EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
My mom would always say, “Eddy, they tease you because they love you and respect you.” So, I take that.
In all seriousness, I have had quite a bit of fun over the last several years playing jokes on yourself, Mr. Speaker and I would not be able to begin to say the number of jokes, as Mr. Ng knows we have played on each other over several years.
Some of them are all in good fun and indeed, Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin today, this traditional day of fun, a Friday, for some wilder statements in the spirit of the season, many of the Members here today received a gift from me this morning.
No, Mr. Speaker, it was not money, the gift was not silver or gold or diamonds, it was not clothes or toys.
Mr. Speaker, it was not sports equipment, it was a gift of fun so that the Members could have 24-hours, 7-days a week of Ed, all Ed and more Ed on a compact CD which is almost indestructible Mr. Speaker, it not like a tape, it’s not going to break., you can’t destroy these CD’s.
So they’re going to have that.
For the past eight years Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the past two assemblies, I’ve passed out verbal today, as well as a musical gift.
On the verbal side Mr. Speaker, to the three wise men from the west, Ovide, Mr. Havioyak, Mr. Puqiqnak, I offer my commitment Mr. Speaker, to the wonder trio from the Kitikmeot.
I offer my commitment not to change the time zone, again.
To Mr. McLean for bringing these, thank you Mr. McLean, for bringing me wieners, pickled wieners, pickled eggs, I gave him a picture and a case Mr. Speaker, a case of Shopsy’s hot dogs.
I won’t get into the explanation right now but Mr. McLean sitting right there, knows what it’s about.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Anawak and I go back a long ways, and indeed in 1988 when he was campaigning for the first time as MP, he stayed in my house in Hall Beach.
He forgot his shampoo, I don’t know if he remembers that and he got to Clyde River and then, it was to Hall Beach, got to Clyde River and stayed at my wife’s, my in-laws and he phone me back and wanted his shampoo, which I was able to return.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask a unanimous consent to continue my statement.
Speaker: He’s seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Earlier Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Kelvin Ng mentioned, he said, my god and you’re in the office at 7:30 in the morning, you’re working till 8 and 9 every day, you’re 12 hours, how do you do it?
And I told him, it was something like the energizer bunny which we have renamed the Ed-ergizer bunny.
It goes back to Mr. Anawak, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Anawak, my good friend, soon in his new world of ambassador will be known as his Excellency.
Mr. Speaker, I make a commitment right now, his Excellency Mr. Anawak, I promise never to refer to him as your Ed-linsey. Just think about that for a second Mr. Speaker.
To our high arctic members, Member Rebecca Williams, who has been a social classes on the House, a breath of fresh air, who has thought up so many of the issues I believe that are important to people including health and social services with a lot of respect.
And my good friend from the high arctic also, Mr. Nutarak from Pond Inlet, I gave a gift yesterday to two of these wonderful people, a gift of the power of corporation pen with a red light to help out our friend Santa from the high arctic, if Rudolph gets sick.
Mr. Speaker, to my other good friends, Mr. Iqaqrialu and Mr. Irqittuq, Mr. Speaker I call them to I’s, and I for Mr. Iqaqrialu and I for Mr. Enoki Irqittuq. Mr. Speaker, I give the two I’s another I so they can hear me finally say ii (yes).
Think about it, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, to our new member Mr. Netser, I want to say that I’ve had some good checks with him over the last few weeks.
The other night we were playing hockey, I want to make a special present to Mr. Netser, some advice, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Patterk Netser whose hockey skill almost, Mr. Speaker, almost equalled my skills, I invite him to join with me on the old timer’s team in the new year so that I will be able to offer him some advice and tips on how to avoid the check, I was trying to help him on the ice, I hope he remembers that.
Mr. Speaker, two, Mr. Speaker the two P’s: Peter Kilabuk and Peter Kattuk.
The two K’s: Peter Kilabuk, K and to Peter Kattuk, K. I’ll add another P, Mr. Speaker for Picco and we’ll have special K.
