EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But after July 1, then we will be in a position to negotiate directly with the DEAs and the Department of Education especially the regional office, as to what can be recommended for that particular community.
They may be a specialist in some areas, but somebody else may have to be a specialist in another area of their expertise and train from there.
I have no objection to that at all.
But the stakes that we have to recognize is the students.
That's the bottom line is the students. How do we get the best quality of education for our students.
If we can get that from one or two elders, for the majority of the speciality programs, cultural programs and everything else, that would be great.
But that does not happen in most of the cases, because anybody is only a specialist in their own field.
Mr. Havioyak: So it is going to be interesting who certifies these elders.
They are already certified in their own culture.
It is going to be interesting.
I just wanted to make that comment.
Minister of Education, did you have further comments.
I think the member will appreciate that some people are very good at going up the river and going fishing in the inland or caribou hunting in the inland.
Some are specialists in walrus hunting on the floe ice.
I guess what I am getting at is that students must have all the exposures that they deserve in the cultural programs.
You cannot just teach them only what that particular elder knows.
If that particular elder knows some of these things and another elder knows other things better than the other one.
Just to clarify or help to bring some clarity to some of the information that Mr. Irqittuq referred to earlier.
I’d just like to ask the minister if he would be willing to or if he could table the information he provided to the Standing Committee in regards to the Cambridge Bay replacement high school.
That included, I believe, a letter to the chairperson along with the capital substantiation form from the Department of Finance and a project budget report that showed it from the conception year one, right through to the warranty year.
If he’d be willing to table that for us.
We already have given that to the Standing Committee and the information was given to us from Public Works.
If Public Works wants to make it available we have no objection to that because we already gave it to the standing committee.
I just wanted to, there was some confusion as to what we can ask questions on and what we can’t.
So if all the information has to be tabled in order for questions to be asked on it, and all that information came from you to the standing committee, I don’t know if you still have a copy of the package or if the standing committee will table it, we can sort all that out.
Just to make sure we have all the information that was there so that there’s no confusion on what we can and can’t ask questions about.
I have a number of other questions Mr. Chairman but recognizing the clock and the smile from the Minister of Education I’d like to ask that we report progress at this time and resume tomorrow.
Chairperson (interpretation): The motion is in order and is not debatable.
So, I will ask the Speaker to come back to the House.
I am sorry all those in favour.
Okay, our Speaker will coming back into the House.
Thank you Mr. Minister for being at the witness stand with your officials and we will continue with our debate tomorrow.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Item 22: Report of the Committee of the Whole
Your committee has been considering Bill 13 and tabled document 41-1(3) and 51-1(3) and would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu.
To the motion, who is the seconder of the motion.
Item 22, Third reading of Bills. Third Reading of Bills.
Item 23, Orders of the day for tomorrow.
Orders of the Day for Tuesday, April 4.
The House now adjourns and will resume at 1:30 in the afternoon on April 4.
