EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If you have any closing comments.
I would firstly like to thank my staff and the committee.
I was glad to be working with them.
The information that we were going to provide the members with questions that were brought up earlier are noted, so we’ll be able to give that information to them.
We will be hearing from your department again.
I’d like to ask the committee members what the wish of the committee is.
It is just about 7 o’clock and there are some other items we need to deal with.
I’d like to report progress.
There is a motion on the floor and it’s not debatable.
We can now ask the Speaker to come back into the House.
I’m glad that we have completed the Department of Education.
A meeting of the full caucus at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning in the Nanuk Board Room.
Orders of the Day for Tuesday, May 7th, 2002.
Minister’s Statement 020 - 1(6)
Before we conclude, I’d like to invite all the members to join me in the foyer for a presentation with the President and CEO of Tahera Corporation followed by a reception.
I also recognize that members may wish to attend the funeral tomorrow of Mr. Goo Arlooktoo and in accordance with Motion 002 - 1(6), this House stands adjourned until Tuesday at 3.30.
>>House adjourned at 6.54 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Tuesday May 7, 2002
Pages 468 - 515
Members’ Statements 470
Oral Questions 474
Written Questions 492
Tabling of Documents 493
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 494
Report of Committee of the Whole 513
Orders of the Day 513
Tuesday May 7, 2002 468
026 – 1(6): Language Posters – Nunavut Youth Consulting (Anawak) 468
027 – 1(6): Nunavut Association of Municipalities Annual General Meeting (Thompson) 469
098 – 1(6): High Turnover Rate in Nunavut (McLean) 470
099 – 1(6): Openness and Accountability – Bad Gasoline (Tootoo) 471
100 – 1(6): Social Worker and Counsellor Hiring Policies (Irqittuq) 471
101 – 1(6): Condolences to Arlooktoo Family (Kattuk) 473
102 – 1(6): Pangnirtung Session in the Fall (Kilabuk) 473
103 – 1(6): Hiring Policies to Reflect Inuit (Iqaqrialu) 474
110 – 1(6): Table the RFP for Bad Gasoline (McLean) 474
111 – 1(6): Increase of Budget in the Main Estimates (Tootoo) 475
112 – 1(6): Expansion of Qikiqtarjuaq School (Iqaqrialu) 477
113 – 1(6): Plans for a Fire Hall in Taloyoak and a Water Treatment Plant in Gjoa Haven (Puqiqnak) 477
114 – 1(6): Job Guarantee for Counsellor Trainees in Clyde River (Nutarak) 478
115 – 1(6): Grise Fiord Co-op Building Proposal – Update (Williams) 479
116 – 1(6): Update on the Agreement for Counsellors’ Funding (Irqittuq) 481
117 – 1(6): Elders as Counsellors (Alakannuark) 483
118 – 1(6): Qikiqtarjuaq Tank Farm Update (Iqaqrialu) 484
119 – 1(6): Operation of Correctional Centres (Nutarak) 485
120 – 1(6): Qikiqtarjuaq Beach (Iqaqrialu) 486
121 – 1(6): Update on Community Access Road Program (McLean) 486
122 – 1(6): Status of the New Hospital for Iqaluit (Tootoo) 487
123 – 1(6): Rectifying the High GN Staff Turnover Rates (Tootoo) 490
001 – 1(6): Iqaluit District Education Authority Budget Allocation (Tootoo) 492
015 – 1(6): IDEA Letter to Parents on Proposed Education Act (Tootoo) 493
Bill 6 – Appropriation Act No. 2, 2002-2003 – Consideration in Committee 494
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker: Ms. Williams could you say the prayer?
Good afternoon, Premier, members.
Minister’s Statement 026 – 1(6): Language Posters – Nunavut Youth Consulting
It is with great pride that I rise before this House today to talk about a very successful project that my department funded in Arctic Bay.
Nunavut Youth Consulting, a non-profit community based youth group from Arctic Bay, received project funding from CLEY under the Inuktitut Language Initiatives of the Official Languages Agreement to develop a set of three posters that promote and preserve our language.
I would like to share with you a story about how this project was initiated.
At one of their meetings, serious concerns were raised about the Inuktitut language and its preservation.
Many ideas were discussed as to what could be done to combat this.
These youth wanted to do something positive and create something that would last.
The idea of creating a series of three full posters to promote, preserve, and raise awareness of the Inuktitut language was discussed.
Today their idea is a reality and even though these youth are not here in person, we can still share their profound message.
To ensure that their message reached Nunavut youth, copies of the three language posters were displayed during the Arctic Winter Games and also sent to all Nunavut Schools and municipal governments and agencies during the month of April 2002.
Mr. Speaker, a display of the posters can be seen in the antechamber of the House today.
