EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health had a meeting we have some motions that we would like to put to the members in regards to education.
Are there any other general questions or comments Mr. Nutarak.
Committee Motion 52 – 1(3): Prioritisation of Education Capital Spending
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairperson, I move that this committee recommend that the Department of Education prioritise those capital projects for schools which have health and safety needs and which have been resulting in school closures, overcrowding and a lack of basic facilities like gymnasiums and libraries within the schools.
Chairperson (interpretation): The motion is in order. To the motion, any comment or questions to the motion.
If there are no questions, all in favour of the motion.
Committee Motion 53 – 1(3): Deferral of Non-Core Education Capital Projects
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): The Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health had a meeting and I have a motion I would like to put forward.
I move that this committee recommends that any capital projects that are planned which include extra items such as heritage centres in schools, larger gymnasiums in schools, or additional architectural designs which add expenses to the building without adding significantly to the core school function should be deferred until a full twenty year development plan is completed for education facilities for all communities in Nunavut, and these issues of safety, overcrowding and lack of basic facilities have been addressed first in every community in Nunavut.
To the motion, questions.
If there are no more questions and comments, then all in favour of the motion.
Two abstentions.
Committee Motion 54 – 1(3): Source of Funding for Non-Core Education Capital Projects
Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that those communities that wish to include extra elements in their school such as heritage centres or larger gyms or additional architectural design elements should do so by raising additional funds for those elements from bodies other than those that are funded in whole or in part by the Nunavut Government.
All in favour in the motion.
Abstentions. One abstention.
Committee Motion 55 – 1(3): Capital Projects for Schools
I will be reading the next motion in English.(interpretation ends) I move that this committee recommends that the following capital projects be revived by the department of Education for possible inclusion in the 2000/2001 capital budget because of pressing and demonstrated needs in the communities in light of the 9.1 million dollar surplus which was constituted by the department of Education from the 1999/2000 fiscal year;
Hall Beach School addition, Pond Inlet School renovations, Pelly Bay school gymnasium, Iqaluit school, Baker Lake school replacement, Grise Fiord school addition, Resolute Bay school addition and the Cape Dorset school.
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
We will be dealing with the budget again tomorrow and we will be dealing with the department of education tomorrow and therefore I would like to report progress.
Mr. Akesuk has a motion on the floor to report progress.
But before we go who is in favour.
Question was being called and the motion is in order.
I am sorry I did not ask if anybody was against the motion.
Is anybody against it.
One against.
So we will be returning to the House.
You can turn off your mike now.
I am sorry Mr. Minister and your staff I forgot to mention our appreciation and I thank you for being at the witness stand and we will see you tomorrow.
Speaker: Members remain in your seat while the Chairperson locates his report.
Mr. Speaker your committee has been considering Bill 13 and tabled documents 41 – 1(3), 51 – 1(3), 60 – 1(3), 61 – 1(3), 68 – 1(3) and wish to report progress, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I do not see a seconder.
Contrary. Motion is carried.
Thursday April 6, meeting of the full caucus at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Tabled document 68 – 1(3)
This House stands adjourned until Thursday April 6, in the year 2000, at 1.30 p.m. Sergeant-At-Arms.
>>House recessed at 6.24 p.m.
