EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, this is reprehensible and infringes upon the most basic tenets of democracy, a person's right to choose without fear of intimidation.
Threats by the union leaders that their membership would lose their jobs and be publicly humiliated for not participating in job action is no way to run a fair and democratic process.
I do not know…sorry, Mr. Speaker, I do know that attacking an individual's credibility, intimidating individuals to support your views, creating an escalating confrontation is not in following the Cambridge Bay or Nunavut way.
Furthermore, it goes against all basic principles of human decency.
Mr. Speaker, we in Nunavut have a long tradition of free and public votes.
We are no stranger to this process, as we have witnessed countless votes over the last several years that have both selected the leadership of our territory's governing bodies and land claims organizations.
Free votes have also been used as tools for Nunavummiut to decide upon key decisions of public policy that guided both bureaucrats and politicians in the formation of our territory.
Issues such as gender parity, selection of our territory's capital and the boundaries of our territory are among some of these issues.
While the issues varied Mr. Speaker, the processes in which they were conducted were very similar.
These votes were held free of intimidation or coercion.
Secondly, the questions on the issue under consideration were clear and easy to understand.
Finally, and most importantly, vote results were made available for the public’s review and scrutiny.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Employees' Union has not lived up to the convention surrounding a free vote by not releasing the vote results to either their membership or to the public.
Nunavummiut, as do all NEU members, have every right to know the vote results.
Mr. Speaker, this same thing happened during the union strike mandate vote last fall.
We were advised only of the percentage of support that the union received for a strike mandate.
However, we were not advised of voter turnout.
This process has already been mired by intimidation, coercion and bullying that is not acceptable in this day and age.
I challenge Mr. Speaker, I challenge the union leadership to do the right thing and release the vote results for the public record.
I further challenge them Mr. Speaker, to reform their electoral practices to publicly accepted standards of disclosure.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Employees' Union has many wrongs that need to be righted.
They must start to repair their tarnished reputation with the people of our territory by releasing these results.
I look forward, as I believe many union members and many Nunavummiut do, to seeing these results and getting a true appreciation of the support that the Government of Nunavut had on its offer.
Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of fairness, openness, accountability, not only for the public, but more importantly for their own membership, releasing these results is the right thing to do.
Member's Statement 229 – 1(5): Thor Simonson’s Book
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking first Kirsti Anavigak, who presented me with a gift and a folder last week.
So I would like to take this time to thank her and join Mr. Tootoo in congratulating and thanking emergency response for the First Air fire at the hangar last night.
Mr. Speaker, very few Nunavut residents have written and illustrated their own book.
Mr. Speaker, of that select group of authors, certainly very few are just entering their teen years.
Mr. Speaker, Thor Simonson, a 13 year old cartoonist from Apex has joined this select group of Nunavut authors.
Mr. Speaker, many people outside of Iqaluit know Thor from his comic strips that have appeared in Nunatsiaq News.
Thor has been working hard on this project for over a year and has contributed his saving and earnings toward the publication of his cartoon booklet.
Mr. Speaker, this type of project takes a lot of work and co-operation, but Mr. Speaker, with the help of several local Iqaluit businesses, as well as support from businesses in Ottawa and most importantly support from his friends and family, Kirt, Rannvah and Bjorn, they have made this publishing possible.
Mr. Speaker, to purchase a book by Thor, you can contact Thor or Rannvah Simonson in Iqaluit at 979-3183 or by e-mail at paperboy@rannvah.com.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you and this House join with me in congratulating a fine young man and a Nunavut youth role model, Thor Simonson, for his accomplishment.
Member's Statement 230 – 1(5): Suicide Rates - Deline & Kugluktuk Youth
Just a very short statement in terms of our culture.
All people, elders and youth, have complications in our lives.
We have worries to deal with, but we survive.
When one is worried, it is difficult for that person.
For some of our youth, when they run into difficulties, suicide is on their mind.
I just want to comment very briefly that in 1998, people from Deline and Kugluktuk gathered together to discuss these types of difficulties, their worries.
The goal was to try to make the future brighter.
One of the lessons was that without discussing a problem, it won't be rectified.
This summer in August, people from Deline and Kugluktuk people will come together again.
The goals are the same, which is to try to improve the outlook of everyone’s lives.
We all have to discuss problems and difficult issues with a friend or family member, a brother or sister, to whomever.
Life can improve for us, our youth, our family members, parents, in-laws.
Life can improve with those discussions.
People of Kugluktuk and Deline will come together in August 2001.
