EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I can empathize with those who lose family members to suicide due to my personal experience of feeling those emotions that bear down on people when that happens. My only son committed suicide and I know that many of you here have been affected by this as well, and that is why I stated we cannot change this overnight.
There is a saying, ‘It takes a whole community to raise a child.’ The community has to raise its children properly. This cannot be solved by the government alone.
Healthy living starts at home. Love and respect has to be shown within the home. Parents have to provide their children with the right advice if we are to see a decrease in the number of suicides.
If the communities took some initiatives in addressing this issue and how suicide can be prevented, it would strengthen our desire to decrease the number of suicides.
We realize that some people who commit suicide think that there is no other alternative, but others who try to kill themselves and don’t succeed go on to live because their time has not yet come.
One of the causes we have to address is the importation of drugs and alcohol that is brought in to the communities in Nunavut by airplane.
Youth tend to be involved in the importing of these substances as well as in the distribution, and youth spend what little money they do have on the purchase of drugs since they have been enticed to try them by older youth.
As well, people have been given trial drugs so that they can buy the drugs later on. Some of them have tried to commit suicide, but what we hear is that it was an overdose and not a suicide attempt.
I have heard this from several communities, not just Clyde River.
Some of the youth just want an opportunity to leave their home communities when they overdose on pills to fake a suicide attempt. These are like quasi-suicide attempts just so they can go to another community, such as Iqaluit, Winnipeg, or Ottawa.
These issues need to be looked into by the government as well as communities, and to develop policies to catch the abusers. We should not be embarrassed by these cases and start working on the principle of Inuuqatigiittiarniq at the local level so that the finger-pointing would be minimized.
As well, youth should believe and respect their elders because this is part of the Inuit culture - respecting our fellow Inuit and our environment. This has to be a priority in our communities because many youth try to win over their elders.
This leads to abuse of their grandparents as the youth will go and bother the elders when they get their pension cheques.
In speaking to this issue, I have to mention the RCMP as well. I believe that the communities have to collaborate with the RCMP because we are not adversaries.
Youth as well as young adults completely oppose any RCMP initiatives. RCMP are not our enemy, they are here to protect us and our communities and to ensure that we have safe communities.
They should not just be scorned by Inuit but be part of our overall partnership in making our communities healthy.
It is extremely expensive to live in Nunavut. For example, if I were trying to purchase four litres of milk, it would cost $14 to $16, whereas down south, it may be as low as $1 or $2 for that same volume of milk. The same applies to everything.
Pop, for example, is about $2 or $3 per can.
This is partially due to the transportation costs required to ship up the food to our territory and so we have to work on lowering our costs.
My colleague from the High Arctic also mentioned that perhaps we have to supplement the existing Food Mail Program to send basic foods to our communities and ensure that we can stretch our meagre financial resources to enable us to buy more staples, especially with the lack of job opportunities here in Nunavut.
The unemployment rates in Nunavut are extremely high. In some communities, it is as high as 40 percent, although it may be lower in some communities. There are also people who are only able to get seasonal jobs since there are no jobs in the communities, along with the lack of assistance programs.
That is why I believe that we have to look at the transportation issue and not just ship our foods up on airplanes or ships.
Down south, the transportation system is well-developed and you can practically drive anywhere via vehicles or even railways, and they have proper airports, docks, highways, and so on to enable the shipping of goods anywhere it is needed.
Nunavut is not like that. Whatever we want has to be shipped up. That is why many communities are clamouring for docks and other transportation upgrades as these will allow the communities to diversify and expand their economic opportunities, as well as to bring the costs of transportation down.
We are always told that there is no funding available. There are many projects on hold, although we request financial support from our fellow Canadians to meet our basic needs to lower our cost of living. It is hard to have to see other Canadians with their entire infrastructure because aboriginal Canadians always seem to get the short end of the stick.
We do not even have the basic infrastructure other Canadians take for granted.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, our government is now starting to develop and they’re starting to work on the projects, but this all has to be accomplished with very limited resources.
All departments stretch their funds just short of the breaking point to meet even some of these requests, and I am grateful that the government actually starts some of these initiatives.
It is extremely expensive to live up here and our people undergo tremendous hardships in trying to make ends meet. Our national government has to step up to the plate and deliver some of the very basic infrastructure we are asking for and they should be investing in Nunavut. Ottawa should be ashamed for not providing more.