In closing, I would like to extend my congratulations to the members of Nunavut Youth Consulting.
Their project is an example of how Nunavut youth can contribute to the promotion and preservation of the Inuit language.
>>Applause  Speaker: Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 027 – 1(6): Nunavut Association of Municipalities Annual General Meeting
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Speaker, I have recently returned from the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Annual General Meeting, which was held last week in Ottawa.
Nunavut’s communities were well represented and the week was very successful on many fronts, Mr. Speaker.
Firstly, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Nunavut Association of Municipalities on a well-organized and well run meeting.
I know that a lot of work goes into the preparation of these meetings and it was evident that NAM rose to the occasion in Ottawa.
Several Members of Parliament took the opportunity to attend various sessions during the NAM AGM to meet with the delegates or to do presentation.
The Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Robert Nault;
Minister of Public Works & Government Services, the Honourable Don Boudria;
The Minister of Labour, Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Claudette Bradshaw;
The Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Elinor Caplan; and
Our MP for Nunavut, Nancy Karetak-Lindell.
Their attendance and participation Mr. Speaker, did a lot to help raise the profile of Nunavut on the federal scene.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, but perhaps most importantly, was the renewed commitment to co-operation and partnership that was made last week between our communities and us.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the newly elected executive of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities:
President Keith Peterson of Cambridge Bay;
Vice-President Joanasie Akumalik of Arctic Bay;
Director for the Baffin Region, Lootie Toomasie of Qikiqtarjuaq;
Director for the Kivalliq Region, David Alagalak of Arviat; and
Director for the Kitikmeot Region, Stanley Anablak of Kugluktuk.
In closing Mr. Speaker, the Department of Community Government & Transportation is firmly committed to working in partnership with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and our communities for the benefit of all Nunavummiut.
Speaker: Thank you. Ministers’ Statements.
Item 3: Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 098 – 1(6): High Turnover Rate in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, today I speak on an issue that affects the entire government.
That is the issue of the high turnover rate of Government of Nunavut employees.
Mr. Speaker, it’s no secret that it takes a special kind of person to live and thrive in this unique environment that we call home.
Aside from the weather, there are issues related to our isolation that make living here a struggle for some people.
Mr. Speaker, I believe this is one of the reasons that the turnover rate is so high within the Government of Nunavut.
When people are hired from the south to fill positions here, they often have no idea of the many challenges they must face.
Mr. Speaker, this is yet another reason that the government needs to focus on hiring northerners.
Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about people who have decided to make a life in the north, not just a quick buck.
These are people who can be depended on to remain in their jobs because they are going to remain in the North.
So, Mr. Speaker, I ask myself why we aren’t hiring more Northerners and the answer is simple: training.
And we bring that up in every Assembly.
My colleague from Kugluktuk talked about mining training, I talk about mining training.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s time for this government to take training seriously and invest our money in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the government to focus on building a workforce from Nunavut that is dedicated to Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, on the end of that I would like to say that I picked up the Aboriginal Times, guaranteed employment, must bring home.
I am not talking about the article in there; I am talking about guaranteed employment.
I wish I could guarantee employment in my community for all the people that come in and ask me for a job every day.
The other thing Mr. Speaker, on the radio this morning, it cost us 50 thousand dollars to turn around an employee from the south that is not staying here, that does not stay in Nunavut all the time.
I think that’s a tragedy.
If we took that turnaround dollars and invested in our people in our communities, we would be much better off in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 099 – 1(6): Openness and Accountability – Bad Gasoline
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue of openness and accountability.
Over the past several days a tremendous amount of attention has been paid to the issue of bad gasoline supplies in Nunavut.
Indeed, the issue has attracted the attention of the national media.
Mr. Speaker, last week’s statement in this House was refreshingly forthright: a serious problem has been recognized by Nunavummiut, the government recognizes and acknowledges that the concerns are legitimate, steps are now being taken to fix the problem and work towards ensuing that it won’t be repeated.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Premier and the Minister of Public Works for their actions and words over the past week.
Too often we see governments in this country existing in a state of perpetual spin control and denial regardless of the seriousness of the issue, or the potential risk to the general public.
Mr. Speaker, one of the potential strengths of our consensus style of government in Nunavut is that acknowledging that serious problems and challenges exist is a sign of strength not weakness.
Mr. Speaker, over the coming week or two, I anticipate that members of this House will be seeking answers to important questions surrounding the gasoline issue.
I look forward to an exchange that is based on the principles of openness and accountability.
Member’s Statement 100 – 1(6): Social Worker and Counsellor Hiring Policies
Today I rise to speak about an item that I have been raising for a long time and I do not want to leave it hanging so I will try to clarify it.
Our way of life as Inuit is different and people need to understand that.