That is why I want to bring this out so that people are aware of this event.
That is what I wanted to bring out today.
Member's Statement 231 - 1(5): School Summer Break
I'd like to thank the community of Cambridge Bay for being able to take me out during my time here.
I rise today Mr. Speaker, to talk about the summer break and the teachers travelling home or taking some time off during the summer.
In my community of Rankin Inlet the parents will go on the radio and express their appreciation to the teachers that took care of their children during the year.
So at this time I would like to express my appreciation to the teachers and to congratulate the students who will be completing their twelfth grade.
And, Mr. Speaker, in the Keewatin, it is probably not just in the Keewatin, but quite often just before the summer break the parents who aren't working in the summer often take their children out on the land and these young children will be going out and learning our culture by drying meat and fish.
In Iqaluit, the students will be getting out of school on June 26.
In the Keewatin, a lot of the schools will be sending their kids off about the first week of June.
Just before we move on.
I would like to ask the members to join in offering our sincere condolences the family of Louie Komak who died accidentally a few days ago at the young age of 23.
He leaves behind a wife and two small children.
Also to let the family know that they are in our thoughts and prayers, to his mom Martha, his dad Tony, and his wife Glenis.
Question 253 - 1(5): Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan
Mr. Speaker, my condolences to the Inuknak family in Baker Lake for the tragedy that happened there yesterday.
The department's business plan indicates that it will begin implementation of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan this fiscal year.
Can the minister indicate whether any resources have been allocated to assist the communities of Baker Lake and Lutsel’ke in finalizing the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan.
The parties have been dealing with this for a while now and we will reviewing as to what else we can do to help as the Department of Sustainable Development.
Will the minister commit to providing resources to assist these communities in finalizing the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan.
We will look into this further and we will do as much as we can to assist the people that are working on the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan.
That was the answer that I am expecting.
The departmental business plan indicates that it will work with the Kivalliq Inuit Association, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to begin implementing this plan.
Can the minister provide an update as of his department’s communication with these organizations today.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
I will be able to give that information to the member as soon as I gather that information.
Has the minister addressed his counterparts in the Northwest Territories.
I haven't spoken with my counterparts in the Northwest Territories on this.
Question 254 - 1(5): Igloolik Community Hall Update
Mr. Speaker, earlier during my member's statement, I talked about the size of the community hall in Igloolik. I have a question for the Minister of Community Government & Transportation.
Can I get an update about the status of the community hall in Igloolik.
I am aware of the concern in Igloolik.
I have travelled to Igloolik a few times in the past and have noticed that the size of the community hall is too small for the community.
As Community Government & Transportation we have discussed this issue of community hall sizes in Nunavut, that includes Igloolik and other communities.
We realize the concerns that the communities have regarding the size and safety.
When we were in Igloolik the community passed on their concern about this and we will try our best to deal with that concern.
So, is the minister stating that the community hall in Igloolik will be placed high on the priority list during their capital planning.
Does he believe that this item will be put on the list.
I am not sure if it would be in there.
We realize that this is a priority for Igloolik.
However, we are low on funds for capital programs as everyone realizes.
I will keep the member informed.
One of the problems that we have is the amount funding for capital.
The cost of building these facilities has increased, but we will be working on this.
Mr. Speaker, I think it was last year the minister stated that the communities are able to put out their own contribution and the government would be open to that type of arrangement.
Is the government still open to this today.
When I met with the community of Igloolik this was brought to my attention. One of the questions was whether they could use their surplus to build the facility.
We support any ideas that the community may have.
If the community is able to support us in finding funds to build such a facility, it would be easier for the facility to be built.
So we do support any ideas or suggestions from the community.
He has already responded to the last question I was going to ask.
I was going to ask if they could give us funds for the design and the blueprints of the building.
Yes, I said Mr. Speaker, that if we were able to find funds we would be able to assist the community.
We encourage any assistance that we can receive from the community.
So Mr. Speaker, if the community would like to do this, we would be able to discuss it with them.
Question 255 – 1(5): Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Review Committee
Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services.
I would like to first off thank the minister for the response to my written question on the NNI policy and the status of the contracting policy review committee and the contracting appeals board.
Mr. Speaker, in her response the minister indicated that to date, the contracting policy review committee has not been formed and it is basically the same thing for the contracting appeals committee.
I would like to ask the minister if she could inform this House as to when these committees are going to be struck and what is causing the delays in them being formed.
The problem with the contracting policy review committee for not being established yet, has been that NTI has been refusing to participate in the contracting policy committee review before the contracting appeals board has been established.
