EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I call upon our government to step up its efforts in this area.
Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Member’s Statement 288 – 4(2): NS@30 (Joanasie)
Good day to all Nunavummiut and to our visitors in the Gallery. Welcome.
Mr. Speaker, as an alumnus of the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program, I am delighted to stand today and provide a report from the NS@30 conference held in Ottawa last month.
Mr. Speaker, over the course of the three-day gathering, more than 200 delegates from different parts of the country and around the world had much to say about post-secondary options for Nunavummiut.
The conference was also a time to celebrate the many accomplishments that Nunavut Sivuniksavut has achieved throughout the past three decades.
Mr. Speaker, to date, approximately 450 people have completed the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program since its inception in 1985.
I note that a recent survey conducted by Nunavut Sivuniksavut showed that out of 212 respondents, 121 alumni are now working full time while another 45 alumni continue in other training or post-secondary studies within or outside of Nunavut.
Only 5.19 percent, or 11 respondents, claimed to be unemployed, which is less than the national average of 6.6 percent according to 2014 statistics.
Mr. Speaker, after the conference was over, it was a pleasure to watch this year’s graduation ceremony.
Speaker (interpretation): The Member for South Baffin is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
As I was saying, the graduation ceremony highlighted the memories that students shared and their reflections on years past.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating all of this year’s graduates.
Alexie Baillargeon
Anna Churchill
Art Sateana
Ashley Appaqaq
Ashley Koonoo
Eva Obed from Nunatsiavut
Felicia Tugak
Jessica Inookee
Keisha Nivingalok
Kristen Kownak
Lewis Sammurtok
Lynn Mike
Mandy Tatty
Peter Derek Ottokie
Qilak Kaludjak
Rita Claire Mike
Silpa Suarak also from Nunatsiavut
Tamara Takpanie
Tapisa Koonoo, and
Vanessa Aglukkak
Jennifer Amagoalik
Jo-Anne Idlout
Jutai Jr. Toonoo
Mick Appaqaq, and
Mr. Speaker, I wish the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program continued success in the years ahead and encourage my colleagues and other Nunavummiut to promote the program within their own communities.
Member’s Statement 289 – 4(2): Recognition of Commissioner Edna Elias (Taptuna)
Good afternoon, members and cabinet colleagues, Nunavummiut, and Kuglukturmiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a resident of Kugluktuk. She is the former Commissioner and resident of Kugluktuk, Edna Elias.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Edna took on the role of Commissioner and made it her own.
She has worked countless hours to support and celebrate Nunavummiut across our great territory in this role and we will certainly miss her.
Through her good work in recognizing individuals for their heroism and volunteerism, she has helped bring pride to community service in our communities both big and small.
She has led the campaign for cancer research through her community walks and she has helped raise awareness for cancer throughout the territory of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, Edna is now retired from the position of Commissioner and on behalf of this House and, indeed, the people of Kugluktuk, we wish Edna the very best and thank her for her services to the communities and to the territory as a Commissioner. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 290 – 4(2): Thanks to the Premier and Minister of Education (Kuksuk)
I again say “good day” to my fellow residents of Arviat and Whale Cove and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to announce that Premier Taptuna and the cabinet ministers, Minister Quassa, including the staff, were able to come to Arviat.
We met with them and we met with the hamlet and district education authority.
Even though they were quite busy, they were able to come to Arviat.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, recently, we had the pleasure of accompanying the Premier and Minister Quassa on a trip to Arviat.
I say “thank you” to my colleagues for their participation and for taking the time to visit one of my communities.
The good people of Arviat had a lot to share in terms of community concerns and positive stories.
It was a worthwhile trip.
Mr. Speaker, we have had the cabinet come to meet in Whale Cove this past October and now have had the Minister of Education and the Premier to visit Arviat last week.
I think this helps show Nunavummiut that our government is active and does care about both the large and smaller communities.
The Premier and Minister Quassa had an opportunity to meet with the hamlet as well as the local DEA.
We also visited the site of the new hamlet office, toured the health centre, and toured the two local dumps. Our group had a chance to meet with the hamlet’s economic development staff and young people during the drill training program.
I was very impressed by the activities that are being done locally and to see such initiatives.
We also attended an elders’ feast at the elders centre, and we would like to say a big “thank you” to the staff of the Arviat elders centre for an awesome lunch that they provided us when we arrived in Arviat.
I want to also thank my colleague, MLA for Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq, for taking part in the discussions and visits and took part in the meetings of the local officials.
We’re proud of our community and we look forward to welcoming other members and ministers to our beautiful part of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 291 – 4(2): Thankful for Successful Search and Rescue (Quassa)
First of all, I would like to say that I am very impressed and we are all very proud of the search and rescue members in our communities and those in our communities who take part in search and rescue activities. Many times, they successfully find others through very hard work, volunteering to take part in searches. I want to mention these people first of all today.
