EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Then if the school didn’t want to open, if the District Education Authority says, well, we don’t agree with that, we are going to let the school open, there would be a huge liability issues for students if something bad happened, if there was an accidents with teachers or students trying to get to work and so on or coming to school.
So in communities again, depending on what the municipal arrangement is, the District Education Authority has the right and the responsibility if they feel to close the school and that’s where that lies.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Chairman.
That’s one area I believe that needs some special consideration by the department as well as mainly, you know, that there has to be a clear guideline.
I really truly believe, for safety reasons, there has to be guidelines.
In places like Rankin Inlet, normally the principal will say it’s up to the parents of whether or not they want their children to go to school.
Occasionally, the schools are shut down for safety reasons, but I really believe you need further guidelines.
I say that because this winter, even the school outdoor activities for either recess or what not, there was one event in Rankin Inlet where one of the high school students did not feel safe to play outdoors or do some events, and then that kid literally froze her thighs.
There was no safety consideration provided.
So I am just saying, could that be severe weather advisory could maybe be taken a little more seriously with the amount of students that we now have, I think it’s important to have that kind of advisory service.
I believe that direction of department provide to the District Education Authorities.
I would like the Deputy Minister to give me a comment on that.
The member makes a very good point.
We do have to rely on the expertise at the community level to make the calls because it is the safety of the children that we are looking at, but if there are situations where children are outside when it is severe weather, then we do need to base it on a standard so that they can have something to go by and not just say that it’s up to the parents.
So we will look at that.
Mr. Curley: I move to report progress.
We have a motion on the Floor to report progress.
Thank you, Minister Picco and your staff.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 21.
Your Committee has been considering Bill 8 and the main estimates and would like to report progress.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of this Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
There’s a motion on the Floor.
A seconder for the motion, Mr. Kilabuk.
Item 23. Orders of the Day for Monday.
Announcements for Monday; the meeting of the regular caucus at 11:00 in the morning in the Tuktu Board Room.
Orders of the Day for Monday March 7:
Tabled Document 52 - 2 (2)
This House stands adjourned until Monday, March 07, 2005 at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 17:11  Nunavut Canada
Monday March 7, 2005
Pages 1195 – 1291
Opening Prayer 1195
Ministers’ Statements 1195
Members’ Statements 1197
Oral Questions 1201
Return to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1220
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1221
Report of Committee of the Whole 129089
Orders of the Day 1290
Monday March 7, 2005 1195
070 – 2(2): Social Work Week March 6-12, 2005 (Brown) 1195
071 – 2(2): Heat Recovery and the Kyoto Protocol – Nunavut (Picco) 1196
072 – 2(2): Update: Language Legislation Feasibility Study (Tapardjuk) 1196
156 – 2(2): Tribute to Eddie Weetaluktuk (Kattuk) 1197
157 – 2(2): Kitkmeot Employment Training Partners (Peterson) 1198
158 – 2(2): Wrestling Competition (Alagalak) 1199
159 – 2(2): Birthday Wishes (Tootoo) 1199
160 – 2(2): New Coral Harbour Air Terminal Building (Netser) 1199
161 – 2(2): New Granddaughter (Kilabuk) 1200
206 – 2(2): Update on the Muskox Harvest Study (Peterson) 1201
207 – 2(2): Clarification on Statement Made from the Nunavut Arctic College Report (Tootoo) 1203
208 – 2(2): Current Status of Airport Terminal Building in Coral Harbour (Netser) 1206
209 – 2(2): Members for Elder Care Task Force (Curley) 1207
210 – 2(2): Community Visit to Address Concerns (Mapsalak) 1208
211 – 2(2): Trade School Update (Barnabas) 1209
212 – 2(2): Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy (Peterson) 1211
213 – 2(2): Plans for More Staff Housing (Tootoo) 1213
214 – 2(2): Implementation for Proper Changes to Nunavut Arctic College (Curley) 1215
215 – 2(2): Student Accomodations (Netser) 1219
216 – 2(2): Shipping Control over Our Oceans (Barnabas) 1219
Monday, March 7, 2005
Speaker (interpretation): I will ask Mr. Tapardjuk to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon Mr. Premier, Ministers and Members.