So none of those have been going forward because of the fact that NTI have not participated well with the process.
My staff have been available for them and we are trying to resolve that and we are using the Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs department to mediate on behalf of Public Works and working with NTI and our department.
Because we really need to get the appeals boards off the ground since there are appeals coming forward.
There has been a disagreement coming forward from the two parties so that has been delaying the process.
Mr. Speaker, I agree it has been almost, it has probably been a year now since this policy has been implemented and these are fundamental parts of the policies and these committees need to be struck.
I would like to ask the minister if she has any indication as to when these committees will be formed and when they will be able to overcome the obstacles that she has alluded to with NTI.
I couldn't tell you when a consensus will be reached but there has been some progress happening since the Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs has been mediating on behalf of the two parties.
I would very much like a consensus to be reached because I have some appeals that have been on hold because of this disagreement.
I have met with the President, Paul Quassa, we have a very good working relationship, it's just that with this particular policy it has become delayed because of that disagreement coming forward from the NTI party.
So I couldn't tell you when, what dates this will be processed through.
We have to come to a consensus and we have not been able to reach that.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that there are some outstanding appeals to be heard and according to the policy itself the board is supposed to convene within 21 days of receiving a challenge and rule on it.
I guess I am wondering if there are only portions of this policy being implemented and will there be, or could there potentially be any outstanding liability on the government, as a result of these challenges not being dealt with.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I will talk in English for the benefit of the member.
Up to date it is unfortunate that this has not gone forward very well because NTI refused to participate in the process.
However, according to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, we have to be working with NTI as a partner and we have to come to a consensus on our policies to make things move forward.
At this time I am not aware of any legal implications because of this being delayed.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding of an appeal is that someone that has bid on a contract isn't happy with the outcome of it and is appealing it and there is a potential of them winning their appeal and the contract being given to them.
Now, if there are two being held, what two are they and are they projects that have been put on hold pending these hearings.
I couldn't tell you the names of the appeals, but nothing has been held up because of these two appeals, or there may be three now.
As far as I know, the contracts that have come forward have been done and the work is being done in Nunavut, but there are appeals that have to be dealt with and we can't do them unless we form a committee and the terms of reference are agreed upon by the two parties because that is our agreement under the Nunavut Land Claim.
Question 256 - 1(5): Update on Replacement for St. Theresa’s Hospital
I would like to pose my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Picco.
First of all, I would like to thank the minister for being able to go to Chesterfield Inlet and have a meeting with the residents.
The people of Chesterfield Inlet wanted to get a new building that would house handicapped patients that are presently in the old hospital.
Could the minister give us an update or the status on what is happening there.
Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity as the member said to go to Chesterfield Inlet to meet with the residents and tour again the St. Theresa’s facility.
It is a wonderful facility.
The concern seems to be Mr. Speaker, that the facility may not be up to code.
If the government assumes responsibility for the facility itself then we would have to bring it up to code.
At the present time Mr. Speaker, in negotiations with the Catholic Church, we have increased their budget by 6 percent to allow them to operate the facility for another year.
That gives us breathing time to be able to look at what is the best option for the Government of Nunavut.
The Premier has stated several times in no uncertain terms that we have to look out for the smaller non-decentralized communities.
There is a major economic impact in Chesterfield with the St. Theresa’s hospital.
With that being said, we are just awaiting in consultation with Pubic Works and Services, another review of the code situation to see what the total cost of the facility would be if we had to upgrade it and to see what the other options are available at that time.
The minister stated while he was visiting in Chesterfield Inlet that Public Works and Services would review this matter as soon as possible so that we can make a decision on what we are going to do with the St. Theresa's hospital.
It has been quite a while now since you made that statement.
When do you think that you will be able to get the report from Public Works.
Mr. Speaker, I was in Chester with the member about six weeks ago just after the Nunavut Association of Municipalities meeting.
What I can say Mr. Speaker, is that we have a couple of options that we are trying to look at.
One is the cost to upgrade to bring the St. Theresa’s hospital, which is a old building, I believe it was built in 1932.
We can look at an RFP possibly where we could build a new facility under an RFP to operate a similar facility in Chesterfield Inlet.
That is what we discussed with the members of the community.
But, before I can go to that decision I have to know what the total cost is.
There is some concern Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member mentioned this in his question.
When they did the evaluation the first time, PWS evaluated the facility and codes based on it being a hospital.
Because we call it the St. Theresa’s Hospital.
In actuality Mr. Speaker, it is not a hospital.
