
As we conclude the study, we will have recommendations to this government and to bring forward to the federal government. I look forward to sharing those recommendations with this Assembly once they are complete.
Minister’s Statement 101 – 3(3): Update on Iqaluit’s 25 Kilovolt Upgrade (Kusugak)
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Good afternoon, my fellow Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to update my colleagues on the progress which occurred over the summer in upgrading Iqaluit’s power distribution system.
Upgrading from 5 kilovolts to 25 kilovolts will reduce overall operating cost, reduce line losses, and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Customers will experience improved power quality with greater control and shorter downtime during planned and unplanned outages.
This summer, QEC completed the construction of its 25 kilovolt distribution substation, which is located next to the Iqaluit power plant.
In addition, crews were able to complete the upgrading of the distribution line to roughly 40 percent of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the rest of the distribution upgrade will be completed next summer. Next year’s work will be scheduled to start sooner as the equipment and trucks required to complete the upgrade are already here in Iqaluit. Once the upgrade is complete, the distribution system will meet Iqaluit’s projected growth well into the next 30 years.
The upgraded distribution system is expected to reduce Iqaluit’s diesel fuel consumption by 550,000 litres annually.
On behalf of the Qulliq Energy Corporation, I would like to extend our gratitude to our customers for their patience during the numerous planned outages that were required to complete the work on the distribution upgrade.
Minister responsible for Education, Madam Minister Aariak.
Minister’s Statement 102 – 3(3): Early Childhood Education Funding (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to take this opportunity to speak to my colleagues about funding that is being provided to all district education authorities to promote Inuit language and culture.
The Department of Education is working with district education authorities to implement section 17 of the Education Act, the requirement to provide early childhood education programs that promote Inuit language and culture.
We are providing $1.6 million annually to district education authorities for early childhood programming that focuses on increased Inuit language and culture activities.
The funds are allocated based on project applications from the district education authorities.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we have conducted a survey of all early childhood education programs, including licensed daycares, parent and tot programs, and literacy programs in Nunavut to determine what current Inuit language and culture activities and resources are available and what is needed.
In March 2011, the first ever Nunavut-wide early childhood educators’ conference was held focusing on promoting Inuit language and culture in programs.
Two new staff have been hired to help the district education authorities develop programs that encourage elder involvement, engage parents, and use local resources.
Support is also being provided to community groups and families wanting to develop language and culture activities. To date, we have received 15 proposals from district education authorities with more to come.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, by working together, we can give our youngest learners the support they need by providing early childhood education programs that will give preschoolers a strong foundation based on Inuit language, cultural values and beliefs.
Minister’s Statement 103 – 3(3): Medevac Services - Kitikmeot (Curley)
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): I say “good afternoon” to the people of Rankin Inlet. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the provision of medevac services to Nunavutmiut is an important part of the health care that the Department of Health and Social Services provides in the territory.
Today the NNI Contracting Appeals Board issued its decision to dismiss the appeal by Adlair Aviation (1983) Ltd. with respect to the RFP for the provision of air ambulance services in the Kitikmeot.
The GN respects the decision of the NNI Contracting Appeals Board.
The department acknowledges the fine service provided over the years by Adlair.
Adlair is a good corporate citizen through its contributions and community service to Kitikmeot communities.
Mr. Speaker, the department will work closely with the new provider, Aqsaqniq Airways Ltd., to ensure that there is a smooth transition of services.
Mr. Speaker, the department would like to reassure residents of the Kitikmeot that this change in providers is not expected to change the level and quality of service provided. (interpretation) Thank you.
Minister’s Statement 104 – 3(3): Nunavut’s Commercial Fishery Results for 2011 (Shewchuk)
I am very pleased to inform my fellow members that Nunavut’s commercial fishery continues to grow and provide positive results for Nunavut economic development while, at the same time, ensuring a sustainable resource.
The commercial fishery in Nunavut consists of three species: turbot, coldwater shrimp, and arctic char.
The offshore fishery for turbot and shrimp takes place off the coast of Baffin Island.
Nunavut holds more than 9,350 tonnes of turbot quotas in these adjacent waters, which will be fully harvested in 2011, providing income and jobs for Nunavutmiut.
