EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Why did the Government of Nunavut take the side of these entities that come from outside of Nunavut when they can just encourage and make recommendations?
The government provided a license without being overly concerned about the people they represent.
It is clear that the Government of Nunavut is working very hard to include all of the people of Nunavut and that’s what we believe in, and we would like to include Inuit views.
If there are issues of such things coming up that are going to have an impact on the public, we usually do a study.
They did a study on the environmental scan by the Inuit associations and that’s why there was an agreement on that.
I know that the communities affected were helped a lot better when they were informed by the court.
They weren’t properly represented by this government and they had to turn to the court to come up with a solution.
We are very thankful that the court system could listen to them and put a stop to the seismic testing.
Does the Government of Nunavut still support federal plans to conduct seismic testing against the wishes of communities?
When people are going to be affected and when the communities of Nunavut are going to be affected, it’s something that’s very important to us in regard to testing and getting feedback from the communities. That’s something we are going to keep doing and we are going to keep asking for input from the communities of Nunavut.
The Inuit in the High Arctic are still concerned about the seismic testing and the federal government being able to issue a licence without consulting the people.
Is our government still going to support the federal plans or are they going to look more into the communities and give more support to the communities instead being from outside?
This government wishes to get feedback from the people of Nunavut and about what kind of testing they would like to see.
We are going to keep doing that, especially when our waters, land, and the people are going to be affected.
Question 431 – 3(2): Status of Government Liaison Office (Ningeongan)
Earlier this year, the Legislative Assembly approved $2 million in new funding to enable the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs to set up a new Government Liaison Office and hire GLOs in the communities.
As I recall, the government plan was to hire GLOs for the non-decentralized communities as its first priority.
I have recently noted that the government is currently advertising to fill the position of this office’s director.
Can the Premier tell me today if the government will be filling the GLO positions in non-decentralized communities by the end of the current fiscal year?
Yes, we had set up an advertisement to fill the position for this office’s director.
I am very pleased that we have initiated this process that has been long awaited by the Nunavut communities.
With the planning to proceed, we have to first of all fill the position of the office’s director who, in turn, will write out the job descriptions of the liaison officers, set up the office, and so on.
So we have to start from the top and work ourselves down.
In 2011-12, they will all have been hired at the beginning of 2011. That would start before 2010, then the hiring process would be concluded by 2011 in the non-decentralized communities, and then later on, it would be the centralized communities.
I recall this spring that we were told that the advertisements would be going out to the communities by October this fall, but I haven’t seen any advertisements yet and I would like that to be noted.
(interpretation ends) Aarluk Consulting was awarded a contract earlier this year by the GN to undertake a limited scope review of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, “which is incorporating the Government’s new Government Liaison positions that are to be created in every community, as well as the repatriation of the Corporate Services functions back into EIA from the Department of Finance.” What did this review conclude and will the Premier commit to tabling it in the Legislative Assembly?
That doesn’t seem to be part of the first question, but I will respond to it anyway.
He stated that in October of last year, the government stated that they will be putting out advertisements.
Now in October, we are now putting out the advertisements to fill the position of the GLO office’s director. This is something that I am very proud of. It’s a good stepping stone and everything will fall into place afterwards.
I am not exactly sure what you mean by corporate services, so if you would clarify that, please.
He was talking about the GLOs. Can you please clarify your question, Mr. Ningeongan.
Aarluk Consulting was awarded a contract earlier this year by the GN to undertake a limited scope review of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs “which is incorporating the government’s new GLO positions that are to be created in every community, as well as the repatriation of the corporate services functions back into EIA from the Department of Finance.”
What did this review conclude and will the Premier commit to tabling it in the Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for clarifying his question.
The review in regard to the repatriation of the corporate services functions, we concluded that it would be better if they went back to EIA and I will be sure to make a statement once the whole process is completed.
In addition to hiring GLOs in our communities, the government will need to identify appropriate office space in which the GLOs can work.
When it comes to decentralized communities, these positions could work in the GN’s own offices. What is the department’s plan with respect to finding office space for GLOs in the non-decentralized communities?
It is part of the planning process and there is also a part in there where the GLOs would have their offices in the non-decentralized communities.
We will have to look for office space for the GLOs either at the offices of the hamlets or other entities.
Once they hire a director, we will decide exactly what offices they are going to get because it’s very important to have proper office facilities when you are starting a position.
The reason why I brought this up with the Premier is that the non-decentralized communities already have a problem because they are short on office space already.