Recently, there was a search and rescue operation taking place near our area and it took the work of four communities working together to operate this search. Many of you know of Brian Koonoo and we are grateful he came out okay and will now be going home.
I want to recognize these individuals from search and rescue as they stand out of many who took part.
Hall Beach resident Solomon Nashook didn’t sleep much, going for seven days, and he even slept in a cot at the search and rescue headquarters.
I want to recognize him, as he went all out to help in this search.
I would also like to acknowledge Siniqqaq Tausaruapik from Hall Beach and Abraham Ullalaaq. I am very proud of him. Even though he had just recently lost his family member, he worked hard as well on this search and rescue.
I would like to acknowledge the search and rescue members from Igloolik: Jake Maliki, Danny (Boy) Angiliq, and David Amaqsainnuk Aqiaruq.
These search and rescue members from Hall Beach and Igloolik were very busy.
I want to thank and praise everyone, including the RCMP in Igloolik for allowing the use of their snowmobiles in this search.
I ask my colleagues to join me in showing our gratitude for the fact that Brian Koonoo will be on his way back home to Pond Inlet. I have heard that he is just waiting in Repulse Bay as we speak.
Member’s Statement 292 – 4(2): Another School Year Ends (Ugyuk)
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak.
Spring is upon us and spring activities are happening in Taloyoak.
Today is the last day for students at Netsilik School.
I would like to wish all the students a great holiday and a good summer and to the teachers to take a well-deserved break.
Two of my younger sisters are teachers and many relatives that are Inuit teachers, I wish you all a good spring.
If you are heading out camping, be safe.
Spring is a great time to gather food and for being on the land.
I would like to recognize Gina Pizzo, who is the principal. I would like you to have a good rest. She is a long-term teacher and employee of Netsilik School.
Have a good summer, especially to the children and that they are looked after well. I would like to thank the people of Taloyoak and the children to have a very good summer.
Member for Rankin Inlet, Mr. Sammurtok…Alex Sammurtok.
Member’s Statement 293 – 4(2): Thankful for Successful Search of Brian Koonoo (Sammurtok)
I rise today to acknowledge the people that went to search for my brother-in-law, people from Hall Beach, Igloolik, Pond Inlet, and Repulse Bay.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the search and rescue volunteers who worked so hard to search for the missing person.
Minister Paul Quassa and you, (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, (interpretation) I would like to express my gratitude to both of you.
When I didn’t know where to turn to for information, I was able to talk to you and communicate by text.
We have to totally support the search and rescue groups and I am very grateful for all the searchers who work so hard.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to recognize a number of visitors in the Gallery today. These visitors have joined us from the Parliamentary Intern Program of the House of Commons.
Mr. Speaker, these young Canadians are currently working in the offices of Members of Parliament and are in Nunavut this week for their annual study tour.
Mr. Speaker, this previous Sunday, I along with the member for Niaqunnguut, Ms. Angnakak, and the Member for South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie, had a question panel that we attended with these youth Parliamentary Intern Program participants.
At that time and later on in the evening, I was able to address a number of questions. There’s a lot of interest in Nunavut and I hope that all these interns bring back some of the knowledge that they learned from the members of this legislature to their MPs in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, while they’re in Nunavut, they’re also taking the time, at their own expense I might add, to visit Kimmirut in order that they may have the experience of a smaller community.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming:
Gregoire Baribeau;
Jessica Brousseau;
Natalie Brunet;
Innessa Colaiacove;
Darya Dolzikova;
Patricia Doyle, who I might add used to work for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba under the Office of the Speaker, the Hon. George Hickes Sr.;
Alexa Greig;
Pascale Laliberté-Martineau;
Michèle Meilleur Sarazin; and
Constance Naud-Arcand.
I have no more names on my list, but I would like to welcome visitors in the Gallery.
(interpretation ends) I am very pleased to take this opportunity to welcome a guest from the Visitors’ Gallery who has travelled a very long way to be with us today.
Mr. Gerry Wood is an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
On his own initiative, Mr. Wood has travelled from Australia to the Arctic to observe our legislature at work.
Later this week, Mr. Wood will be flying to Yellowknife to learn about our sister territory’s legislature.
Please join me in welcoming our distinguished guest, Mr. Wood.
(interpretation) Please feel welcome in the Gallery.
Question 482 – 4(2): Update on Repulse Bay’s New Sewage Lagoon (Mapsalak)
I will direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
Mr. Speaker, during our previous winter sitting, I asked the minister when his department will begin the construction of Repulse Bay’s new sewage lagoon.