In addition, an inshore quota for turbot of 500 tonnes is available to local fishers in Cumberland Sound for the winter ice fishery and developing summer hook and line fishery.
This quota would deliver returns benefiting Nunavut through employment and income.
For our coldwater shrimp, although Nunavut holds in excess of 10,600 tonnes of quota in adjacent waters, until recently, little effort has been expended to develop this fishery.
Last year, over 3,000 tonnes were harvested and it is anticipated that this will increase to around 4,000 tonnes in 2011.
Such significant returns will continue to benefit Nunavut and the fishing industry.
The strong demand for our other commercial species, arctic char, has been spurred by robust market demands inside and outside Nunavut, and the successful implementation of the Char Marketing Strategy.
Fish plants have been looking to find new sources of supply from other communities, close to doubling our commercial production to over 200,000 pounds.
These plants are continuing to seek out additional sources of supply, providing new opportunities for economic development throughout Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, for my department, 2011 has been an exciting year in the commercial fishing industry, as well with the accomplishment achieved when the department took delivery of the new research vessel, the MV Nuliajuk, and its successful completion of its first season of research in Cumberland Sound and in areas near Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq.
We will continue to support this work and ensure the strong sustainable fisheries industry continues to grow in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 105 – 3(3): Qikiqtarjuaq Air Terminal Building Opening (Taptuna)
I thank you for this opportunity to rise today before the Members of this House to speak about the completion of the Qikiqtarjuaq Air Terminal Building project.
In the case of the Qikiqtarjuaq Air Terminal Building, we were fortunate to leverage federal funds under the Building Canada Plan.
This plan has greatly assisted us in delivering priority projects, and I would like to thank my federal counterparts for the flexibility they designed into the program.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the individuals, departments, and companies that were involved in completing this worthwhile project.
Most of all, I would like to thank the people of Qikiqtarjuaq for their patience throughout this whole process and I would like to congratulate them on the opening of their new air terminal building.
Mr. Speaker, the grand opening ceremony will take place on November 22 and I am very much looking forward to attending this event.
Member’s Statement 145 – 3(3): Addressing Family Violence (Ugyuk)
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to urge the government to move forward and address the issue of family violence now and without further delay.
Mr. Speaker, last Friday I asked questions in this House on the level of support provided to women’s shelters. I was shocked when the answers that I received laid the blame for the delay in action on the previous government.
Mr. Speaker, pointing the finger at previous governments, former employees, or past presidents contributes nothing towards addressing an issue. It is a waste of time. It did not bring back the millions of dollars that were overspent under the Nunavut Housing Trust.
Mr. Speaker, we must move on from the past. We must pick up where our predecessors left off and continue on.
If we constantly stop to look back, we will never get up enough momentum to move forward and make a difference.
Mr. Speaker, the reality of today is that women continue to be beaten down to the ground and very little is being done to address it, much less acknowledge it as a problem.
Mr. Speaker, Inuit values are slowly being lost from our daily lives.
According to those values, we would never let an animal suffer. Instead, society today ignores it when women are being beaten black and blue in front of their children and in their homes.
Mr. Speaker, where is our integrity?
Mr. Speaker, what will it take for the leaders of Nunavut to take responsibility for addressing this issue and act upon it?
Mr. Speaker, I urge the government to move forward on addressing family violence now.
Give the women and children of Nunavut some hope that their bruises will be seen and steps will be taken to stop the violence which causes so much pain and suffering.
Mr. Speaker, it is not acceptable to simply point the finger at what someone else didn’t do.
The right course of action would be to step up and do what needs to be done.
Member’s Statement 146 – 3(3): Northern Youth Abroad (Elliott)
I rise today to promote the good work and success of the Northern Youth Abroad Program.
Mr. Speaker, two of my constituents, Ooleesie Akeeagok from Grise Fiord and Jaypiti Olayuk from Arctic Bay, took part in this year’s Northern Youth Abroad Program.
I know that their experience in this program will prepare them for the future.
Mr. Speaker, this year was a very successful one for the Northern Youth Abroad Program.
Forty-two participants successfully completed the program. That will bring the total to 275 alumni since this program began.