Will the government please make sure they take special care when they are looking at the offices in the non-decentralized communities to make sure that they have proper facilities?
Very much so, it will be fully scrutinized and has been part of the discussions. There is limited office space and we have to make sure that they have proper facilities.
Question 432 – 3(2): Baker Lake Municipal Landfill (Aupaluktuq)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services, Hon. Lorne Kusugak.
Mr. Speaker, on September 22 of this year, CBC news reported a story titled “Toxics in Baker Lake dump appal researcher.”
Mr. Speaker, the news story included shocking photographs on the deplorable state on Baker Lake’s municipal landfill.
It was also reported that runoff from the landfill eventually enters Baker Lake itself.
Mr. Speaker, residents in my community of Baker Lake use Baker Lake as its main water source and, if the story is accurate, that means that we are at risk drinking all of these chemicals and contaminants entering into our bodies, which puts the health of our residents in jeopardy.
Can the minister explain what his department is doing to help the municipality to address this issue?
The landfills or all landfills in all Nunavut communities are operated by the hamlet councils.
They are responsible for the municipal services, including landfills, dumps, and so on. CGS in not responsible for municipal services, but I can say that if we can work together with the hamlet councils, we do so in regard to municipal services should our support be required.
It’s my understanding that the GN’s Department of Environment can be called upon to inspect municipal landfills.
Can the minister indicate when the Baker Lake landfill was last inspected and what recommendations, if any, were made to his department?
The question he raises is he wants to know when the Department of Environment did an inspection of the landfill. I am sorry but I’m not the Minister responsible for the Department of Environment and would not know off the top of my head when the inspection was done.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Mr. Aupaluktuq, in regard to your question, if you could rephrase your question because I don’t believe the minister understood your question.
I know that the Department of Environment is responsible, but if we’re dealing with the hamlet council, they have to go through the Department of Community and Government Services.
That’s why I ask the question to the Minister of CGS and I wanted to know when that landfill was last inspected and what recommendations were made to his department.
Of course, CGS is responsible for hamlet councils.
We’re not responsible because it’s operated solely by the hamlet council. That’s in regard to the landfills and there are laws that they operate by at the community level.
If they need support from our department, we provide support for the landfill or any other types of services that they’re responsible for, but CGS is not responsible for the landfills. If there is no request for support from our department, we don’t provide support.
Maybe it would be better if I say this: Baker Lake is not the only one with that problem; every community is becoming more and more concerned about the landfill issue.
We are currently working closely with the Department of Environment. We are putting together a plan to deal with the landfills; how they should be situated, how they should be hazardous material-free, and so on; so that the communities can use it and operate it as a community.
Knowing Baker Lake, if they need any help from my department in regard to hazardous materials issues, we are more than happy to help them.
The reason why I asked that question of the Hon. Minister of CGS is that it’s obvious that municipalities look after dumps and landfills.
The reason why I asked the question, Mr. Speaker, was to take a quote from the CBC on September 22, 2010 story, “Toxics in Baker Lake dump appall researcher.”
The article reads, and I quote, “Municipalities are in charge of their own landfills, and are supposed to follow territorial and federal government guidelines, according to officials with the Nunavut government.”
Mr. Speaker, that is the reason why I was asking the Hon. Minister of CGS this particular question, but this is just a comment.
Question 433 – 3(2): Validity of Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) (Elliott)
My question is directed towards the Premier.
I wanted to go back to some other questions that Mr. Okalik was asking about the seismic testing and what we experienced this summer.
It seems that the GN puts a lot of faith in the Nunavut Impact Review Board.
In questions that I have asked to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation about mining in the Government of Nunavut, he mentioned that NIRB helps with reviewing and doing consultation.
With this project, it was the Nunavut Impact Review Board that did the consultation with the communities and the communities did unanimously say that they were not in favour of having the testing. It was the QIA in the court decision that overturned that.
I am just wondering and my question is: with that court decision regarding the seismic testing and the GN’s dependency on NIRB, what does that say about the validity of decisions made by them?
I think it will be better if this question is directed to the Minister of Environment.
If I understand the question correctly, it’s in the process of decision-making of the Government of Nunavut in regard to permitting.
I have to say that in this process, the Nunavut Land Claims is respected and NIRB is the lead agency in the recommendation and decision-making of permitting.
On NIRB are different representatives from different organizations. There are four members from NTI, there are two federally appointed members on that board, and two members form the Government of Nunavut.
