EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for his response. One thing we’re very concerned about… .
Let’s use the Co-op as an example. Although they maintain that they’re owned by Inuit, most of their signage and receipts are not written in Inuktitut. Unilingual people can’t see how much they saved because it’s all written in English.
They don’t understand the receipts or the signage. So that’s why people want to hear about the implementation of this policy.
It seems obvious that you will be working with the Minister of Languages to develop the policy.
Can we expect the completion of this policy in the immediate future?
We’re working closely with our partners out there and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
We intend to make available program funding for small businesses that want to put their signage up to abide by the Language Acts that exist in the department.
Surely the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth would guide us along on how the policy is set. Once that’s available, with the assistance of the Department of CLEY, we will surely table the policy.
I request unanimous consent to go back to No. 5 in the Orders of the Day.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I thank my colleagues for granting me this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery Danielle Lepage. She is one of our hard-working employees in the Department of Justice.
She is sitting over here in the Gallery. She is Nunavut’s official editor and territorial printer of one of the [reports]. She ensures that the Nunavut Gazette is done on a regular basis.
I’m sure Alex is watching up on the third floor. Now he knows who does that.
She always welcomes me to the Department of Justice when I visit. So I would just like to take this opportunity to welcome her to the Gallery. Thanks for coming and watching us today.
Item 7 in the Orders of the Day, Written Questions.
Minister responsible for the Department of Community and Government Services, Minister Kusugak.
Tabled Document 116 – 3(3): Provincial/Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Local Government Report July 12 to 14, 2011 (Kusugak)
I am pleased to table the Provincial/Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Local Government Report, which occurred July 12 to 14, 2011 in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick.
Tabled Document 117 – 3(3): 2011-2012 Crown Agency Council’s Letters of Expectation (Peterson)
Tabled Document 118 – 3(3): Interim Financial Report (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2011 (Peterson)
I have two items that I would like to table.
I am pleased to table the 2011-2012 Crown Agency Council’s Letters of Expectation.  And the second item that I am pleased to table is the Interim Financial Report (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2011.
Bill 22 – An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 22, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill implements the recommendations of the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission in its 2011 report and subsequent addendum.
I’ll just remind members that speaking to the principle of the bill and debate on the motion must be limited to the object, expediency, principles, and merits of the bill, not the details.
Thank you and for the record, I just want to say that the motion is in order, so we can proceed.
I thank you and my colleagues for allowing me to speak to the principle of this bill.
If this bill is passed, we will see the Legislative Assembly grow from 19 elected members to 22.
It will see this come into force during the next election.
To me, there was a lot of good work and the report done by the commission set up on the electoral boundaries, I don’t feel or see that I’m disputing that.
What I will be doing during Committee of the Whole is seeing if there’s a possibility of deferring that until the Fifth Legislative Assembly.
With that, Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the direction we gave on the number of constituencies in Nunavut, we were very pleased to see the report completed and handed over to the Legislative Assembly. There are currently 19 members and we are looking at increasing it to 22.
I will be supporting the bill as Nunavut’s population is growing.
The people of Nunavut are looking forward to seeing an increase in the number of MLAs in the next election and I will lend my full support to it.
Should there be any suggestion to postpone that change, I won’t be giving my support to that.
Mr. Speaker, I will support the increase and that it will be implemented at the next election.
I will be supporting this bill as it is presented in its original state.
I do not agree with delaying this bill until the next Legislative Assembly is formed or the one after.
I respect the work of the commission.
They were mandated by going out and visiting all the Nunavut communities.
They did that and they have come back with this recommendation to the House, and I will be supporting it as it is.
I will also be supporting the bill because the people of Gjoa Haven would like their own MLA.
When the government was first formed, the people of Taloyoak and Kugaaruk wanted it that way and we should abide by the wishes of the people of Nattilik.
I am also very pleased to comment on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the passage of this bill and the provision to implement it at the next election.
The people in my constituency of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet were consulted.
They expressed their views and they were recorded.
It was supported by the majority of the population of Nunavut.
We saw submissions. They spent hours, days, and months working on listening to the concerns of the people.
Everyone who wanted to speak was heard.
There’s no doubt that they seriously deliberated on what would be the best date for implementation.
Those who made submissions supported the recommendations, such as it would take effect at the next election and these are the new constituencies they want created. That is why a majority of our constituents supported the legislation as presented.
