EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
First of all, prior to reading my statement, I want to express my gratitude to our colleague, Louis Tapardjuk. On behalf of all of the people listening to the proceedings, I say “thank you” along with all Nunavutmiut, especially the Inuit who call our offices to speak about Inuit societal values and customs.
They knew the minister dealing with CLEY was committed to incorporating IQ. It will be very difficult to replace him as he epitomized that department.
For that reason, I would like to agree, Mr. Speaker, if possible, let’s stand and rise to thank the member.
I feel that many people will reminisce about the member due to his untiring efforts to represent Inuit and his impact was quite large.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I do have a letter that I would like to read on behalf of my constituent. It is a letter from Denise Graham in Rankin Inlet.
She says in her letter to me, “Dear Tagak Curley, MLA for Rankin Inlet North, I am Denise Patricia Graham, 17 years old. I’m a student at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik.
I’m writing a letter to you because I believe it’s time to make some changes in Rankin Inlet for the youth to keep them out of trouble after school and on weekends.
First of all, I think a good idea to keep the youth entertained and keep out of trouble would be more activities at the hall like an arcade and laser tag,” whatever that means.
Mr. Speaker, she goes on to say, “That would catch a lot of attention.
Also, a bigger youth centre with more things inside like pool tables, computers, and another Ping-Pong table, etcetera, maybe hold more dances and many tournaments of all different kinds of sports.
I think all of these ideas I just gave would be really good for the citizens of Rankin Inlet.
Maybe people would stay away from drugs and alcohol more.
It’s totally worth a try.”
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the students from the local high school here.
I think it’s time for youth to speak up and I certainly welcome them.
Member’s Statement 337 – 3(2): Tribute to Louis Tapardjuk (Okalik)
As someone who has been a member of the cabinet for a long time, Mr. Louis Tapardjuk, I want to acknowledge him today.
It hasn’t been just during these legislative years that I have worked with Louis Tapardjuk.
In 1985, when I started working for TFN, I first met Louis Tapardjuk, who was already representing his fellow Inuit.
Based on his own beliefs, he wanted to help represent Inuit interests and ensure that Inuit became more self-sufficient.
He was already there when I first started.
He provided very good advice along with his expectations of Nunavut. He also advised me to pursue my dreams.
I have been forever grateful ever since that day I first met him.
Again, in reference to Louis Tapardjuk, he has gone through hardship and stress, and obviously only by using his Inuit knowledge has he been able to resolve these challenges.
He provides an example of how Inuit can resolve all of these challenges and overcome them.
When Louis was elected in Amittuq, as the Premier, I immediately started looking for a portfolio that would fit him so that he could be part of the government.
The Department of CLEY seemed to be an orphan in those days and every time I would try to assign it to a minister, it would never quite gel.
So when Louis was elected, I immediately told him that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth was set aside for him and that it seemed to fit Louis to a “T.” I asked him to manage that department properly.
When he accepted that portfolio, I was quite ecstatic about his acceptance and I have been thankful since that day.
The government seemed very far from Inuit customs and traditions when it was first created.
It was due to Mr. Tapardjuk’s insistence that the government became a more Inuit-friendly operation.
I am very thankful to Mr. Tapardjuk for that because he followed his beliefs in trying to change the operations of the government, especially when we talk about the Inuit language.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude my statement if it’s okay with my colleagues.
Mr. Okalik is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays?
As I was saying, Louis became a valuable member of the cabinet. He really urged the government to change its direction.
When we started to work on a strategy, one of his values was that the Inuit traditions and the language have to be part of the government operations.
With Tapardjuk providing encouragement, we became more focused towards Inuit interests as a government.
Mr. Tapardjuk was quite vocal and lobbied hard when we started talking about language protection and today, we now have language legislation.
He also showcased a perfect example in your riding, Mr. Speaker, where the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School will now open, which is specifically geared towards the Inuit culture.
It is gratifying to see this facility being completed and inching closer to opening.
Irrespective of his status, whether he is not a minister anymore, I would urge this government to invite Louis Tapardjuk for the grand opening of that school as he was instrumental in pushing for this facility.
Tapardjuk will leave a very large void in the government cabinet.
He has set a lofty and worthwhile goal for the Department of CLEY.
Although I supported all of the ministers, I liked him since the goal he set out was quite as a destination that may be hard to reach since he had a unique set of skills as the minister.
So I would like to thank the member for his tireless dedication and I would be happy to work with him anywhere.
Recognition of… oh, I’m sorry.
Return to Oral Question 460 – 3(2): Government Response to Motion Calling for a Comprehensive Performance Audit of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Kusugak)
I say “good day” to the residents of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet.