Going to the Orders of the day.
Item. 2, Ministers’ statements.
Minister’s Statement 070 – 2(2): Social Work Week March 6-12, 2005
I rise today to remind all Nunavutmiut that this is Social Work Week.
I would like to acknowledge the admirable work done by social workers in Nunavut.
Social workers in Nunavut are a great example of dedication.
Their responsibilities include identifying:
High risk children and families
Provision of services to children and families
Foster parent recruitment, retention and support
Intervention for and placement of children who are in need of protection
Adoptions work
Services for the aged and challenge
Referral services for residential care placements
Family violence response and prevention services
Social workers deliver health and social services programs in the communities throughout Nunavut.
Social workers are working hard towards our goal of having healthy communities in Nunavut.
I would like to thank social workers in Nunavut for their commitment to promote, protect and enhance the health and well being of all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 071 – 2(2): Heat Recovery and the Kyoto Protocol – Nunavut
The Qulliq Energy Corporation is moving forward to help meet Canada’s obligation under the Kyoto Accord.
Two major projects will be completed by 2007 to enhance and contribute to Kyoto.
First, the Residual Heat Program in Rankin Inlet will reduce heating fuel consumption by 953,000 litres of fuel annually.
The Rankin Inlet heat recovery project is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,716 tonnes annually.
The Iqaluit heat recovery project is expected to reduce heating fuel consumption by 3,132,000 litres annually.
The Iqaluit heat recovery project is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8,926 tonnes annually.
Combined, the Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet heat recovery projects are projected to reduce heating fuel consumption by a whopping 4,085,000 litres annually.
Together they are projected to decrease greehouse gas emissions by 11,642 tonnes annually.
Mr. Speaker, 11,642 tonnes is equivalent to 11,642 Nunavummiut participating in Canada’s one tonne challenge.
These measures, as well as the Energy Centre mentioned in the budget, will help us be more energy efficient and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Nunavut and Canada.
Minister’s Statement 072 – 2(2): Update: Language Legislation Feasibility Study
Currently, a working group comprised of the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is conducting a feasibility study on the recommendations of the Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly that reviewed the Official Languages Act.
To date, the working group has held several focus group meetings with Inuinnaqtun speakers, unilingual Inuktitut Government of Nunavut workers, elders, youth, francophones, municipalities and Nunavut businesses.
Currently, the Government of Nunavut departments are being canvassed regarding the potential impacts and issues concerning the implementation of future language legislation.
Once the Language Legislation Feasibility Study is completed this month, it will result in a list of options for government to consider before the new legislation is proposed.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is committed to developing new legislation that will ensure that Inuktitut not only survives, but flourishes in the years to come, while guaranteeing rights for French and English.
Mr. Speaker, I will continually update this House on the report and future legislation.
Member's Statement 156 – 2(2): Tribute to Eddie Weetaluktuk
This has nothing to do with Nunavut, it is in regards to people who are outside Nunavut.
I will speak to it in English. (interpretation ends) I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a resident of Umiujaq, Nunavik, who passed away last week.
Eddy Weetaluktuk was a well-known resident of Umiujaq and a respected elder in the community.
Like thousands of other Canadians across the country, he volunteered to serve his nation during the Korean War as an ordinary soldier.
Mr. Speaker, Eddy’s ancestors contributed greatly to the development of Sanikiluaq.
In fact, in the early 1900’s, one of his ancestors was very involved in mapping the Belcher Islands for the first time.
I understand that the Canadian Forces have been working on collecting Eddy’s experiences into a book project.
This project was finished very recently, just before he passed away.
I also understand that APTN will be broadcasting an item about veterans, such as himself.
Eddy was also an artist.
Many of his works are on display in Kuujjuarapik.