DAY 31
Thursday, April 06, 2000
Pages 1286 - 1336
Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266  Table of Contents
Opening Prayer 1286
Ministers’ Statements 1286
Members' Statements 1287
Returns to Oral Questions 1294
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1295
Oral Questions 1297
Tabling of Documents 1313
Notices of Motions 1313
Motions 1313
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1314
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1335  Orders of the Day
Thursday April 6, 2000 1286
105 – 1(3): Community Fashion Show (Kilabuk) 1286
284 – 1(3): Nanisivik Mine MOU (Barnabas) 1287
285 – 1(3): Birthdays and Cost of Airfare (Iqaqrialu) 1287
286 – 1(3): Governor General's Visit to Rankin Inlet (Anawak) 1288
287 – 1(3): Congratulations to Kenn Harper (Thompson) 1289
288 – 1(3): Constable Ooyoumut Honoured (McLean) 1290
289 – 1(3): Community Freezers (Akesuk) 1291
290 – 1(3): Iqaluit Street Names (Picco) 1292
291 – 1(3): Heritage Centre in Cambridge Bay (Tootoo) 1292
Return to OQ 157 – 1(3): Fuel Subsidy Calculations (Thompson) 1294
Return to OQ 318 – 1(3): Grise Fiord School Project (Arvaluk) 1294
401 - 1(3): Nunavut Minimum Wage (McLean) 1297
402 - 1(3): Legal Consequences over Time Zone (Barnabas) 1298
403 - 1(3): Diving Instructor (Iqaqrialu) 1300
404 - 1(3): Discrepancy in Return on Fuel Price Subsidies (Nutarak) 1301
405 - 1(3): Community Freezers (Akesuk) 1302
406 - 1(3): Hamlet By-Laws (Irqittuq) 1302
407 - 1(3): Status of Apprenticeship Programs (Barnabas) 1304
408 - 1(3): Time Zone Effect on Non-Decentralized Communities (Iqaqrialu) 1305
409 - 1(3): Firearms Officer (McLean) 1306
410 - 1(3): Status of Apprenticeship Board (Tootoo) 1307
411 – 1(3): Homelessness Programs in Nunavut (Barnabas) 1308
412 - 1(3): Assistance for Elder Funding Applications (Iqaqrialu) 1309
413 - 1(3): Gun Control Legislation Pilot Projects (Nutarak) 1310
414 - 1(3): Ownership of Public Housing (Irqittuq) 1311
415 - 1(3): Baker Lake Unemployment Rate (McLean) 1311
70 – 1(3): Letter from Nunavut Employees' Union Member (Nutarak) 1313
20 – 1(3): Extended Adjournment (McLean) 1313
56 - 1(3): Deferral of Kitikmeot Capital Allocations (Tootoo) 1332  Thursday April 6, 2000
Thursday April 6, 2000
Speaker (Mr. O'Brien): I would like to ask Mr. Iqaqrialu to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Good afternoon, before we proceed with the orders of the day I would like to take this opportunity and recognise and thank the pages for helping us for the last few days.
From Iqaluit: Levi Ejesiak, Christos Liptak, Andrew Morrison, Tevi McKay.
From Cape Dorset: Saimayuk Akesuk, whose father happens to be the member for South Baffin.
From Gjoa Haven Valerie Puqiqnak and her father is the member from Nattilik.
Again thanks to the pages for all the help this week.
Speaker: Moving on.
Item 2. Ministers' Statements. Mr. Kilabuk.
Minister's Statement 105 – 1(3): Community Fashion Show
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my appreciation and congratulations to Mrs. Elisapee Davidee of Iqaluit, for her role in organising the community fashion show that was held last evening here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the theme of last night's fashion show was the past, present and the future.
For those of you in attendance, you saw a spectacular collection of Inuit designed clothing from our past through to when we first had contact with Europeans through to today where we are designing and producing fashions for the international market.
Mr. Speaker, members will recall that almost a year ago I spoke to this House about attending the Montreal fur show, in which for the first time a collection of Nunavut fashions was included.
Those fashions have been designed by Inuit but they have been manufactured in Montreal.
The obvious next step was to develop a collection that would be designed and manufactured in Nunavut by Nunavummiut.
Last evening the Toonik Tyme audience had an opportunity to see the premiere of the first fur collection designed and manufactured in Nunavut.
This was the result of four workshops that were held here in Iqaluit that was a collaborative effort through the Department of Sustainable Development and the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association.
Mr. Speaker, as part of the Nunavut Sealing Strategy implemented by this government the workshops were held to build our fur design and production capacity in Nunavut and is aimed at the world markets.