I’m sure those who visited Rankin Inlet were welcomed hospitably.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to give a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Okalik, Member for Iqaluit West, on Question No. 460 – 3(2), a question asked on October 22 on the government response to motion calling for a comprehensive performance audit of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
The request pursuant to Motion 17 – 3(2) from March 22, 2010 is currently pending.
The motion as passed would result in the largest and most comprehensive audit of a public agency or government department in Nunavut since 1999.
Through informal conversations, it was determined that neither the Office of the Auditor General nor QEC would have the resources available to conduct such a thorough review immediately following the motion.
However, as part of the OAG’s ongoing performance audits of the GN and its territorial corporations, the OAG will be conducting a performance audit of procurement management practices in 2011-12.
The remaining aspects of the comprehensive audit remains a work in progress and a formal request will be submitted in the near future.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery today: Betty Brewster, she is the Manager of Legal Translation in Inuktitut in the Department of Justice; and Jenny Fahmy, she is our French Language Translator.
They do a lot of tremendous work that we see every session in the Legislative Assembly.
They are sitting over here in the Gallery.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately my colleague cut me off as he recognized them first. I would like to recognize Betty Brewster, who is one of my constituents.
I believe there are students here from grade 9. I would like to welcome them to the Gallery.
I hope you are learning a lot from this experience and I hope you continue your education so you can supplant us as Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I, too, would like to recognize a long-time friend of the family from the Nattilik area, Betty Brewster. Welcome.
I would like to recognize a young man here today from Sanikiluaq who is attending school here in Iqaluit because his mother is doing Arctic College courses, Mr. Iabeli Ekidlak.
Question 493 – 3(2): Status of the Municipal Financing Review (Ningark)
Mr. Speaker, during the June sitting, a colleague of mine asked questions in this House on the status of the municipal funding review.
The minister indicated that his department had started its review.
To be exact, the question was on June 8, Question 411 – 3(2).  My question is this: can the minister provide an update on the status of the municipal funding [review]?
With regard to the municipal funding, it is correct that this is currently under review.
It’s still ongoing and again this is dealing with the operations of the hamlets of Nunavut.
First supplementary: it’s come to my attention that the position of assistant senior administrative officer in Repulse Bay can no longer be staffed because of a lack of funding and a long-serving employee had to be let go.
My question is this, Mr. Speaker: will the department’s review or look at ensuring that all municipalities have adequate funding to allow for the hiring of a senior administrative officer and an assistant senior administrative officer?
When reviewing the municipal funding for the operational maintenance, any given community administers their municipality differently than another community and some have more staff than others. It’s impossible to look at and review them all at once.
However, with regard to the review of municipal funding to see whether the community can keep up with their funding, I can tell the member that we will also consider how many staff they should have in the community and how many Inuit should be working within their municipality.
We will also include that in our review.
My second supplementary: the department’s Municipal Funding Program Policy expired on June 30 of this year.
Can the minister indicate whether cabinet has extended this policy and can he indicate when a new policy will be approved?
Will there be a new policy developed with regard to municipal corporations or the hamlets, or to look at the block funding for their operations?
I also thank the member for his line of questioning.
It’s very good to get an update, especially about hamlet operations and where their funds are.
We are still conducting that review and as we will be using the new legislation, the allocations are set at pre-existing levels. Prior to the completion of this new policy, I will speak to the member on it later.
I would like to know when the review would be completed. Can he inform the House as to what timeframe the minister is looking at completing this review?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you for raising that question.
It’s not a very easy and simple task and again, it’s added onto all of the other tasks that our officials have to do.
I imagine that it is very close to being completed and that is our goal to complete the review.
Once I have been apprised of the completion of their review, I will inform the House.
Question 494 – 3(2): Child and Youth Representative (Elliott)
Last October, all Members of the Legislative Assembly met for three days in this Chamber to identify our priorities for our term of office.
At the end of our meeting, we issued a communiqué that reflected our discussions. That communiqué stated, and I quote, “An independent position to represent and articulate the needs of children and youth will also be established during the life of the Legislative Assembly.”
Earlier this week, the Premier tabled a document that she indicated will guide the government for the remainder of its life.
There is no reference that I can find in this document to respecting the will of the Members of the Assembly and establishing an independent position to represent children and youth.
Why was this priority left out?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Let me refresh the member’s memory a little bit. From the past, the original mandate that we have, Tamapta, is our mandate that we are still going by.
The renewed mandate that we developed several weeks ago is still part of the original mandate.