If our constituents had spoken up last year and said to bring this bill forward at the next election, I’m sure that would have been accepted too, Mr. Speaker.
They are not stupid and worked very hard on this legislation, listening closely to Nunavummiut.
Based on what they heard, they recommended so-and-so and that it not be put off indefinitely. They didn’t suggest that it be considered at the next election.
Instead, they decided to proceed with those recommendations. I believe we should support their recommendations instead of trying to change them.
I will support the proposed legislation without any changes based on what my constituents have stated as well as others who spoke on the issue.
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker, I also would like to speak to the bill. When the boundaries commission was doing their work, they held excellent public consultations. I also want Nunavutmiut to know that it has been about four years since a commission was set up prior to this Assembly and their recommendations were denied.
Clarifications and changes have since been made.
With this Assembly, we also tasked the Electoral Boundaries Commission to review the boundaries in Nunavut.
It looks like there has to be an increase in the number of representatives sitting in the House due to growth in population and because we only have one MP in the Parliament of Canada.
It’s up to us. It’s at our discretion if there has to be an increase in the number of seats here.
It will give the opportunity for some of the communities to have a louder voice, with one additional seat for the Kivalliq and the Baffin increasing representation by two seats. If the people of Baffin don’t want those two, then you can move and add one of them to the Kivalliq.
No more names.
Ms. Aariak, sorry.
First of all, I want to extend my gratitude to the people who worked hard, Justice Richard, Kirt Ejesiak, and Gordon Main.
They were part of the electoral commission and endeavoured to listen and elicit discussions with various members of the public in Nunavut.
They heard divergent views and faced some difficult issues. Despite that, they were able to arrive at recommendations as a result of their research.
Another thing that I find important is that within the Assembly here, we need to allow everyone to have a voice and to be heard.
At times, if we can look at the situation here in Iqaluit, for example, there are three of us sitting here and only one of us can sit at the other side of the Chamber.
There is no doubt that there are certain elements in the communities that don’t have access to being heard because their numbers are too small.
Here in Canada, we are truly unique.
Admittedly, the people of Nunavut are better represented on a per capita basis, but we live in very remote communities in a vast territory.
As Premier, keeping information up to date and disseminating information to Nunavut communities is very important to me.
The population in Nunavut is growing and will continue to do so in the future, so we need a proper number of representatives in the House.
I, too, will be supporting this without changes.
I will also be supporting this electoral boundary bill. Furthermore, our fellow residents of Nunavut understand our reasoning for increasing the number.
If the residents had not wanted that, then we would not even be speaking about this legislation. It would not have been brought up in this House if our constituents had not wanted this.
Our constituents watch us very closely while we are serving them. When we’re trying to serve the interests of our constituents, we do work hard on their behalf.
Whenever we request from the government and run into obstacles, we have to keep going back to our constituents.
So I will be in support of the motion and we will keep the additional two seats set aside for the Baffin.
I rise to speak to this motion. I notice that increasing numbers of members may be in support of it.
However, I don’t want to vote based on my own personal opinion but rather on the wishes of the people of Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour. I have asked their hamlet councils to consult on the opinions of their residents, so I will briefly go over their concerns.
Mr. Speaker, the government keeps saying how it is in a deficit position.
It’s believed that they’re unable to find additional sources of revenue. Even if we add three more MLAs, it is said that it will not lead to more benefits for the communities.
I would have been in a difficult position if the positions had been opposite between my communities.
Due to the feedback on the plans of the government to add these additional positions, it would increase the annual expenditures by $1 million to the Legislative Assembly.
They would also have to remodel the Assembly to accommodate them.
If there had been new information brought forward they may have reached different conclusions.
However, I have been requested not to support this particular electoral boundaries recommendation because my constituents feel that it will not create any additional benefit.
I was urged to vote against the bill by the leaders of my constituents and I will abide by their wish.
I’ll be supporting the bill as is too.
Mr. Speaker, there’s a transition happening in Nunavut. We understand that our population is young, it’s growing, and our dynamics of economy is changing.
There is a lot of activity happening.
I’ve got to respect the work of the commission, where they did a lot of work trying to come up with a reasonable recommendation.
I believe that Nunavummiut can’t wait another 10 years or 17 years for another change in such an activity like this.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to be supporting this bill as is.