Mr. Speaker, the Northern Youth Abroad Program is open to youth from across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The program helps participants develop professional skills while getting hands-on work experience. They earn high school credits through a cross-cultural learning experience in southern Canada or abroad.
Mr. Speaker, the Northern Youth Abroad Program has a number of objectives: building knowledge, cross-cultural awareness, completion of high school, global education, job training, community development, leadership development, international citizenship, and improved self-confidence. Any one of these is incredibly worthwhile to the youth in our society.
Mr. Speaker, times are tight for many entities and organizations in the current fiscal climate. I would like to acknowledge the past support provided by the Department of Education to this very worthwhile program.
I strongly urge the minister and her officials to continue providing support to this program and even to consider increasing funding and resources to enable it to continue providing such wonderful opportunities to our youth to develop and grow.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating all of this year’s successful participants in the Northern Youth Abroad Program.
Member’s Statement 147 – 3(3): High School Graduates of Clyde River (Arreak)
I would like to express a good afternoon wish to Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq residents.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share celebrations with my colleagues in this House and in particular, to celebrate the graduation of students from our local high school.
We are very vocal in our support of graduates who complete grade 12 in their home communities and whenever anyone from Nunavut graduates, we share in their joy for passing grade 12. They become part of the role models we can espouse to our younger generations. So once you graduate, it’s a new start to your life and the result of your perseverance.
I would like to invite colleagues to come on November 7 to celebrate the graduation ceremony in our community of Clyde River.
The graduates are Morrey Palluq, Todd Hainnu, Helen Enuaraq, Annie Mary Angutikjuak, Thomasie Oqqallak, Gina Paniloo, and Joey Paneak.
We are very proud of these graduates who will celebrate their graduation this fall.
Minister of Education, Madam Minister Aariak.
Return to Oral Question 182 – 3(3): School Attendance Tracking System (Aariak)
I will respond to these questions that were raised previously in English. (interpretation ends) School attendance tracking system.
“Having a specific and regular report on how many students are attending school on a day-by-day, week-by-week, or even month-by-month basis could be an excellent tool to encourage more parents to send their students to school.
Will the minister commit to providing these reports to all communities across Nunavut at the earliest possible opportunity and to continue providing them on a regular basis?”
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, attendance reports for each of Nunavut’s schools are included in the principal’s monthly report. Principals are required under the Education Act to submit the report to the district education authority.
All the monthly reports are available to the public and DEAs are required under the Education Act to provide attendance information to their community.
(interpretation ends) The Department of Education has annual attendance reports which have been tabled in this House, including October 2010. In the year of 2012-13, the new student information system will be implemented.
Once implemented, the Department of Education will be able to track and report attendance statistics on a consistent basis.
Attendance rates will be included in the minister’s annual report. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return to Oral Question 193 – 3(3): Preparing Grade 12 Students for Post Secondary (Aariak)
The question is: “Departmental officials interviewed in the media have indicated that there will be an in-service for teachers on the career planning process for students and parents.
Although the minister touched up on this issue, I would like to ask the minister: can the minister describe to this House what kind of career planning support is currently made available to high school students across Nunavut?”
(interpretation) For the response, (interpretation ends) in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, each student should be receiving assistance from school personnel to develop a career and program plan.
This year, grades 7 to 12 teachers in Nunavut schools will receive an in-service on the high school planning process and high school course selection.
The career and program plan is a collaborative project that involves the student, parents or guardians, and school personnel, such as a teacher, school community counsellor, school support teacher, or administrator. The career and program plan will construct a path through school for the students and will include both:
the graduation requirements which will enable the students to receive the Nunavut Secondary School Diploma, and
an outline of courses most appropriate to the student’s interests, abilities, and future life goals.
Guidance and career materials to support CPP implementation were provided to all schools several years ago.
Initiatives, such as career fairs, job shadowing, work experience, and community service, broaden students’ knowledge about the options available to them.
Career development officers from the regional offices of the Department of Education may also be available to support schools by making school visits and providing informational career materials. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like this person acknowledged as he is someone I recognize on a daily basis, my beloved husband, Naujaaq Ugyuk, who is from Taloyoak. I dearly love him and am attached to him, so I would like to have him acknowledged in the House.
