EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, this return is quite detailed and because of that, I have filed it with the Clerk for transcribing into Hansard for the public record and for distribution to all members.
CGS is not able to speak on behalf of Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) and any proposed plans to redevelop Building 534 to satisfy NAC programs space needs.
As indicated previously by NAC, that option had been examined, but was not pursued further once it was determined that a change in use would require substantial upgrades to building sprinkler system, fire exiting, etcetera.
Building 534 is an asset of the Department of Health and until such time as that department deems it surplus to their needs, as outlined under the Government of Nunavut Surplus Disposal Policy, any questions related to this building would need to be responded to by the Department of Health.
The person I wanted to recognize left.
He’s my in-law. Also, my constituent, Naullaq Arnaquq also left. It just took too long to get to recognitions.
Fortunately, Simon Nattaq is still here, who is one of my special constituents, and also Elisapee Quassa, my neighbour, welcome to the House as well. I represent you too.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Shooyook.
The person I wanted to recognize also left.
I will proceed anyway. I am proud of Joanasie Akumalik. He is from my community and he has helped Iqaluit a great deal.
He is very capable, he is a young man, and he’s just getting into senior-hood. I am very proud of him.
I would like to recognize Samajuali Eric Joanasie. My younger brother is much more capable than I am now.
He’s here for a course in Iqaluit. (interpretation ends) He had to sacrifice watching his son take his first steps, but I am proud of him for his continued efforts in going to school, my younger brother, Sam.
Ms. Angnakak and Mr. Shooyook, the people I’m recognizing are here.
Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to recognize people from my community.
It’s rare for me to recognize people from my community and I’m very happy to be able to recognize my friends today.
The first one is Elijah Tigullaraq, who was recognized and got a medal from the Premier. Thank you, my friend. Feel welcome.
Also my friend, Cornelius Nutarak, please feel welcome in the House as well.
I rarely have the opportunity to recognize residents of Baker Lake, but I am pleased to recognize a visitor in the gallery while they are present.
Quite a number of original Baker Lake residents have moved to other communities, nonetheless this individual was recognized for her accomplishments and she has many relatives still living in Baker Lake. I recognize Irene Tagoona. Please welcome her.
She has been working for over 30 years now.
The other person I wish to recognize is someone I grew up with and obviously has relatives in Baker Lake as well. Please welcome Robert Tookoomee.
I stand here, which is a really rare occasion for me to recognize people in the gallery, so I’m quite pleased today.
I want to recognize the 30-year long-term service to the public, although they have already been recognized. Please stand up when I call your name.
Naullaq Arnaquq with Culture and Heritage; Irene Tagoona with Environment; Annie Jane Kamingoak with Health; and Sally Gunn with Justice.
Also, with 35 years of service, Shuvinai Joamie Mike with Culture and Heritage.
I also want to recognize the Council of the Federation Literacy Award winner from Pond Inlet, Elijah Tigullaraq.
We seem to be scurrying to be acknowledged today.
I wish to recognize a person before they leave who is one of my constituents and gives me advice, Mosesee Atagoyuk. Thank you and please feel welcome here.
>>Applause  Additionally, a member of my staff who is always welcoming whenever I go to the office at the Department of Justice, Sally Gunn.
I am very proud of you. Thank you.
As well, this person who is starting to look more like his late father, Simon Tookoomee, who was one of my advisors, I would like to recognize and welcome Robert Tookoomee.
I would also like to recognize my constituents of Iqaluit-Manirajak. The first one is (interpretation ends) Her Worship, Mayor Madeleine Redfern, (interpretation) who is my neighbour.
Also from my constituency, they were already recognized with 30-year service awards from the government and they are Sally Gunn and Irene Tagoona.
Also, one of our elders now, who is called “uncle” by my children, and I used to work with him at CBC, Mosesee Atagoyuk.
When I worked at NTI, this person was an employee. I would like to welcome Robert Tookoomee.
Also, one of our elders who was recognized quite recently by QIA when they had their 40-year awards, our local elder, Simon Nattaq.
Can you guess who I am going to recognize?
The person I will recognize today is my husband to whom I am much attached, and whom I hold dear in my heart, a very handsome man sitting in the House today, Nauyaq Ugyuk.