Bill 22 has been read for the second time and as Bill 22 is a House bill, it is immediately referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bills 13, 14, 15, and 22 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
Before we proceed further, we will take a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:27 and Committee resumed at 15:53
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 13, 14, 15, and 22.
We would like to complete the review of Bill 15 and the capital estimates for Nunavut Arctic College, followed by the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and the Legislative Assembly.
We will then proceed to review Bills 13, 14, and 22. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with the capital estimates for Nunavut Arctic College?
Bill 15 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2012-2013 – Nunavut Arctic College – Consideration in Committee
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Minister Shewchuk, if he has any opening comments.
I do have opening comments.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to present and discuss the proposed 2012-13 capital plan for Nunavut Arctic College.
As the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, I am looking forward to the opportunity to advance the mandate of the Government of Nunavut, especially as it applies to Nunavut Arctic College.
In the past two years, Arctic College has taken on the responsibility of their capital planning- linking facility and delivery strategy. They continue to develop their internal capital planning capacity.
As a post-secondary institution in the territory, Arctic College plays a central role in providing Nunavutmiut with adult learning programs and services. Our core business is training for employment. Building self-reliance through training and employment is our goal.
This year’s submission requests minor capital in the amount of $100,000. This allows Arctic College the flexibility to address minor needs not met in normal maintenance but essential to the smooth running of facilities and programs.
The minor capital projects have included the renovations of community learning centres in order to ensure the successful delivery of camp cook programs; improve accessibility for individuals with limited mobility in facilities and reconfigure spaces in order to ensure adequate space is available for staff and students.
This capital is critical to ensuring that Arctic College is able to provide quality learning spaces for Nunavutmiut.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss Nunavut Arctic College’s capital plan for 2012-13 and the subsequent four years.
This is a critical government investment in training Nunavutmiut for employment. I look forward to your questions, comments, and discussion.
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in, please.
Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister Shewchuk, please introduce your witness.
I have with me today Eric Corneau. He is the coordinator of policy and planning for Nunavut Arctic College.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation ends) Welcome.
Yes, my fellow committee members have requested that I speak on their behalf.
I will make these comments in English.
(interpretation ends) I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed 2012-13 capital estimates.
Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed capital budget for 2012-13 is $100,000, which will be allocated towards minor capital projects, including upgrades and renovations to current facilities.
This is similar to the college’s 2011-12 capital estimate budget.
Mr. Chairman, Nunavut Arctic College is Nunavut’s central agency for providing adult educational opportunities from basic upgrading to training programs to opportunities for career development.
Proposed changes to the legislation could also allow the college to grant university level degrees.
Mr. Chairman, Nunavut’s community learning centres play an important role in promoting skill development to improve the educational advancement and employability of Nunavut residents.
Investment in our community-based learning resources is critical.
The standing committee notes that future projects in the communities of Grise Fiord, Iqaluit, Kugaaruk, and Whale Cove are included in the 2013-17 Five-Year Capital Plan although there is no funding allocated for these projects in 2012-13.
Mr. Chairman, committee members have noted that the Mine Training Centre project for Cambridge Bay’s Nunavut Arctic College Campus is not included in the college’s 2013-17 Five-Year Capital Plan even though it had been in previous capital plans.
Standing committee members encourage the minister to bring this project forward and explore the potential for partnerships with mining companies and other partners as the mining industry has significant potential to provide jobs and income to Nunavummiut with the appropriate training.
Mr. Chairman, standing committee members note further that the potential for employment in the mining industry is not limited to on-site work, such as heavy equipment operators or service personnel. More Nunavummiut taking advantage of educational opportunities in the management, administration, and accounting fields, for example, could lead to even greater involvement in the mining industry.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2012-13 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College.
At this time, I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions during the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates.
We are now on page B-3 in English. I haven’t asked any questions. (interpretation ends) Finance.
Branch Summary. Centrally Administered Funds. B-3.
(interpretation) I think we may have different documents. B-4 deals with the Arctic College in the binders.
My apologies, members.
It is K-3 in English. Do you agree?
(interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College.
Headquarters. (interpretation) Are there any questions?
Ms. Ell (interpretation): I would like to ask a question. For 2011-12, which is over $1 million on page K-2, for an adult learning centre, is this new? I would like to hear how this was planned.