These workshops were also an important link between our work with harvesters in stabilising the supply of quality furs and our efforts of improving access to world markets.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut fur collection is a tremendous example of building on the self-reliance and strengths of Nunavummiut.
On May 5, I will be participating in the Montreal fur show where I will see the Nunavut fur collection unveiled on the world stage for the first time.
It is an event that brings the pride of Nunavut and Nunavummiut to the world and I feel privileged to be able to attend once again.
Mr. Speaker, let me extend my congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of last night's fashion show.
Also, to the Nunavummiut and the Nunavut businesses that lent their remarkable fashions to this show, and to our homegrown models, and to the many volunteers who helped make this event a tremendous success.
Speaker: Item 2.
Member's Statement 284 – 1(3): Nanisivik Mine MOU
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the two communities that are located by the mine.
In 1973, the Hamlets and the previous Minister of Indian Affairs and Indian Development signed a memorandum of understanding which outlined that the mine had to have 63 percent Inuit employed at the mine.
On top of that also in the agreement it said there would be training made available for Inuit.
Because of that agreement Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions of the Minister of Sustainable Development in regards to the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the parties.
Member's Statement 285 – 1(3): Birthdays and Cost of Airfare
Mr. Speaker, first I would like to announce that today is my son's birthday and I would like to wish him a very happy birthday.
I love him, and I am very happy about his birthday.
Also, to my colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, I believe that it his birthday today too and I am very proud of the minister.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a statement that First Air flies up to my community and also goes on to Pond Inlet.
They have been very helpful to the people and the Inuit, but I also know they have a monopoly going to my community.
It is now 1 thousand 263 dollars to fly to my community and I'm sure it is much more expensive if you fly on to Pond Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, this is an ongoing concern to my community.
There are also people, especially people travelling for medical reasons who go on standby and do not get an opportunity to get on the plane if there is a full load.
I believe the Department of Health would use less money if they paid full fare and of course with the summer season coming we will have full loads going back and forth and there will be a lot of people who do not get on.
I believe that we would use less money in the long run if we paid full fare to go there.
Member's Statement 286 – 1(3): Governor General's Visit to Rankin Inlet
I would like to inform my colleagues that the Governor General went to Rankin Inlet a couple of days ago and she had a meeting with the Hamlet Council.
They had a very frank discussion about the concerns they had, and one thing they were very concerned about was education, the teachers, the students and how we can bring these groups together.
Their main concern was the teacher/student ratio and that something has to be done about it.
That they have to include more Inuit programs in the schools and also that they need additional teachers for special needs students or specialized teachers who would take care of our special needs students.
Also there is a very high turnover of teachers and especially more so in the smaller communities, where there is a very high turnover of teachers.
They spend a few months in the community and then either go back home or move to larger communities.
Also, one of their main concerns was the high number of suicides and social problems.
There has to be suicide prevention done in all the communities.
Those were the major issues that the people of Rankin Inlet identified and we should work harder to work on these problems.
We have to deal with social issues.
The Hamlet Councillors believe that healthy living is an integral part of the school.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I know I am running out of time and I seek unanimous consent to conclude my comments.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to finish his statement.
Mr. Anawak, please proceed.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I apologize for laughing, when I pointed at that little light it went on.
The Hamlet Council was also talking about the youth and their need for more opportunities for employment and more adequate recreational facilities.
For example, more arenas, drop in centres and recreational facilities.
The Hamlet Council also gave the Governor General a document saying they wanted an outdoor recreational park.
They were also at the Maani Ulujuk School, where she had an open conversation with the youth and children of Rankin Inlet.
She visited facilities and private businesses and a dinner held by the Hamlet Council and the Keewatin Inuit Association and other businesses.
At this dinner the Hamlet also donated some dollars so there would be a food bank made available for the less fortunate.
They also announced the Upingatuk, which is the spring festival where she donated funds to this spring festival.
I just wanted to make those comments and she was very well received in Rankin Inlet.
