EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am very glad to see our Clerk back at the Officers’ table.
I rise today to raise an issue of concern for the residents of eastern Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues from Kugluktuk and Baker Lake have spoken eloquently on several occasions during the session on the issue of the mining sector and the job opportunities that it brings for our constituents.
Mr. Speaker, the people of my region, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven, are also eager to participate in this sector.
However, we face a problem with those communities that are not located near to the mining sites or are not considered by the mining companies to be points of hire.
Although there are people who have worked hard to get jobs in the mines, they find themselves in a situation where they have to pay for their own airfare from their home community to a regional centre like Cambridge Bay where the company transports them the remainder of the way to the job site.
Mr. Speaker, everyone in this House knows that airfares between our communities are not cheap.
With a high unemployment rate, job seekers don’t need yet another barrier when they are seeking work.
Mr. Speaker, I urge our government to work with the companies, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the communities in the region to seek creative solutions for this issue of equality.
Mr. Speaker, a dollar invested in helping our constituents get to work is worth twice as much as a dollar keeping them stuck at home, dependent and without hope.
Mr. Speaker, in the coming days I will be asking questions at the appropriate time.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Puqiqnak and thank you for confining yourself to the time limit.
Member’s Statement 436 - 1(5): Dog Illnesses in Amittuq
Mr. Speaker, I have been working on how to promote people taking pride in their lives.
Usually I speak about suicide prevention but this time I am going to speak about something different.
For many years now we have had problems with dogs in my communities of Igloolik, Hall Beach and perhaps Arctic Bay.
I remember growing up when we had dog teams, and often the dogs would die off because of rabies.
Sometimes they would die off from other forms of illness.
This was back in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Often we thought that rabies was the only illness that the dogs had, but beginning perhaps four or five years ago, the dogs have now begun having different forms of illness, such as distemper and this illness continues in my constituency. Although there is no testing done on these dogs, some Inuit feel that the dogs are getting these diseases and illnesses because of the overpopulation of the ravens, because the ravens always hang out where the dogs are tied up.
So we Inuit are becoming concerned about the droppings having an effect on the dog teams.
At the appropriate time I will be directing questions to the Minister of Sustainable Development on this subject.
Member’s Statement 437 - 1(5): Assistance for Disabled Persons
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the disabled people in communities.
There are the blind, there are people who are unable to speak and there are also people who are physically unable to get around in the communities.
We have to discuss how can we better assist these individuals with these disabilities in the communities.
Some parents who have to care for their children with disabilities in the home find it overwhelming.
There are people living in group homes receiving care and I truly appreciate the care that they are receiving.
Mr. Speaker, lastly I would like to say that we need to do more for these individuals in the communities that need assistance and give them resources so that they are more comfortable.
Member’s Statement 438 - 1(5): Caribou Harvesters in Coral Harbour
I think it has been almost two years since the Premier visited Coral Harbour.
He talked about the communities that are not receiving decentralization and stated that the government would give more support to these communities.
The Premier stated that they would give support to these communities to the best of their abilities, especially economic development and job creation projects for the community.
For a long time Coral Harbour residents have been working actively on economic development for themselves even though the government is not giving them adequate financial assistance.
They’re now planning for the upcoming years.
One of the projects that we would like to inform you of is the commercial caribou project.
I was informed last night that about 1,800 caribou have been harvested and that’s almost halfway to their commercial quota.
However, I’m sure that they will not deplete their quota because they don’t have a market for this caribou meat.
There is hardly any market for the caribou meat.
I’m very glad that the Premier recently went overseas and has done some work in this area.
I will be asking questions about this at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 439 - 1(5): Waste Water Recycling Project
Mr. Speaker, last week I attended a very important meeting in Apex sponsored by the City Council of Iqaluit.
The City of Iqaluit has received a grant and a loan for a demonstration project proposed for Apex called the Healthy House Project.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the proposed project is to demonstrate an alternative method for water and sewer systems to be serviced in the homes in Apex.
Mr. Speaker, there are several reasons why the city is looking at this idea.
First, Mr. Speaker, the cost of delivering water and sewer services to residents in the Arctic is approximately 125 times more expensive than southern Canada.
Piped services are very difficult and expensive to build and operate in the Arctic, especially Mr. Speaker where it is hilly and rocky.
Also Mr. Speaker, truck water systems are cheap to build but they certainly cost more when it comes to operate them.
Mr. Speaker, the proposed project in Apex will differ from standard truck services in several important ways.
First fresh water Mr. Speaker, will be automatically delivered to a home’s existing water tank from a communal tank that is refilled by a truck.