Mr. Speaker, the funeral will be held today in the community.
I ask all Members to join me in paying tribute to his life and good works.
Member's Statement 157 – 2(2): Kitkmeot Employment Training Partners
I am pleased to rise today to recognize the valuable work performed by Kitikmeot Employment and Training Partners.
This non-profit training organization was established more than five years ago by people who wanted to help Kitikmeot residents prepare for jobs in the municipal, mining, and construction sectors.
KETP is a training organization composed of 33 industry, government and Inuit organization partners.
Many of the partners, such as Diavik and Kinross, contribute resources at their mines to help deliver on-site training courses.
Mr. Speaker, over the past five years, KETP has delivered 17 Kitikmeot-wide courses that include heavy equipment operator, security officer, diamond valuator, camp cook, and many others.
Mr. Speaker, KETP has also delivered a course for the kids in school.
Eighteen Grade 6 students from around the Kitikmeot participated in a Youth Geology Training course.
A highlight of that course was a trip to the Lupine Gold Mine for six students.
Mr. Speaker, KETP is an affiliate organization of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
All courses they deliver are funded based on proposals that must be approved by review committees.
Mr. Speaker, while other organizations have been grabbing the headlines and core funding, KETP has successfully trained 161 students out of 173 who started their Kitikmeot-wide training courses.
This is a 93% graduation rate.
The attendance rate is 95%.
At last report, 73 of all available grads were working.
This will probably increase as we enter the seasonal work period.
Before taking KETP training courses, all the participants were unemployed.
For a training organization that few funding agencies believe in, other than the KIA and KEDC, the results clearly speak for themselves.
KETP is a getting the job done.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Government of Nunavut departments and training entities, including Nunavut Arctic College, to contact KETP and discuss training partnerships in the Kitikmeot.
This organization is doing important work in helping us realize our Arviat Caucus retreat goal of developing Nunavut’s economy, private sector and job market by aggressively implementing the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy focus on mining and other key sectoral areas, including arts & crafts and tourism.
It deserves our full support.
Member's Statement 158 – 2(2): Wrestling Competition
I rise today, along with my fellow members, to congratulate my grandson, Chris Qadlutsiaq, who received a gold medal in Winnipeg.
Now, we have someone that has achieved the gold medal level as well and I would like to, along with my colleagues, congratulate them.
There’s going to be Canada Games in Saskatchewan.
He is going to school in Alberta to be able to attend the wrestling competitions in Saskatchewan.
Speaker (interpretation): Congratulations to Crystal.
Member's Statement 159 – 2(2): Birthday Wishes
Today I would like to rise, I think it’s a great day today and I know of at least four people that wouldn’t argue that today is the best day of the year.
They are Naimie Kilabuk-Bourassa, one of our interpreters in the booth back there, it’s her birthday today.
Also, it’s Mary Nashuk’s mother, Rita, it’s her birthday today as well, and my mother-in-law, Ms. Mariette Morme, it’s her birthday as well today; and most importantly, Mr. Speaker, to me, is my daughter Teia’s birthday, she’s turning 10 today.
I would like to wish her and all of the rest of the people that I mentioned, I hope they have a great day and a happy, happy birthday.
Nicole Camphaug?
Happy birthday, Nicole, and I think out of all of those that I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, Teia is the only one that will have no problem letting us know that she’s turning 10, I don’t know about the rest.
Member's Statement 160 – 2(2): New Coral Harbour Air Terminal Building
I rise today with respect to the new Coral Harbour airport terminal building that is being jointly funded by the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada, under the Strategic Highway and Infrastructure program.
The Government of Nunavut and Government of Canada contribution agreement for the Strategic Highway and Infrastructure program was signed on October 22, 2002.
The estimated timeline for the Coral Harbour airport terminal building stated that work would be completed by the fall of 2003.
Mr. Speaker, I recently received a copy of a letter from the mayor of Coral Harbour, indicating that some confusion exists with respect to the timing for turning the new airport terminal building over to the Hamlet of Coral Harbour.