Since we have achieved Nunavut now, we want the federal government to delegate more powers to this government; however it seems that these powers are withheld at the territorial level, although this power should be given to the communities to let them take control of decisions that affect their lives.
I want to say these things for the record, so that you can understand what we need and that we are on the same page.
I may have to add further comments for clarification so that the government will understand the things that the communities want.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I said in the House that we had problems that we are facing regarding social workers; the least we can do is change the requirements under the Act for social programs that are geared more towards the Inuit culture.
I am not saying that I am biased against the social workers coming from the south.
The elders know, as do other Inuit about experience teaching many truths and their primary concern, when they have led a hard life, is to state that for a good life we have to experience it ourselves, because with good and bad times come life’s lessons.
It’s good to have formally educated and trained counsellors but I want the counsellors to have lots of experience with life.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement please.
Like I have said previously, if I were a real Inuk, I would know the cultural Inuit traditions and I can’t speak the English language.
There is no way I can get a job in the south due to my inability to speak English and for this reason, I am stating that our government has to start gearing up to have the Inuit language as the primary working language in the government.
The government is continually publicizing their position on the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit issue and that they are using it in their policies and that they are going to promote education, health matters, justice and that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit should be the number one issue.
It should be used to show what Inuit can do.
We have to stop using it as a fad word.
Throw it off our tongues and start implementing it.
There are a lot of things that Inuit are very skilled at and which can be utilized in the communities.
We know that in the north, in the Arctic, there are still a lot of Inuit people who can’t speak English fluently and we have a problem communicating with the English speaking people as we have to go through interpreters and it’s better to have a face to face single language conversation with other people.
This has to be understood that it is extremely hard to deal with wellness counselling when you cannot express yourself properly.
Our lifestyle is different and people need to understand that there are areas where we are different.
If you go to Hall Beach you don’t have to knock on the door to go in.
You just walk in.
But if you go to a Qallunaaq house, then you have to knock when you go in because they’d be completely shocked if you just walked in the door without knocking.
So, Mr. Speaker, I’m urging the government to consider hiring counsellors who are unilingual in Inuktitut.
Member’s Statement 101 – 1(6): Condolences to Arlooktoo Family
Mr. Speaker, I feel compelled to make this statement at this time, otherwise I will regret passing it up.
It is in regards to our dear friend who was buried today and who we had a funeral for.
He was a Deputy Premier with the previous GNWT government and on behalf of the people of Sanikiluaq whom I represent I would like to thank Mr. Goo Arlooktoo who is no longer here with us.
But he has made a huge contribution to the Nunavut Territory, to the development of the communities including Sanikiluaq and to the residents of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
And on behalf of all the people of Nunavut, I would like to thank Mr. Goo Arlooktoo.
He’s no longer here with us but we know that we will meet him some time in the future and although that may be the case, we send our condolences to his wife Dorothy and to their children, we have them in our thoughts, our prayers and in our hearts.
Member’s Statement 102 – 1(6): Pangnirtung Session in the Fall
I would like to thank my colleagues for choosing Pangnirtung as the location of the next session in the fall.
I have no doubts that the people of Pangnirtung will receive the Legislature with open arms, as Inuit do everywhere else in Nunavut when visitors are in their community.
I am happy for the people of my community.
Member’s Statement 103 – 1(6): Hiring Policies to Reflect Inuit
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you recognize me.
I rise today to make a supplement to my colleague’s comments from Amittuq in regards to the people in the communities who are trying to get employment in the communities and who are denied, and who are not considered by the people that form these selection committees and their tremendous skills and abilities are belittled.
I think  that this is going to be an ongoing issue with respect to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and its relevance to the selection process of employees during the life of this session.
This does not change anything when there is a fixation on paper qualifications since there are hardly any economic development opportunities or employment in some of the Nunavut communities.
We have to inform the House that there are a lot of able people out there who are waiting for employment.
I think the government has to be more empathetic to the regular members on this issue; it is as if they don’t see the necessity of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
This is not conducive to establishing a working relationship.
We have to work together and co-operate with one and all in order to make progress on this issue.
The different government departments have to work together.
The ministers have to help one and other also, and to set things by example.
They make a lot of nice Ministers’ Statements, but when it comes to the staff implementing it, it tends to go the other way around.
If not we will move on.
Question 110 – 1(6): Table the RFP for Bad Gasoline
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Public Works and Services.
I realize that the Minister’s Statement from last Friday has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, but I would like to ask the minister if he would be willing to table in this House by Thursday, a copy of technical specifications in the tender or RFP that was originally issued that lead to the GN’s purchase of the gasoline that has turned out to be defective.
Question 111 – 1(6): Increase of Budget in the Main Estimates
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Education.
Everyone is quite aware that we finished debating and reviewing their Budget yesterday.