I want to welcome him and also the person who was here earlier, Megan Pizzo-Lyall. She is the daughter of Charlie Lyall and Gina Pizzo-Lyall in Taloyoak and she grew up there. I want to welcome them.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to also recognize someone who has been my wife for 36 years. Elisapee Quassa and I have 6 children and 11 grandchildren.
She is also called Malaya.
Mosesee Atagoyuk was also recognized already, but I have known him for many years since we used to work at CBC as well and I remember him well. He is my late father-in-law’s brother.
He really helps us and he’s still a major hunter. He really helps the people of Iqaluit and I thank him, and I love them all.
As I mentioned in my Member’s Statement earlier today, I would like to make some special recognition to some new members of our council and our new mayor.
Unfortunately, due to outstanding obligations, a majority of them had to leave, but I think it’s kind of fitting that we’ve got one of our new members, Mr. Kuthula Matshazi, and one of our longer serving members, Mr. Simon Nattaq, who were able to stay.
I would like to make special recognition to our second-time mayor in recent years, Madeline Redfern, Her Worship.
I would also like to recognize Cathy McGregor, a constituent of mine who I used to work with at the Department of Education. I know we used to bounce ideas off each other quite frequently and I appreciate the advice she has given me over the years.
Most of the people I was going to recognize have left due to the length of time we were going on about this, so I’ll stop it right here.
Member for Rankin Inlet, Alexander Sammurtok.
The person was already recognized, but I want to recognize the person who lives in my constituency now, Robert Tookoomee.
Like my colleague, the Premier, it’s not very often that I get to recognize people from the Kitikmeot, so I’m going to take this opportunity today to do that.
Although they’re from Kugluktuk, they live in Cambridge Bay, and I would like to recognize Annie Kamingoak. She was one of the recipients last night of the 30-year award.
She works at the health centre in Cambridge Bay and her husband, Stanley Anablak, is the President of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, a very hardworking fellow. I would like to welcome them to the gallery. Welcome.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery is now over; I have no more names on my list.
Question 136 – 4(3): Economic Development Initiatives (Angnakak)
Yesterday, the new federal cabinet was sworn into office, Mr. Speaker.
It appears that the new federal government may have some different priorities in the area of economic development than the previous government had with respect to such issues as oil and gas exploration, mining development, and other sectors of the economy.
Can the minister indicate to the House what specific priorities she will be raising with her new federal counterpart with respect to the issue of mining in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the member for asking that question.
The federal cabinet was sworn in just yesterday and I’m sure they will start working right away.
They have already indicated that they would like to start negotiations with our department and I will be having discussions with the minister on Monday.
We are going to be looking at different issues and because oil and gas exploration is very important and because of the potential for employment opportunities, we have indicated that we are open to exploration, mining development, and other sectors of the economy.
Nunavut is vast and we don’t know exactly what potential development there is.
That would be our first priority.
In respect to the issues that happened around Clyde River and the issues surrounding seismic testing and the issue of gas and oil exploration in Nunavut, what message are you going to be telling your counterpart in respect to oil and gas exploration in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for that question.
In terms of oil and gas development, we have to make sure that there is open communication between the communities and that they know what development there would be around the communities. There are laws that apply to Nunavut. We will have to go through the regulatory process and we would make sure, first of all, it is known how the process is up here in Nunavut.
It’s not entirely clear as to which minister in the new federal cabinet is formally and officially responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Is our minister in a position to clarify this matter?
We haven’t had discussions on this issue yet because they’re just getting ready. They were just sworn in yesterday and they have a lot to do at this point.
We will make sure that we get the information and pass it on to the member and to the rest of our colleagues.
Question 137 – 4(3): Update on Building 534 in Iqaluit (Hickes)
In the return to written question that I received today from the Minister of Community and Government Services, I would like to direct my question towards the Minister of Health.
It states in the response that “Building 534 is an asset of the Department of Health and until such time as that department deems it surplus…as outlined under the GN Surplus Disposal Policy, any questions related to this building would need to be responded to by the Department of Health.”
My original question when I was asking the Minister of CGS was: what options are being explored for repurposing Building 534 as it has been sitting vacant now for nearly three years?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I wasn’t aware that this building belonged to Health, so I will have to take this matter as notice and look into it because I didn’t even know we had that building. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Hickes. (interpretation ends) The minister has taken the question as notice and I will move to the next member. (interpretation) Member for Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Question 138 – 4(3): Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day to the people of Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet and Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Culture and Heritage.