It is my understanding that the work on the airport terminal building is still not completed.
The Hamlet of Coral Harbour is looking forward to officially opening and occupying the building as soon as possible.
Member's Statement 161 – 2(2): New Granddaughter
I rise today to send my regards to my Kevin, who I haven’t said anything to for quite a while, and also our Premier, who just recently announced that he got a brand new baby.
On January 27, we got a new member in our family, a grandchild.
Her name is Annie Joyce Kilabuk.
She was born 9 pounds 14.2 ounces.
The reason why I say that, Mr. Speaker, I was born well over 10 pounds, but my great granddaughter almost weighs as much as I did.
She is doing well, and my daughter Lynn, her boyfriend Luke Etuangat, I congratulate both of them.
Item 4 in our Orders of the Day. Returns to Oral Questions.
Although I had already recognized this individual from my community, I just want to acknowledge him.
Question 206 – 2(2): Update on the Musk ox Harvest Study
My question is for the minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation.
My question is: could the minister update us on the work that’s being done in Cambridge Bay pertaining to the musk ox harvest study; there was a committee in place that he’s familiar with.
The results of that study…?
No, I have not seen a final copy of the musk ox study yet.
A study group has been in place for two years, and I understand that they made recommendations to do a study to herd musk ox, similar to what’s going on in Sachs Harbour to a field abattoir, and they have also made recommendations to try to purchase a field abattoir.
My question for the minister… . I read his tabled document the other day that the Nunavut Development Corporation and Kitikmeot Foods are proposing to build an abattoir for $150,000, with funds from the Nunavut Development Corporation.
In reading through it, it says they will construct an abattoir attached to the existing building envelope, which is in Cambridge Bay.
It seems like there’s a conflict between what’s being recommended by the study group versus what Kitikmeot Foods is proposing to do.
I wonder if the minister could comment on that.
As I have said, I have not seen a final copy of the musk ox committee’s report, so I don’t know how much of a conflict there is.
I don’t know what the working group is recommending.
There’s not a lot to consider right now without having seen the working group’s final report.
One of the recommendations from the Nunavut Economic Forum, for the $3 million that we are supposed to receive this year, but will probably be carried out for next year, was a field abattoir for, I think, $250,000.
It was a priority five project out of the 28 recommended.
I believe that when it got to Ottawa, a decision was made that it was not important or not a very strategic priority.
There seems to me, in my mind, to be a conflict between what Kitikmeot Foods wants to do and what the Nunavut Economic Forum wants to do and what the harvest study is recommending.
I wonder if the minister could clarify and get back to me with some clear strategic direction on what is planned for the musk ox harvest in Cambridge Bay.
Yes, I will certainly get back to the member once we know what’s going on. As I said, I don’t know what Kitikmeot Foods is proposing to do.
I have not seen the final working group study, but once we have worked through all of that, we will certainly work with the member and the people of Cambridge Bay to see what we can do, and do what’s best for the community.
It is very important for the musk ox herd in Cambridge Bay, in Victoria Island that we have a harvest before the herd gets very unhealthy; there also are 26 seasonal jobs at risk.
In the last two years, we have brought carcasses in from Sach Harbour; that has cost the Nunavut Government $70,000 per year.
It seems to me that we could use that money for something in Nunavut.
I was reading in the Minister of Finance’s budget speech last week, or the week before, that there is $4 million for economic development initiatives in Nunavut. Will the minister’s department be considering using some of the money from the $4 million, to assist musk ox harvest abattoir construction projects, whether it is in the field or in town, in this current fiscal year coming up.
There is work going on within the department and also with INAC in terms of how we can best use that money, partner that money with federal money, the $4 million, I mean.
So, those discussions are ongoing to get the most money that we can for all of Nunavut.
In terms of the abattoir and the musk ox harvest around Cambridge Bay, we’re depending on the working group to come up with some major recommendations because it was a working group made up of representatives of Cambridge Bay and also with input from my department.