>>House adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
DAY 29
Tuesday, April 04, 2000
Pages 1186 - 1233
Opening Prayer 1186
Ministers’ Statements 1186
Members’ Statements 1188
Returns to Oral Questions 1191
Oral Questions 1193
Written Questions 1209
Tabling of Documents 1210
Notices of Motions 1211
Motions 1211
Second Reading of Bills 1212
Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1213
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1232
Orders of the Day 1232
Tuesday April 4, 2000 1186
99 - 1(3): Ministerial Absence (Okalik) 1186
100 - 1(3): Toonik Tyme (Ng) 1186
101 - 1(3): New Optional Leave Policy (Ng) 1187
102 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the Department of Sustainable Development (Kilabuk) 1187
264 - 1(3): Baker Lake Day-Care Services (McLean) 1188
265 - 1(3): Iqaluit Casting Call (Picco) 1189
266 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Ladies Hockey Team (Puqiqnak) 1189
267 - 1(3): Gift from Speaker Hickes (Thompson) 1190
268 - 1(3): Maintenance Problems in Schools (Tootoo) 1190
269 - 1(3): Cost of Air Cargo (Irqittuq) 1191
Return to OQ 341 - 1(3): Housing Corporation Contracting Back Services (Thompson) 1191
Return to OQ 309 - 1(3): Housing Corporation Tender Advertisement (Thompson) 1192
Return to OQ 191 - 1(3): Staff Housing Policy (Thompson) 1192
374 - 1(3): Status of Worker's Compensation Board Study (McLean) 1193
375 – 1(3): Mandatory Leave Policy (Barnabas) 1194
376 – 1(3): Outpost Camp Program (Puqiqnak) 1195
377 – 1(3): Details of Estimated Expenditure Variances (Tootoo) 1197
378 – 1(3): Nunavut’s Share of GNWT Surplus (Irqittuq) 1198
379 – 1(3): Lack of Wildlife Officer for Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 1199
380 – 1(3): Pond Inlet Health Centre Closure (Nutarak) 1200
381 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the Bathurst Mandate (Iqaqrialu) 1201
382 - 1(3): Proposed Regional Hospital (Barnabas) 1203
383 - 1(3): Clarification on Optional Leave Policy (Tootoo) 1204
384 - 1(3): Problems with Time Change (Irqittuq) 1206
385 - 1(3): Sealskin Products (McLean) 1207
13 - 1(3): Household Moving Services (McLean) 1209
60 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay School Replacement (Nutarak) 1210
61 - 1(3): Substantiation for the 2000/2001 Capital Projects and Financial Detail for Proposed Departmental Expenditures (Tootoo) 1210
62 - 1(3): Letters regarding NEU Negotiations (Barnabas) 1210
63 - 1(3): Letters regarding NEU Negotiations (McLean) 1210
64 - 1(3): Letter from Qammaq Housing Association (Kattuk) 1211
18 - 1(3): TD 60 - 1(3) to Committee of the Whole (Nutarak) 1211
19 - 1(3): TD 61 - 1(3) to Committee of the Whole (Tootoo) 1212
Bill 16 - An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act - Second Reading (Ng) 1212
Tuesday April 4, 2000  Nunavut Hansard
Iqaluit, Nunavut  Tuesday April 4, 2000
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. Kevin O'Brien): I would like to ask Mr. Irqittuq to say the prayer.
Orders of the Day, Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 99 - 1(3): Minister’s Absence
I would like to advise members the Honourable Jack Anawak will be absent from the house today, Tuesday April 4 and tomorrow April the 5th, 2000. He is accompanying the Governor General to Rankin Inlet.
Ministers’ Statements, Mr. Ng.
Minister’s Statement 100 - 1(3): Toonik Tyme
Mr. Speaker from March 31 to April 15 residents of Iqaluit will have the opportunity to come together to celebrate the spirit of community and their place within it in the capital's annual Toonik Tyme festivities.
In keeping with this spirit Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce that on the afternoon of April 7 will be declared a half-day civic holiday for all Nunavut Government employees in Iqaluit.
This is consistent with the Town of Iqaluit's municipal holiday for their employees.
Mr. Speaker by declaring this holiday the Nunavut Government employees will be able to join their families and encourage them to take part in the annual Toonik Tyme activities.
Mr. Speaker similar half-day civic holidays for our Nunavut Government employees will also be granted to the communities who declare hamlet days or the equivalent for their spring activities.
Mr. Speaker I encourage all Nunavut Government employees of Iqaluit to participate in these festivities on Friday April 7.
Speaker: Ministers’ Statements Mr. Ng.
Minister’s Statement 101 - 1(3): New Optional Leave Policy
Mr Speaker, last year, mandatory leave was a compulsory program for all employees of the Government of Nunavut except for the Federation of Nunavut Teachers.
This program required a 1. 92 percent regular payroll salary reduction for all participating employees and provided five days off without pay on the days the employer shut down their operations.
Mr. Speaker, effective April 1, 2000 a five day optional leave policy will replace the existing mandatory leave policy for excluded and managerial employees.
Employees entitled to participate in this new leave policy will be able to choose which days they will be away from work subject to their supervisors approval.
