EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, as the Member knows, during the last budget, there was a significant decrease in the income tax rates in Nunavut.
We increased the cost of living tax credit so that working families could have more opportunities for additional credit.
We’ve carried the costs of additional subsidies as far as not raising petroleum products prices even though our shipment costs increased.
We continue to support the power subsidy program even though, again, costs are increasing in those areas.
So there are different subsidies and programs that the government has in trying to assist.
The Federal Government still has, through Canada Post, the food mail program.
So, there are different avenues out there in trying to support individuals.
And of course, we have our income support program through the Department of Education for those who require assistance as well.
So, in different facets, we’re trying to provide as much assistance as possible Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, for the response. Regarding the food mail program, which is quite useful in the communities.
And also the sealift prices are beneficial to our residents.
Also, for Nunavummiut, with the high cost of living, can he look into how much further assistance can be given in the future?
Mr. Speaker, yes, the government will continue to look at ways to reduce costs.
As the Member noted earlier today, my colleague, the Minister of Public Works and Services announced a new dry goods sealift contract, which we hope, will significantly decrease costs Nunavut wide.
So those types of initiatives, the government is always looking forward in respect of trying to bring down costs for our constituents.
Question 385 – 1(6): Mining Sectors and IIBAs
Last year, in the winter, I had asked this question to him.
I asked him to meet with the mining sector people as well as our mayors and myself.
To date, he hasn’t asked or had any papers regarding my question.
I’m wondering if the Minister will be visiting our community and visiting with the mining sector this year.
Yes, since mining has been developing in Nunavut quite fast, the Inuit associations, Qikiqtani, Keewatin and Kitikmeot, yes they do have an impact agreement and also the Government of Nunavut monitors the progress of these agreements.
Once I get all that information, I will provide it to you, as to when I can visit the community in Kitikmeot because I was unable to visit the communities although I had intended to visit the communities I have never gone to.
I am willing to speak with the Member.
If any of the mining sectors will be going over there, then I am willing to participate to meet about the mining issues.
And whenever I need to go to that area, I will inform him right away.
And we will inform the mining sector in that area if I will be able to visit the communities in Kitikmeot.
Those development agreements that you are talking about, are they still under negotiation?
When can you complete those agreements, as it has been a year now since they were mentioned as being reviewed by the parties?
I asked the Minister to come to Kitikmeot so we have an idea because a lot of people are expecting these benefits from the mining sector so that, when are you going to finish the agreements?
Yes, the mining sector and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association have to work very closely together in regards to this issue; they have to negotiate as to how the agreements will contain the IIBA.
I am sure that they will work very closely together during the negotiations and we do want to be involved.
I also would like to apologize to the Member of Kugluktuk; they have invited me for the longest time to come down to their community, but due to prior commitments, I had not been able to come to his community.
As I have stated before, I really want to go to the communities I have not visited yet.
Instead of revisiting the other communities more than once, I would like to go to the communities that I have not visited.
I am willing to work closely together with the Member for Kugluktuk in regards to the visit for Kitikmeot.
Thank you, Minister for informing me.
I want to thank the Minister as he now informs that he has been making an effort to visit my community.
Since the mining companies are planning to visit, I was wondering if you are going to bring some of the Grade 11 and 12 students along with you when there is a meeting in my community.
It is entirely up to the community if they want to be involved.
And the mining companies, it will be up to them, but we do want to provide support and if the mining sector is ready to invite the Grade 11 and 12 students, they can work with them.
There are a lot of Grade 11 and 12 students looking for work and if we are going to go to that mining symposium in Kugluktuk, we should be including them so that they can make a decision about a career path in mining if it appeals to them. When are you planning to visit the Kitikmeot Region, either this summer or some time in the near future?
Speaker: Minister. Akesuk.
Yes, I will go to the Kitikmeot Region by the end of April during the Nunavut Association of Municipalities meeting.
I can work with you to find out what would be the best time to go to the community of Kugluktuk during the Nunavut Association of Municipalities in Cambridge Bay.
Some information for the Members and people in the gallery here, the Government of Nunavut offices have closed down due to weather.
We are going to try to get through question period before we reassess the situation to see whether we will follow suite or not.
But it is my understanding that the taxis are shortly going to be taken off the road so people should be aware of that.
Question 386 – 1(6): Economic Development Agreement
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development.
I would like to ask the Minister if he can indicate to the House whether or not the federal budget included funding or a mechanism for funding to allow for something that we have wanted and needed for many years here in the north and that is an economic development agreement between Nunavut and the Federal Government.
I wonder if the Minister could indicate to us on that.
I am very happy that you asked that question because as a Minister responsible for that, I work very hard when we are meeting with our colleagues down south.