In response, on March 12, 2015, the minister indicated that his department was “waiting for the federal government for a water licence.”
Can the minister indicate if his department has received a water licence for this project and, if not, at what stage is the application for this licence?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
So that I understand the question correctly, are you talking about the sewage lagoon or the reservoir?
I don’t quite understand what he is referring to and I apologize for that.
If the member can clarify the question, I can respond to it properly.
Member for Aivilik, can you clarify your question, please.
The question I have is in regard to the (interpretation ends) sewage lagoon. (interpretation) We don’t have one in Repulse Bay.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you. I will to take the member’s question as notice.
The question has been taken as notice and the minister will respond to you at a later date.
Member for Arviat, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
Question 483 – 4(2): Plebiscite on Alienation of Municipal Lands (Savikataaq)
My questions are still for the new Minister of Community and Government Services.
As the minister will recall, I asked a number of questions during our recent winter sitting concerning next year’s Nunavut-wide plebiscite concerning the sale of municipal lands.
Now that the government has had a few months to think about the issues that I raised, I anticipate that we will hear some clear answers today.
Can the minister confirm which department of the government will be the formal plebiscite authority for next year’s vote, which will occur in March 2016?
Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Mike.
On April 16, 2015, the cabinet directed the Department of CGS to administer the plebiscite.
Now that we know that CG&S will be the plebiscite authority and the minister is here, has the minister thought ahead?
I raised the issue before that land owners and land lessees should be the ones determining the future of who is going to be able to vote.
Has CG&S determined who is an eligible voter for this upcoming plebiscite?
I will explain this further. In regard to the municipal lands plebiscite, all of the municipal owned lands are what it’s about.
Following the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, there had to be a land plebiscite on April 10, 1995 and that was supposed to be set for 20 years. The year 2015 marks the 20 years following. According to the land claims agreement, we have to hold a plebiscite.
The government has directed CGS, the department that works with the hamlets, to plan how the plebiscite will work, who will be eligible to vote, when the actual vote will be, and how much information will be distributed.
All of this is now under the planning stage and that’s the response I can give you at this point.
It’s all in the planning stage where they’re setting things up.
After all that is completed, I know that it will become clear as to how the plebiscite will work in regard to municipal lands.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t directly answer his question right now.
I thank the minister for being frank that they’re all planning ahead.
Hopefully the planning will be done soon since March 2016 is not that far away, but once the vote is held and each community is going to have a vote, is it going to be each community’s vote will stand for each community’s decision or is it going to be a Nunavut-wide decision on whether municipal lands will be sold or not?
The cabinet has asked the Department of Community and Government Services to take on the responsibility for the plebiscite, as well as the Department of Justice.
In regard to the municipal lands plebiscite, the planning has started.
NTI and Elections Nunavut are now working on the voting documentation and how the plebiscite will be set up.
Therefore, I can’t really provide a detailed response to the question because we have not completed the planning of the plebiscite vote.
Once the planning has been completed this coming summer, I’ll be able to provide a further response, but we’re working on them as we speak.
Question 484 – 4(2): Status of Midwifery in Nunavut (Hickes)
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question today to the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, in 2008, Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly passed the Midwifery Profession Act, a piece of legislation that not only sought to provide better maternal services to pregnant mothers closer to home, but also to incorporate traditional Inuit knowledge and childbirth practices into the birthing process.
Birthing centres were opened in communities such as Arviat and Rankin Inlet and many Nunavummiut had high expectations of being able to deliver their babies at home.
Can the minister provide an update on the current status of Nunavut’s midwifery services and how many birthing centres are currently operating across Nunavut?
To date, we have two midwifery centres in Rankin Inlet and in Cambridge Bay.
I tried to sneak in a second question in there, but I appreciate the minister responding to one of them.
Mr. Speaker, representatives from the Department of Health recently held a press conference on the success of the “More OB” program, which is intended to improve patient care of pregnant women and their babies.
Can the minister describe what role midwives play in the “More OB” program?
Minister for Health, Mr. Okalik.
Our staff, particularly in the two communities, provide the program and they are midwives. They have completed the midwifery program and they are recognized fully in their community, but we’re looking for more midwives and we will continue to look for midwives so that this program can continue fully.
As the minister described, they’re always looking for more midwives.
Certified midwives must be registered under the Nunavut Registration Committee to practise in Nunavut.
Can the minister clarify how many midwives are currently registered to practise in Nunavut?
We have 10 positions that are open, but we’re still looking to fill maybe four positions.
That’s my knowledge to date.
Member for Tununiq, Mr. Enook
Question 485 – 4(2): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Enook)
I would like to direct my questions today to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
As the minister will recall, the Legislative Assembly approved $20 million in supplementary appropriations earlier this year for the construction of new staff housing units across the Nunavut territory.