Mr Speaker all excluded and managerial type employees will be offered the choice of participating in this optional leave program.
Employees who may terminate with unused option leave credits will be reimbursed their payroll deductions for that amount.
Mr. Speaker, this change will provide our excluded and managerial employees with a better choice of options than presently exists.
Speaker: Thank you Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 102 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within DSD
In our government’s Bathurst Mandate it is stated that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit will provide the context to develop an open, responsive and accountable government.
I would like to speak briefly today about how we are attempting to honour this commitment in my department of Sustainable Development's everyday work on programs, policies and legislation.
Our first step in introducing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to the Department of Sustainable Development was to establish an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit working group which consists of senior Inuit officials in the department.
Their task is to weave into the government systems the principles and the values of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
To help the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit working group we established six guiding principles based on Inuit beliefs and customs.
Mr. Speaker these principals are being dealt into our department programs, policies, legislation and our everyday approach to work as we speak.
These principals include Pijitsirniq - to serve Nunavummiut, Aajjqatigiingniq - consensus decisions through dialogue, Pilimmaksarniq - capacity building, Piliriqatigiigniq - accomplishing through partnership, Avatimik Kamatsiaqniq - environmental stewardship and Qanuqtuurunnarniq - ability to improvise.
Mr. Speaker, it is this governments belief that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit can greatly enhance our contemporary governing systems.
We have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to Nunavummiut and the outside world who are watching our Nunavut journey how the values and principles of our ancestors can be carried forward into how we govern ourselves in the modern world.
Mr. Speaker there is many miles ahead in this journey, but we have started.
In the days ahead, I hope to be able to report back to the House on the further department initiatives with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Orders of the Day, Item 3.
Member’s Statement 264 - 1(3): Baker Lake Day-Care Services
Mr. McLean: I rise today to talk about the plight of day-care services in my community of Baker Lake.
Day cares provide an essential service, not only in my community but also probably in every community in Nunavut and Canada.
We must recognize that this is as important as school, as the individuals that use these facilities are trying to contribute to Nunavut, single working moms and working couples.
They need day-care so they can contribute to our much-needed workforce.
There isn't a day in my community that I don't hear about an employee not showing up for work because of no day-care services, or, teenage girls dropping out of school because of lack of day-care spaces.
Mr. Speaker it is no secret that we have a very young population and I'm also aware that the federal government allocation to day-care to Nunavut is approximately 3 million dollars a year, through NTI and the regional Inuit associations.
We signed the Clyde River Protocol Agreement that states overall that the Nunavut Government and NTI work together.
Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent time for NTI and the Nunavut Government to work together to solve part of our very serious and ever growing critical situation of day-care.
Members' Statements, Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 265 - 1(3): Iqaluit Casting Call
Last fall a call went out to Iqaluit residents who were interested in being featured as models in a national sales magazine. Mr. Speaker this was not a unique casting call for Iqaluit residents.
Iqaluit residents have been active in several documentary, T.V. and feature films over the past twenty-five years.
Iqaluit residents have also participated in numerous fashion shows held in town and around Canada.
Mr. Speaker the Selections 2000 catalogue, which is the mail order arm of the Northwest Company, picked several Iqaluit residents to be featured in their spring/summer 2000 addition.
This magazine can be found in every northern provincial, territorial and many Alaskan towns in the north.
Mr. Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Northern Stores for their interest in featuring Iqaluit residence and especially Iqaluit young people in their magazine.
This is something that all the models will be able to look back on.
Mr. Speaker, and who knows, one of our own Iqaluit models may go on the fashion runways of New York or Paris.
Mr. Speaker I would ask you and this house to join me in congratulating these models and Northern Stores and also Mr. Speaker to pick up a copy of selections and see our own Nunavummiut so proudly representing us to the world.
Member’s Statement 266 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Ladies Hockey Team
Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize the women's hockey team from my community of Gjoa Haven.
Last weekend there was hockey tournament in Baker Lake where my community members had the privilege to attend.