In regards to economic development agreements, yes, we are working on this issue along with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated as to how we can have an economic development agreement.
After the Federal Government had their Budget speech, we did not get very much out of it but we will endeavour to work further on this.
We have made preparations for the Sivumut 2 conference around March 21 to 24 in Rankin Inlet where we will be collecting all the information, and after that symposium we will use this information to lobby the Federal Government in regards to this agreement.
We are also inviting their representatives to attend this conference.
I guess the Minister was not happy about the budget speech that indicated that there was nothing in there again for us this year.
The Minister indicated that they’re putting together some information.
I am just wondering if, other than the absence of information that he is putting together if he knows of any other reason why the north and Nunavut, specifically, do not yet have an EDA agreement with the Federal Government. That’s something has been successful in the past and is in something that Nunavummiut have wanted since our conception.
Are there any other reasons why we do not have that?
Yes, we have a concern.
The Nunavut Territory is not the only one who does not have an EDA agreement; there is also the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories.
Just recently, we struck another economic development ministers committee across Canada and all the three territorial Ministers have been working very hard in lobbying the government on behalf of First Nations.
I had spoken with the INAC Minister in regards to this concern.
But perhaps we will have to revisit our negotiations and visit where the Federal Government did not agree and we will have to work closely with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated because we are working very hard in lobbying the government but in regards to the Member’s question, I really do not know the contents, so therefore, once I understand your question in detail, I will provide you with the information.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister had indicated that they have formed a northern Minister’s group to look at this issue.
I can imagine that the other two territorial Economic Development Ministers are probably just as frustrated as he is.
Their assembly is probably just as frustrated as ours is because we always seem to continue to be ignored by the Federal Government on issues like this.
Could the Minister provide the Members with some type of action plan or plan of attack that he is taking with his other territorial counterparts to the Federal Government?
In the past we came up with the Nunavut Economic Outlook that had quite a bit of information on what we want from the Federal Government on the EDA.
Right now we are still working on that with the Conference Board of Canada to make sure that we send our message to the Federal Government.
Again, with this conference that is going to be held in Rankin Inlet, between March 21-24, called the Sivumut Economic Development Strategy Conference, I think we will get more information out of that and make sure that we fight more with a better plan to come up with an economic development agreement with the Federal Government.
Supplementary. Final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, in the recent past we have heard how diligently our northern MPs have been working behind the scenes on issues like this, and the health care one is a good example.
Can the Minister indicate whether our MP and the other MPs have been helpful in pushing this issue forward for us in Ottawa?
I have met with Ms. Lindell a couple of times and mentioned that we really need this Economic Development agreement.
It is a big issue and we want to make sure that we send our message, so we made sure that we talked to Ms. Lindell and hopefully we will talk to her more after the Sivumut conference in Rankin Inlet.
She also has been invited to that conference.
Before I move on to my oral question, I would like to go back to Item 5, in our Orders of the Day, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: You caught me sleeping there, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Normally what we would do is wait until Question Period is up, and then if you wish to request that, then you can do that at that time.
Question 387 – (6): Rules and Procedures for Removal of Executive Council
I do not know many of the procedural rules here because we are not used to the Parliamentary procedures.
I have a question on an incident that I do not know much about.
Last Friday we voted one of our colleagues from Cabinet.
I do not know if my question is going to make sense or not.
I have never seen any procedural rules on how we can oust a Member of the Cabinet.
I do not know where that rule is, as I have never seen it.
Is it confidential?
Or is the Cabinet only privileged to that information?
Speaker: That is an issue that I believe that will probably be discussed in the Full Caucus.
Does the House Leader wish to address it?
As usual, you are correct.
Normally, issues around rules and practices in this Legislature are a Caucus decision; having said that, Mr. Speaker, I can advise the Member that he is the Chairman of the Rules and Procedures Committee of this House, so he could probably take it up with that Committee as well if he felt that there were problems.
As the Chairman of that Committee, I have never seen that rule anywhere.
If there is nothing in the rule, then why did we use that reason for the non-confidence vote?
I have reviewed all of the rules and procedures that we use in the House, but I have yet to see something that applies to the removal of the Minister last week so if there is one out there I would like to see it.
Mr. Speaker, that is specific in that it is a motion that it has to be brought into the Legislative Assembly.
And because of that, those rules are in our Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the new Act that we passed in full consultation with all Members, and based on the direction of the Rules and Procedures Committee of which the Member chairs.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, for your speedy responses to my questions, but I heard that we would be debating the rules and procedures in the House.
I have questions about the process of removing a Minister.
