EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And my children, Jenna and Joseph, I say hello to them in Pangnirtung.
I will be going home next week and probably see them over the weekend.
I just wanted to send my regards to them.
Tomorrow is supposed to be our last day of this Session The reason why I rise today is to thank Kelvin Ng, the Member for Cambridge Bay.
As new Members who have been elected, we have depended on Mr. Ng for the knowledge that he has, and he is very open.
He can think into the future so it has been very good to work with him.
I would like to wish him and his family good luck and best wishes in the future.
Member’s Statement 773 – 1(6): Nunavut Government in the Last Five Years
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the successful flag design contest for Apex.
Mr. Speaker, during the same constituency meeting in Apex concern was raised about property damage, vandalism and concern with children safety in the community.
Shortly after my constituency meeting, I held another meeting in Apex with the RCMP community policing section to see if there was support to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Program in Apex.
The RCMP Community Policing Liaison, Will Thomas as well as Constable Sylvia Sharp joined me, and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued support.
Mr. Speaker, Block Captains, for different areas of Apex volunteered to work with the RCMP to initiate the Watch Program.
The Program started this fall, and to date, Mr. Speaker, it has had mixed results.
The RCMP will help evaluate the Program and I would hope that after the review, we would be able to launch the Program in Happy Valley, Tundra Valley, and all of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, constituency meetings give the MLA an opportunity to hear constituents’ concerns, provide information, but also to hear suggestions and ideas from constituents like the Neighbourhood Watch Program.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Apex, Tundra Valley, and Happy Valley for their continued support, and I look forward to working for and with them.
Mr. Speaker, to do this job, as Minister Ng said yesterday, takes tremendous support at home.
Mr. Speaker, our son Pakkak was only one month old when I was first elected in 1995.
At that time the four years serving Iqaluit and Nunavut meant we would be away from home in Session for six to eight weeks at a time in Yellowknife.
And at that time, Mr. Speaker, we were not able to, as Minister Thompson, and Minister Ng, be able to get on a plane on Friday, and get back home on the weekend.
We had to be sitting at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday, if the flight is to leave at 9 o’clock; we ended up being in Yellowknife.
One time, Mr. Speaker, you and I, counted, I think it was 33 straight days in Yellowknife away from our families when we were doing our Legislative Session. Because Nunavut was coming, we had all kinds of legislation to run through; there were issues around cutbacks, in 1995 for the first time in the history of any Government in the North, almost 300 people were laid off because of financial cutbacks.
People tend to forget this stuff.
Mr. Speaker, during that time, I was only at home a quarter of the time.
Pakkak, being one year old, Wally was seven, and Dora was four, it was very difficult for Oopah with no sisters, no mother, very little close relatives; Minister Thompson knows what I am speaking about, but she persevered.
Mr. Speaker, every Member, every Member does his or her job representing the Constituency differently.
Part of that work is having support at home.
I want to take this opportunity, on possibly the last day of this Session, to thank Oopah, and to say that this Assembly has come a long way as a government, since April 1st, 1999.
We first met at the video show the other day in the Parish Hall.
And Mr. Speaker, then the Cadet Hall; in the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Speaker, we had only 10 staff and temporary offices.
Mr. Speaker, we used to meet in the Parish Hall, the Cadet Hall, there was no Assembly, there were no flags, there was no logo, there were no Departments, and there was no policies, procedures for the new Government in place, and all kinds of work that was done behind the scenes that the public did not see.
I think that is important to say.
Mr. Speaker, we have built more houses, health centers, new schools, community infrastructure than any Government in the past 10 to 12 years and we did not have the luxury of the infrastructure monies that were available 10 years ago when we had an EDA Agreement with the Federal Government; this Government did that.
We have passed several proactive pieces of Legislation for the first time ever made in Nunavut, debated in Nunavut, for Nunavummiut.
That is important to state.
We have built a Government from the ground up and we have balanced our financial books, thank you, Mr. Ng.
I think that is not bad for a Government with almost 75% of the Members who were elected, new rookies who had a steep learning curve to begin. Think about that.
Mr. Speaker, Minister Ng and I have argued, debated, shouted at each other, and that was just during the first four years I served with him in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, seriously, I said to Paul Okalik as the Premier in 1999, Paul was looking at how he was designating the different portfolios and I said to him at that time when it came to different portfolios I said, with Minister Ng, give him that health, give him health, I told him to get it right this time.
I said give him back health and get it right this time.
Mr. Speaker, when we integrated the three health boards, Kelvin Ng, said Ed, you are going to work your something off over the next couple of years.
I said, what are you meaning by that?
He said when you have health boards in place, they are a buffer between the Minister and the Office and everything is going to come directly to you.
