EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And, over here, Jose Kusugak, everybody knows Jose Kusugak because I knew his parents and I grew up with Jose, his brothers and his sisters in Chesterfield Inlet, and I’m very proud of them.
Those have been introduced before but I would like to congratulate and welcome to the Gallery because Levi Barnabas knows them because he used to be a Constituency Assistant for Lootie Palluq.
I feel that I’m very proud of the Nunavut Arctic College Board of Governors and I would like to say that they just got a new chairperson.
I would like to congratulate Jose Kusugak and I nominated him to be on the Board of Governors for the Arctic College recently, and I’m very proud of him.
He had a famous question to me before and I will never forget that and I would like to share it with the members.
When I was President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami he told me that I am going to be involved with working very hard for the Inuit people of Canada.
When Jose Kusugak agreed to be my assistant, he asked me a question because we’re going to be working very hard for the Inuit of Canada, and he asked me, “What is Land Claims?”
but I think he knows what it means now.
I also appointed Mike Shouldice to Arviat, as well as myself and David Alagalak.
The Member from Repulse Bay is not here.
I would like to welcome Ilisuusie Alakannuark from Repulse Bay, and this person has been recognized already in the House but I would like to recognize the individual.
This thing is not known by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, so when I was really mixed up, because he taught me what to wear, I would like to welcome Uriash Puqiqnaq to the House.
If there are no more.
Question 150 – 2(4): Fulfillment of Federal Promises on Arctic Sovereignty (Curley)
I think this is very important and I will be reading it in English.
Mr. Speaker this is a question to the Deputy Premier.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, yesterday a committee of unelected and unaccountable senators released a report which makes an outrageous claim that little or no threat to Canadian sovereignty and security exists in our northern waters.
However, we know that experts are saying that the prospect of global warming and opening of Northwest Passage will in fact create new security challenge to Canada’s Arctic.
This is not the time for our government, the Nunavut Government to be silent.
Will the Deputy Premier commit to this House that she and her cabinet colleagues will clearly and convincingly convey our concerns to Ottawa on this issue?
Deputy Premier, Ms. Brown.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I also feel this is a very important question, and I don’t want to make any mistakes.
It’s a very controversial issue and it has not been given to me as one of my responsibilities, so I would like the House Leader to answer.
I thank the member for raising the issue. Just going back to a little over a year ago, just before the last federal election, Minister O’Connor, the Minister of National Defence, brought forward a campaign platform where Arctic sovereignty issues were raised. They talked about building a port in Nunavut as well as putting in an Armed Forces base.
We endorsed that plan.
We thought that the federal government finally recognized issues around sovereignty in the Arctic, in Nunavut in particular. I know the Prime Minister had conversations with the Premier about that. I also had an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Defence and talk a little bit about some of the issues that he had raised during that campaign platform.
The member is also correct when he says that an unelected senate is making recommendations although they have the power within the political system in Canada, we would hope that the federal government would continue and move forward expeditiously on their plans to look at Arctic sovereignty more seriously and do the right thing by making sure that the Canadian Government has the equipment to do that job.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. This is also for the Deputy Premier. (interpretation ends)
In a speech delivered in December 2, 2005 Stephen Harper made several commitments, including the acquisition of three new heavy naval icebreakers and the construction of deep water port in Nunavut. Establishment of deep water port in Nunavut would create a major boost to our economy.
I also would like to remind members that there is such thing as Stand Up for Canada document, and press release, “Harper stand ups for sovereignty” you can read all about it in that press release.
The establishment of a deep water port would not only provide a major boost to our economy. So the question to the premier, what is the Nunavut Government doing to work with Ottawa to make this plan a reality. And I might add, Danes are not shy about protecting their Arctic Waters.
I know that the Premier talks to me about those kinds of issues and that there have to be negotiations between the federal and Nunavut Governments.
We are working very to protect the waters of Nunavut and I know it’s going to continue and as well as working very hard together to work on the deep water port and we would not like to lose any money because this would benefit the people of Nunavut and we are working very hard and I will continue to work very hard on that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Deputy Premier.
The editorial in the Globe and Mail clearly stated that the Senate Committee, and I quote, “missed the point on the issue of Arctic sovereignty.” Not only that, Nunavummiut are also saying that Senate Committee is wrong.
In regard to the Northwest Passage; we don’t know who is snooping around under the Arctic waters at this time. So will the minister ensure that she and her cabinet colleagues will continue to vocally lobby Ottawa to fulfill its promises to the North?
