EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Tabled Document 107 – 4(2)
Tabled Document 149 – 4(2)
A reminder for the Members of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, you have a meeting tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Tuktu Room.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 21, at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Pages 42 – 99
Opening Prayer 42
Speaker’s Statement 42
Money Message 42
Ministers’ Statements 43
Members’ Statements 45
Returns to Oral Questions* 53
Returns to Written Questions* 69
Tabling of Documents 69
Notices of Motions 71
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 71
Motions 72
Second Reading of Bills 75
Report of the Committee of the Whole 98
Orders of the Day 99
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 42
002 – 4(3): Congratulations on Canada Election (Taptuna) 43
003 – 4(3): National Foster Family Week (Ugyuk) 43
004 – 4(3): Sport and Recreation/Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) Awards 2015 (Mike) 44
005 – 4(3): National Teen Driver Safety Week (Ell-Kanayuk) 45
012 – 4(3): Congratulations to Hunter Tootoo for Becoming Nunavut’s New MP (Hickes) 45
013 – 4(3): Airline Service in the North (Angnakak) 46
014 – 4(3): New Health Centre for Arctic Bay (Shooyook) 47
015 – 4(3): Cape Dorset School Fire (Joanasie) 47
016 – 4(3): Impact of Codeshare Agreement (Sammurtok) 49
017 – 4(3): Setting Septentrional Borders (Rumbolt) 49
018 – 4(3): Impact of Codeshare Agreement (Savikataaq) 50
019 – 4(3): 2015 Annual General Meeting of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (Akoak) 50
020 – 4(3): Appreciation of Cabinet Visit (Mikkungwak) 51
021 – 4(3): Grateful for First Grandson (Keyootak) 52
022 – 4(3): Successful Bowhead Whale Hunt in Naujaat (Mapsalak) 52
023 – 4(3): Condolences to the Family of Thomas Kublu (Quassa) 52
Return to Oral Question 007 – 4(3): Need for Improved Adult Basic Education (Clerk) 53
014 – 4(3): School Replacement for Coral Harbour (Mapsalak) 53
015 – 4(3): The Costs of Codeshare (Sammurtok, T) 54
016 – 4(3): Status of Decentralized Positions in Pond Inlet (Enook) 56
017 – 4(3): Inuktitut-speaking Mental Health Workers (Keyootak) 57
018 – 4(3): Federal-Territorial Relations (Angnakak) 58
019 – 4(3): Energy Initiatives (Hickes) 60
020 – 4(3): Addressing Nunavut-Quebec Border Issues (Rumbolt) 61
021 – 4(3): Plans for School Replacement in Cape Dorset (Joanasie) 62
022 – 4(3): Impact of Codeshare Agreement on Government of Nunavut Budget Development Process (Sammurtok) 64
023 – 4(3): Impact of Codeshare Agreement on Operations of the Department of Health (Akoak) 66
024 – 4(3): Western Hudson Bay Polar Bear Management (Savikataaq) 67
Return to Written Question 001 – 4(3): Administration and Enforcement of the Workers’ Compensation Act (Clerk) 69
Return to Written Question 002 – 4(3): Expenditures and Activities under the Strategic Investments Program (Clerk) 69
Return to Written Question 003 – 4(3): Administration and Enforcement of the Tobacco Tax Act (Clerk) 69
Return to Written Question 004 – 4(3): Expenditures under Standing Offer Agreements (Clerk) 69
Return to Written Question 005 – 4(3): Administration and Enforcement of the Public Health Act (Clerk) 69
006 – 4(3): Nunavut Business Credit Corporation’s 2014-2015 Annual Report (Ell-Kanayuk) 69
007 – 4(3): Nunavut Development Corporation’s Annual Report for 2014-2015 (Ell-Kanayuk) 69
008 – 4(3): Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit Annual Report 2012-2013 (Kuksuk) 70
009 – 4(3): Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit Annual Report 2013-2014 (Kuksuk) 70
010 – 4(3): Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit Annual Report 2014-2015 (Kuksuk) 70
011 – 4(3): Resolutions from the 2015 Kitikmeot Inuit Association Annual General Meeting (Akoak) 70
012 – 4(3): Letter from Premier of Quebec to Federal Party Leaders Referencing Nunavut-Quebec Border (Rumbolt) 70
013 – 4(3): 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Speaker) 70
014 – 4(3): 2015 Annual Report of the Office of the Integrity Commissioner (Speaker) 70
004 – 4(3): Extended Sitting Hours and Days – Notice (Mikkungwak) 71
005 – 4(3): Censure of the Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet – Notice (Savikataaq) 71
004 – 4(3): Extended Sitting Hours and Days (Mikkungwak) 72
005 – 4(3): Censure of the Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet (Savikataaq) 72
Bill 01 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – Notice 71
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – Notice 71
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Notice 71
Bill 04 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2014-2015 – Notice 71
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act – Notice 72
Bill 01 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – First Reading 73
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – First Reading 74
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – First Reading 74
Bill 04 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2014-2015 – First Reading 75
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act – First Reading 75
Bill 01 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – Second Reading 75
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – Second Reading 76
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Second Reading 76
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act – Second Reading 77
Bill 04 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2014-2015 – Second Reading 77
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee 78
Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk, Mr. Joe Enook, Mr. George Hickes, Mr. David Joanasie, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. George Kuksuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Hon. Johnny Mike, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak, Hon. Paul Okalik, Hon. Keith Peterson, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Tom Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna, Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk.
