EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The recreation co-ordinators at the community level and the DEAs and other organizations such as the Hunters' and Trappers' Associations usually put out some money to help with those types of things.
There are also matching contributions or grants that we can do.
I asked that question but he didn't respond.
As the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth would you consider making a matching contribution to any of the communities that take the initiative to do some fundraising.
That is a good suggestion, but we haven't done anything like that.
My last comment Mr. Chairman.
Of course I would like to have that set up so that we can at least recognize the people who do their own fundraising.
There is Isuma Productions in Igloolik that put together the Atanarjuaq film and they were recognized in Toronto and abroad.
The rights hadn't been sold yet and they were short of money.
They went to Toronto and apparently the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth was asked to make a donation or grant to Isuma Productions and the proposal was turned down by the department because they were a private business.
But I think that we should understand that it is a promotion of the Inuit culture, and pride, and the promotion of our ancestors and the lifestyles of the Inuit.
I would like to ask the minister if they would recognize such ventures.
I can understand if someone is trying to build a plane or a boat or things like that, but if we are talking about Inuit culture and lifestyle and dancers and singers and people doing art, I think you should seriously consider making grants available to promoting this Inuit art.
I understand exactly where the member is coming from, but in response, we have been giving them support for the last three years.
We are looking at about 140 thousand dollars that we gave them to support them financially.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Anything else.
We now have Mr. Havioyak, general comments.
For the last couple of days I have mentioned issues about our youth.
I don't see anything here in the capital estimates in relation to support for youth.
It becomes difficult and we want to help our youth so they can begin to sustain themselves, and there are activities for them and places to go.
There are no funds in this budget.
You are well aware that in 1999, the youth centre funds were able to be used for O&M and retrofits.
There were funds there.
But we don't see any funds now.
Your comments on the capital estimates would be all right if they were targeted in this manner.
Our elders, our youth need all the support through capital projects as they can get. I heard your opening remarks in which you said you will be doing feasibility studies to see what needs are for youth in the communities.
You mentioned that.
For instance in Kugluktuk they are willing to assist with the needs of the youth.
There are youth co-ordinators and there are funds for O&M and there are funds for renovations.
They need to be.
Yes they have mentioned that a number of times.
In Kugluktuk we are in need of those kinds of funds.
They asked for a co-ordinator.
(interpretation ends) They identified their needs in their proposal.
I can see there is a need for study that you mentioned earlier on in 26 communities.
But in my community they already identified the needs.
There should be a way that you can assist that community to get those youth off the ground.
Instead of saying no, I have no more funds here.
Or it doesn't meet the criteria.
So those youth are left out in the cold.
It is sad to see that.
I know I hear from the Government of Nunavut and from all the ministers that there is a limited amount of money.
But this year there is a surplus and they have submissions to the supplementaries that we talked about Appropriation No. 2 and so on.
These are some of the things that you can start off from.
Okay, one community identified the needs.
It might be maybe a pilot project through the capital or by a supplementary.
I am just saying you have to start somewhere.
I guess they are doing a study but the community has identified the needs through their proposal.
But I'll be asking questions a bit later on this.
Another thing I want to talk about is our elders.
(interpretation) I am aware the elders have tried to look after their own buildings, for the O&M.
They work, they assist in the schools.
Giving instruction to the students.
Yes. But funds are limited again.
You are aware that funds could be utilized in this area.
It is too bad these are not in the capital plans.
These kinds of activities or programs are things I've heard are needed from my fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I am lobbying for these kinds of things.
In terms of heritage centres, visitors' centres in Kugluktuk, they need support.
If it was there in the capital estimates, yes they are operating.
But will these funds be enough for the 26 communities.
The heritage centres are places where our tourists get a lot of their information.
It is a good teaching tool for our youth, so they are able to learn because a lot of those items are from our ancestors and our youth are able to learn from those kinds of studies.
There are funds there, yes, but will it be enough for all of Nunavut.
Those are my thoughts.
I will stop there, I may have questions later.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, before I have Mr. Alakannuark speak, just to let the members know we are dealing with capital estimates, so just stay on topic.
Thank you. Mr. Alakannuark.
The department is doing some good work but there are some areas that need to be covered.
For instance, youth and elders, ever since this department was created there have been studies after studies for elders and youth and they keep saying that there are no extra funds for youth and elders.
But we all know the communities know what their needs are and I won't give in to that.
Even though there have been studies we don't see any improvement within the communities to assist our youth and elders.