I’m very proud of our Government of Nunavut for providing as many services and programs as they do with the little resources that they have, including local projects such as recreational and school facilities. We are now starting to get these facilities that allow communities to better their future.
Item 13. Tabling of Documents. If there are none, Item 14.
Bill 35 – Energy Efficiency Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, May 30, that Bill 35, the Energy Efficiency Act, be read for the first time.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 34, the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act.
The minister is seeking consent of this Assembly to waive Rule 62(1) to allow for first reading of Bill 34.
There are no nays. Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 34 – Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Quttiktuq, that Bill 34, the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 34 has had its first reading.  Item 17.
First Reading of Bills. Minister of Finance, Minister Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I’m trying to pass a note.
If you have your hand up, I will acknowledge you...  >>Laughter
... when I’m reading the Order Paper, even if you have your hand up for someone else.
Here we go again.  >>Laughter
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow for second reading of Bill 34, the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act.
The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) to allow for second reading of Bill 34.
Bill 34 – Nunavut Outfitter Liability Protection Fund Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 34, the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill creates the Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund and sets out a mechanism for eligible outfitters, guides and tourist establishments to access limited indemnity coverage for comprehensive general liability claims.
This bill also sets out the powers for the Government of Nunavut to administer the fiscally responsible indemnification and claims management system.
The motion is carried and Bill 34 has had its second reading and will be referred to a standing committee.
Item 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 26, 27, 28, and 30 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:53 and Committee resumed at 16:18
I will call the committee meeting to order. In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 26, 27, 28, and 30.
We wish to deal with Bill 28 and after that, report progress.
That’s a good wish.
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3 – Consideration in Committee
I would now like to ask Minister Tapardjuk, Minister for Finance, to make his opening remarks.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon, Members.
I am pleased to appear before members today to speak to Bill 28 - An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3; specifically, Bill 28 provides a tax credit for parents with small children under the age of six.
This bill is designed to provide parents with some much needed tax relief.
It does this by introducing a new tax credit for parents with small children under the age of six.
The tax credit would amount to $600 in the 2006 taxation year and $1,200 in the 2007 taxation year and later taxations years.
This tax credit is available for each child under the age of six.
This amounts to a per-child tax savings of $24 in 2006 and $48 in 2007 and later taxation years.
A person can claim this credit if they meet the eligibility requirements.
Basically, a person has to be a resident of Nunavut on the last day of the taxation year, and either be a single parent, or the parent with the lower income, or the parent with an equal income and the other parent does not deduct an amount for the credit.
The child has to be under six years of age during the year, has to be living with the parent on the last day of the year, is a qualified dependent as described in the Income Tax Act, and the parent has not claimed an eligible dependent deduction for them.
Minister, do you have a witness that you would like to bring to the witness table?
Do members agree to bring in the witness?
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s official to the witness table.
Minister, please introduce your official.
On my left is Peter Ma, my Deputy Minister for the Department of Finance.
I welcome the minister and Mr. Ma back to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has carefully scrutinized Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that the purpose of bill is to provide a tax credit for parents with children under the age of six. The standing committee is in full support of this measure.
Mr. Chairman, during his appearance before the standing committee, members encouraged the minister and his officials to carefully monitor changes in federal tax legislation that impact Nunavummiut, and to introduce appropriate legislation as required.
The standing committee also looks forward to the introduction in the fall of this year of legislation to implement tax measures that were announced in our minister’s Budget Address of earlier this year, such as an increase to the pension income credit.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 28 to all members.
There being none, we will proceed to the clause-by-clause review of the bill starting with page one of the bill.
This bill should be in your legislation binder.
Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3. Clause 1?
Go to page 2.
Just on clause 2, under (d), it says for 2006-07 taxation years, I just want to get on the record a response from the minister or his officials that individuals who are eligible at that time, was this something that will automatically show up for them as a credit, that they won’t have to apply retroactively for the credit?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, that’s the case right now, Mr. Chairman.
Clause 2 was approved. (interpretation ends) Clause 3. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Turn to page 3. Clause 5. Do you agree?
Chairman: Page 5. Clause 6. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 7. Do you agree?
Chairman: And clause 9. Do you agree?
Do members agree to Bill 28 as a whole?  Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman: Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 28 can immediately be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading?
Chairman: Thank you. I would like to thank the minister and Mr. Ma. (interpretation) Thank you for appearing before us.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister and his official from the witness table.
(interpretation ends) I was directed by a person who was making a wish to leave earlier, so I’ll now report progress to the Speaker.