There are also two alternate members representing Makivik.
So respecting the representatives on the board and the input from the organizations they are representing on that board, we respect the decision-making process.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
Thank you for answering that question to the minister responsible for answering the question.
Just so I have it clear in my mind, you were saying that the Government of Nunavut is in full support of all decisions made by NIRB and that no changes need to be made.
The government is in full support of the processes that are outlined in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and in the decision-making process that is outlined in there.
Question 434 – 3(2): Operations of the Nunavut Liquor Commission (Schell)
My question is for the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for the operations of the Nunavut Liquor Commission.
In my Member’s Statement today, I called on our airlines to demonstrate a greater commitment to social responsibility by working closely with our government’s Liquor Commission to ensure that smaller communities, such as Cape Dorset, do not experience sudden and overwhelming influxes of alcohol.
As the minister is aware, one of the recent incidents that took place in Cape Dorset occurred shortly after almost two dozen liquor orders arrived in the community on the same flight.
Can the minister indicate if he would be willing to commit to having the Liquor Commission enter into discussions with the airlines to address this issue?
I thank Mr. Schell for asking this question.
First of all, I would like to express my condolences to the people of Cape Dorset for the tragedies that they suffered in the last little while here. Our sympathies are with them and we hope that they can overcome what has befallen them.
Mr. Speaker, the Liquor Commission has had conversations with the airlines in the past and I have asked my officials on several occasions to continue those discussions.
I hope that during the review of the Liquor Act by the task force, we can invite the airlines to participate in those discussions as well to find solutions to some of the problems that come with large orders of shipments arriving into communities at the same time.
What I understand occurs is that people will put their orders in and then the orders will pile up through various factors; weather, freight orders, and other priorities; and then they will ship in on a certain day.
It does present a huge problem for a community when they get too many liquor orders in at the same time, but I can assure the member that I will raise that concern again with my officials at the Liquor Commission.
In March of this year, the RCMP busted a bootlegging ring in Iqaluit.
At the time, the RCMP announced that the suspects had ordered approximately 2,800 bottles of hard liquor.
It seems common sense to me that if a small group of individuals are legally obtaining import permits to acquire thousands of bottles of booze, it’s obvious that these quantities cannot reasonably be for personal consumption.
Can the minister indicate to the House whether the Nunavut Liquor Commission is working with the RCMP to share information in situations where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that liquor is being ordered for the purposes of illegal sale?
I thank Mr. Schell for asking the question.
Mr. Speaker, I was at the RCMP scrum that day when they presented the evidence of their bust.
It was like a picture tells a thousand words; there was a mountain of booze. There was a lady there, and I don’t recall her name, but she pointed at the bottles and said that each bottle represents a death, and it was very emotional.
There are bootleggers in this community and in all communities, but some of them are making a tremendous living off of the people who have addictions.
It’s a tragedy that people do that.
I know our officials at the Liquor Commission and the RCMP do, again, have discussions on how they can work with each other to address that.
Mr. Speaker, in interviews following that scrum, I touched on the idea of civil forfeiture legislation whereby the police themselves can, if they have reasonable evidence that there is a bootlegger or bootleggers in the community or anywhere in Nunavut… . Obviously they are making a good living off booze; they don’t have a job. Perhaps the police themselves can seize the assets of those individuals and thereby send a strong message to some of the bootleggers.
Yes, bootlegging is a serious issue in Nunavut.
It’s no secret, it’s been discussed many times across Nunavut, I know it’s coming up in the task force meetings, and we look forward to the recommendations from the task force to deal with bootleggers.
My next question deals with the issue that the Legislative Assembly dealt with earlier this year.
As the minister recalls, we passed the motion calling on the Government of Nunavut to impose a moratorium on the purchase of European Union alcohol by the Nunavut Liquor Commission until the EU addressed our concerns about its import ban on seal products.
Did the government respect the will of the Legislative Assembly in this matter and not order a single drop of European Union alcohol during this summer’s resupply, yes or no?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Schell for that yes or no offer.
I can’t confirm whether a single drop, but I know that our officials were instructed to fully comply with the will of the House.
It’s my understanding that they have complied with the will of the House.
Question 435 – 3(2): Birthing Centre in Kitikmeot (Ugyuk)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Tagak Curley.
Women’s voices held a conference here in Iqaluit last summer and they discussed midwifery.