>>House commenced at 13:28
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Joe Enook, can you say the opening prayer, please.
Fellow Nunavummiut, members, ministers, and Premier, thank you for being here and good afternoon.
This afternoon, I have comments to make.
I am pleased to welcome my colleagues back to the House for this fall sitting. (interpretation ends) I also welcome Nunavummiut who are following our sitting on television and radio.
Last month, I had the honour of participating in a ceremony to mark our new Commissioner taking office.
(interpretation) At that time, I had the honour of announcing this year’s recipients of the Order of Nunavut. I am pleased to announce today that the investiture ceremony will be held in this Chamber at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2015.
(interpretation ends) The ceremony will be open to the public to observe from our Visitors Gallery and will be broadcast live on television.
We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the tragic events that took place on Parliament Hill in October of last year. (interpretation) Every Canadian legislature, including ours, has taken appropriate steps to address security.
(interpretation ends) As I will be absent from the House on Thursday and Friday to share best practices with other legislatures, our Deputy Speaker, the Hon. Member for Tununiq, will be taking the Chair for those days. (interpretation) Please go easy on him, at least for his first day.
(interpretation ends) On a happier note, please join me in congratulating our colleague from Iqaluit-Manirajak, Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk, on her marriage this summer.
I now wish to read the following message that I have received from the Commissioner of Nunavut. (interpretation) It reads:
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut the passage of the following bills during the Third Session of the Fourth Legislative Assembly:
Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015;
Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016;
Bill 3, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017; and
Bill 6, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016.
Sincerely, Nellie T. Kusugak.
Item 2. (interpretation) Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Premier, Mr. Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 002 – 4(3): Congratulations on Canada Election (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Good afternoon, colleagues, (interpretation) members, and people of Kugluktuk and Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Canada spoke on October 19 and today, we have a new Prime Minister designate and Member of Parliament-Elect for Nunavut.
This is a new page for Canada.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Justin Trudeau on his election campaign and Mr. Hunter Tootoo, who now represents us in Ottawa.
I look forward to working with the new Prime Minister designate, Justin Trudeau. I also had a good conversation the other night with Hunter Tootoo and I wished him congratulations on behalf of the Nunavut government.
Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Legislative Assembly, please join me in applauding our new leaders as we step forward together to move Nunavut’s agenda. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, Ms. Ugyuk.
Minister’s Statement 003 – 4(3): National Foster Family Week (Ugyuk)
Good day, the people of Nunavut and my colleagues.
I am happy that it is now fall time.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that my department is celebrating National Foster Family Week, which began October 18.
As we know, our foster families are the foundation of our child welfare services and ensure that all children have the love and care that they deserve.
Each community in Nunavut has been given special funds to support a local celebration and event for foster families.
Even though we give our deepest gratitude to our foster families every day of the year, this is a chance for families to share their experiences and for us to publicly acknowledge their selfless dedication to our most vulnerable children and inspire other Nunavummiut to become foster parents as well.
(interpretation ends) We have 260 foster families in Nunavut, and without them, we would not be able to ensure a safe, nurturing home for all our children in care and in our very own communities.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister, Mr. Mike.
Minister’s Statement 004 – 4(3): Sport and Recreation/Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) Awards 2015 (Mike)
It is my pleasure to congratulate the recipients of the 2015 Sport and Recreation Awards which were presented at the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) Sport Awards gala on October 17, 2015.
(interpretation ends) The Sport and Recreation Awards Program recognizes the exemplary commitment and accomplishments of athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers within Nunavut’s sport and recreation system.
(interpretation) The Sport and Recreation Division awards were presented in the following six categories:
Male Athlete of the Year Hayden Hickey (Iqaluit)
Female Athlete of the Year Nessa Ann Sallerina (Gjoa Haven)
Team of the Year Baffin Blizzard Hockey Team (various communities)
Official of the Year Joey Rhodes (Iqaluit)
Coach of the Year Todd Gardner (Iqaluit)
(interpretation ends) Special Recognition Award for outstanding contribution to sport Gary Wong (Iqaluit), Dennis Masson and Ed Sattleberger (Iqaluit), Geoffrey Oliver (Iqaluit).