Mr. Speaker, to Olayuk Akesuk, unbelievable guy Mr. Speaker, we’ve all seen how he’s grown not just in weight from the video from years ago…
…but from intelligence and confidence and Mr. Speaker, he’s always there for a laugh and when Mr. Akesuk was running in the first election, I didn’t know who he was, he came to me at the Parnaivik Building and our good friend, Kirt Ejesiak said, Ed, would you like to get a picture, and of course everyone was asking for my picture so I said yes and I got a picture of Olayuk and next thing you know it turns up in these pamphlets in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.
Mr. Speaker, to my good friend Olayuk Akesuk, the Wayne Gretsky Mr. Speaker, the Wayne Gretsky of the legislative assembly, I give a stop watch so he can time his shift so the fans will no longer go hog, hog, but hurray, hurray.
Mr. Speaker, to my good friend sitting next to me and who sat next to me for almost five years, the Honourable Manitok Thompson.
Now she has had to put up with me for a long time and I remember in Yellowknife, we had some good debates in Nunavut caucus.
Mr. Speaker, she has also had the pleasure of sitting next to me. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome my good friend Mani, Mr. Speaker, a gift of friendship, respect and memories of your good friend Ed. I have an autographed picture for you.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, to the last Member in the House here, the Premier is not here right now.
I spoke to the Premier about this; I asked the Premier, I said, “Paul, can you give Kelvin his seat, like they do in the House of Commons?
The Prime Minister got his seat, Joe Clark will get his seat; they will all get a seat.
Can we give Kelvin Ng a seat?”
Mr. Speaker, Paul said, “No.” So, I am going to give Kelvin something else, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, finally to the Kelvinator, we cannot give him his chair, but I will be providing to the Kelvinator, Mr. Speaker, a new deck of cards and some new poker chips and a case, Mr. Speaker, a case of Lady Grecian formula so that hair is always so perfect.
The other day, Mr. Speaker, he came in, his suit was wrinkled and one of the staff members said, “What is wrong, Kelvin?
I have never seen you with a wrinkled shirt and a wrinkled suit.”
And I said, “If the truth be known,” Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kelvin Ng and I have seen it with my own eyes, hangs himself up in the closet at night and that is why he is always so stiff.
He remembers the night that we spent together in Bathurst Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, to my friends and constituents, employees and Ministers’ Office employees over the years, to Unga Henderson, to Lorian White-Ejetsiak, to Annie Akuak, my former employees Susie Baines-Saimaiyuk, Aseena Alorut and Maryanne Demmer, I gave to them a great gift, it is a gift of being with me, knowing me and learning from me and also, Mr. Speaker, a copy of my CD.
Mr. Speaker, to the Speaker, the Leg staff, the translators and clerks I have to say is thank you, also a copy of my CD, to Mr. Quirke, a very special thank you, and Mr. Quirke, as Members know, served with us over in Yellowknife, he was under the tutelage of the great and Honourable David Hamilton who just recently retired.
I had an opportunity, some time ago, to speak to Mr. Hamilton and he said to me, “Ed, make sure that Quirke Clerk, Clerk Quirke”, a good friend, continues the yeoman service that he has done in the Leg and, Mr. Speaker, he keeps that sense of humour because I have noticed over the last couple days with an ailment that Mr. Quirke is going through, he has not been himself and Mr. Speaker, as the doctor of health, I mean, Minister of Health and Mr. Speaker, the best thing for Mr. Quirke is to go home after today and spend 24-hours, three days over the next three weekends with Ed and all Ed, the music.
Mr. Speaker, finally to the media, CBC’s Salomie Awa, I am offering Salomie a special gift today, Mr. Speaker, she has a great smile as you can see, a great political family, well-known all over the Arctic, especially in the High Arctic and the South Arctic and, Mr. Speaker, she needs to get to hear more things, I think. So, to help Salomie, I am offering her some earplugs so that she can drown out some of the rhetoric she hears in here on a regular basis.