I want the member to know that we have established the Social Advocacy Office to study how government can change its policies, programs, and structure for better advocacy and actions on behalf of those at the disadvantage.
The Social Advocacy Office is currently focused on the following key priorities and files:
Social safety net review;
Development of a child and youth representative position;
Disabilities; and
Women’s secretariat and gender issues.
Interdepartmental work focuses on improving quality of life and improving conditions of disadvantaged groups are also part of that.
In October 2010, the Government of Nunavut’s contribution in regard to the physically disabled was the amount of $100,000 that was transferred from the Department of Health and Social Services to Executive as part of the whole process of streamlining the whole thing.
The Government of Nunavut is committed to ensuring that Nunavut’s children and youth are being adequately served.
As part of the Government of Nunavut’s Tamapta Mandate, the Department of Health and Social Services conducts a comprehensive review of child and family services legislation, programming, and the current delivery model to ensure children receive appropriate and responsive services.
This process will be led by the Health and Social Services Review Advisory Committee.
My colleague, the Minister of Health and Social Services, has already initiated this very important work by hosting the knowledge sharing forum in December 2009 and by launching a comprehensive public consultation campaign on September 1, 2010.
My department, through the Social Advocacy Office, maintains an active membership presence in the Department of Health and Social Services Review Advisory Committee, holding two membership positions.
Mr. Speaker, the Child and Youth Representative Office will be created by 2013 in coordination with the Department of Health and Social Services.
Right now, the Social Advocacy Office, which is very active today, is currently conducting a jurisdiction review to research the type of models used to create a Child and Youth Representative Office.
And, Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to create an independent child and youth representative who will report to the Legislative Assembly and ensure that Nunavut’s children and youth are being adequately served by the government.
Just for confirmation, you were saying that there will actually be a position filled in 2013 in terms of having the office and a person holding the position or PY of child and youth representative in 2013.
The reason I’m asking this is because… well, there are two reasons: one, there might be an election in between there, which might change the direction of the government, but the one is in reference to the GLOs, which initially my understanding was that the GLOs were supposed to be hired and in positions in our communities by September of this year, and that hasn’t happened.
So I want confirmation as to: will the PY be filled in 2013, with the office established at the same time?
Hon. Eva Aariak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know the member wishes to have things happen overnight, just like I do sometimes with certain positions and certain things that the government has to do, but things do take time.
This is one of those things that are taking time because of the fact that the review that the Health and Social Services office is doing will have to be done first before we can work on the next phase.
A lot of these decisions that come from the review of the Health and Social Services will have a direct impact on that.
We would like to address things in stages.
The plan right now is the fact that the Child and Youth Representative Office is to be open by 2013.
Has your department thought of the possibility of hiring an interim person in the position to help with the research and going through jurisdictional research, you were talking about what they’re doing in other areas, as well as possibly follow along in terms of the consultation with Child and Family Services Act?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) There are many things that come into play in terms of planning for this wonderful initiative that we can hardly wait for.
Different options are being considered right now and this is one of them. So I will keep the member posted as to each step of the way that we’re taking.
I do realize things don’t happen overnight, but I do know that, I guess since 1999, there have been members on the other side of the House who have been in different capacities, either as NAM members or mayors, pushing for this and I know all of the Baffin mayors had put this in as a recommendation that they would like to see happen.
We have been doing this or on this path for the last 10 years, so I would hope that there’s some information that has been kept or researched that could be reused.
In terms of reporting back to us, when should we expect… ?
Again I’m asking this question because, from lessons learned as a new regular member, I’m not as experienced as Minister Tapardjuk. With the problems we’ve had with the Nunavut Housing Corporation by being told that houses will be delivered on time and within budget, I just took that government as its word and said, “Yes, this will happen,” and didn’t push as much as I should have, and it’s come back and bit us in the tush, I think I can say.
I wouldn’t want to see that happen with this very valuable position.
In terms of an interim report, or when do you think that you would be able to report back to us?
Would it be after the good work that the Minister of Health and Social Services is doing with the Child and Family Services Act that you would report back to us as to how the progress is going with the child and youth representative?
As I said earlier, things will be happening in succession. The Health and Social Services review of the child and family services legislation will be happening and we need that information after their public consultation to be linked to the position.
I am committed to keep the member informed.
I cannot say exactly when I will report back to him, but this is one of the very important aspects of the job that is being done under the Social Advocacy Office.
Oral Questions. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt.
Question 495 – 3(2): Bedbugs at Kivalliq Boarding Home in Winnipeg (Rumbolt)
Earlier today, I received concerns from Sanikiluaq that the Kivalliq Medical Boarding Home in Winnipeg is suffering from an outbreak of bedbugs.
