EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The grade 8 recipients this year are:
Claire Tookanachiak from Baker Lake
Mike Simik from Chesterfield Inlet
Kyrsten Eetuk from Coral Habour
Parker Faulkner and Nolan Tattuinee from Rankin Inlet
Macleod Arnatsiaq from Naujaat
Byron Rudolph from Gjoa Haven
Lorenza Nasalik and Michael Ihakkaq from Kugaaruk
Mackenzie Demerah from Kugluktuk
Lalena Quqqiaq from Taloyoak
Lloyd Willie and Ischadd Aola from Arctic Bay
Jenine Kautuk from Clyde River
Bianca Amaaq from Igloolik
Max Joy and Nathan Hunt from Iqaluit
Jesse Iqaluk from Resolute Bay
Luke Qavvik from Sanikiluaq
Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating these students for their achievements and encourage them to continue on their pathway to rewarding careers.
Member’s Statement 555 – 4(3): Recent Fishing Derby in Arctic Bay (Shooyook)
Good day to the people of Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, residents of my community, and the people who are watching the proceedings.
I rise today to express my pride in the people of my community.
I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating them. We have an annual fishing derby in our community and they try to catch either the largest fish or the smallest fish.
They just went through that and we should be very proud of them.
For the 2017 fishing derby, a novel approach was tried in awarding prizes.
The first prize is a snowmobile for catching the largest fish. The second prize is large as well, which is $5,000.
There was another aspect for people who don’t have transportation equipment to catch sculpins, which was the oldest sculpin.
There was also a prize to the winner who got the largest sculpin of $5,000.
I’m very proud of them.
Mr. Speaker, there was a tie when fish were measured as to which one is longer.
They had to declare it a draw.
It was an absolute tie. My daughter-in-law’s name was drawn and she won a brand-new snowmobile.
The fishing derby really is a positive event for the community. I want to express my pride.
I would like all my fellow MLAs here to join me in applauding this event as well as the people who are watching the proceedings.
Member’s Statement 556 – 4(3): Commissioner’s Awards Ceremony in Kimmirut (Joanasie)
Good day to my colleagues, the people of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut, and the people who are listening to the proceedings.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a number of my constituents in Kimmirut who recently received Commissioner’s Awards.
Mr. Speaker, as I noted in my member’s statement yesterday, I had the honour of welcoming Commissioner Nellie Kusugak to the community at the end of March.
Her visit, which coincided with the opening of the community’s new wellness centre, marked an occasion to recognize the achievements and contributions of a number of deserving individuals.
Mr. Speaker, the recipients of the Commissioner’s Awards for Bravery were Simeonie Aqpik and the late Gotileak Judea.
Although Gotileak is no longer with us, he was able to be represented by his wife, Akulujuk Judea, and that worked out really well.
Mr. Speaker, four Kimmirummiut were honoured with the Award for Humanitarianism: Pitseolak Qimirpik, J.J. Akavak, Donnie Kolola, and Kootoo Ikkidluak.
They helped save Jawlie Akavak.
People were really happy about that.
Mr. Speaker, last but not least, special recognition awards were presented to the Kimmirut volunteer firefighters, the Kimmirut search and rescue team, and the Kimmirut Canadian Rangers Patrol.
I will not mention all their names, but I would like to mention Kooyoo Padluq, Johnny Lee Judea, Pitsiula Michael, Apak Pudlat, Maliktoo Lyta, Shoati Michael, Atsaina Eeyeevadluk, Qabapi Aningmiuq, Tommy Akavak, Appa Josephie, Josephie Padluq, and Mattoo Michael.
I would like to thank all of you and I congratulate each and every recipient of these prestigious awards.
Member’s Statement 557 – 4(3): Recognizing the Needs of Smaller Communities (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and the people of Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin Inlet.
The people of Rankin Inlet are in my thoughts as we have just lost a loved one, as well as Nunavummiut.
I rise today to publicly extend a formal invitation to our cabinet to visit the community of Chesterfield Inlet after the conclusion of our spring sitting.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, as you know, I have the great privilege of representing the residents of two of Nunavut’s best and most beautiful communities…
…Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet.
Although my residence is in Rankin Inlet, my family has deep roots in Chesterfield Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, as a regional centre, Rankin Inlet is always on the government’s radar screen. However, Chesterfield Inlet, as a smaller, non-decentralized community, often seems to fall off the radar screen and I consistently hear the message from the community that it feels ignored.