Information provided to the Members of the Legislative Assembly by the Nunavut Housing Corporation at the time indicated that, I quote, “Addressing the ongoing issue of forced shared units as well as a review of longstanding vacant positions will impact each community’s staff housing needs assessment.”
As the minister is very much aware, these are concerns that I have been raising in the House for a very long time.
Can the minister update me today on what concrete actions the government is taking to address the issue of longstanding vacant positions?
I can state today that his question regarding the $20 million for staff housing, the allocation of units will be identified in 2016.
To date, my department is still working on it and it’s not completed yet. That’s what I can tell the member.
Mr. Speaker, please ask me to clarify my question because the response I got had nothing to do with my question.
At the time, we approved $20 million in supplementary appropriations, but I was asking the minister to update me on what concrete actions the government is taking.
They were going to review the vacant positions and said that they would review these longstanding vacant positions.
That was why I was asking that question in regard to longstanding vacant positions.
What is the housing corporation doing, not considering the $20 million?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear and I will try to make it clearer.
I think his earlier question was in two parts. I thought I heard him asking questions in regard to the $20 million.
However, longstanding vacant positions, not just in the community of Pond Inlet, but there are vacant units in other communities.
Some of these are out of our jurisdiction because the departments, for example, the Department of Community and Government Services, we can deal with the issues by working with them.
The housing corporation alone can’t deal with these issues, so we will have to work with the other departments in order to move ahead and deal with the vacant units because there are other issues that are outside of our jurisdiction. For that reason, it takes a very long time to fill these vacant units when there is more than one department responsible for dealing with that.
There are various reasons why these units are not filled.
Mr. Speaker, I can look into it further. If the member is asking a question specifically in regard to why the units in the community of Pond Inlet are vacant for a long time or if it’s because the positions are not being filled, there are various reasons why these units are not being filled.
We are aware and it’s evident that in the community of Pond Inlet and other communities that I know of, it becomes disappointing when we see government staff housing vacant for so many years.
The staff housing units have never been occupied when our constituents have been advocating for converting these empty units to public housing.
I can say that in Pond Inlet, eight to ten staff housing units have remained vacant for approximately 16 years, yet we have a severe shortage of housing in our community.
I have asked whether consideration can be given to convert these vacant staff housing units to public housing units. As members of the public, we are in dire need of housing.
Is the Nunavut Housing Corporation considering this option as a part of its review?
Mr. Speaker, in regard to his question on whether we have considered to fill the vacant units, not just our department, if we can convert these empty units, we have an agreement because some of our staff units are owned privately and some of the staff units are owned by the Government of Nunavut and some staff units are leased from the private sector.
That’s how we provide housing to our employees.
If I understood the question the member is asking correctly, if we can convert these empty staff housing units into public housing, I have not personally been asked about this question. I cannot provide a response to the member’s question because we haven’t discussed the matter of converting the staff housing to public units within the community.
We have not dealt with that.
Question 486 – 4(2): Impact of Federal Budget on Marine Infrastructure in Nunavut (Angnakak)
As the minister is very much aware, Nunavut continues to face a significant infrastructure deficit in such areas as marine infrastructure.
During our recent winter sitting, I was pleased to hear the minister describe the efforts that he has been making to explain Nunavut’s situation to his federal counterpart and to advocate for strategic federal investments.
Can the minister confirm how much new funding was included in last month’s federal budget for infrastructure in Nunavut?
Mr. Speaker, as Ms. Angnakak is aware, I did submit three proposals for the Minister of Finance for Canada to consider $300 million for housing for Nunavut, $200 million for energy upgrades, and a proposal to increase our debt cap to $750 million.
Unfortunately, we were only successful in getting the increase of up to $650 million to our debt cap.
Still, the details need to be worked out.
That leads into my next question. As you mentioned, the debt cap was raised to $650 million.
Later today at the appropriate time, I will be tabling the excerpt from a presentation that was made at the recent Nunavut Mining Symposium that points out that improvements to marine infrastructure in Nunavut will have significant benefits for other Nunavut communities.
Can the minister indicate if the Financial Management Board is prepared to use some of this increased borrowing room to invest in urgently needed strategic marine infrastructure for Iqaluit that will also benefit other Nunavut communities?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Ms. Angnakak is lobbying for a port for Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, as I said many times before in this House, we have tremendous infrastructure demand on us in the hundreds and possibly into billions of dollars across Nunavut, so we’re open to all suggestions. I work with my colleagues at the cabinet. We receive proposals.
They do all their analyses. If a proposal comes forward, of course, through our finance department, we will analyze it to see if it fits within our debt cap and our capital planning process and we would take it through the House like we always do and it gets approved here.