Deputy Premier Ms. Brown.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s very important that a lot of people are concerned about the issue of Arctic Sovereignty. I’m sure that there are submarines and other vessels snooping around and I’m sure that we’re going to have to protect our waters.
We will commit to making sure that we will continue to lobby the federal government and also make it a priority. It’s only after you’ve been talking about it for months or years that something comes out as a reality.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Curley
I said earlier that there appears to be silence on what this new government in Ottawa had committed to the north earlier. This is no time to remain silent and I urge the minister to loudly express our disappointment with the Senate Committee’s recommendations.
Will you do that and inform the public that the Nunavut Government is transparently disappointed in what they recommended because Arctic sovereignty I believe is essential and the federal government must quickly implement their promises.
I would like to thank the member for bringing this issue up.
I will commit to this and I agree that we’ve being too silent on this issue.
Again, with the Senators I totally disagree with the recommendations that they’ve come up with.
Since my colleagues are here and listening I’m sure they’re going to be supporting us and they’re not going to be silent about it either. We will work collectively, and I would like to assure you that I will keep working on it.
Question 151 – 2(4): Insurance Support to Outfitters (Barnabas)
I will direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. (interpretation ends)
For many Nunavummiut, the outfitting business is an important source of seasonal income, especially for those communities where there is little or no wage employment.
Can the minister clarify for this House, and for the listening public, what kind of support his department provides to outfitters and other tourism operators?
In regard to outfitters we can give them support financially if they apply for it.
And we also give them support through the Tourism Association. Nunavut Tourism is responsible for the outfitters and the tourism industry.
They usually get their services provided through that association.
We also have the economic development officers and also the regional offices that can give support to the outfitters anytime it is requested.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the minister.
To date the outfitters are required to have insurance and because of the high price of the insurance, the businesses and the outfitters cannot afford to pay the high cost.
(interpretation ends) Insurance is necessary to outfitters in order to provide security for their clients and to protect themselves for the future. What specific support is available to outfitters to meet their insurance needs?
In regard to outfitters and tourism, it is usually a seasonal job and they only work during the spring and summer. The insurance rate is extremely high and for the information of the member, we are looking at how we can make an improvement on this issue in Nunavut.
The Nunavut Tourism Association is also working and looking at other suggestions. We realize that the insurance rates are extremely high for these outfitters and the tourism sector, but the government is currently looking at how they can give further support to the outfitters and to the tourism sector on this issue.
Providing contact information and appropriate paperwork to outfitters is one step in the right direction; however the high cost of insurance is a very high barrier.
Nunavut Tourism receives more than $2 million from the government every year.
Is any of the money available to outfitters who provide important tourism services as a subsidy for their insurance?
The Nunavut Tourism Association, if you are asking me about whether there is any money from Nunavut Tourism I am not aware if there is any. I will have to look into it and I do know that there have to be some adjustments made in regard to insurance and the tourism industry.
I know exactly where you’re coming from.
Mr. Barnabas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would also like to thank the minister. (interpretation ends) Will the minister commit to reviewing this issue and making insurance information available to outfitters and others in the Nunavut tourism industry?
We will work closely with the Nunavut Tourism Association to see what we can do about the insurance rates and look at suggestions.
Question 152 – 2(4): Housing for Health Professionals (Peterson)
The Health Department requires as many as 20 houses for health professionals in Cambridge Bay. They can’t hire any nurses or doctors for up to 20 of those health professionals at the health centre over there.
Last summer, Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation issued a request for proposals in July. The timing of that request for proposals was totally wrong. It showed a lack of commitment on the part of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, annoying many people in the community.
My question for the minister, will the minister commit today to issue a request for proposals for the Health Department housing in Cambridge Bay by the end of April 2007 to give local developers an opportunity to submit bids in time for the upcoming sealift season?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) The Nunavut Housing Corporation … if you would like to, we’re more than open to any suggestions.
We are open to getting requests for proposals from companies out there to make sure that there’s housing available.
I think the minister should make a commitment and take the lead, issue a request for proposals that would show the contractors and developers in the community and around the region that, okay, the Government of Nunavut is serious and they are looking for housing.
I think you should take that first step and not make the developers come forward without that commitment.
Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister: will the minister commit today to making housing for health professionals in Cambridge Bay a priority for the Nunavut Housing Corporation in the upcoming 2008-09 Government of Nunavut priority setting exercise under the Capital Estimates?
We will work closely with the Department of Health and Social Services.