(interpretation) As well, the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut presented three awards recognizing outstanding accomplishments and contributions to community recreation. Those awards were presented to:
(interpretation ends) Recreation Leadership Award  Talia Maksagak (Cambridge Bay)
Community/Organization Achievement Award  Aqsarniit Soccer Association (Iqaluit)
First Air President’s Award of Excellence  Mike Courtney (Iqaluit)
(interpretation) On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to acknowledge their accomplishments and congratulate all of the recipients of the 2015 Sport and Recreation Award.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Minister’s Statement 005 – 4(3): National Teen Driver Safety Week (Ell-Kanayuk)
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) October 19 to 25 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. This initiative was created in 2007 following a number of tragic crashes involving Pennsylvania high school students.
Teenage drivers remain at a higher risk of death per kilometre driven than all other age groups in Canada. This is a serious issue that needs attention.
We encourage everyone, especially teens, to drive carefully, with their seatbelts buckled and their eyes on the road.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation has released a brochure called “Your driving attitude counts now more than ever.”
It outlines how the demerit point system works and encourages people to be good drivers.
Safety messages are helpful, but in the longer term, we need to be looking at changes to the legislation supporting road safety.
Nunavut is now the only Canadian province or territory without a graduated licensing system for new drivers.
Our government has committed to amending the Motor Vehicles Act. As part of that work, we will give serious consideration to graduated licensing and other changes to improve road safety, such as provisions dealing with distracted driving and the use of handheld devices.
We don’t want anyone to get hurt in an automobile accident, especially not our youth.
The driving conditions in Nunavut are unique, with many road users operating ATVs and snow machines. Safety is vital no matter the vehicle.
Please drive carefully and never drive when you have been drinking.
Member’s Statement 012 – 4(3): Congratulations to Hunter Tootoo for Becoming Nunavut’s New MP (Hickes)
I would like to welcome all members of Nunavut that are watching the proceedings.
Like our Premier, I would also like to congratulate our newest Member of Parliament, Hunter Tootoo.
As most people are aware, he is a relative of mine and I am very proud of his accomplishments of taking his political career to the national level.
At the same time, I would like to recognize the work that the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq has done for this territory over her term and I would like to thank her specifically for always having her door open for myself and I’m sure other Members of this House of bringing forward any concerns that were able to be addressed by her.
I would just like to thank her for her career.
Member’s Statement 013 – 4(3): Airline Service in the North (Angnakak)
Welcome, everybody in the House and those on TV.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues. Over the last few days, there has been lots of talk about this code share agreement and the impact that the code share agreement between the northern airlines has had on service to our communities.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, I took the opportunity earlier this year to deliver a formal reply to the Commissioner’s Opening Address.
I used this opportunity to identify and highlight a number of concerns regarding the role of our national government in ensuring that food is accessible and affordable to our residents. I also took the opportunity to identify a number of concerns with the design and the administration of the federal Nutrition North Canada Program.
Mr. Speaker, although I fully recognize that the government does not directly run the airline industry, I also think that it’s extremely important to recognize that the airline industry provides an essential service to the residents of our territory’s 25 communities, large and small.
In that sense, our government does have a compelling interest in doing what it can to ensure that affordable airline service is available to all of our communities.
Mr. Speaker, when I talked about Nutrition North earlier this year, I pointed out that public confidence in the program has always been lacking. One of the main reasons for this lack of confidence has been the lack of transparency regarding such matters as the cargo rates that the retailers have negotiated with the airlines.
Are there any nays? (interpretation) I didn’t hear any nays.
Mr. Speaker, we have been told that the code share agreement has been made necessary because of the serious financial problems facing our airlines.
Mr. Speaker, that may be the case, but try telling that to our constituents, who only see that the cost of a roundtrip ticket between Iqaluit and Ottawa can be more than the cost of a ticket between Ottawa and Paris.
Mr. Speaker, the airlines and their owners need to think hard about being significantly more transparent about their operations.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, I have family and friends in our nation’s most remote community, Grise Fiord.
For many years, the territorial government has struggled with the question of transportation in the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, it cannot be denied that it’s expensive to provide regularly scheduled air service to our most remote communities, all of which have very small populations.
Mr. Speaker, I think that it’s very interesting to take a look at how our neighbours to the south deal with the question of air service to remote communities in Alaska.
Mr. Speaker, although the United States is generally seen as being less open to government’s involvement in private businesses than we are here in Canada, it’s very interesting that the US government actually administers a program called the Essential Air Service program. That involves subsidizing commercial airlines to provide scheduled service at over 160 remote and rural communities.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Canadians voted for a new national government that has a mandate for change.