Sewage, Mr. Speaker, sewage will be pumped automatically to a local treatment station where it is treated so that it could be recycled, Mr. Speaker it’s important to note, to be recycled for flushing toilets.
Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that the residents can use recycled treated water to flush toilets or to wash their cloths.
Mr. Speaker, also by participating in recycling it will reduce homeowner water bills by over 60%.
Most importantly Mr. Speaker, excess reclaimed water goes to disposal in an environmentally sound way.
Mr. Speaker I endorse the Healthy House Project in Apex and commend our City Council for their proactive work in this area.
I would also, Mr. Speaker, encourage Apex residents to contact our City office for more information on this worthwhile project.
Are there any further Member's Statements?
Member's Statement 440 - 1(5): Commissioner’s Awards – Baker Lake
Mr. Speaker I would like to take the time to talk about a happy event that happened in my community of Baker Lake on January 29th this year.
Martha Talerook, one of the oldest ladies in Baker Lake celebrated her 100th birthday.
Simon Tookoome, a well-known author and artist, received the Commissioner’s award for cultural achievement.
Jacob Kingilik another well-known elder received a Commissioner's award for the cultural project, Takuukti.
Bill Kaslak received an award for bravery for saving someone's life in 1985.
Elizabeth Tunnuq received the Commissioner's cultural award and also Irene Tiktaalak, whose art graces our walls in the Legislative Assembly and who also received her Doctorate from Guelph University, received a cultural award from the Commissioner.
I would like to take this time to say how proud I am of those people from Baker Lake and I would like to thank the Commissioner Peter Irniq for attending the awards and also Cathy Towtongie for showing up and extending a heart-felt speech on the Martha’s 100th birthday.
I would like to apologize to anybody I forgot to invite to the ceremonies because it was very hectic.
Good afternoon colleagues, Mr. Premier.
I would like to recognize an individual from my constituency.
He is the Chairperson for the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board, Joannie Ikkidluak.
I have not given any recognition in the House for quite some time and I’m happy to recognize an individual from my constituency of Taloyoak, who is my constituency assistant.
I would like to recognize May Porter who is also a returning officer.
I would like to recognize a person from my community who is also my constituency assistant.
When the Arctic Rangers went out to shooting competitions, this individual was the very first person to receive an award for sharp shooting.
I think the score he attained was 200, and he also won a 300 metre shooting competition where he shot a quarter with a sniper rifle.
If ever the enemy decides to come, he will stop them and his name is Solomon Curley.
I would also like to recognize a person I worked with during the Land Claims negotiations for quite some time.
He’s been a senior official before and he now works for IBC.
I would like to welcome Paul Quassa.
Speaker: Welcome to the Gallery Paul.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to welcome Mr. Quassa to the Gallery.
I’ve known Paul and his family for a long time and I would like to take this opportunity like the Premier, to thank Paul for all the work that he did on the Land Claim and actually to a point where we are here today in the Assembly here in Iqaluit and able to meet.
I don’t think we should forget the work and dedication people like Paul put into the Land Claims negotiations.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome to the gallery Mr. Solomon Curley.
As the member for Amittuq just pointed out, Mr. Curley is quite a skilled marksman.
I remember several times being with Solomon and Solomon being amazed with my marksmanship hunting seals and caribou.
It was indeed Mr. Speaker, after being with me I believe several times that Solomon decided to practice more with his marksmanship and is now able to say that he has won records and won competitions as a marksman with the rangers. So I’d like to thank him Mr. Speaker for being here and say hello to him and his good family.
With that statement you could be charged with misleading the House.
Question 441 - 1(5): Kugluktuk Docking Facility Complete This Summer
Last November money that we’re going to use for the Capital Plan was approved which included docking facilities in Kugluktuk.
Two million dollars was approved to construct that docking facility in Kugluktuk.
The people in Kugluktuk have been looking forward to the docking facilities since 1998.
They’ve been working on this for a while and the reason is the docking facility right now is too close to where people keep their boats.
I would also like to thank both Ministers Thompson and Anawak for helping us with this funding for this docking facility in Kugluktuk.
Right now I would like to ask the minister, is this docking facility going to be under construction this summer or is it going to be put up halfway.
Is the docking facility going to be completed this summer?
The docking facility that the Member for Kugluktuk is speaking about had a complication.
The Mayor of Kugluktuk, Stanley Anablak, has written a letter to DFO, which has some objections to the project.
The Nunavut Government is working towards the building of the docking facility in Kugluktuk this summer, but the DFO has slowed the project, as they are concerned about the fish in the river nearby.
Mr. Speaker, the mayor wrote to the DFO and I want to work with the mayor, perhaps the DFO officials and my senior officials to go to Kugluktuk to speak with the people.