Speaker: Please be seated, Minister Picco. (interpretation) Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, Member for Uqqummiut, Mr. Arreak.
Your committee has been considering Bill 28 and would like to report that Bill 28 is immediately ready for third reading.
I just have a few announcements. The meeting with the Minister of Energy on his briefing on energy issues will now take place five o’clock this afternoon in the Nanuq Boardroom.
For tomorrow, the meeting for the Standing Committee on Health and Education at nine o’clock on Bill 20 is cancelled.
However, there is a meeting at nine o’clock tomorrow of Government Operations on Bill 34 in-camera, and the meeting for the Standing Committee on Health and Education on Bill 21 in-camera at 10:30 in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Members, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, May 29, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 16:34
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pages 4296 – 4339
Opening Prayer 4296
Ministers’ Statements 4296
Members’ Statements 4298
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4302
Oral Questions 4303
Tabling of Documents 4322
First Reading of Bills 4323
Second Reading of Bills 4324
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4326
Report of the Committee of the Whole 4336
Third Reading of Bills 4337
Speaker’s Admonition 4337
Orders of the Day 4338
Thursday, May 29, 2008 4296
188 – 2(4): Heavy Equipment Training Simulator at the 2008 Nunavut Tradeshow (Picco) 4296
189 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management - Building Capacity (Tapardjuk) 4297
459 – 2(4): Congratulations to Graduates (Evyagotailak) 4298
460 – 2(4): Federal Government Presence in the Kitikmeot (Peterson) 4299
461 – 2(4): Integration of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into Government Policies and Practices (Arreak) 4300
462 –2 (4): Arctic Gospel Concert #2 at Inuksuk High School (Picco) 4301
463 – 2(4): Air Transportation in the Kivalliq – Awarding of Medical Travel Contract (Curley) 4301
569 – 2(4): Trades Trainee Positions (Alagalak) 4303
570 – 2(4): Huge Increase of Fuel Costs and No Use of Hedging Policy (Tootoo) 4305
571 – 2(4): Funding for the Development of Inuktitut Curriculum (Curley) 4307
572 – 2(4): Health Services in Winnipeg (Simailak) 4311
573 – 2(4): Funding Recreational Facilities (Mapsalak) 4313
574 – 2(4): Technical Assessment of Health Centre and Airport Terminal in Qikiqtarjuaq (Arreak) 4315
575 – 2(4): Midwifery Assistance Training Program in Kitikmeot (Peterson) 4316
576 – 2(4): Handling of Air-Chartered Building Materials (Kattuk) 4319
577 – 2(4): Government Directory in Phonebook is too Confusing (Arvaluk) 4320
241 – 2(4): Extended Health Benefits Policy (Aglukkaq) 4322
242 – 2(4): Code of Conduct, Outside Employment and Conflict of Interest for Government of Nunavut Employees (Human Resource Manual Sections 202, 203, 204) (Peterson) 4323
Bill 32 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act, No. 2 – First Reading 4323
Bill 31 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 – First Reading 4324
Bill 31 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 – Second Reading 4324
Bill 32 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act, No. 2 – Second Reading 4325
Bill 31 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 – Consideration in Committee 4326
Bill 32 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee 4329
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3 – Third Reading 4337
Speaker (Hon. Peter Kilabuk)(interpretation): Thank you and good afternoon.
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, Members and Ministers.
Minister’s Statement 188 – 2(4): Heavy Equipment Training Simulator at the 2008 Nunavut Tradeshow (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon to our colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House about a training situation that took place during the 2008 Nunavut Tradeshow.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, in partnership with the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO), trains Nunavummiut in the heavy equipment operator field. Now, since 2005, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education has sponsored 175 Nunavummiut to attend that program.
Mr. Speaker, during this year’s tradeshow, the department shared a booth with the OETIO to demonstrate the mini training excavator.
This is one of several simulators used at OETIO to provide hands-on training for the students who attend the ten-week program.
Mr. Speaker, this demonstration raised interest and awareness as it was very popular and many people wanted to learn more about the delivery of the program, and again, some of the Members of the House here had an opportunity to be on the simulator.
Mr. Speaker, graduates of the Heavy Equipment Operators program are employed by construction and mining companies, as well as municipalities.