The minister and I can have meetings, not only in the Kitikmeot area but in also the Keewatin and Baffin, to make sure that there’s adequate housing for health professionals.
We will work on it to make sure that it progresses smoothly and to make sure that there’s adequate housing for the health professionals.
Sometimes I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall.
When I was Mayor of Cambridge Bay and the Government of Nunavut was planning the health facility, in my council we immediately recognized that there was going to be a need for housing health professionals. We talked to the former Minister of Health during that era and his officials, and they assured us that housing would be available for health officials and I’ve been asking for years as MLA and I don’t seem to be getting the answer.
The minister just said we’d have more meetings. So I don’t know what they talk about in these meetings, but there are no decisions or finalities to what they’ve discussed.
My question for the minister, what current planning activities are underway in the Nunavut Housing Corporation to address the critical housing shortage for health professionals in Cambridge Bay?
We’ve been dealing; we’re negotiating with KC, one of the divisions, because we really want to work closely with them on the possible leasing of three units. We’re not just ignoring any housing shortages for our health section and we’re making sure that it’s going to happen in the future.
Again, we will do our very best to come up with ideas on how we can eliminate any possibility of not having any staff housing for our nurses.
Again, I don’t think that we’re ignoring it.
We’re doing our very best to come up with ideas on how we can work this out with the Department of Health.
Perhaps it might be helpful if the Nunavut Housing Corporation, when they issue an RFP, hopefully by the end of April 2007, they tell the developers what type of housing is required for health officials.
Don’t make the developers guess. If they require a certain type of housing, tell the developers which type of housing and then submit a proposal based on that.
And a question for the minister, and I’m sure that the staff has done all this research, can the minister tell me what research, based on the Nunavut Housing Corporation research, what type of housing is required to provide affordable accommodation for health professionals in Cambridge Bay.
Do they require housing? Do they require multiplexes? Do they require condominiums?
Just exactly what type of housing do they require?
Minister responsible for Housing Corporation, Mr. Akesuk
I asked the minister myself, Minister Aglukkaq, and there is a shortage of doctors and nurses throughout Canada. And I do believe we have to come up with the best solution how we could get nurses and doctors to get to Nunavut.
So we’re going to do our very best to make sure which of the options we have opted for works for us.
Again, we’ll probably need 20 units in Cambridge Bay to make sure that the positions are filled to run that hospital. So we’re working really closely with the Department of HSS.
We’re trying our best to come up with ideas that are the most affordable to get nurses to our territory.
Question 153 – 2(4): Status of the Kugluktuk Crisis Shelter (Evyagotailak)
Last week, the minister indicated that there are currently, or shall I say, still, only four crisis shelters for women and children in Nunavut.
The issue of the violence against women and children remains a serious concern in many of Nunavut’s 25 communities.
Can the minister provide an update on how many of the recommendations from the report on the Violence Against Women Symposium have been implemented to date?
Minister of Social Services, Minister Aglukkaq.
And I thank the member for his question.
From the Violence Against Women Symposium recommendations, there are about 75 recommendations that came out of that forum that we held here a year ago in Iqaluit. The Premier spoke to that last week in that we are putting an implementation plan together to address the 75 recommendations. Those recommendations fall within different departments as well.
So the implementation plan, the interagency working group is addressing that and he has committed to providing that information to this House.
Some of the things that we have done first of all is hold the symposium within our own territory. There is also a national forum around the issue of violence against women and children.
The Minister of Justice, in the last sitting in November, introduced legislation on the Family Abuse Intervention Act so that is one big step that we have dealt with.
The other areas around shelter development, community involvement, those remain to be developed as programs and resources will have to be tied into that.
Once the implementation plan is in place, of course, the next big challenge will be to fund each of those initiatives accordingly.
Thank you, Minister, for your answers.
Some of my constituents have expressed concerns about the lack of safe homes for women and children to go to, especially when workers from the mine come home bringing alcohol with them.
Last November, the minister indicated that her department had held discussions with Inuit organizations regarding Inuit Impact Benefits Agreements process and how to involve the mining communities in addressing those kinds of issues.
Can the minister update this House on the status of those discussions?
The IIBA discussions, I did not have an IIBA discussion with the Inuit of the Kitikmeot or the territories. The Inuit Impact Benefits negotiations are between KIA and the mining sector.