Next to Salomie there is person by the name of Patricia Bell and below Patricia Bell there is Patricia D’Souza, to the two Patricias, I offer not, Mr. Speaker, a Pulitzer Prize, I do not offer a Peabody Award, Mr. Speaker, I do not even offer an Emmy or, Mr. Speaker, a Genie Award, but I offer them an Edward Picco Award.
Mr. Speaker, the Picco Award for fairness and honesty in reporting in Nunavut, and to my good friend over here, Paul Quassa from IBC, I offer him, Paul Quassa, an autograph of our good friend Super Shamou, because of the excellent work done by IBC on a challenging shoestring budget.
To our good friend Carrie McKlusky who just came in and on the fly, can anyone do a better Genie, Mr. Speaker, Carrie McKlusky a former reporter of News North, now working for the Government of Nunavut and now NTI, I offer Carrie my condolences for having to put up with me several months ago at a Constituency meeting where, indeed, I have made my presence myself without the CD. Mr. Speaker, she will have to think about that.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to say in all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, I want to say in all seriousness that I have appreciated the past four and a half years with the Members here.
As Enoki said earlier, I wanted to say something about Enoki.
In 1991, Enoki ran for MLA the first time and I believe he can say without a doubt that one of his big supporters at that time was I, and I remember that campaign went very well.
Hard to believe 12 years later we’d be sitting in the assembly here in Iqaluit.
And I think it goes to show us some of the tremendous work that has gone into putting Nunavut together, as well as, sometimes anything can happen and anything is possible.
I think we have to remember that.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this last opportunity of the year 2003 in this assembly to thank my family again, to thank my colleagues, and to especially thank the constituents of Iqaluit who have shown faith in me over the last eight years and I want to take this opportunity again to particularly thank a couple of important people, my wife Opah and my three children who was out there supporting us.
I always refer to Minister Thompson because she knows what it’s like on the road and travelling and the other Members too.
Without their support you wouldn’t be able to do this job.
And lastly Mr. Speaker, the person I want to thank and yes you were correct Mr. Speaker, you’re pointing at yourself.
You’re pointing at the clock.
We have a full today, I’d say 5 o’clock; I think I’m going to win it.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank you above all.
The man who’s picture was in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Evening Telegram, the man who they called Goliath.
David who fought and slew Goliath and then he offers anyone who has an opportunity should go into Mr. Ovide’s office and see on the wall where Kevin O’Brien had slayed Goliath.
Mr. Speaker, he did more than slay Goliath.
He brought forward some of the best information every available to any Member in this House.
He debated the issues, and he knew the issues.
Mr. Speaker, when he began in this House, we use to call him a hippy.
Mr. Speaker, eight years ago, Kevin was known as a hippy. He was 186 pounds, full of muscle and brawn and today Mr. Speaker, after the tremendous work put in by Mr. O’Brien.
We’ll just look at him.
In all seriousness Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday behind the scenes and the Members here know that the tremendous work that you have put in for the people of Arviat, you don’t have a opportunity to stand up in the house to ask questions, to give members’ statements about your constituents because you are the speaker.
And we do have a lot of fun with you but you’ve held the role of speaker with dignity, fortitude and I would suggest to you from all the Members here with honestly and with friendship for the Members, and on behalf of all the Members, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the Members a very, Merry Christmas across Nunavut.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Picco for some of those kind words.
Next we have Ms. Thompson.
Member’s Statement 791 – 1(6): Reflecting Nunavut’s Progress
I thank Ed Picco for having sat beside me and he always ends up making us laugh.
In English before a meal there is always a joker, with those funny hats.
I think he’s our joker of the Assembly.
I thank him.
Mr. Speaker, if possible on Friday I think English is televised (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind Tom that Buddy needs to do his homework, if you’re listening to me Tom.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, in Qikiqtarjuaq, the family whom I adopted from, I wish them a Merry Christmas and their family.
My son Trevor’s natural parents and Jeannie Nukappiaq, I thank her for my Buddy.
Mr. Speaker, when I became a Minister in 1995 for the Municipal Affairs to ensure that Inuit would start benefiting from the programs and services of the Government.