It is a long term placement home for mentally handicapped, mentally challenged children and youth.
And, there are different code responsibilities based on that.
So, that may give us the opening that we have discussed.
Well it is going to be the same facility no matter how many different ways you choose terms.
I don't know whether it is going to make a longer delay, but if they base it on a hospital or not, if we just call it a facility, a hospital, a handicapped home, whatever.
It is still the same facility.
Would the minister be able to respond then, if the Department of Public Works went there to start working on it.
Or maybe that is my first question.
When is Public Works going to start working to find out whether they can use this facility.
Mr. Speaker, this contract right now, the St. Theresa’s facility is owned by the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese.
What they have told us is that they will not do this contract any more to run the handicapped home out of the St. Theresa's hospital.
We have been in negotiations, we have been able to negotiate with them to give us another year's extension that they will continue to operate a handicapped home as St. Theresa's hospital.
Now there are different options that are available to us.
Could I go to an RFP and advertise in the Keewatin region and say, is there an individual or a company who would like to use St. Theresa's facility and run the contract as a handicapped home.
Because we don't own the facility, we could lease that from the Catholic Church.
Should the Government of Nunavut go in and assume responsibility for St. Theresa's and then I let the contract using St. Theresa’s hospital as an asset of the Government of Nunavut.
Or should we look at the option of building something new in Chesterfield.
After the public meeting in Chesterfield Inlet, after consultation with many of the staff in Chesterfield who work at St. Theresa's hospital, many people believe that the only viable alternative is a new facility.
After saying that Mr. Speaker, I don't have any money as the member and the members in this House know for a budget to build a new facility.
That's why we would go to the opportunity of an RFP to the private sector, to Sakku, to any organization or company and offer them this contract.
Right now, as you know Mr. Speaker, on the public record we are spending a little over a million dollars a year, at that facility in Chesterfield Inlet.
I am hoping Mr. Speaker, to have the final report from PWS in the next three or four weeks and then have an opportunity again, in consultation with the member, and the mayor and the hamlet in Chesterfield, to see what the next move is.
That still gives us the opportunity for a renewal of the contract and, if we move towards construction, gives us the opportunity of the time for the barge and so on in a year and a half if we can get to that point.
So I am quite optimistic on that.
Mr. Speaker, the minister already told Chesterfield Inlet exactly what he is telling me today.
I don't know why he is telling me what he already told the Chesterfield people.
All I am asking is, since he said that Public Works will do the inspection to see if it is up to building code, he said he would explore the requests for proposals, maybe from Sakku maybe from other construction companies.
All we want to know is when will he start initiating this.
I hear him, that maybe in three weeks the Public Works will have a report.
But he will have to assure the Chesterfield people that some time they will have some kind of response.
It has been a month and a half now just to look at the building to see if it is suitable or cost effective enough to renovate it or to build a new one.
I hope that the 2-3 week time period for Public Works to do the inspection will be satisfactory in Chesterfield Inlet. The basic question that I have been trying to ask is when will he start initiating these things that he told Chesterfield six weeks ago that he will do.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I understand the frustration of the member.
St. Theresa’s facility has been operating in Chesterfield for a long time and there is a major economic impact.
Several hundred thousand dollars is being spent by the facility in Chesterfield.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, the St. Theresa’s hospital is not a government facility.
We have to do an analysis and as I said before we believe some of the work that was done before was based on the hospital designation for the facility.
It is a handicapped home for mentally challenged adults and children and there are different criteria and codes for that.
We have been in communication with Public Works and Services and I would hope that they would finish and complete their review in the next couple of weeks.
It was four weeks ago when I was in Chesterfield at the end of April.
As soon as PWS is finished with their work we will be able to evaluate that and see what our next step is.
But I need to know what those costs are before I move forward on the next steps.
And that is what I intend to do.
I will keep the member up to date.
Question 257 - 1(5): Innuinaqtun Dictionary
When we were in Iqaluit, you mentioned an Innuinaqtun dictionary, that is a useful resource.
I just want to ask him when this Innuinaqtun dictionary that could be utilized in Kugluktuk or Cambridge Bay would be available.
So this can be utilized in the work place.
When the member asked about the dictionary, I mentioned to him that if the Kitikmeot communities wanted to take on putting a dictionary together, that they can do so.
But I have not heard from any of the Kitikmeot communities as what they want to do.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. Supplementary.
Who did you notify about the opportunity.
Was it the Hamlet or the KIA or private people.
Who have you corresponded with in terms of you wanting to see such a program.