Member's Statement 287 – 1(3): Congratulations to Kenn Harper
Mr. Speaker, please bear with me if I go over my time limit I will be as brief as possible.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my admiration and my sincere congratulations to a long time northern resident, educator, businessman and author, Mr. Kenn Harper.
In particular Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend Mr. Harper on the renewed success of his book "Give Me My Father's Body: The Life of Minik, the New York Eskimo.
A Book Mr. Harper researched, wrote and self-published about 15 years ago.
It was a book that I used with great impact when I taught Northern Studies at Maani Ulujuk High School in Rankin Inlet.
In an article published yesterday in the National Post and written by Colin Nickerson, I learned that Mr. Harper's fine book has now been published by Steerforth Press after considerable interest by a number of well established publishers.
As well Mr. Harper's book has been chosen as a Book of the Month Club Selection for April and has been optioned by actor Kevin Spacey to possibly be made into a movie.
The story of Minik is a tragic tale and one that deserves to be told loudly and often around the world for everybody to hear.
As many of you know, in 1897 Minik, as a 7 year old boy, was delivered to New York City along with his father Qisuk and four other Inuit.
There they were put on display throughout the city and at the New York American Museum of Natural History.
Within a short time Mr. Speaker, most of the Inuit had passed away from exposure to disease for which they had no natural immunity.
This tragedy left the young Minik all alone in the largest city in North America.
I would like to receive unanimous consent to conclude my statements Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statements.
Proceed Ms. Thompson.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): I cannot imagine how alone he must have felt.
To make matters worse the museum staged a mock burial of Minik's father when in reality they had autopsied the body, bleached and varnished the bones and put them on display.
Mr. Speaker, Minik was raised by the family of one of the museum superintendents and learned English and other southern values and eventually lost all of his memory of his language, culture and customs.
To add insult to this terrible tragedy, during a visit to the museum, Minik discovered the bones of his father on display in that infamous exhibit.
In Minik's own words he said: " I threw myself at the bottom of the glass case and prayed and wept.
I went straight to the director and implored him to let me bury my father.
He would not.
I swore I would never rest until I had given my father burial."
Mr. Speaker, Minik passed away in 1918 after a life of confusion and lost culture.
Happily, in 1993 and primarily from the interest generated from Mr. Harper's book, the museum relented and finally sent the remains of the Inuit, including Qisuk, Minik's father, to Greenland for a proper burial.
Minik remains buried near the Connecticut River in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that the renewed interest in Mr. Harper's work and the possible making of a movie will allow more people to be made aware of this sad story.
This is a story that needs to be told again and again so that people everywhere may understand the value and importance of all cultures and the dignity and respect with which they must be always be held.
Member's Statement 288 – 1(3): Special Constable Ooyoumut Honoured
Mr. McLean. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The RCMP has been policing the north for more than a century and many paid the supreme price in bringing the nation's laws to the north.
Equally gratifying is seeing the RCMP honour its special constables.
In the early to mid 1900's, contributions of special members to that of regular members were immense.
The special members taught land and survival skills, familiarised them with direction and literally provided them with the clothing on their backs to survive the harshest climate on the earth.
Without the help of these constables the RCMP's presence in the north may have been short-lived.
It is an honour reserved for those that paid the ultimate price, more than fifty names will be placed on the RCMP's wall of honour in Yellowknife, Thursday April 13, in recognition of the northern members that died in the line of duty.
Ooyoumut, a special constable to the Baker Lake detachment, will be among those honoured.
Ooyumut drowned on July 24, 1954 at the RCMP fish camp in Qikiqtauyaq, on the southwest side of Baker Lake.
RCMP Sergeant Bill Johnson of the RCMP Community Policing Section co-ordinated the event which actually began in 1998 for an RCMP 125th anniversary project. "
Several members thought it would be a nice tribute to the RCMP who died during our more than 100 years policing in the north", says Johnson.
The RCMP have erected a stone wall at its headquarters building in Yellowknife.
A plate for each member honoured will be mounted on the wall bearing their name, regimental number, place and date of death.