We would hope to be able to take that report and move forward with the musk ox harvest and get that plant in Cambridge Bay going the way it should be going, get that harvest going the way it should be going, and create the necessary jobs and business opportunities for the people of Cambridge Bay.
So, yes, work is continually ongoing, but we are still waiting for that final report.
Question 207 – 2(2): Clarification on Statement Made from the Nunavut Arctic College Report
Last week, on Tuesday, March 1, the minister, in the House, used some very strong and offensive language when he talked about “character assassination” in reference to a recent external review of Nunavut Arctic College.
I am sure that if any member on this side of the House, or any other member, used that expression in relation to another MLA, we would probably get ruled out of order.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the minister owes this House and the listening public an explanation as to exactly what he meant when he talked about character assassination.
I would like to ask the minister to take this opportunity to formally clarify his comments for the record.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Education, Mr. Picco.
In the House last week, in regard to the question on the external review of the college, the verbiage that I used pertained to some of the items that had been brought up in the external review report, the actual report itself.
There were issues, when people were interviewed about concerns with the management of the college. There were issues around the management itself, with the structure and the personalities involved, which I felt should not be involved in a report like that. That was the terminology that I used in the actual report.
The report itself is a good report.
Mr. Rudolph, who was the consultant, did an excellent job on it.
He has made 75 recommendations in the report.
The report itself has gone to the board of governors; the executive summary of that report has been endorsed, and later today, probably when we get into debate on the Education budget again, we will have an opportunity to look at the recommendations.
Almost half of the recommendations in that report have either been worked on or have been completed.
I would like to thank the minister for clarifying his comments.
It would seem, as he had indicated, it was a very good report.
A lot of the recommendations are being looked at and implemented.
When he refers to some of the comments that were made during the interviews, and one would assume that’s from the different staff within the college, with the management of the college, I would like to ask the minister if that’s something that has happened to catch the board’s, or he as the minister’s eye, that there is something very concerning going on with the management and the running of Nunavut Arctic College, and what have they done since then to rectify that.
Any time you do consultative reports and so on, sometimes comments are made about the senior managers, it could be instructors, it could be fellow students, it could be processes.
In most cases, they have to look at those types of comments in the way the report was done.
If someone was going to do a review of the Legislative Assembly and the members, I’m sure there would be comments in the report that people may not want to see.
So, Mr. Speaker, in that regard, that was the context of my statement last week.
I don’t see anything in that other than people spoke frankly and we appreciate that.
Their comments were to the minister, and those are well taken by myself and the president of the college, who also has an opportunity to review the report.
As I said earlier, the member is correct, there were 75 recommendations.
And again, many of the recommendations, almost 48 percent of them, almost half of them, are either being acted on right now or are being completed.
Last week, senior members of the management team of the college have met to go over the recommendations.
I see the report itself as a good report.
Mr. Speaker, the title of the report was A Time To Move Forward.
That’s what we’re doing.
As the members have said before, if there are issues, deal with the issues in an upfront and transparent way.
We’re doing that with the consultative report.
It’s good to hear the minister say that they want to move forward on this.
I can assure the minister that when we get to the Committee of the Whole, I’ll be asking more detailed questions on it.
In light of that, the report indicated that the communication between the senior management and the staff… . Having read that executive summary, it would seem like the staff with the college, the people in the front lines, the instructors and that were just, it was like a cry for help from them to try and resolve some of the problems that they have to deal with and that they’re facing.
Given that, I would like to ask the minister if any organized structural changes have taken place or any staffing changes have taken place as a result of that report.
The total staffing of the college is a little over 115, within the base itself.
At any given time, the college, if they are running third-party base programs, hire extra instructors and so on.
So, since the report came to me in November, and since the report was written, there have been different personnel changes within the structure of the college itself.
Mr. Speaker, I wouldn’t suggest to you that those changes have been a result of the report.