Did you have some more to continue? Please finish.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Yes, I want to recognize another person in the Gallery, Arnaoyok Alookee from Taloyoak. She is a member of the elders’ committee, has worked previously at the local shelter, and is active in social issues.
I also am very thankful to have a fellow Taloyoak resident, Arnaoyok Alookee, present today.
Question 215 – 3(3): Nunavut’s New Food Guide (Elliott)
The other day he did a Minister’s Statement about Nunavut’s new food guide and spoke about how the guides were expected to arrive in communities coming soon. I was just wondering: will those guides be going specifically to the health centres or will they be going to the schools?
Whenever government publishes information about public health centres and the Nunavut Food Guide, they’re sent out to as many organizations as possible, including stores, schools, health centres, and the general public.
I know that we can provide this information through all possible avenues. This includes the Internet and other media. This will be a living document to be used for a number of years and we want to ensure people use this guide.
As I stated earlier, our staff will require assistance from the communities on available food items locally as there are variations among the communities, such as in the Kivalliq region. This is why we will use the most widely available method to try and deal with this issue.
Furthermore, community health committees will be helping the public health and government to ensure that the information is disseminated as widely as possible.
It is going to be a living document, so every community will require that they work with the department and this information will be slowly disseminated.
The minister’s department has committed to strengthening community health committees within our communities across the territory. This was reflected in the business plan or the main estimates of this year.
I’m just wondering: with this amazing initiative that his department has announced, what specific role does the community health committee play in this initiative?
His question is not part of the first question.
What I can say is that community health workers are very important.
As I have said during the previous winter or spring session, we wanted to give them more authority, more roles and responsibilities in regard to public health, besides the medical team.
Also, we want to get their support. For that reason, we had increased the funding that’s allocated to these committees. For many years, the amount has never been changed and they were allocated $5,000 for a very long time.
We have increased that to $10,000.
I don’t have the details right in front of me, but we need to discuss this matter with the committees. I can tell you that we will give them a greater role.
The transformation within our department’s social and child services is completed and we will not be required to establish another entity.
That is one example in my response to the question.
I apologize if I didn’t make the question clear.
It’s great that the health committees are receiving an increase in the amount of funding that they will be receiving.
My specific question was around this particular initiative that the minister announced in the House the other day about Nunavut’s new food guide.
I was just curious to find out, once the materials come to the communities, how the health committees within those communities will be dealing with the information.
Will they be the ones participating in the food sampling?
Will they be the ones participating in setting up activities in the Northern stores, I believe, and with some of the retailers? I don’t want to favour one retailer or another, but there was supposed to be food sampling in different retail stores and whatnot.
I’m just wondering: will the health committees be playing a role in that or will it be the community health representative who will actually be implementing this initiative that he announced in the communities?
In terms of providing the publicity of that, we certainly welcome any help that we can get, including the community health representatives, but I think the member will know that when I made the statement, it was specifically geared towards the younger generation who have departed from actually benefiting from traditional Inuit food and so on.
In terms of the details of exactly who in the community will be the lead spokesperson on that, I will have to get back to that, but in some communities, we do have community health workers and they will play quite a large role in that aspect, but schools certainly will as well.
Again, I realize that a lot of the health committee members will be older people in the community and, at times, elders providing support in terms of health issues.
To me, that’s one of the things I always hear in all three of my communities, that elders are looking for ways to connect with the youth.
If this particular program is geared towards the younger generation, then this is a perfect opportunity to have our elders working with our young people.
Again, if the minister was able to maybe clarify a little bit more in terms of how the community health committees are being more active and how his department is encouraging them to participate in this program to have people across Nunavut eating more healthy.
Hon. Tagak Curley: I think it’s important, Mr. Speaker, to recognize the fact that there are families out there in Nunavut who encourage healthy food.
I know certainly my family does. Members of my peers and other family members in my region play a very large role and many of them are hunters.
They do distribute that food when they get it so that it stays fresh and that it’s taken advantage of.
Inuit are doing that, Inuit communities are doing that, and many of our communities are doing that.
The Nunavut Food Guide is a supplement to all that is being done and that will continue, but we as a government, we are happy to have a statement that what our families have been depending on for thousands of years is going to continue and it’s going to benefit those who may have had second thoughts about continuing to have traditional Inuit food.