During this sitting, the Legislative Assembly approved $500,000 in capital funding for the department to continue its project to renovate and upgrade cultural facilities in Nunavut for the specific purpose of repatriating, storing, and displaying Nunavut artefacts within the territory.
Earlier in this sitting, on October 22, during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s 2016-17 capital estimates, I asked the Hon. Minister Ell-Kanayuk if her department would consider allocating or adding space to its new Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre to display Nunavut artefacts.
Can the minister indicate if he has discussed with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation on the possibility of displaying Nunavut artefacts in the new Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague.
Mr. Speaker, we are starting to work on the Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre. We are looking at different options. We will be sending him correspondence on this issue and that’s the only way I can respond.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I recognize that the department is allocating its funding for the repatriation project under the Heritage Facilities Contribution Policy.
I also recognize that visitor centres may serve as more than heritage facilities.
Can the minister indicate if local visitor centres are currently eligible to receive funding under the department’s Heritage Facilities Contribution Policy to renovate or upgrade their facilities to house and display artefacts?
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we set the contribution deadline date for January 31, 2016. The communities can apply through culture, language, and other departments. You can apply for contributions and if there are monies available after the deadline date, then we would give another opportunity.
If there was a surplus, we could then look at applications to see if they could be funded through there.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) It appears to me that the design and construction of a new regional visitor centre in Nunavut is an ideal opportunity to develop a space that is designed to safely and securely display artefacts from this territory.
Will the minister commit to working with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation to explore ways that the new Kivalliq regional centre can receive and display Nunavut artefacts, and will he commit to updating the House on this issue during the 2016 winter sitting?
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, you were asking me if the new visitor centre would have a specific purpose to store and display Nunavut artefacts.
Once I get the information and I get correspondence, I’ll make sure that I inform the member accordingly.
Question 139 – 4(3): Addressing Mental Illness and Suicide (Keyootak)
Mr. Speaker, the members or actually the government came to an agreement that suicide prevention was going to be a priority to lessen the number of suicides. Furthermore, it was decided that it would be handled by a government department.
Mr. Speaker, we know that some of our people have mental health issues and this is exacerbated by the lack of available counsellors within their communities.
Mental health nurses who arrive into the communities in Nunavut to deal with mental health issues as well as psychologists and other workers who can serve as counsellors are all unable to speak in Inuktitut.
We also know for a fact that Inuit and qallunaat counselling techniques and methods are completely different from one another.
Mr. Speaker, in your plans to address suicide prevention, can the minister consider hiring counsellors who speak Inuktitut and who are aware of the cultural differences in dealing with mental health issues?
The workers who have completed their training are used throughout Nunavut. We have mental health nurses throughout the territory and they are now in place. They have started to work in their roles.
However, as a government, we have to start focusing on Inuit culture, especially the best practices.
Based on what I know, there is the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural School in Clyde River teaching Inuit cultural counselling methods and these are commendable.
We want to review every option to see how best to start dealing with this issue.
I also thank the minister for responding appropriately.
I also recall the Piqqusilirivvik facility in Clyde River and it would be a very appropriate place to offer counselling courses at this time.
Life is not a game, and I am repeatedly told by one particular person that whenever a mental health worker arrives into town and they attend their appointment, they obviously can’t understand each other because they are speaking two different languages.
It’s very obvious that there is a great need for Inuktitut-speaking mental health counsellors.
Can the minister indicate to us if his department has any plans and when we will start seeing Inuktitut-speaking counsellors?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be working closely with my colleagues.
We are dealing with different issues and we will start gathering the procedures together. The Department of Family Services coordinates these training courses and we will have to work closely with them to find the best course of action.
We will proceed in the near future.
We also know that social workers deal with some of these cases and maybe he can deal with the Department of Family Services if we’re going to concentrate on suicide prevention in Nunavut.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to this issue, along with my colleagues, I will work on this issue and we will commence planning with the Department of Education as well as the Department of Culture and Heritage and the Premier.
We have to work together to produce the best approach.
We have different mandates. However, by amalgamating the various programs, we can provide more responses to the challenges we face. That is how we will be coordinating this work.
Question 140 – 4(3): Status of Search and Rescue Organizations and Societies (Mikkungwak)
It has come to my attention that a number of search and rescue organizations may currently be “not in good standing” with the registrar of societies.