I’d like to ask the minister, after looking at the Main Estimates and the amounts that were in there for DEA contributions, as the Minister of Finance has indicated in his budget address that there was an additional amount of money, I think it was 800 thousand that he referred to as being put towards the DEAs.
When I took at look at the Main Estimates for last year, the approved amount at this time last year was 9.4 million dollars and this year the approved amount is 9.3 million dollars.
I’d like to ask the minister how he got an 800 thousand dollars increase from a lower amount that what was approved last year.
Speaker: Minister responsible for education.
As I explained to the House yesterday, there were figures not available at the time the books were being prepared for the Legislative Assembly which was due to the District Education Authorities having a different year end.
I gave specific numbers to the House as per the correct numbers that were supposed to be included in that book but it was late, as the reports had been printed out already.
I gave that information yesterday but I’m more than willing to provide that same information I provided to the House yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the number that the minister’s talking about is 8.9 million dollars.
It was the revised Main Estimates for last year.
Mr. Speaker, but the initial amount that was approved by this Assembly when we did the budget last year, was 9.4 million dollars and this year it’s only 9.3 million dollars.
I’d like to ask the minister how they got an increase of 800 thousand when it’s actually a lesser amount than what was initially approved last year.
The information I provided to the House yesterday during Committee of the Whole was I gave the number which should have been included in the 2001 – 2002 revised estimates.
As it read in the book, 7 million 783 thousand dollars should have been 8 million 965 thousand.
But the 2002 – 2003 Main Estimates were showing at 9.31 million.
The increases were due to a reallocation of the budget for the new school year and a correction of reallocation for underestimation of DEA contributions as I explained to the House yesterday, and the forced growth for the funding formula which supports the DEAs.
Maybe I’ll ask the minister if we approved the correct according to the Main Estimates of last year in the budget session that we approved 9.4 million dollars for DEA contributions and not the 8.965 that was the revised amount.
The figures that we were working with yesterday for the DEA contributions were from 9-19 as the normal practice of the House is that we approved them page by page, line by line, so that was what we were basically working from yesterday and the figures I gave for the 2001 – 2002 revised estimates were of the changes that I just mentioned Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we initially approved 9.4 million dollars last year Mr. Speaker, for the DEAs.
The revised estimates came in at that 8.965.
The District Education Authorities are all saying that we don’t have enough money to operate and the department is telling us that we give them all that they have.
How could there have been a lapse of funds in there if we approved 9.4 and they only spent 8.9?
I’d like to ask the minister if he could provide us with an explanation of how we seemed to have lapsed money if the District Education Authorities are all saying that they don’t have enough money.
In the main estimates last year, and in the revised estimates which I will produce when available, it’s gone up to 9.315 million for this year.
If you were looking at other figures other than what I have in front of me, I could talk to my colleague and find out what numbers he was using and I can task my staff to detail the changes because the numbers are pretty well even.
Question 112 – 1(6): Expansion of Qikiqtarjuaq School
My other constituent community of Qikiqtarjuaq has written letters to the Minister of Education in regards to making renovations or additions to the existing school.
I would like to ask the Minister of Education when our school in Qikiqtarjuaq is slotted for an expansion or what the plans are to date in respect to the school?
I could review this with my colleague and have a meeting with him in regards to the capital project schedules.
Question 113 – 1(6): Plans for a Fire Hall in Taloyoak and a Water Treatment Plant in Gjoa Haven
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Community Government & Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, in the five year capital plan, there were projects assigned and to cite some examples, for a water treatment design project in Gjoa Haven and for the construction of a new fire hall in Taloyoak.
These are some of the items in the plan.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister update me on the status of these projects, especially on these two projects that I outlined?
In the capital plan, these projects for water treatment design and a new fire hall in Taloyoak are true just like the member mentioned and I am sure that the member has already reviewed this.
The design for the water treatment plant in Gjoa Haven is just about complete.
I’m not quite sure whether they’re near completion or not.
In 2002/2003, the design is slotted to be completed and in 2003/2004, the building is to be erected.
That is in regards to water treatment design.
I’m not sure what the member was referring to exactly but I just heard something about the water treatment.
I would also like to thank the Minister responsible for Community Government and Transportation for responding to my former question.
I don’t know how old these plans are, but these projects now included in the Capital Plan have been agreed to already.
The other project that I mentioned was the new fire hall that is slated to be built in Taloyoak within the capital plan.
My question to the minister is if this new fire hall, the equipment and construction schedule, is it all going according to plans?
What is the status of that project?
I understand the member’s question asking about the new fire hall in Taloyoak.
I believe some of the projects in the Kitikmeot are a little behind schedule, and I will have to look into this further to find out what the status is.
There is money set aside but I will have to look into it to properly update you.