Mr. Speaker these are the following people that were part of the team; Coach Andre Otuqiak, Goalie Salomon Arqviq, Winnie Sakqituq, Captain Sylvia Porter, Assistant Captain Rita Porter, Nancy Illesetuk, Cheryl Ann Puqiqnak and Anna Grace Aalak, Debbie Kamimaalik, Rhoda Hiqiniq, Shiela Kamuqaq, Floris Ruben and Sara Takiyuk.
The Gjoa Haven women's hockey team enjoyed the trip to Baker Lake.
The Baker Lake fans were also very supportive of the Gjoa Haven Hockey players.
The Gjoa Haven players would like to thank the people of Baker Lake for their hospitality and send their best wishes.
It was nice for the hockey players to meet new friends and see their old friends and their relatives.
The only regret that the Gjoa Haven hockey players have is that the players had little training and practice.
The next tournament will be in Rankin Inlet in the year 2001.
The Gjoa Haven women hope the Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Inlet women that will go to Rankin Inlet.
Mr Speaker the Gjoa Haven team members received two awards Cheryl Ann Puqiqnak was given the best defence award and Rita Porter was given the best forward award.
We would like to congratulate them on behalf of Gjoa Haven.
Orders of the Day, Members' Statements. Ms. Thompson.
Member’s Statement 267 - 1(3): Gift from Speaker Hickes
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to express my appreciation, just recently the Speaker of Manitoba visited us and our Premier was given a statue of a buffalo.
I had made a remark that I wish I had one too.
I had forgotten about it when today Mr. Tootoo brought in a gift from George Hickes the Speaker of the Legislature of Manitoba.
I had wanted this buffalo and if he is listening I would like to thank George Hickes and I think that you Mr. Speaker should consider polar bears to be given as gifts.
Member’s Statement 268 - 1(3): Maintenance Problems in Schools
Mr. Speaker, yesterday morning in Iqaluit students at Nakasuk Elementary School were unable to attend their classes because of the reoccurrence of problems with the schools.
Mr. Speaker, the system in the school is approximately thirty years old.
It requires continual repairs and maintenance.
The Nakasuk School is not the only school to be experiencing these sorts of problems.
Students in Inukshuk School are unable to use their gymnasium because of yet another recurrence of problems associated with deterioration of the plumbing and ventilation system.
I support the efforts of the government to look into fixing these problems as quickly as possible.
Mr. Speaker, although both of these schools are in my constituency, students from across Iqaluit and Apex attend them.
I would be very much surprised if my colleagues from Iqaluit West and East did not share my concern about these issues.
Mr. Speaker I know that many other communities are suffering from these sorts of grave problems of decaying educational infrastructure, overcrowding, grossly deficient facilities and in some cases outright threats to the health and safety of students.
We know that there is not an unlimited amount of money.
We cannot build what we need over night.
But Mr. Speaker the real issue is the one of fairness.
When basic school needs are not being met in so many communities why do others appear to receive facilities and projects that are far beyond the needs of the communities.
Mr. Speaker every community should have facilities and infrastructure sufficient to met the needs of the students and teachers.
As time goes on and basic needs are met then yes, we should have add-ons to our schools so they can become showpieces.
Mr. Speaker, it is a question of fairness.
Lets make sure that all communities fundamental needs are met for a government to do otherwise is to show that favouritism is condoned.
I doubt that any member of this house wants that to be our principal.
I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 269 - 1(3): Cost of Air Cargo
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the rising cost of air cargo, especially for the communities of Hall Beach and Igloolik.
We have only one airline that services these communities and since First Air has a monopoly they can raise the price anytime, which they do.
Using this as an example, this picture here it is a cabinet, a very simple cabinet.
If you order it is 200 hundred ninety-nine dollars, but when it goes to my community with the freight costs it would be over seven hundred dollars.
With that it is getting to be almost impossible to buy these types of goods in my community.
To use another example, looking at the food that is ordered from Ottawa or Montreal it would be 1 dollar eighteen cents down there.
By the time it arrives to my community with freight costs it would be 2 dollars and fifty-three cents.