Community empowerment initiatives was started so that hamlets who are the ones that know best about the issues and I am very proud that as a Minister of MACA, I am very proud of that achievement in that program, to help ensure hamlets were benefiting and Mr. Speaker, my time is up already. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Statement.
I think we all have some words to give before we depart and thank you for giving me the opportunity.
As I said, as Minister of MACA, I was very glad to be in that position.
And I still believe that the communities have really started taking their own affairs because they are the ones that know best about the issues in the communities and without imposing any programs on them, let them decide what needs to be done and I still believe in that today.
Mr. Speaker, at times, if we disagree with those communities that elect us and put us in our position, what the majority says then we should go for what the majority says and even if we disagree, then we should have to voice their concerns for them.
And Mr. Speaker, I always remember the words of wisdom from elders.
I am not saying I am better than anyone, but our Elders are very knowledgeable and wise and the youth who often get neglected the middle aged people who are often very smart and I am very proud of them and we should do more for the youth.
And Mr. Speaker, with the ending of our term, I was very grateful to take on the portfolio of Education and it feels like I just started this and we are already done.
So, that is unfortunate.
In 1975 when there was a program for teaching teachers within the Northwest Territories, I was one of the first ones in the teacher education program and I thought that, it would be good to have, to become a Minister in the future.
And so I was very proud when I was put in the Education Department, it would have even been better if I was given another five years to work it, but it is not up to us and it is not up to us which portfolios are given to us.
I had a very good time in, on working on the education issues, but still a lot more room for improvement.
The adult learning stream and the school systems should be more integrated and there is still a lot of work to be done in this area and in the future, we have to really take a stand and fix the problem.
And Mr. Speaker, the sewers, the elders who go take, that take hunting, who teach hunting skills, I think we should not cut any budget in that area, in those cultural inclusion programs because these Inuit who work in this sector are not paid well enough and they are more or less paid as janitors.
And so, Mr. Speaker, I think we should really focus our efforts on the youth because they are going through some very tough times and their parents, Mr. Speaker, are the ones with not enough support and when you are a parent, you do not feel you do not have the support when your child, this youth, does not really know where to go.
And so, I think the Government should be focusing more on the youth and to ensure there are more programs and services for the youth and we have set up many programs within Government.
But Mr. Speaker, it is still not reaching our youth and for some reason there is that big gap and the parents, no matter how hard they are working, we cannot seem to bridge the gap I think because we have the Qallunaat mind set and if use our mind set as Inuit, then we would go into these offices and look for these jobs and because we should not be looking at the 18 year old children and 35 years old or 50 year olds.
If we have parents, then we should be told, go do good for yourself.
And I think that is one of the windfalls of this Government because when they become 18, when they come to us, we say, yes, I will look after them because as a parent, but we have to make them understand that you should go out there, look for those jobs, get the education, but some Inuit, they are just waiting to be told and that is how we have been brought up.
So, I think we should create jobs through the radio then do some campaigns that we should be proud as Inuit and because there are a lot of parents out there who are struggling because of their children dropping out of school and not getting the adequate education.
Mr. Speaker, as a Minister of Education, I was very proud and very happy.
However, I did not have the opportunities and so, it was very heart warming that education is very special to me because you help people grow and teach youth.
It is in my heart and I would like, I would love to spread that.
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that we do not get to choose which portfolio we would like and so, Mr. Speaker, I thank my Colleagues and Mr. Speaker, I will told, yes, there is not enough females in this Assembly and that I do not really want that to be an issue.
Mr. Speaker, however, I understand that I will never change and being an elected leader, anybody can be an elected leader.
If it does not fit, you have to be a certain weight to be elected.
So, as long as we can voice the concerns of our people and finally, Mr. Speaker, perhaps if there were to be all females in this Assembly and take after, the husbands and just send the men out hunting.
So, I know the cycle of how men feel like in the springtime and in the summertime.
All they talk about is their boats and their willingness to go out hunting.
So, I think we should allow their wives to replace them and let them go for a while.