Instead of doing studies I think what needs to be done is we need to work together in order to put youth centres into the communities.
This has to be done right away, we can't just talk about it and not do anything about it.
So in his opening statements, he talked about, I will be going back to an area in his opening statements and I will raise a question when I get there, those are my comments Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman (interpretation): I have Mr. Tootoo next on my list.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman I want to echo some words that were mentioned in the House yesterday with a different department and that was disaster, disaster, disaster.
I have a few more of my own, disappointments, disappointments, disappointments, in relation to what the department has done for the youth in our territory.
Fifty percent of our population is under the age of 25. And that is growing.
This is our third capital budget.
This is the second one that doesn't have a penny that is allocated towards the youth.
Now last year we approved Mr. Chairman, we approved a bunch of money for youth and elders’ grants and contributions.
There was money for heritage centres in contributions and for capital projects.
The majority of the money was spent on youth and elders.
This year again our capital comes forward.
The capital estimates for the department and it is all heritage centres.
Not a penny for youth.
I think for a department that has youth in its name, maybe we should take it out.
Is it there just for lip service.
We are not going to give them any money to do anything.
What is the use of having it there.
I have been frustrated like crazy over the last three years.
We had to argue the first year.
There was a heated debate about having nothing in the budget for the youth.
Last year, there was some money in there.
Which was good.
And this year again there is nothing.
I mean, what happened here.
Looks like if you go through the list of grants and contributions that were used up last year roughly 80% of it was used for youth and elders facilities.
Mostly youth.
And now we see nothing.
Other than one project that had 200 thousand previously committed for it.
There was another 32 thousand, almost 33 thousand dollars worth of applications for Heritage Centres.
And yet there were almost 800 thousand dollars of applications for youth and elders stuff.
And there is nothing in the budget for that.
I know I mentioned to the department last spring when we went through the preliminary estimates and I mentioned to them that I was very disappointed about that.
I don't know what has to happen there.
Maybe just take that youth and give it to somebody else and they'll do something with it.
I am sick and tired of year after year having to get up in the House and say in the House that we need to put money towards our youth.
We hear it all week, statements on how we have to look after our youth and the concerns related to youth and that is how we show it.
I guess that is pathetic.
Mr. Chairman, that is it for my comments.
I do have some questions. But I'll wait and cool off a little bit and give some people some statements before I ask any questions.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Mr. Iqaqrialu. Ten minutes.
I think we should change the title of this department.
The capital estimates for this year are just going towards Heritage Centres because they don't have enough funds.
I agree with the members that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth should have more funds because there are a lot of areas that they are responsible for.
But because there is not enough money only a few of the communities in Nunavut will benefit from the money that is put in for this department.
And the Bathurst Mandate it seems that this department has forgotten about the Bathurst Mandate.
What is the government planning to do to have a healthy living style in Nunavut.
They don’t have any goals set for the youth and elders.
It’s starting to become clear that the money that is put in for this department will have to be, they’ll have to review it because a lot of the communities in Nunavut, the 26 communities, the 26 communities were requesting youth centres and this money is very inadequate.
We have to support the communities.
A lot of the communities are putting in proposals and we all know that the 26 communities are looking at how they could have more authority.
And so the 535 thousand in the capital estimates is not enough.
I know we probably can’t change it now but the young people are putting in proposals and they’re just running into problems.
I think we need to look at this more and see what more we can do for the communities in regards to youth and elders.
Our elders are passing on and I think while our elders are still here we have to put some money aside to make improvements in elders’ centres and different activities that are geared towards our elders.
To date I’m not too sure whether the different communities, education has requested funds.
Even though they have DEAs in the communities I know some people have put in proposals to teach sewing skills, survival skills, there are a lot of areas that need to be covered.
I’m just wondering how this department will straighten up their finances so that our youth can benefit from their work.
I’m concerned about our youth and suicide.
We have to work on suicide prevention.
If we don’t have facilities for youth or activities for youth our youth tend to get bored and this a lot of times leads to suicide.
So those are my comments and I’ll have some questions afterwards.
Chairperson (interpretation): I have Ms. Williams next on my list.
We want some responses from your department with respect to youth and elders in the communities and the programs. We are expecting answers from your department and I am sure the communities are expecting some responses with respect to elders and youth programs.
This is a new program and that is why we were expecting responses on these programs. The schools as well will request funding even though education is one of the departments that might use most of the money from the GNWT estimates.
We have to do better in representing the youths and elders.
I am sure the communities are wanting the same as we are.