And Mr. Speaker, like almost everything else that Kelvin said, as Minister Kilabuk pointed out, he was correct, he was right.
Indeed, the pressure was on and all of the concerns came directly from the communities right up to the Minister’s Office and it has been very difficult.
And I want to take this opportunity to say sincerely that I appreciate Kelvin’s support and advise, although I had never agreed with him very often and indeed, found some of the things he said to me contestable, and it was always in good fun and he has done an excellent job and mentors as Mani and I, and many other people know.
Mr. Speaker, almost five years later, as the longest serving Federal, Provincial or Territorial Minister of Health in the country of Canada, working with the ongoing financial, human resources and infrastructure shortage has taught me many valuable lessons.
Mr. Speaker, the first Assembly of Nunavut has met many tremendous challenges and many of the expectations of our citizens.
I want to finally thank the Members, finally thank the Members of this Assembly for showing their trust and confidence in me and helping me along the way.
I especially, Mr. Speaker, at this time, would like to very quickly respect a few Members, friends of mine, I want to start off with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Health and Social Services, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Pond Inlet, I think who has done yeoman service in pushing and helping with Legislation including the Tobacco Act, including yet many capital projects to come forward.
I want to thank all of my Cabinet Colleagues and yes, you, too, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you, sitting up in that wonderful chair.
You have been the butt of many of my jokes over the past eight years.
I do not think anyone realizes how much work you do for Arviat behind the scenes as one of the Members suggested, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
When you are a Speaker, you cannot have a chance to participate publicly.
So, I think everyone in this Assembly should thank Mr. O’Brien for taking that role along as a Speaker and doing a good job behind the scenes for the people of Arviat.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. McLean, again, one of these guys who likes to come to my office and give me a hard time.
You can never please Mr. McLean or Mr. O’Brien.
He always needs something.
You built him a new hospital, and he wants a school.
You build him a school and he wants something else, which is a very good thing to see, although maybe in the next term Mr. McLean will find the money in some other different directions just to be able to do that.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that a lot of soul searching for me has gone into the past several weeks and I wanted to take this opportunity, earlier I mentioned about my wife and my family that to do the job as Member of the Legislative Assembly, that it also takes support of colleagues in the Assembly and your constituency, people like Onga.
Henderson Michael who has supported me for eight years.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people of Iqaluit for showing their trust in me and I would hope to be able to return back in the coming month.
Member’s Statement 774 – 1(6): Growing and Learning as Members of the First Legislative Assembly
I, too, would like to rise today and because the Session will be televised in Inuktitut and in English tomorrow.
I would like to thank the communities that I represent of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.
I would like to apologize for being away for so long.
I did not realize that being a Minister was a very heavy load.
When I first became a Member it was very scary for me and some of the statements that I made, I was really blocked and when we first started, it was very hard me.
I used to sweat and get very nervous before I stood up and I did not know what was going to come out of my mouth.
So, it was very hard at first for me in the beginning, but now I can confidently stand up and be more prepared to what I am going to say.
I am still learning; it is a learning process.
Although we have been here for over four years, when I first started, the Member for Cambridge Bay used to call me at home at times and supported me throughout the process once I became a Member and he was a source of strength for me.
And as well, for all of my Colleagues who have supported me along the way.
When we first became Members I did not know everybody in here.
I heard of some of the names, but Mr. Iqaqrialu was instantly a good friend of mine and I thank him for his friendship over the years, and his support in the beginning and over the years along with others.
Mr. John Quirke, I would also like to thank him very much.
When I first became a Member, he used to call me at home and give me an update about certain issues and gave me ideas and suggestions and he has really helped me progress along the way.
John Quirke, thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, I am just about done my Statement.
I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my Statement.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, to my Colleagues.
Yes, although we have faced challenges as Members, we have really made good progress as a new Government, and the contribution we have made to our constituents, to the communities and to all of Nunavut, we never lose that vision of Nunavut as a whole.
And I have had a very successful term, and my wife, who has given me full support and has had patience throughout my travels to be away and my kids who I have often left behind for many days at a time, and if you do not have that family support, it would make our job that much harder and they are the ones who give us the strength to move on.
And our Constituents who come to us either with pleasure or telling us about how much contribution we have made in their lives and that is satisfying to hear and helps us keep moving on and that really makes this job satisfactory and that gives you more of an effort to keep helping those residents.
I really had good personal growth in my life and I can really take a better look at my life and see what I would like to do in the future.
I used to think it was an easy job and little did I know how hard it was and we really need to give all of ourselves to do this job.
Now that I have the experience and have gained the confidence, I have a better respect for elected leaders, and it is a very stressful position to be in.
You always have to keep a positive attitude because you are in public life and really have to be careful of your actions.