Speaker: If Members will involve me later on, maybe as Speaker I can make a few comments.
As of this point, I think we should break for lunch and report back to the Chamber at 1:30.
This is somewhat irregular, but what is your request?
We will hear your request.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Speaker, I have a plane to catch this afternoon and I will not be here after the break.
So, I am just wondering if, with the Members’ permission, if I do a very short few words that I was going to do under Item 9. Replies to Opening Address.
Speaker: This is somewhat irregular and I will question the Members on it.
What is your wish to allow Mr. Tootoo to go to Item 3 and make a second Statement?
That would be the appropriate place to comment.
Mr. Tootoo, proceed.
Member’s Statement 792 – 1(6): Concerns Ahead for Nunavut
I did not want to leave and not mention some of the things that I was planning to say on the reply.
Mr. Speaker, I know today is now my final Statement on this first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
In less than three months, the people of Nunavut will have chosen their leaders for the next four to five years.
I am sure that all Members will agree with me that there are challenging times ahead for this Assembly and this Government.
These challenges always pose both serious difficulties and genuine opportunities.
We have tough decisions ahead of us and we will need to have the political will to face them and deal with them head on.
Although we are very close to Christmas, I think it is safe to say that Santa Clause does not necessarily live in Ottawa.
Although we continue to make our legitimate case to the Federal Government for serious investments in such areas as housing and infrastructure, I am concerned that our arguments may fall on deaf ears down south.
We will need to watch our wallet carefully in the coming years.
We will need to make sure that we put our scarce dollars into real priorities in education, health and housing.
Mr. Speaker, I will continue to oppose such things as Supplementary pension plans for politicians and Deputy Ministers.
I will oppose the contracting practices that are not transparent, and costs us more than we can afford.
Mr. Speaker, although our fiscal situation is likely to be very tight, we do have opportunities ahead of us if we seize the moment.
We have had the opportunity to strengthen our education systems; we have an opportunity to strengthen our education system by reducing class sizes and encouraging excellence.
We have the opportunity to strengthen the integrity and transparency of our practises by introducing whistle blower protection in legislation, establishing an office of an independent ombudsman in order to open up our financial books to the fullest possible scrutiny.
We have the opportunity to make a dent in our housing crisis by exploring innovative solutions, taking advantage of very welcome new resources from the federal infrastructure initiatives and looking forward to getting some extra operations and maintenance dollars to go along with that.
We have an opportunity to achieve a fair deal with our workforce over the next several years.
Treating our employees with rights will save us in the long run as we reduce our turnover costs and strengthen morale.
We have an opportunity to live up to the expectations of our constituents to focus on their needs.
Mr. Speaker, it has been an honour working with the Members of this House and we certainly have not always agreed on every issue, but that is exactly what this place is for.
I wish all Members, those who are moving on in their lives and those who are seeking a new mandate from their Constituents, the very best for them and their families.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to give a very special thanks to those who have helped me out.
To get here, first off, the people who have assisted me in my campaign and I will not list any names, they all know who they are.
If it was not for them, I would not be here.
I would like to thank the staff of the Legislative Assembly for all of their support and patience that they have given to me over the last five years and last but not least, a special thanks to the interpreters, who without them, I would not have a clue what is going on in here for the most part, and that goes for all of us, I am sure, and also, our technical crew, they put in long hours and if it was not for them, a lot of us would not know what is going on.
Mr. Speaker, it has been a privilege to represent the city, the people of Iqaluit Centre since 1999 and I will do my outmost to continue to have their trust and confidence in the years ahead.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank each and every one of the Members here.
It has been a tremendous first term and I know I have learned a lot and I have seen everyone has learned a lot and we have come a long way.
So, the naysayers around, we are still here and we are doing, there is always a lot better that can be done, but we are doing what we can with what we have and I would like to just congratulate all of us on that and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We will break for lunch now.
Lunch will be served upstairs on the second floor and also, courtesy of Mr. Netser, there is also some caribou meat in the side room here, the Members’ room and all the Members’ and interpreters’ staff are invited for lunch and caribou.