As a result, these organizations may be restricted from accessing contribution funds from the government.
My concern is that these situations may be occurring due to the fact that search and rescue organizations do not have the capacity to meet the specific accounting requirements set out in the department’s policies.
I believe that it is very important that all search and rescue organizations be provided the opportunity to gain this capacity and access resources that are essential to their operation, especially given that these organizations are essential to the well-being of our communities.
Can the minister indicate what kind of support is provided to search and rescue organizations that may be “not in good standing” with legal registries?
Yes, in Nunavut, search and rescue organizations provide real services and some of them have occasionally had problems when it comes to reporting or even when they’re trying to get society status.
There are other issues as well.
We try to work closely with the municipalities in Nunavut on these issues to ensure that these services are being run properly in their operations.
We try to work closely with the hamlet offices and councils because we want to see the search and rescue organizations run properly.
I understand he indicated the hamlets.
Can the minister indicate what resources are provided to search and rescue organizations to inform them of their financial reporting responsibilities?
We work with the municipal governments in the communities on how this can be improved.
I can state that they’re always in the process of doing this. Perhaps Community and Government Services’ search and rescue policies are being reviewed right now so that they can provide better services, which is the concern of my colleague. There are other issues with search and rescue.
It is presently being work on today.
Yes, I totally understand his concern because we need to provide support to them. It needs to be improved. We will work with the hamlet search and rescue organizations on how we can improve the operations in the communities.
It is presently being reviewed.
Will the minister commit to working with the Minister of Justice to explore ways to identify any search and rescue organizations that may be “not in good standing” with the registrar of societies to assist them in returning to good standing?
As I stated earlier, they have to work together.
I know where his concern is coming from.
The Baker Lake search and rescue organization, as of October 30, 2015, is now registered under the Societies Act.
If they can identify from the community that this search and rescue organization is now ready to be given funding, we have to go through that process.
The search and rescue organizations have to be set. Once they are in good standing, the $2,500 funding can be released to the search and rescue organization.
I know that we need to work on the financial accounting. They have to provide financial statements.
As I stated earlier, this is under review presently. You will probably hear about this in the winter session regarding the review.
Question 141 – 4(3): Legal Services Board (Akoak)
As the minister is well aware, the headquarters of the Legal Services Board is located in my community of Gjoa Haven.
Before being elected by the people of Gjoa Haven to represent them in the Legislative Assembly, I was employed by the Legal Services Board and I had the pleasure of working with many good people in that organization.
Earlier this week, the minister tabled the Legal Services Board’s most recent annual report, which indicates that there are now only two positions filled in the organization’s headquarters in Gjoa Haven.
On page 12 of the report, one line reads, “The surplus was primarily due to some unfilled staff positions during the year.”
Can the minister indicate what actions are being taken to fill the vacant positions in this office?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I thank my colleague for asking this question. I have met with the Legal Services Board on a number of occasions and expressed my desire to fill the offices that are vacant in the headquarters.
This is an ongoing matter that I hope will be addressed.
The last time I met with the board was here not long ago and I asked the board, “I would like to see a plan in place.
I would like to see some plans on how you’re going to fill these positions.”
I’m hopeful that we will make some progress. I know that they have been advertising for a manager for the office and I believe that that hasn’t been very successful so far. I know that they will continue their efforts, but as I said, I’m waiting for a plan from the board to see how they can fill those positions and put more positions in the office. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
According to its most recent annual report, the Legal Services Board’s chief executive officer is located in Rankin Inlet, its chief operations officer is located in Iqaluit, and its comptroller is located in Steinbach, Manitoba, as indicated on page 11 of the report.
My question for the minister is this: does it make sense to have these three senior management positions located in three different communities, one of which is located outside of Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I totally agree with my colleague.
This is not what the office was intended for. We should be having our offices in Nunavut, particularly if there’s a headquarters.
I visited the headquarters and I was not impressed with such empty space at the so-called office of Gjoa Haven.
I have expressed my disappointment with the board and as I said, I look forward to a plan from the board on how these positions will be filled in Gjoa Haven. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, according to its most recent annual report, funding for the Legal Services Board is, and I quote, “provided by the Government of Nunavut Department of Justice through a contribution agreement that incorporates the federal-territorial Access to Justice Agreement.”
Mr. Speaker, a longstanding issue has been the funding provided by the federal government to provinces and territories for criminal and civil legal aid.