The discussion, in terms of bringing forward my thoughts on the IIBA related to my discussions with the KIA group in that, in negotiating IIBA’s that Inuit organizations should also be looking at the social impacts of mining sectors in our communities, whether it be alcohol and drugs, whether it be violence against women and children or whether it be supporting families to stay together when they are dealing with spouses or children separation from mining work.
So, it was a dialogue during the KIA AGM on how better we can tap into the IIBA discussions on addressing the social impacts to Inuit as a result of development.
That’s what the IIBA is intended to address outside the portfolio of this department.
We as the Health Department don’t negotiate IIBAs, but at the same time having said that, Health and Social Services does also respond to individuals that have been impacted by the social development, so if there was to a way to try and marry those two processes and support each other as we provide these services to the citizens in our territories, would be useful.
Thanks, Minister.
Can the minister clarify for this House what type of long-term agreements have been reached with other non-governmental organizations, such as YWCA, to provide resources and support for safe homes in Nunavut?
We have four shelters in the Nunavut territory and those shelters are operated through the hamlets, in most cases, here it is through a society.
The society here has been working with YMCA in how better to operate the facility and developing training programs, and so on.
Those agreements are within those agencies and not so much the Government of Nunavut.
The Government of Nunavut has a range of agreements in place with municipalities to operate the facilities, but beyond that, the extensions of additional agreements would fall under those organizations.
I would like to bring home some good news to my constituents.
Can the minister provide an update on what efforts are being made by her department to assist the Kugluktuk Crisis Shelter in becoming operational once again?
The department in the region has been working closely with the municipality on how to address the situation with the shelter in Kugluktuk.
The original group that had operated the women’s shelter there was no longer functioning well, and as a result of that, they had to close the shelter.
The hamlet has expressed interest in operating a women’s shelter and there were some negotiations with our department to try and address that. You’ll note in our main estimates we have limited resources for operating shelters in the territory, and the proposal that had gone forward in terms of funding was three or four times what we had spent in the community before the closure.
So having said that, the discussions are ongoing but in the interim the individual victims are, unfortunately, transported to other communities where there is a shelter in the interim as we try and address that situation in the community.
Question 154 – 2(4): Buried Scrap Metals (Kattuk)
In the Minister’s Statement in regard to end-of-life vehicles and scrap metals, they would be sending out old vehicles from communities somewhere down south.
According to my knowledge, some communities have been burying scrap metal.
We will be working on scrap metals that already exist. If we were to dig out old scrap metal I think we’ll dig forever.
I know you won’t have to dig for a long time because we now have heavy equipment.
So I would like you to consider scrap metals that have already been buried. I believe that’s a concern when you leave scrap metal buried, and it’s going to pollute and contaminate our environment. You stated that you would be making guidelines.
Are you going to include scrap metal that has already been buried? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We’re not going to be working on the scrap metals that have been buried. We will be working on the communities in the Keewatin region this summer and next year.
If this goes well, and if we can get additional funding, then we will expand it to the other communities in Nunavut, but for the scrap metal that is buried, we won’t be considering it.
Question 155 – 2(4): Staff and Public Housing Policies (Arvaluk)
As he recently stated, the tenants in government staff housing are not in the collective agreement.
My question is: if they are not there, are you going to set up a policy for public housing and for GN staff housing? Are you going to have the same policy for those, too?
Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Akesuk.
We can look at the member’s suggestions to see if we can create a policy because we provide staff with housing. The people who rent public housing, we want to try to find out whether we can help out our staff in staff housing.
And we are going to try and see if we can make the policy the same for the public housing and the staff housing.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): The government has a goal that they have to be able to work for the betterment of all people and treat them the same way.
That’s their goal.
That’s the goal of the Nunavut Government. And they also have a goal that they would reach 85 percent Inuit employment in the government, within the government.
Some people gave up, say for instance, if a person has a two-bedroom house, they have to pay the rent according to the size of the house, and they don’t make that much money.
I’d like to ask a question about the goals of the government.
While you’re looking after the public housing tenants and the staff houses, is there any way that the governments’ own rule is broken by not treating them the same.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister for Housing, Mr. Akesuk.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker, we reviewed this, reviewed our goal.
What we do is give rental assistance to the public who cannot pay the full rent.
And we also have some benefits for our staff houses that are occupied by staff. So what we’re going to do is, we’re going to be reviewing our policy to find out if there’s equal treatment of our staff and the public housing tenants to make sure that the staff do not leave their position.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends)
The government has a vision, government has directive to treat all Nunavummiut equally. This policy and rental scale for all public housing and Nunavut employees in not equal for all Nunavummiut, the same people.