But we are all human, too, and we all make mistakes and I am well aware of that, we have lives just as everybody else but because we are in positions where we have to work hard for the people, we try the best we can to convey and represent those views of our people.
I thank my Constituents for their ongoing support.
I will be running in the next election if I am able to.
If I could hit myself, I would.
I did not forget this person that is named after my mother, Gene Kusugak.
The last person I wanted to forget, Kukik’s youngest daughter, I love her dearly as my mother through namesake.
However, I would like to recognize, at this time, someone, when I first became a Minister I had asked him if he could be my executive assistant and he agreed to that challenge.
I would like to recognize Mike Courtney who is was my former executive assistant.
He has done a lot of good work around the community.
Last year, Don Cherry and Ron McLean were in town due to his hard work to get them up here.
He told me that this coming winter, the Stanley Cup will make its way through Iqaluit through his hard work and he is in a lot of volunteer organizations, the City Council, he is on one of the Committees for the City and when I try to do my job, I try to find someone who is more able than me so he can be my backbone.
So, I would like to thank him for his hard work for me when I was working at the Community Government and Transportation.
I recognize him and welcome him to the House and thank him for his hard work to ensure that we progress in this House and I recognize Mike Courtney to the House.
Speaker: Welcome, Mike.
I would like to recognize a person who has supported me during my elected term.
When we just arrived in Iqaluit, she has strongly supported me and encouraged me do to my elected job.
My wife, Margaret Havioyak.
I would also like to recognize my constituency assistant, although when I make mistakes, she corrects me many times, Doris Nancy.
Mr. Speaker, first, I want to take this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery some people.
First, I would like to welcome the Constituency assistant of Mr. Donald Havioyak from Kugluktuk.
I call Donald on a regular basis.
Donald is always in touch with our office on many constituency concerns; he works hard for the people of Kugluktuk.
Sometimes it is hard to get Donald on the phone so, when I phone his office and his constituency assistant answers, I tell her that Paul Martin is calling from Ottawa or this is Prime Minister Chrétien calling, can I speak to Donald?
Donald, right away, comes to the phone.
So, I would like to welcome her to the Gallery as well as Donald’s good wife and a very good family friend of ours, Margaret is here and she is always ready for a joke and every time I have been in Kugluktuk, she has always invited us over for coffee.
We have had a good time.
So, I would like to welcome Margaret to Iqaluit and especially to the Assembly.
Also, Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine, a long-time resident of Iqaluit, formerly from Hall Beach, a fantastic hunter with the Hunters and Trappers Association of Iqaluit, served on the Council here in Iqaluit, is a great community leader, Mr. Simon Nataq; I would like to welcome Simon to the Gallery.
And on my immediate left, Mr. Speaker, another constituent of mine with the Status of Women’s Council, she had worked with me as an adult educator back in the early ‘80s, she has been around the north for over 20 years, first I believe when she was in Kimmirut, I believe, Ms. Maureen Doherty, welcome to the Gallery, Maureen.
And next to Maureen, another constituent of mine, Mr. Mike Courtney and Jack has done a fantastic job of introducing Mike.
What you did not know, Mr. Speaker, is that last night, Mike was also in the gambling mode, Mike was selling 50/50 raffle tickets.
Mr. Speaker, I did not have any money to buy those raffle tickets at that time.
So, I decided to get someone else an opportunity to win the 50/50 prize and as it turns out, Mr. Speaker, that the winner of the raffle was our own Aseena Alurut who used to work in my office, of course. So, I thank Mike for putting the six in.
I would like to welcome Mike to the Gallery.
Speaker: Welcome all to the Gallery.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Whom should I recognize today?
Mr. Speaker, I am looking around to see who I can recognize, but I would like to recognize, when we first became Members, they are always quite proud of us to see us, for example, in 1999, I was in the office in one of my communities of Taloyoak, the Mayor of Taloyoak, the SAO and the Housing Association guy would came to meet with me in 1999 because of the housing shortage in that community; they wanted help to build houses in that community and so, because we were so new, I really did not know what I should do.
At the time, the Housing Corporation Minister next to me, Mr. Anawak, at the time, when he was Housing Corporation Minister, I would like to thank him and recognize him.
In that summer there were 12 new houses built.
As the Minister of Housing, he assisted and supported that community through that department.
And that was quite a quick turnaround in support for the community.
As well, Mr. Anawak has contributed to the whole of Nunavut, as an MP for Nunatsiaq.
I would like to congratulate him for the Arctic Ambassador appointment.
He has a very good understanding of how small communities work.
He appeared before the community; he was very gracious to the smaller communities and knew what status these communities were at.
Because of that I am sure that with his experience, and having gone through the hardships in the traditional life, he has a very good understanding of what is required.