I think she is referring to the revised estimates of $1,851,000.
That figure is a carryover from the previous year. It’s spent in this fiscal year on Cambridge Bay residents, Whale Cove, Iqaluit, CLCs, and the Nunavut Research Institute Knowledge Infrastructure Fund too.
Ms. Ell: So is this for existing schools or was a new school built with those funds?
Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Ell.
No, this is not for existing funds. This is for the planning phase of new facilities.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I would like to ask another question.
In some communities, they have adult learning centres which are adjoined to the schools and some schools will lack space in the future because of population growth among school-aged children.
If the school in Taloyoak needs to be enlarged, will we be moving the adult learners out of that facility?
We realize that this is a challenge, but the good news here is that we do have community learning centres in all 25 Nunavut communities. As we prioritize space and new facilities, they will be their own entities.
At current pace right now and what we have in place is we are utilizing other spaces in schools and other buildings, but the good news is that we provide that service in all communities.
Looking at the community of Taloyoak, the number of students is growing and the adult learning centre is within the school itself.
When we run out of space in the future, do you foresee any new CLC in Taloyoak?
I thank the member again for that concern.
I would say that in the planning and priority process of new community learning centres, all those concerns would be taken into detail and taken in and reviewed.
I would suggest to the member that these concerns be voiced to Nunavut Arctic College.
My question is on K-3 in terms of the minor capital projects being done. In the past when the funds for allocation were put under the Department of Education, we had different discussions about what was happening around the old residence.
That is the building by the airport, the green facility out there.
I believe the level 1 carpentry course is being held out there, just so you know which facility I’m talking about.
I was wondering if the minister could give an update as to what’s happening with that building. At one point, I know there were studies.
In terms of years of discussions that we had before with the Minister of Education and the DM as well, some work was going to be done on the facility, but eventually it was not used anymore.
So if we could get an update as to what’s happening with that facility.
I thank the member for the very good question.
As he knows, that’s a very old and aging facility. It does require annual maintenance to upkeep it. I suppose, in a way, we’re fortunate to have it, though, because we are offering programs there and do have a residence for people to stay.
There are no short-term plans not to operate it; we will keep on operating it because we need it.
In the future, I know it has been looked at as part of the Iqaluit airport project, whether or not that infrastructure is going to stay in place.
I think it’s in between a capital carryover. There was $50,000 allocated to Grise Fiord to do a study on the facility for the community learning centre in the community.
I was wondering if the minister could provide an update in regard to that, whether that project will be moving forward.
I think the member is aware of the situation; he just wants me to voice it, I think. It’s in the same situation that he asked the last time.
We are presently waiting for the hamlet to vacate the old hamlet office so we could do some work and planning of that building to occupy it.
My understanding was that the $50,000 was to assess whether more funds would be needed to be allocated to the project to do any repairs and turn that hamlet [office] into a facility where classrooms could be held.
That’s what I was trying to get at in terms of: will more funding be required or is the building fine as is?
I’m sorry if I confused the member. He is right. That money is to assess the building and it may require more money and further work to be done.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation) As you may be aware, the item that we’re dealing with is under the Department of Finance on page B-3, I think.
Do you see that page?
(interpretation ends) Finance.
Centrally Administered Funds. (interpretation) Total Capital Expenditures. $100,000.
Go to page B-2. (interpretation ends) Department Summary.
Total Capital Expenditures. $100,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Are we in agreement that the review of Nunavut Arctic College is completed?
If you have any closing remarks, Minister Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank you and the members for reviewing Arctic College. I know it’s not a great deal of money that you reviewed, but it is important money.
I would just like to again thank Eric for being here with me too, and commit to you that I will keep on trying my hardest and utmost to deliver adult education in Nunavut.
With the exciting times we have ahead, I know that it’s going to be very exciting for Arctic College to try and meet the demands that are out there.
Thank you all. Thank you.
Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witness out, please.
At this time, we will continue on with our review. I would like to ask the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth if he has any opening comments.
Bill 15 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2012-2013 – Culture, Language, Elders and Youth – Consideration in Committee
Iliqqusilirijikkut is what we call the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
The capital estimates for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for the 2012-13 fiscal year is $60,000.
This minor capital budget will be used to purchase new office equipment and furniture or the completion of minor renovations to existing office space as needs are identified.