Mr. Speaker, I am perfectly aware that a one- or two-day visit to a community does not solve everything.
However, it is important for the government’s top leaders to see with their own eyes the conditions of our smaller communities and to meet face to face with the community’s local leaders.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I very much look forward to a positive response to my invitation, and (interpretation ends) I look forward to welcoming my friends opposite to Chesterfield Inlet this summer. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 558 – 4(3): High School Graduates from Qikiqtarjuaq (Keyootak)
I say “good day” to all of the people of Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River and to the people who are listening to and watching the proceedings.
Mr. Speaker, before I get to my statement, I would first like to thank the minister responsible for the energy corporation for being able to come to our community. We are gratified by the minister’s visit to a very beautiful community, my community of Qikiqtarjuaq.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my pride in the students who just graduated from our school. I would like to express my pride and congratulate them together with my colleagues here.
We all know that when students complete grade 12, they can do whatever they want and take whatever further education they wish to acquire.
We really encourage students to do that when they graduate.
We haven’t had that many graduates from my community. In the previous year we had one graduate and now this year we have three graduates.
We would like to say that we’re proud of them in whatever further education they choose.
The three grade 12 graduates in Qikiqtarjuaq are Seemee Pitsiulak, Angela Kooneeliusie, and Kyle [Moesesie].
We’re very proud of them all for graduating this past year.
Member’s Statement 559 – 4(3): Fishing Derby Winners in Pangnirtung (Mike)
While we are on the subject of scenic communities, I also have a wonderfully scenic community in Pangnirtung. People from all over the world also travel to our community as tourists and visit. This includes world leaders who visited our community.
I send my greetings to all the people who have visited our community.
This is my preamble.
Now, our elder MLA colleague spoke about arctic char and sculpin fishing derbies. In Pangnirtung the hamlet recreation committee held an arctic char and sculpin fishing derby on May 20. They went to Amittuq Lake for the arctic char fishing and they held the sculpin fishing derby right offshore of the community.
I would like to mention the winners of the fishing derby.
The adults who won are Willie Atagooyuk, Annie Nakashuk in second place, Alex Alivaktuk in third place, and Peter Kanayuk in fourth place.
In the children’s class, Jaylynn Nuvaqiq, Kailey Kilabuk, and Benjamin Alivaktuk were the winners.
In the sculpin fishing derby, Tommy Angnakak won first prize, second prize went to Jamie Qaqasiq, third prize went to Lena Kakkik, and tied in fourth place were Mary Karpik and Alookie Metuq.
In the children’s sculpin fishing derby, Kaden Etuangat won first prize, Tina Joanne Nakashuk was second, and third was Kaden Etuangat.
The cash prizes for the derby came from the hunters and trappers organization and the recreation committee, with a combined total of $20,000.
This is an annual fishing derby that they hold in Pangnirtung for arctic char and sculpin.
Question 722 – 4(3): Staff Housing (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and they concern the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Blueprint for Action on Housing.
Action No. 22 in the blueprint indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will work with the Department of Finance to, and I quote, “analyze the current staff housing rents and subsidies to determine appropriate subsidy levels that encourage staff housing tenants to transition out of government-subsidized housing and into private rental or homeownership.”
When I asked the minister about the status of this work back in March, he told the House that he had not been given an update on this issue.
I guess today my question is: is the minister in a position today to tell us what the government is doing?
I also thank my colleague for that very good question.
Mr. Speaker, I clearly remember the member’s question. To date in regard to staff housing, I stated that it was going to be reviewed and they’re still reviewing or analyzing the current staff housing.
I can’t respond to the member’s question because they’re still working on it.
Perhaps the minister can do a Minister’s Statement in the next few days as to when he expects that to be done.
Mr. Speaker, an ongoing issue of concern, especially in smaller communities, is the lack of suitable staff housing for teachers and nurses.
This shortage impacts the ability of the government to recruit these essential positions.
Action No. 41 in the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Blueprint for Action on Housing indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will, and I quote, “Conduct an impact analysis of various approaches to social and staff housing delivery…” including, and I quote, “A lease-only model for certain communities whereby the NHC leases staff housing units from private developers.”
The Blueprint for Action on Housing indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will undertake pilot projects in this area.
Can the minister tell us today when and where these pilot projects will take place?
Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier in my response, we’re still working on it. Action No. 41 that the member is referring to is still part of the review and they’re still analyzing it for the communities. I can’t respond to that question because it’s part of the review on Action No. 41.