With respect to Culture, Language, Elders & Youth it is the responsibility for the minister.
As Inuit we do respect this and all the comments that we have heard so far we are all in support of.
We all have the same concerns and we would like to see some responses dealt with on an urgent basis.
We would like to see more funding available for programs for elders and youth.
I think we might be able to smile a little bit more if we were to be given more funding.
I think all the members have had their comments.
At this time we can start asking our questions.
I think we can go line by line at this time if we want to Mr. Chairman.
We can go line by line.
I would like clarification on this funding, I might not be too clear.
There is 535 thousand dollars requested for renovating buildings and I am not quite sure what place this is going to used for.
I would like some clarification as to where this 535 thousand dollars will be used.
I'd like some clarification on what I just read.
I'll ask Carmen to give you clarification on this.
Ms. Levi (interpretation): This money is to be used for the museums in the communities.
And visitors' centres, some of them are used for elders to get together and because of these reasons we have just called them visitors' centres.
That is why the translation was just referred to as buildings.
I'm sorry Mr. Chairman, I have a terrible cold.
These are the buildings that we were talking about Mr. Chairman.
With respect to the funding it is quite a lot of funding that we are talking about.
Would it be more appropriate if we made this funding available to youth programs.
Can we transfer it to a youth program.
I cannot say for sure if it could be transferred to a youth program.
But we could talk about it and see how the funds are.
I couldn't just say that we will.
We followed our previous plan and are working on visitors' centres and museums.
We will be doing a study, a 3 phase study and the money will be used towards different programs.
That's all I have to say for now Mr. Chairman, Thank you.
Mr. Chairman in the minister's opening comments he talks about his department working with the Department of Public Works to issue a call for proposals.
Did the department not issue a call for proposals last year for the same type of program.
Last year we called for proposals from the communities, but there was no response.
We wanted to have a feasibility study on what Nunavut communities have available.
Yes, we did call for a proposal but there was not a good response from the communities.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated earlier in my comments, I talked about the very limited response to the grants and contributions for heritage centres.
How many proposals did the department receive last year. I know they approved 1, 2, 3, and 4.
How many others were received but not approved.
Chairperson (interpretation): Hon. Peter Kattuk.
My deputy will answer this question on applications.
On the grants and contributions last year for museums there were 10 applications.
Mr. Chairman, one could be correct in assuming that there were six applications that were rejected.
I'll ask Carmen to respond to the question.
Some of the applications were not for buildings, some of the applications were for this year, this fiscal year so for these reasons we were not able to do a review on it.
Also I believe there were twelve projects funded by the department for our youth and elders facilities, totalling 767 thousand dollars.
I would like to ask how many other applications were received and didn't receive funding under that program.
We do not have a list of applications with us but we are aware of two applicants and we have provided the names to the members earlier.
Mr. Chairman, in June the department staff and the minister met with the Standing Committee and the minister at that time indicated that many communities in Nunavut have expressed a need for funding to support small heritage related capital projects in the community.
I would like to ask the minister, since that's the only thing we see in the capital budget this year, how many communities are we talking about.
At this time I'm not sure how many communities we're talking about, at least some have community heritage centres but not all of them.
Also all the communities have artifacts or historical items that I want to preserve in their communities.
Out of this money we wanted to help the communities that have heritage centres in their community to renovate them and to be sure to preserve their artifacts or historical items they have in the community.
Mr. Tootoo. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I guess the minister knows there’s a need out there and is not really sure what it is.
I would assume that one could say the same thing in relation to youth and elders centres out there.
I wonder if the minister could explain to us why the department shoves money into capital renovations for heritage centres and why you choose not to allocate any resources for youth and elders' centres.
I know there are some communities that have elders and youth facilities.
But we did a call for proposals but we did not, like I said we did not get a good response from them.
So what we want to do now is to have a feasibility study in communities on elders and youth facilities.
At the same time all I can say is there are some facilities but not all the communities have them.
But we’re going to do a feasibility study for all Nunavut communities so we will know what they have so probably after that we can commit to look for funding for the future youth facilities in the Nunavut communities.
Mr. Chairman, is the department waiting to do a feasibility study before we commit any dollars to do anything.
One could beg the question why if they haven’t done a feasibility study on heritage centres there’s money there to do that.
As well, based on the numbers and applications that they approved last year.
Eight of the twelve applications that were approved were for youth centres.
I’m sure that there are other youth centres out there that you don’t have to wait to do a feasibility study to go out there and find out what they want or what they need to do it.
You talk about having, once we find out then we’re going to have money in there for it.