I would like to take this opportunity then to urge the new federal government to work closely with all stakeholders to identify ways that it can help ensure that air service in the north is affordable and accessible to all of our communities.
Member’s Statement 014 – 4(3): New Health Centre for Arctic Bay (Shooyook)
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
Even though things have been happening since last year, we can all be present and we can be proud that it has passed.
I rise today to state that I had difficulties in Arctic Bay to get a new health centre and maybe the priority to get a health centre built.
I worked hard on this last year in Arctic Bay.
Mr. Speaker, it is being built today. It is under construction and we’re very happy to see that we will have a new health centre.
I am happy today that we will be utilizing a brand-new health centre and I would like to celebrate with my fellow MLAs.
Member for (interpretation ends) South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Member’s Statement 015 – 4(3): Cape Dorset School Fire (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day to my colleagues and those in the audience.
I’m thinking about the people who have lost relatives in the summer.
Although family members were lost, there were also newborns and I celebrate with them.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the traumatic impact of the Cape Dorset school fire.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of Cape Dorset were very hurt by the burning of the Peter Pitseolak School.
While residents are slowly recovering from this devastating loss, they do not want to see any further destruction and abuse of their community.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately Cape Dorset is not the only community that has lost a school due to fire.
Nunavut has seen three other schools burn down over the past 20 years: in Pangnirtung 1997, Cambridge Bay 1998, and here in Iqaluit 2003.
Mr. Speaker, we need to rebuild our school, but we also need to rebuild our community and our Nunavut. As part of the recovery process, parents need to continue to work together in partnership with local agencies to ensure that taking care and responsibility for our children is an ongoing priority.
You may proceed, Mr. Joanasie.
To carry on, I would like to extend thanks to the first responders who were on the scene:
Firefighters;
RCMP members;
The assistant fire marshal;
CGS technical support crew;
Municipal staff; and
Representatives from Mental Health.
There were many individuals, but I cannot say all their names. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend a special thanks to all of the individuals as well as organizations from outside the community and the territory who made efforts to support our students in continuing their academic year.
While many people contributed, I would like to mention a few specifically:
Mr. Paul Finkelstein and friends from Stratford who raised $10,000 online and the Northwestern Secondary School in Stratford, which welcomed and sponsored two Cape Dorset students;
Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit Middle School and Inuksuk High School, which both enrolled a number of Cape Dorset students;
Nunavut Impact Review Board, which donated $2,500 to the district education authority;
Iqaluit’s Joamie School for donating school supplies; and
The GN office in Cape Dorset for donating office supplies.
Mr. Speaker, the loss of the school in Cape Dorset was, indeed, devastating.
However, the hard work and goodwill of many has helped to set us on the road to recovery.
I would like the students and staff of Peter Pitseolak School to be patient, even though it is going to be difficult, and to stand up for the school for it to go properly.
Member for Rankin South, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok.
Member’s Statement 016 – 4(3): Impact of Codeshare Agreement (Sammurtok)
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Good day to my fellow residents of Rankin and members.
I rise today on behalf of my constituents in Rankin Inlet to talk about the impact of the recent codeshare agreement between the airlines.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, over the past several months, I have received concern after concern after concern from numerous constituents regarding codeshare.
Mr. Speaker, we know from the recent letters that have been sent by the government to the airlines about such issues as the problems with medical travel and transportation of medical samples.
We have also personally experienced problems with cargo and flight schedules.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents feel that they are simply being taken advantage of by the airlines. Ticket prices remain high.
Seat sales seem to have disappeared. Baggage allowances have gotten more restrictive. Support for youth to take part in sporting events is harder to come by.
Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions on this issue at the appropriate time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member for (interpretation ends) Hudson Bay, Mr. Allan Rumbolt.
Member’s Statement 017 – 4(3): Setting Septentrional Borders (Rumbolt)
Good afternoon to the people of Sanikiluaq and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a longstanding issue regarding the boundary between our jurisdictional neighbour, the Province of Quebec, and the waters and islands that currently fall under the jurisdiction of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, in 1912, the coastal borders of Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario were set at the low-water mark of each province’s shoreline. As a result, nowadays, the northern waters and islands off the Quebec coast, including James Bay, Hudson Bay, and the Hudson Strait, do not fall under the Province of Quebec but instead fall under the jurisdiction of Nunavut.
The Premier of Quebec has put forward a request to extend the boundary lines of his province beyond the shoreline and into the waters beyond.
Mr. Speaker, you will note that redrawing provincial-territorial borders could have a significant impact on the jurisdictional status of the Belcher Islands, including the community of Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, the question of which jurisdiction Sanikiluaq should be in has been addressed a number of times in the past.
The community has historical links with the Northwest Territories and now Nunavut, as well as family ties with Quebec.