Most of the Members were not aware that there was such a rule that exists, but we were informed that the rule is written down; now where is this rule?
Can you show it to us so that we can check to see if we followed the proper procedure?
Is it possible for the Minister to table that portion of the rules?
Mr. Speaker, I am not prepared to table the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act.
It is available as it is a public document, but what I would say, if the Member required some clarification, through your office, Mr. Speaker ask the Clerk to sit down with the Member and go over the areas in the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act which applied last week.
I want to see that rule as we undertook the process without ever reviewing the actual legislation.
I will do what Minister Ng suggested so Nunavummiut will know why there was such a removal last week.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu, for your comments.
Question 388 – (6): Tannery Assistance for Sewers
Just recently, the Minister made a statement about sealskin sales and production.
My question, Mr. Speaker is, are we going to get a tannery up here so that we can treat our skins here?
It is a very expensive proposition to order tanned sealskins from the south.
And thank you, for your question.
Quite a while ago, there used to be a tannery in Broughton Island, where they tanned sealskin, but due to various reasons and especially the disposal of the chemicals, the tannery was forced to close.
And for those of us who live up in Nunavut, we are very careful about our environment and we do not want to contaminate the land because that is where the animals that we eat live.
We will have to look into this further and see what options we have in building a tannery where it would be environmentally friendly and feasible.
Those are things that we can consider for the future of the sealskin industry in our territory.
Yes, it is quite obvious that we have to think about our environment, but the Minister seems to indicate that he is willing to look at other options.
When we had a meeting in Cambridge Bay, the Minister made a statement about establishing a tannery for assisting our sealskin industry.
With the building of a tannery, it would increase the job opportunities.
Does the Minister know if they are environmentally friendlier tanneries now available and can he inform us of that?
I am not exactly sure how we can go about it but we do have to look at the options.
With the sealskin prices being really good this year, we are going to look at spin-offs and economic development opportunities that we might use at the community level.
We will do a review and see what is available out there in terms of environmentally friendly tanneries but we give assistance to the people who make products out of sealskin.
We are providing assistance to the sewers out there because it is extremely expensive.
But in order to conduct a proper review it will take time, as it involves businesses, seamstresses and workers who are on the business.
My next question is when are you going to do a review and when are you going to be able to respond to my request?
I will inform the Member and the public as soon as possible when we find out.
Supplementary. Final supplementary. Ms. Williams.
Perhaps I do not make sense when I am posing my questions to the Minister.
When are you going to know?
Maybe I am the one who is not getting the question.
I will inform the Member as soon as I have the information about her question.
The Members will note that question period is now over.
Moving on to Item 7. Written Questions.
As I stated earlier, I would like to go back to Item 5 on the Orders of the Day.
Speaker: The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Proceed, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I have never recognised my wife in the gallery.
I would like to recognise my wife and my youngest son.
It is not very often that I take this opportunity but yesterday, the Sanikiluaq teachers came here to Iqaluit and some of them are here; my relatives, and my father’s sister’s daughter, Taina Aqpik and her daughter, Rosemary, and also our Premier’s best friend’s daughter, Terry Takatak.
Speaker: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Item 7.
Report 012 – 1(6): Bill 22 – An Act to Amend the Securities Act
I wish to report that Bill 22, an Act to Amend the Securities Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit and that the Bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(5) and have Bill 22 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
There is a request to waive Rule 68 (5) so that the Standing Committee report on Bill 22 can be immediately referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 22 is referred to Committee of the Whole for today.
Tabled Document 077 – 1(6): Letter from Gjoa Haven HTO Re: Moratorium
I would like to table a document from the Hunters and Trappers Organization in Gjoa Haven.
It is written in both Inuktitut and English.
Motion 018 – 1(6): Extension of Mandate of Special Committee to Review The Official Languages Act – Notice
I give notice that on March 12, 2003, I will move the following motion;
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Uqqummiut that the Special Committee to review the Official Languages Act shall continue as a Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly until it presents its final report to the House and further that it shall continue under all other terms and provisions as established by Motion 001-1 (5).
Will the Member please provide the motion to the clerk’s desk?
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Young Offenders Act and other Acts in Consequence – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baffin South that Bill 28, an Act to Amend the Young Offenders Act and Other Acts in Consequence be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 28 has had first reading.
Bill 29 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Power Utilities Act and Certain Other Acts in Consequence – First Reading
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/ Whale Cove, that Bill 29, an Act to Amend the Nunavut Power Utilities Act and Certain Other Acts in Consequence be read for the first time.
The Motion is in Order.
The Motion is carried and Bill 29 has had first reading.
The First Reading of Bills.
The Second Reading of Bills.
Bill 24.