I could also speak to the Minister of DFO to attempt to have the docking facility built this summer.
It is the DFO that is preventing it from being built.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your answer minister.
I am very glad that you are going to be working with the Mayor of Kugluktuk so that this docking facility can be built this summer.
Right now spring is approaching very fast and the snow is going to be melting, the ice is going to be getting weak.
In Kugluktuk they have to haul gravel from an island and they have to make an ice road to haul this gravel.
So I would like to ask the minister when she is going to be meeting with the DFO officials, as the ice road can start getting rotten pretty fast over there.
In regards to the docking facility in Kugluktuk, we would like this project to be completed soon.
If the DFO federal inspector decided to go ahead and work on it as soon as possible that would be good.
They are the ones that are delaying the project. I know I still have to meet with them to try and find out if there is any way they will begin work on it.
I am going to suggest that they go to Kugluktuk soon and meet with the people up there. I'll see if my officials can meet with the elders also to talk about it since spring is almost upon us.
Maybe I didn't hear all of it earlier.
They would like to know before the middle of March so the construction crew can go ahead and haul gravel.
They want to start construction of the dock facility this summer.
If we can meet before Friday, maybe meet with Fisheries and Oceans in Iqaluit, maybe this will speed up the process if we can meet on Friday because the DFO mentioned that they don't want the docking facilities built this summer as the fish migrate through there.
It is not going to make any difference there even if we build the docking facility.
I would like to meet with the officials before Friday.
What I was saying is that we want the project to go ahead.
It is being delayed by DFO.
We don't have any control over the federal regulations but we can certainly help out to try and make it proceed.
What I suggested to the member and to the town of Kugluktuk is that I can call the federal inspector to come up to Kugluktuk and see if he can meet with my staff, the elders and me.
Then the elders would have a chance to say what they want to say to him.
At the same time, I can also write a letter to the federal minister to keep an eye on this and to make sure it proceeds faster.
I would like to see it fast tracked but I can't do anything on Friday.
That is just a couple of days from now, it is Tuesday, I can only promise the member that I'll do everything I can do to make the project go faster.
But I don't have any control over the federal bureaucracy or the federal minister.
Question 442 - 1(5): Assistance for Spectators to Attend the Arctic Winter Games
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Sport.
The Arctic Winter Games will be held on March 17, 2002.
Youth across Nunavut have been chosen to participate in this event.
I have been approached by people in the communities of Nunavut who would like to participate by actually observing them.
Are there going to be chartered planes or discounted tickets between Iqaluit and other Nunavut communities?
In regards to transportation for the parents to come here and watch their children in the games, I have to point out to you that they have to make their own arrangements as we are only taking care of airfares for direct participants.
However, I have approached Canadian North and First Air and asked them about the possibilities for parents or other spectators getting discounts.
They were open to the idea and are still working on the details.
This is going to be a very special event and there are going to be lots of people coming in from out of town.
There are also going to be parents that want to attend to see their children compete.
They will also want to prepare soon for the trip.
Are you going to do something about this prior to the actual date of March 17?
I am not responsible for airline scheduling or for the charters.
I don’t own any airplanes, which is a shame.
Those things will be advertised in the newspapers.
My colleague’s question is a very good one and I will check again with the airlines for an update.
We are in support of this, as it would be good for the Arctic Winter Games if more people came in and also for the airlines.
I know that you don’t have your own airlines but I believe that you as the minister and as Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are responsible for the athletes and you are responsible for recreation.
So what we would like is for you to talk to the airlines and let us know what they can offer.
The communities of Nunavut are interested in whether there are going to be any special deals to go to the Arctic Winter Games.
I do know that I have a lot of responsibilities and I am responsible for recreation.
In carrying out my responsibilities and as the Minister responsible for Recreation, I met with the airlines and asked them if they could give us reduced fares.
But of course I don’t have any authority over the airlines but I did ask them to inform the public out there by way of advertisements or something if they’re going to be giving us special deals but I can’t make them do that.
I’m sure that they will inform me of what they’re going to be doing and if I do hear from these two airlines, I will inform the Members of the House.
Right now, I don’t know anything about their plans.
Question 443 - 1(5): Recognition of Teachers’ Day
I would like to read an excerpt from one of his statements he made earlier.
It’s in regards to the recognition of teachers and it states here that the minister urges the communities and their DEAs to recognize the teachers in their communities.
They have made a day to recognize the teachers.
I would like to hear from the minister exactly what that means, in terms of what he is asking us to do.
I don’t have a copy of the Inuktitut version in front me so I would like him to read it again please.
Speaker: Mr. Iqaqrialu, please read your statement again.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I will start from the top of the paragraph.
The teachers of Nunavut do a lot of work, including Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in their teachings.