I understand that other MLAs from the Kivalliq may have received similar concerns.
As the minister is aware, news media reports in recent months have indicated that the problem of bedbugs has re-emerged in many countries and cities across Canada.
Is the minister aware of concerns of bedbugs at the Kivalliq Medical Boarding Home in Winnipeg?
Minster of Health and Social Services, Hon. Tagak Curley.
With bedbugs, if the bedbugs are in our boarding home in Winnipeg, it’s just a matter of time before they probably end up in our communities and, if they get in our houses, they are very hard to terminate.
What is your department doing to prevent bedbugs from entering Nunavut communities?
Certainly the department is quite well aware.
We have had a number of meetings with the boarding home in Winnipeg, as well as the office of public health.
The chief medical public health officer is consulting continually with the boarding home in Winnipeg.
Once I have more information, Mr. Speaker, exactly the plan to either exterminate or whatever, I will be prepared to provide more information here.
What steps is the department taking to work with the operators of our other medical boarding homes, for instance, in Ottawa and Yellowknife, to ensure that conditions are sanitary for our constituents?
I believe that that particular outbreak throughout the world, including nation-wide, is really taken seriously by the hospitality as well as the boarding home industry.
The companies that are involved in providing these services are aware that there is a procedure that they must use to exterminate, or whatnot, to control the pests.
Again I say if I have more information necessary that we need to provide to the public through the office of public health, we will do so. At the moment, I have not received the actual details of exactly how we are going to carry out this particular case throughout Nunavut, but the best information would be to provide information.
Really, there is not a quick solution to this thing, it continues to grow, and so on, but our officials are engaged in trying to find a solution to this.
Can the minister indicate what his department is doing at the present time with people who are travelling on medical if the boarding home is unable to be used?
Mr. Speaker, if the question is about the Winnipeg hoarding home, certainly the chief medical officer is in contact with that.
If the outbreak is serious, certainly he has the power to recommend closure.
If it’s not to that extent, we are still attempting to work with the boarding home because it’s a private company that is actually responsible for taking measures into that.
Once I have more information, I’ll be prepared to bring it to the House.
Question 496 – 3(2): Bedbug Infestation (Okalik)
With regard to the question of bedbugs, they can be harmful to people and in hearing about these bedbugs, they eat your skin.
This is not a very good experience for anybody.
They are very hard to exterminate and sometimes it can take a couple of weeks that these bedbugs will live, either in the bed or in the clothes, and they can hook themselves onto clothing and bedding. They can infest a place very quickly.
So a fairly large concern is that if the bedbugs ever arrive in Nunavut, then they would spread like wildfire.
I want the minister to thoroughly investigate this issue. When was this infestation found out? I would like to make that my first question as it relates to the Kivalliq Medical Boarding Home in Winnipeg.
I believe you are raising your question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Minister of Health and Social Services, (interpretation ends) Hon. Tagak Curley.
I totally understand the concern with regard to Winnipeg. I first heard about it at the beginning of last month and I immediately informed the public health officials that this was a very big concern.
With regard to the extermination efforts, the people who are contracted to look after the Winnipeg boarding home were notified that this is a very big concern for us and I am awaiting further status updates about this issue.
I immediately wrote to them once I heard about this matter and I informed them that this has to be resolved.
Once that letter arrives, I will be able to report to the House.
Yes, again, this is a pressing concern. It’s quite obvious that the department knows exactly who went to that boarding centre, especially the people from Kivalliq.
Will the department inform all medical patients who were at that facility about this bedbug infestation?
Again, it can explode into an infestation very quickly. Nowadays, people come from all over Nunavut.
If there is an infestation anywhere, then it will be stuck in that building and it will be almost impossible to exterminate. You would have to throw out all of the beds and furniture.
So I am urging the minister and his officials to look into this matter thoroughly and to inform the medical patients who happen to be at that boarding home during that time.
I totally understand the concern expressed by the member. We will commit to undertaking a thorough review.
The boarding home is administered by a private contractor and it took a while for this bedbug infestation to be found out.
It wasn’t just the building; it seems to be spreading to various places.
Mr. Speaker, once I get an update on what the actual situation is, I will inform the House about the status of this issue. It’s still being dealt with at this time. Because there is a private contractor looking after that, they have been tasked to try to stop the infestation and to exterminate the bedbugs.
They still haven’t gotten back to me, so I will inform you when they do so. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Question 497 – 3(2): Implementation of the Family Abuse Intervention Act (Ugyuk)