So the total I would pay would be almost 4 dollars for that same item.
Mr Speaker I think that we have to work very hard for people that live in the higher arctic.
It is getting very, very expensive to live in those communities.
Moving on to Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions.
Return to OQ 341 - 1(3): Housing Corporation Contracting Back Services
I have three returns so if it is okay I would like to read all three of these returns, thank you.
Mr. Speaker I rise today to provide a response to a question posed to me by Mr. Tootoo on March 30, 2000.
On April 1, 1999, the two services were contracted back to the NWT housing corporation.
One was for technical services and the other one was for financial services.
Both of these contracts are for a one year term and they expire March 31, 2000.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation will not enter formal contracts for technical services for the 2000/2001 fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker the Nunavut Housing Corporation is currently negotiating with the NWT Housing Corporation a contract agreement for financial services.
Mr. Speaker it is the goal of the Nunavut Housing Corporation to assume the financial responsibilities on or before April 1, 2001.
Return to OQ 309 - 1(3): Housing Corporation Tender Advertisement
Mr. Speaker I rise today to provide a response to the question posed to me by Mr. Tootoo on March 28, 2000 in reference to an ad for housing materials.
The tender advertised clearly identifies the NWT Housing Corporation as the acting agent for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker the Nunavut Housing Corp. prepared the tender documents and the proposal will be evaluated and awarded by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker relying on the expertise of the NWT Housing Corporation to co-ordinate and analyse this material tender has shown efficient management while the Nunavut Housing Corporation continues to build capacity.
Return to OQ 191 - 1(3): Staff Housing Policy
Mr. Speaker I rise today to provide a response to the question posed to me by Mr. Tootoo on February 22, 2000.
Mr. Tootoo requested an update on the status of the new Staff Housing Policy.
Mr. Speaker because the new Staff Housing Policy will impact staff throughout the Government of Nunavut, officials from other departments have been consulted in drafting the policy.
My staff are in the process of taking a final look at the feedback received and preparing the policy for submission to Cabinet.
Mr. Speaker, a separate policy has been developed to replace the old buy-back policy program administered by the GNWT.
This new policy will be applicable to GN staff whose positions are affected by the government’s decentralization plan.
Officials from other departments have also been consulted in developing this policy to ensure that their interests, and interests of staff, have been taken into consideration.
Mr. Speaker, my staff has compiled and reviewed the feedback received through these consultations and is in the process of preparing this policy for submission to Cabinet as well.
Moving on to Item 6.
Question 374 - 1(3): Status of Workers’ Compensation Board Study
Back in the house a few months ago, I think it was in Rankin Inlet, I was inquiring about the state of the Workers’ Compensation Board for Nunavut, or the lack of it.
We all know that we are sharing the Workers’ Compensation Board with another territory because we seem to think it is easier and more cost effective.
At the time I questioned the minister in the house if he would look at setting up a study to see if we would be better off going it alone with a Workers’ Compensation Board and the minister agreed that he would look at doing an assessment or study.
Can the minister responsible inform me today what the status of this study is.
To date we have not had an opportunity to get together the terms and criteria for requests for proposals given that our time has been spent in trying to get the budget development process completed and preparing documents for standing committee reviews and to have the main and capital estimates available for scrutiny through the Legislative Assembly sitting that we currently are in.
I realize the minister was very busy in the last couple of months and he probably had to concentrate more on his budget.
But can the minister commit to me today that he will look at initiating a study within the next thirty days.
I can commit and try to put together the terms of reference for the requests for proposals to undertake a comprehensive process in respect to what we might have as options on the Nunavut Workers' Compensation Board.
So we will to try to do that as much as we can.
Speaker: Supplementary Mr. McLean.
I am sure the minister will do this as he has promised.
Would the minister when he is doing this consider looking at and maybe setting up our own Workers' Compensation Board in Nunavut, held by Nunavummiut representing Nunavummiut, as one of the terms of reference of this so that we can start on our own.
Speaker: Minister Ng.