The early role of the special constable was primarily to provide safe passage for regular members who located to northern Canada.
They had to learn land skills and a special constable would lead them on patrols by dog team, canoe and foot, and even taught them to build igloos.
Special constables were considered the members' lifeline by providing vital knowledge.
Corporal Claire Dent worked with Ooyoumut and found his body.
He constructed a hand made casket and wooden cross bearing his name, rank and date of death.
Then he dressed in his red surge and provided him with as dignified a regimental service as he could under those conditions in 1954, says Johnson.
Ooyoumut's surviving daughters Sally Webster and Lucy Evo and his granddaughters will be attending the ceremony.
This is a great honour for our family having lost our mother a year ago.
It comes as a great blessing to us they said .
Member's Statement 289 – 1(3): Community Freezers
I rise today to talk about my concern and I think this a concern for everyone in Nunavut concerning community freezers.
Some of the communities do not have community freezers and I would like to see a community freezer in every community, because people can use them to store their food.
Sometimes people run out of food in their homes and they could use these freezers.
This is a very useful item to have.
It helps other people.
During the wintertime it doesn't help too much but during the spring and summer time it is very useful.
Food goes bad for people that do not have community freezers.
We should be giving more consideration to that.
I have heard this from people that have stated this as a concern for them.
We have to help our people in every way we can, because the cost of living and groceries continues to grow.
Member's Statement 290 – 1(3): Iqaluit Street Names
First I would like to thank Mr. Iqaqrialu for wishing me a very early happy birthday of course it is not for another nine or ten months.
Mr. Speaker, the debate around the official naming and acknowledging the streets of Iqaluit has raised its head again.
About three months ago I was contacted by Canadian Geographic Magazine about the issue of Iqaluit's street names.
It seems that it has become somewhat of a national curiosity.
Mr. Speaker I would like to take the opportunity to add my voice to the number of people that have spoken out on the issue of naming of Iqaluit's streets.
We know Mr. Speaker that some of our roads do have official and somewhat unofficial names.
For example, in my riding of Iqaluit East we have unofficially named one street as "the one way road." Mr. Speaker, this may be quaint but as pointed out by the fire chief it could cause some problems with the response time.
Mr. Speaker, as part of the Nunavut Capital Commission and following a suggestion made by Mr. Saali Peter, I too would endorse the idea of naming streets in town after different areas of Nunavut.
During the capital campaign we campaigned for, as our motto said, "Iqaluit for all of Nunavut". What better way of showing and endorsing that by having Arviat Avenue and Broughton Boulevard and Kugluktuk Drive.
Mr. Speaker, I would also suggest current road names as the Road to Nowhere or, Upper Base Drive to help retain the unique nature of our community.
I would also ask that our council endorse and continue the process of naming and renaming of our streets after consultation with our elders and our residents.
Member's Statement 291 – 1(3): Heritage Centre in Cambridge Bay
I ask the indulgence of the members.
Mr. Speaker, in response to the statement the honourable member for Cambridge Bay made previously.
The honourable member's statement specifically made reference to a capital project and myself in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker I would like to say again for the record that the idea of a heritage centre in a school is a great idea.
I would support them in Cambridge Bay and every other community in Nunavut.
I know the elders in my community and in every other community in Nunavut would welcome the addition of a heritage centre in their local school so they too could meet and work with students.
So the community could celebrate their culture.
I know the local business associations, the local Inuit associations, and the hamlets would support the larger gyms in their schools so more regional sports competitions and conferences could take place in their communities also.
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that if every community in Nunavut would put forth such a project all the people would agree this is a great idea.
It is great that the honourable member from Cambridge Bay has such community support for these projects as outlined by the letters he read yesterday.
However there are other concerns and maintenance problems which result in school closures in my community and others and they are not on the list of capital projects this year.
We all agree that there is only so much money to go around and I support the motions made yesterday by the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health.
That priority has to go first to meeting the basic capital needs.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.