With regard to the blueprint for action, it’s still being analyzed.
Again I would like to ask if the minister perhaps can provide us with an update in the House as to when all this will be done and completed.
Mr. Speaker, Action No. 21 in the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Blueprint for Action on Housing indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation and the Department of Finance will, and I quote, “review and revise the GN’s Staff Housing Policy.”
Can the minister tell us today if a new staff housing policy will be finalized before the end of the current Legislative Assembly?
We expect this to be completed during the term of this government, but we don’t expect it to be finalized during this session. I’ll be more prepared to speak to it during the fall session.
Question 723 – 4(3): Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre (Sammurtok, A)
In recent weeks I have received three different letters signed by the minister concerning the Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre, which is currently in progress in Rankin Inlet.
One of these letters indicates that the project is “slated to be commissioned later this year…with an estimated total budget surplus of $1.5 million.”
Another letter indicates that the surplus will be $535,000.
The third letter indicates that the surplus will be $500,000.
For the record, can the minister clarify today what the budget surplus figure for the Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre actually is?
The project is on schedule and the surplus funds are there while completing the project.
Can the minister clearly indicate the specific areas in which the Kivalliq regional centre project underspent its budget?
In my earlier comment I meant to say the project had sufficient funds.
I don’t have the level of detail the member is asking of me.
Maybe the minister could provide us with that information on a later date.
Can the minister confirm the date on which the new Kivalliq Regional Visitor Centre is expected to be opened to the public?
I thank the member for that question. The project is proceeding as planned and I understand the Committee of the Whole will be discussing the funds for that project.
Question 724 – 4(3): Rankin Inlet’s Freshwater Supply (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of reports in the media this past month that have raised concerns and questions regarding Nunavut’s freshwater supply.
As the minister will recall, in the fall of 2016 I asked him a number of questions regarding Rankin Inlet’s freshwater supply, Nipissar Lake, which is rapidly depleting.
In his response the minister stated that his department was “working on getting a water board licence to pump water from First Landing Lake” and that the department anticipated that it would be able to secure that licence “by early summer of 2017.”
Can the minister provide the House today with an update on his department’s work to secure that water licence?
Yes, I remember being asked that question.
We are still working on the permitting process. The application is currently with NIRB.
We believe that all the permitting needed will be done before summer. Once we have the proper permits in place, we will start pumping water to replenish their water supply.
Speaker (interpretation ends): Thank you.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Can the minister tell us what contingency plans, if any, are currently in place in the event that the community’s freshwater supply is depleted or made suddenly inaccessible?
The current rate of natural refilling to Nipissar Lake is less than the amount being consumed.
Even if we were not to replenish it, there is enough water there for quite a few years.
We’re fully confident that we will resolve the problem. We do have permission to run from Char River, but Char River only runs when First Landing Lake is high in water since it flows from there.
We’re dealing with the situation and I can assure the residents of Rankin Inlet that they will not run out of water.
Can the minister tell us what specific research or planning is currently being undertaken to monitor Nunavut’s current and future water supply needs?
I don’t think that we have an overall plan to study all the needs of Nunavut in one big, broad study.
We are always looking at water consumption from each community and the resources they have, whether it be a man-made reservoir or a natural reservoir such as a lake, and we monitor them.
There are some communities that are having a current water shortage right now and we deal with them. It’s a case-by-case basis.
We do have funding under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and we use some of that to build new reservoirs or expand. We are just dealing with each community on their own merit.
Question 725 – 4(3): Grays Bay Port and Road Project (Akoak)
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues, Nunavummiut, and the community of Gjoa Haven.
The minister’s response to my recent written question concerning her department’s Strategic Investments Program was tabled yesterday in the Legislative Assembly.
Information contained in the response indicates that her department provided $550,000 to the Kitikmeot Inuit Association during the 2016-17 fiscal year to support the development of the Grays Bay Road and Port Project.
For the record, I applaud the government for this important investment.
Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of our viewing audience and also to my colleagues on this side of the House, can the minister describe how this project is benefitting the Kitikmeot?
I believe he’s asking about Grays Bay, but it is still being proposed and there could be a lot of items. I believe your question is how this project is benefitting Nunavummiut.
It is fully supported by the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
There are a lot of proposals to do for mining projects in those regions.
It would also benefit people who would like to take additional training or who are proposing to learn a trade in order to work in that project.