Ministers’ Statement 095-1(6), and Tabled Document 030-1(6) with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the Chair.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a twenty-minute break.
>>Houses recessed at 15:46 p.m.and resumed at 16:09 p.m.
Speaker: Members, due to the worsening weather conditions and for the safety of Members and our pages and staff who will require transportation back to their homes in the weather has taken a turn for the worse.
Do Members agree that we adjourn for the day in accordance with Rule 46 in Motion 002-1(6)?
Speaker: Agreed?
Orders of the Day. Mr. Quirke.
Orders for the Day for Tuesday, March 11th:
Bill 28
Bill 29
Bill 23  Bill 24
This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 11, at 1:30.
>>House adjourned at 16:10 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Tuesday March 11, 2003
Pages 2473 - 2554
Simanek Kilabuk
Opening Prayer 2473
Budget Address 2473
Members’ Statements 2491
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2498
Oral Questions 2499
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 2519
First Reading of Bills 2520
Second Reading of Bills 2520
Report of Committee of the Whole 2553
Orders of the Day 2553
Tuesday March 11, 2003 2473
386 – 1(6): Mining Strategy to Support Training Programs (McLean) 2491
387 – 1(6): Gratitude for Minister's Budget Address (Iqaqrialu) 2492
388 – 1(6): Funding for Hunters and Trappers' Associations Inadequate (Havioyak) 2492
389 – 1(6): Utilize Private Sector from Nunavut Communities (Irqittuq) 2493
390 – 1(6): Long Term Service Awards in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak (Puqiqnak) 2494
391 – 1(6): Funding for Post Secondary and Technical Training for All Nunavummiut (Arvaluk) 2495
392 – 1(6): Explanation of Questions during Question Period (Nutarak) 2495
393 – 1(6): Past Incidents in Repulse Bay (Alakannuark) 2496
394 – 1(6): Presentation of Kamiks (Ng) 2496
395 – 1(6): Thanks the Minister of Finance for Hard Work (Thompson) 2497
389 – 1(6): Presentation of Kamiks to Finance Minister (Nutarak) 2499
390 – 1(6): Update on Dogs Destroyed by the Federal Government (Arvaluk) 2499
391 – 1(6): Furniture and Supplies for Taloyoak Drop-In Centre (Puqiqnak) 2501
392 – 1(6): Funding Allocations for the HTOs (Havioyak) 2502
393 – 1(6): Provide Information on New Rent Scales (Iqaqrialu) 2505
394 – 1(6): Processing of Power Bills (Irqittuq) 2507
395 – 1(6): Funding Agreement with the Federal Government Regarding Housing Rules (Tootoo) 2510
396 – 1(6): Increase of Education Budget for School Operations (McLean) 2513
397 – 1(6): Patient Escorts Abusing Alcohol (Nutarak) 2514
398 – 1(6): Power Bill Payments (Iqaqrialu) 2517
Bill 30 – Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2003/2004 – Notice 2519
Bill 30 – Appropriations (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2003/2004 – First Reading 2520
Bill 30 – Appropriations (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2003/2004 – Second Reading 2520
Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would like to call on Mr. Puqiqnak to say the opening prayer.
Going onto Item 2. Budget Address.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Colleagues and Nunavummiut.
As we enter 2003-2004, the final year of our current mandate, it is important to acknowledge the significant contribution by each Member of this Legislative Assembly, who together with the dedicated efforts of our public service, have made the Government of Nunavut a working reality.
The task of establishing a new, fully functioning government is a significant achievement, Mr. Speaker, which is unprecedented in Canada’s recent history.
We have accomplished this while respecting the traditional Inuit values upon which Nunavut was created by our founding Fathers.
Through prudent decision-making, we have successfully set a course for the future development of the territory and built a strong foundation for the next Legislative Assembly to continue our commitment to meet the best interests of Nunavummiut.
Yet there have been considerable challenges along the way.
Not the least of which is the burgeoning need for social and economic infrastructure to support Nunavut’s widely dispersed, youthful and growing population.
Under the current mandate, the Government of Nunavut has pursued several key initiatives to ensure strong fiscal management across government operations in order to efficiently and effectively meet these requirements.
Mr. Speaker, we have pursued strategic investments in social and economic infrastructure and fostered key partnerships with the Government of Canada, our provincial and territorial counterparts, and the Inuit birthright organizations.
We have strengthened internal capacity through training and development programs.
I wish to highlight some of the key initiatives we have undertaken during our mandate.
We have pursued strategic initiatives in education, which includes significant investment in school facilities and curriculum development.
We have invested in new housing stock and actively sought partnership arrangements to adequately house our growing population.