Mr. Speaker, training opportunities such as those offered through OETIO are crucial in ensuring we have experienced trades people.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education strongly believes in the need for a skilled, well-trained work force so that Nunavummiut can take advantage of future opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank staff from OETIO for travelling to Nunavut. I would also like to thank First Air for donating the cost of transporting the equipment to Iqaluit, and Nunavut Excavating for donating the much needed sand that was used for the excavator, as well, Mr. Speaker, KRT Electrical for providing a vehicle to the OETIO staff for the week.
Mr. Speaker, their generous donations are sincerely appreciated. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and Finance, Minister Tapardjuk.
Minister’s Statement 189 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management - Building Capacity (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut, through the Department of Finance, began the Strengthening Financial Management project in 2003 as part of its continuous improvement process.
This ongoing process was further guided by the 2005 Report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly.
One component of the 2006 Territorial Formula Financing discussions between Nunavut and the Government of Canada was the need to build capacity in the area of financial management.
In Federal Budget 2007, Canada deemed this component important enough to make a one-time contribution of $23.2 million, over seven years, into Nunavut’s process of continuous improvement in financial management.
Since the announcement, officials of both governments have been working to develop projects that will remain true to the spirit and intent of Strengthening Financial Management while maximizing the value from the use of the funding.
The program will be rolled out over the next five years with expenditures commencing later this year.
Mr. Speaker, it is a two-part program.
The first part, valued at $15 million, provides the computer hardware resources necessary to adequately process financial information.
These hardware upgrade needs are particularly acute in communities outside of Iqaluit, where per-keystroke wait time is excruciatingly long.
This $15 million contribution will allow the GN to modernize and upgrade its business network which, in turn, will greatly increase the efficiency of financial operations over the next four years.
Mr. Speaker, the second part of the program focuses on financial operations.
The GN’s own Strengthening Financial Management project was a great beginning: now this $6.6 million contribution to Phase II over the next five years, with yearly funding of $800,000 after that will build on those efforts.
Areas of emphasis within projects include: financial policy and procedures; the Public Accounts Strategy; the continual monitoring, evaluation and introduction of financial processes, computer software solutions and standardization and implementation of computer-based solutions.
I will update the House on these initiatives as we move forward.
If there are none, Item 3. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 459 – 2(4): Congratulations to Graduates (Evyagotailak)
I rise today to congratulate the graduates of the new Nunavut Aboriginal Language Certification Program who will be receiving their certificates today in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, 11 Kugluktuk residents have graduated with their certificates to teach Inuinnaqtun in the community schools and early childhood programs.
Patricia Algona
Aggie Angulalik
Christine Kaiyogana
Anita Niptanatiak
Connie Pangon  Laila Uttak
And our elders are:
Kate Inuktalik
Ida Jane Kapakatoak
Agnes Kokak
Lena Niptanatiak
And also Mamie Oniak, who is 73 years old.
This is a great accomplishment not only because of the benefits to our language but on a personal level.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, five of these graduates are elders (or close to being elders) and for some of them, taking this course was the very first time they had ever been students in a classroom.
I applaud them for their efforts and dedication.
Mr. Speaker, this program was offered this year through Nunavut Arctic College with support from the Tahiuqtiit Society.
It is an important course that will play a very big role in bringing more Inuinnaqtun language teaching to our younger generations.
I am very proud of our graduates and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them.
Member’s Statement 460 – 2(4): Federal Government Presence in the Kitikmeot (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about an issue that greatly affects the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that Canadians across the nation are entitled to a certain level of service from their federal government’s departments and agencies.
In most parts of Canada, those services are easily accessible within a few minutes, or certainly within a couple of hours of driving.
Mr. Speaker, over in the Kitikmeot, we lobbied for 15 years during the 1980s and 1990s to convince the federal government to open an employment services office.
The federal government finally opened a HRDC office in Cambridge Bay in November of 2001.
The HRDC office has now become a Service Canada office with two staff who deliver a number of valuable and timely services to all Kitikmeot communities.
My Speaker, my own personal experiences with the Service Canada office has saved me weeks and possibly even months of red tape and frustration.
Nowadays, they can help clients with passports, residential school payments, Social Insurance Numbers, applications for Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, tracking down missing income tax documents, and many other services.
Mr. Speaker, that being said, when I look around Iqaluit, I notice that there are many federal government departments located here which are not present in the Kitikmeot.
I see no reason why many of these departments cannot open an office in the Kitikmeot, similar to what HRDC did in 2001. This would enable them to provide more timely and efficient delivery of their programs and services to the western part of Nunavut, which is 2,000 kilometres west of Iqaluit.