We would like to ask the communities and the DEAs to show our appreciation for the teachers.
Mr. Speaker, I was talking about things like plaques and other symbols to recognize the teachers.
We would like the communities to show their appreciation for the teachers and we’re also giving them certificates to recognize them for their work.
In regards to recognizing the teachers, why does it say that communities should do that when the government should be the ones recognizing the teachers?
We did that because the Bathurst Mandate suggests that we should recognize and show appreciation for the people that we work with.
With the help of my staff we set up a date, the last Monday of February, to recognize the teachers.
We would like them to be recognized and to involve the community more in education.
Speaker: Thank you, minister. Supplementary.
I understand exactly what you are saying.
But I am a bit concerned.
I do like to show my appreciation to teachers.
But if working conditions for teachers do not improve we seem to be paying lip service to this concept.
If we do really appreciate them we should be improving the conditions and the regulations they work under.
The idea wasn't to change the regulations but to show our appreciation.
We feel that we will be better prepared to work with parents in the communities as to how we will show our appreciation to our teachers.
So this is something we could plan for.
Once the teachers have been recognized, will the communities have more authority over the education programs?
This was developed to recognize the work of the teachers and their contribution to the community.
It is to recognize the work that they have to do.
It is teacher appreciation day.
It is also to recognize elders and volunteers that work in the schools.
So the day is set to recognize the work that they do and not just the curriculum that are put together.
Question 444 - 1(5): Update on Dog Illnesses Prevention and Treatment
Mr. Speaker, the Member's Statement I made was regarding rabid dogs.
I would like to get some information from the minister as to what is being done in the communities to correct this problem.
This is the first time that this is brought up in the House.
I am aware of this problem regarding rabies and/or distemper with dogs in the communities.
I haven't received any correspondence regarding this concern.
I will look into getting some information on this.
Mr. Speaker, we have concerns regarding the animals in the community not just dogs but also cats.
Is there equipment available in the communities to correct this problem?
The Minister of Health and Social Services should have a response for this question so I would like to direct the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Speaker: Minister Akesuk, I don’t believe you can re-direct the question to another minister. Only the Premier can do that.
In this case we will let that go as Mr. Picco seems very eager to stand and speak to this House.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to take this opportunity on this question to thank the Health Ministry staff in Cambridge Bay who, after my son and five other children were bitten by a rabid dog in Cambridge Bay, were well treated.
Not only by the Health Ministry staff, but also the people of Cambridge Bay.
That regime of needles is ongoing right now.
On the specific question of rabies, Mr. Speaker, rabies as well as the other very prevalent disease with animals, especially dogs in Nunavut, is distemper.
So there are both of those diseases.
There is a lay vaccination program that is available in every community Mr. Speaker.
Sustainable Development, as Minister Akesuk points out, as well as Health & Social Services, has the responsibility of dealing with the issue.
Once the rabid dog has bitten a person, of course at that time, the responsibility goes to the Department of Health & Social Services.
The actual physical monitoring of rabies or distemper activity is done by Sustainable in conjunction with the Department of Health & Social Services and the vaccinations are made available.
The distemper program, Mr. Speaker, the lay vaccination program is in place in most of our communities, to the best of my knowledge.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that that is the situation at the present time.
I am aware that the Department of Sustainable Development is in charge of giving vaccinations to dogs.
But today during my Members' Statement, I talked about rabid dogs in the communities.
My question is whether there is testing available on dogs in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, once an incursion, or if there is an idea that a rabid animal is in a community and after that rabid animal has been identified and in most cases shot, the first thing that has to be done Mr. Speaker is the head is severed from the body and the head is sent out for testing.
At that time Mr. Speaker, if the test comes back positive that indeed the animal had rabies, any people who may have came in contact with that animal, or might have been bitten by the animal, under Health and Social Services they are provided with a vaccination for rabies.
So the testing is done out of the Territory, out of Nunavut.
In most cases it is either in Winnipeg or Edmonton to the best of my knowledge.
In the Cambridge Bay instance for example they severed the head from the animal by the by-law officer who sent it out to Edmonton for testing.
Question 445 – 1(5): Support to Non-Decentralized Communities
First of all I would like to thank the Minister for Sustainable Development because he said that he would go to Coral Harbour on March the 2nd, but because of the budget we will not be able to go to Coral Harbour and Coral Harbour people realize that.
I would like to ask the Minister of Sustainable Development whether the non-decentralized communities will be assisted, especially the businesses in our communities to create employment for people in the non-decentralized communities.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, I will be working with the people of Coral Harbour and I have done that thus far.
I will be trying to help them out with economic development.
I have talked with them already to see what we can do to create economic development for that community.