This young lady from Whale Cove stated that the delivery of the baby is not a health hazard and she’s been asking questions about that for many years.
When pregnant women are shipped out to have their baby, they are on maternity leave for many weeks and they leave their families behind.
The question that is usually posed during our meeting is: how can we alleviate this problem?
The people of Baffin region and Kivalliq residents now go to their regional hospital for maternity. In Kitikmeot, although we have a regional hospital, we have not utilized that regional hospital yet.
When do we expect to see the people of Cambridge Bay to go to our regional hospital to go have their babies and I would like to know when this will occur.
Yes, I understood your question very well because you spoke in Inuktitut.
I would like to advise her that the Cambridge Bay midwifery centre is now starting to be utilized so that they can utilize it in that region. There is legislation where midwives can be given licences.
At Nunavut Arctic College, there are 10 graduates in this area, but they have not obtained their licences yet.
The Department of Justice has to set up the regulations and they are near completion.
In regard to sending patients out, I want the public to know the reason why they send pregnant women to the regional centres is to alleviate the risks that they may have. We may not be doctors, but the health professionals know that some of the patients have high blood pressure.
Therefore, they send them out to the regional centres for their health reasons quite a few weeks before the baby’s term is up.
I would like the public or the people listening to know that we can reduce the number of weeks that a pregnant woman is out in the regional centre. We can shorten that period.
The reason why they send them out to the regional centres is because their pregnancy might be at risk.
That is a touchy subject.
I expect to see these midwives to receive their licences. When can we expect to see the licensed midwife in Cambridge Bay?
The member from Cambridge Bay had written a letter to me stating that the people in Cambridge Bay are very happy about the midwifery centre and they were instructing students over there.
To date, since it opened in September 2009, in Cambridge Bay, there have been seven women who gave birth there.
I will look into these to make sure that the residents of the surrounding communities can start utilizing that regional centre. I can make that announcement in the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your second supplementary, Ms. Ugyuk.
This was discussed during our meetings in the summer at the women’s voice meeting. We are lagging behind in our area in the Kitikmeot. We would like to develop together along with the other two regions.
Since the Government of Nunavut was created, it seems like the Kitikmeot region is always falling behind. It is usually behind in everything. We do not want to be lagging behind because they are very capable people.
When we discussed midwifery, I remember an individual from Cambridge Bay, Mr. Nakasuk. Even though he is a male, he delivered one of his own children.
That is how capable Inuit are and I just wanted to make that statement.
That was a comment and I am sure it is well noted.
Question 436 – 3(2): Funding for Arctic College Students (Komoartok)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Dan Shewchuk, I believe.
There are students attending the Nunavut Arctic College and they started their program again on September 7.
They went back to Iqaluit and other communities to attend the Arctic College.
Today is October 19 and it has been quite a while since the program was running, but the Member for Igloolik… .
The students started attending Nunavut Arctic College since September and they have not been provided any form of financial assistance. Arviat is where the headquarters is located for the student financial assistance program and that’s one of the problem areas that they are running into.
I would like to ask the minister if he can look into this and, if that’s the case, I would like him to resolve the situation.
These adult students come up here to attend Nunavut Arctic College because they want to have a career.
They should be provided with an easier way of accessing funds as soon as possible.
I was wondering if the minister can look into this issue and I would like to see it resolved if that’s the case.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Komoartok. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Hon. Daniel Shewchuk.
Thanks for that question.
Yes, I will commit to looking into the member’s concern.
As it is well known, when Arctic College students request FANS funding, it is administered by the Department of Education, but I will look into the matter for the member.
If I could have more of the particulars, then I will look into it for him.
Mr. Komoartok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister.
I am sure that they are not the only students who are not receiving their FANS funding. There are quite a few other students attending Nunavut Arctic College who are stuck.
Although some of the students attended Nunavut Arctic College last year and all of the paperwork was done, it seems like some of the written documentation was not completed.
The students are looking up to administrators and they would like to get support.
I know that families provide support to students, but if we want students to complete higher education, we should be providing them with an easier way of life.
Therefore, I would like to thank the minister for indicating that he is going to look into the issue. The students at Nunavut Arctic College will know that I have been asking questions in regard to this.
That was just a comment, but it’s clear that it was duly noted.
Would you like to respond, Mr. Shewchuk?
I do wish to respond quickly in the fact that we do understand and do realize that education is very important in Nunavut and Arctic College education is very important also.
In order for these people and the students to progress in their education, they do need the adequate funding.