I wish him the best and I am sure that he will do the best that he can.
So I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to help me in recognize him and acknowledge and congratulate Mr. Anawak for his contribution.
Very briefly, I would like to thank and recognize the residents of Iqaluit for welcoming my family and I. Especially those in Iqaluit, my family, and my aunt, Inukjuaq.
I have not seen her but, I thank her.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize, I wish that I was the first one to recognize Mike Courtney, who is right behind me. I recognize him.
He used to be the SAO in Whale Cove, and in Coral Harbour he was also the SAO for that community for some time.
I know him very well and he is just like a part of the community, no matter if he is Qallunaaq or not.
He is just like any Inuk; he has really adopted our culture and our ways.
Mike Courtney.
I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Trudy Bruce, my brother’s wife.
I thank them and recognize them.
Martha Panipak, my Assistant in Whale Cove, and Brian Manitok, my receptionist in Rankin Inlet.
Are any further?
Members, with your indulgence, I would like to acknowledge that today is my daughter’s 14th birthday, my daughter Chelsea, who is living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with her mom.
I hope to see her at Christmas, with all the other good people of Arviat.
Item 7. Item 8.
Question 725 – 1(6): Liquor Distribution Centre Positions
My question is directed to my Kitikmeot colleague, the Member for Cambridge Bay, the Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission, and I thank him for his wise words, but I will take those words back if he does not give me the right response.
Mr. Speaker, there are two positions for the new liquor distribution center that I have brought along with the Mayor of that community.
Mr. Speaker, the two positions for the new liquor distribution center in Rankin Inlet are these two positions new positions or positions moved from other communities?
Mr. Speaker, these are positions that would be funded from the liquor revenues.
Right now, the services are provided out of Hay River, so, they are not Nunavut positions per say and they will increase the Nunavut complement by two positions at a minimum.
Further to my question, can the Minister update me as to the status of the two positions originally allocated for the Liquor Commission in the Tumiit II report in Gjoa Haven?
Will they be brought back to Gjoa Haven or what is happening to those two positions that were originally allocated for this community?
Mr. Speaker, as Members know, we use the Footprint’s model as a base.
There were some adjustments made through the leadership of Premier Okalik who in charge of the decentralization to make things more effective and make them more of a practical sense.
Certainly in the case of the liquor distribution, it makes more sense for more central location, that is why the Kivalliq, Rankin Inlet was identified for that particular area.
It was two positions and as I had indicated in the response to the Honourable Member earlier, I know the next Government will look at overall these centralization targets, what has been put in place, what is lacking and make the adjustments as required to meet community expectations and try to fulfill and complete some of those targets.
Yes, I understand where he is coming from.
However, my constituents are still expecting to get this straightened out and they have not had the response back after having lost those two positions that were transferred; they have not had the proper response in the community regarding this.
So, Mr. Speaker, what plans are in place to compensate Gjoa Haven for the loss of the Liquor Commission positions?
Will other Departments move there from other Government Departments?
Yes, our Mandate is almost over, but we would like to get a better idea in that community about what the plans are.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know exactly right now.
I can say that, as the Member knows and has indicated, you know, our term is running out.
The next Government will have to revisit and review and evaluate what has been put in place and what is still required and quite frankly, they are still practical and affordable to do and at that time, they will make that decision.
I can say that Gjoa Haven by in large has done very well in respect of meeting their targets overall for decentralization, more so than some other communities that have a larger spread between what would have been identified and what has been put in place to date.
I think we recognized their concern and the next Government will certainly look at that issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
For the next government, and for the next Member, I am sure they will pursue this matter, but once you have been allocated positions for that community and then you lose them in the process, that really breaks your trust and it is hurtful.
Because of that, I think the community is owed for decentralize two positions that were originally planned.
When we are talking about the Liquor Warehouse that is to be built within Nunavut and to be repatriated back to Nunavut, has there been any consideration how big that warehouse will be because there were to be two positions in Gjoa Haven at the Liquor Commission.
So I am just wondering how big that warehouse will be.
Have you looked into as to the actual size of this facility, this Liquor Warehouse facility in Rankin Inlet?
Yes, we have and it is based on what is deemed the current need.
Right now there is an issue outstanding about the future needs as well, but I would like to commend the Member for his diligence on the Gjoa Haven decentralized positions.
As I have indicated earlier, I know it is almost all the way there, and I am sure the next government will address any outstanding issues.
Question 726 – 1(6): Family Counselling for Abusive Relationships
Yesterday I did not have an opportunity to pose my questions in regards to the Members’ Statement that I made yesterday about an individual who was sent out to a shelter.
As the Chairman of the Health and Education Standing Committee, I have been working over the years with the Minister of Health and Social Services.
There have been improvements but there is room for more.