But if you look at the projections in the 5 year capital plan there’s nothing there.
It’s all over the next you know, for 2007.
It’s all for Nunavut Heritage Centres.
Nothing in the capital plan for youth centres.
I’m just at a loss, to me I don’t have an explanation as to why they chose one and not the other when the demand is there.
The history that we’ve had when we offered that program, that’s where the demand for the money was.
The minister talks about doing a feasibility study to find out what they need.
Well as one of my colleagues mentioned earlier there is a department out here already that does youth related activities and recreational activities and that’s the Department of Community Government & Transportation.
As a former recreation coordinator I knew in my community the kind of things I needed for the youth in my community. Maybe instead of spending thousands of dollars doing a feasibility study have one person in an office call these community recreation co-ordinators or each mayor to find out what they need.
You don’t need to wait for a feasibility study to do that.
Like I said this is the third capital budget and a second one with absolutely nothing in it for youth.
It was unacceptable for me the first year and it’s unacceptable for me again this year.
I want to see either we drop the name youth out of there or see some money put towards youth.
We can’t wait to study everything to death.
How much money we’re paying for people to tell us what we know already.
That information is not that hard to find.
So maybe if I could hear it from the minister how does he plan on looking at doing this feasibility study.
Do you want to hire someone to go out and do it.
Or what were their plans in assessing the needs for the youth in Nunavut.
I agree with your comments, Mr. Tootoo.
But with respect to your concern I cannot say it is going to be within the next few years, that it is in the capital plan.
As I stated earlier we are doing a feasibility study on elder and youth facilities in the communities.
After these studies are done then we will have a plan with respect to the funding as to where it will be used.
We will be looking forward to seeing these plans as to how it will be allocated to these Nunavut communities.
Mr. Chairman, the projects that I was referring to earlier, the ones that were approved for elders and youth facilities were for the 2000-2001 year.
Could the minister update us on a list of approved grants and contributions for this year.
How much of the money that was approved last year is actually approved yet.
With respect to the questions from the members.
We don't have the documents in front of us but we will provide them at a later date.
We approved a million dollars last year for grants and contribution under buildings and works and that was last spring.
Last March we approved that.
The department doesn't have an idea of how much of that was spent.
How much has been approved already.
My Deputy Minister will answer that question.
The budget that was approved last year was one million dollars.
Of that 200 thousand dollars was used toward the school museum in Cambridge Bay.
The rest of it was for a study on museum programs 300 thousand dollars, another study for language program was 300 thousand.
As well for elders and youth when they were doing a study going to the communities was 200 thousand dollars.
So the amount all together is 1 million and we have already used this amount that I am talking about.
Chairperson (interpretation): Any more questions Mr. Tootoo.
The minister said that they are doing feasibility studies in different areas, the deputy indicated that there were studies done and they paid a million dollars out of 800 thousand dollars worth of studies last year.
If I'm correct in my interpretations of that, what exactly are we seeing.
We have to do more studies.
What did the study tell us.
Chairperson: (interpretation):Mr. Kattuk
My Deputy will answer this question.
Chairperson (interpretation): Levi.
With respect to my last comment.
These funds were used for the 2001/2002 fiscal year.
Last year the funding was used for youth and elder programs, as well as museum programs.
This was last year 2000/2001.
The funding that was supposed to be used for youth was all used up, as well there was an increase and the rest was going to be used for museum programs and 200 thousand was used towards the Cambridge Bay Heritage Centre.
Maybe I'll just go one by one, the first one, the first 200 thousand dollars is straightforward.
The other 300 thousand dollars, that’s indicated for the museum, is that for the feasibility study that there was a press release on not too long ago or an article in Kivalliq News.
Was that what the 200 thousand dollars was for.
Chairperson (interpretation): I'm sorry.
It's for this fiscal year.
I am aware it's for this fiscal year but the minister just did a press release last, within the last few weeks, announcing an awarded contract to a company to do feasibility studies to take a look at a heritage centre or a museum, would that be that 300 thousand dollars, was that what he indicated.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): It's true that's what it was for.
The deputy also indicated that there was 300 thousand dollars done on a study for language.
I was wondering if I can get clarification or an estimation of exactly what that was used for.
I will have my deputy respond to your question.
We're currently working on the language issue this year and we are doing a study on setting up, how we should set up and establish a centre for Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun.
It is because our languages are eroding very fast, we're looking at how to preserve our language through this research project.
We are also going to be talking to the elders to put together the legends and stories and so on.