For example, there could be heavy equipment operator training and training for other job opportunities that might arise through this project. It could be a big benefit to both regions.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Tony Akoak.
I think you mentioned the Kivalliq instead of the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate what support her department is providing towards the Grays Bay Road and Port Project during the current 2017-18 fiscal year?
I don’t have the information in front of me, but I do know that to date we haven’t set aside a large amount of money because we are currently negotiating and working together on this proposed project.
We are currently negotiating how we can move this project forward.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Tony Akoak.
Can the minister describe what support the federal government is providing towards the Grays Bay Road and Port Project?
All I can say right now is that the details of the new funding that was just initiated by the federal government are currently under review.
It looks like there may be an opportunity to submit a proposal under the new federal initiative.
Question 726 – 4(3): Cannabis Legalization (Mikkungwak)
As the minister will be aware, his federal counterpart recently introduced Bill C-45 in the House of Commons.
This federal bill proposes to legalize cannabis across the country.
Mr. Speaker, our minister publicly stated in the Legislative Assembly last November that the Government of Nunavut has formed an interdepartmental working group to address the issue of marijuana legalization in Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate what specific actions this working group has undertaken to date?
The actions of the Government of Canada have certainly put a lot of pressure on provinces and territories to come up with some legislation to be ready for July 1, 2018. I think that’s the date I have heard.
As the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Nunavut and my colleagues across Canada, we have expressed our concern to the Minister of Justice of Canada and the Minister of Public Safety that it’s going to be very challenging for most jurisdictions to meet those deadlines and then have processes in place to distribute. It’s very complex anyway and probably more complex in Nunavut given our geography and our distribution network in Nunavut.
Those are the kinds of issues that our interdepartmental working groups have been working on.
Now that we’re near the end of May and we’re in an election year, it complicates things.
We have to have legislation of some form in place in time for the federal legislation when it goes into force. Now we’ve got the pressure of territorial elections.
We will be reviewing the recommendations on how to go forward and of course anything we decide will have to go through this cabinet.
Bill C-45 is currently being considered by Parliament and has not yet become law.
Will the Government of Nunavut be making a formal submission on this bill and, if so, will the Government of Nunavut be supporting or opposing the legalization of marijuana?
I don’t believe this government is going to be, like most provinces and territories. I can’t speak for them all, but we have expressed our concerns with the legislation and the pressures it’s putting on us.
We are going to move forward and try to meet their timelines, but it’s going to be a challenge.
Some communities in Nunavut have chosen through local option votes to prohibit the possession or sale of alcohol while other communities have chosen to restrict the possession of this substance through the establishment of alcohol education committees.
For the benefit of Nunavummiut who are following our proceedings today, can the Minister of Justice clarify whether or not Nunavut communities will be able to restrict the possession and sale of marijuana in the same way that alcohol is regulated and restricted?
Mr. Mikkungwak certainly knows how to throw curveballs. Maybe he should pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays.
He’s got a few knuckleballs, sliders, curveballs, and drop balls.
As I said in my earlier answer, it’s going to be quite complicated. In Nunavut we only have the distribution network for alcohol, beer and wine in two warehouses.
We have to figure all that out, the logistics and distribution. That’s why we have the interdepartmental working committee with a number of departments. There’s the legal side of things with Justice; distribution with Finance.
There are health issues and there are other concerns. That will be something that we will be working on.
We’re probably going to undertake… .
I don’t want to put any timelines on it, but over the next few months or couple months leading up to September, there are some broad type of community consultations, go out and talk to groups, organizations, and hamlets and get their input, concerns, hear what they have to say, and maybe get some good recommendations on how to proceed.
Question 727 – 4(3): Sewage Issues in Naujaat (Mapsalak)
My question will be directed to the Minister of CGS.
Mr. Speaker, I had posed this question at an earlier sitting regarding the lack of a sewage lagoon in Naujaat. At that time the minister indicated that it was not much of a concern.
When there are studies done, we find that the raw sewage that is seeping into the ocean is way too small to be of concern.
However, there are an increasing number of houses being built in Naujaat.
Prior to coming here, I went to see the seepage and there’s quite a lot of raw material going into the sea and there’s even a bay or a pond being formed with raw sewage material.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate to me when it would become a concern and how much of a quantity would have to be seeping into the ocean for it to become a concern?
I’ll answer the member’s question this way: it’s not the amount of liquids that would determine what is harmful to the ocean; it’s what the liquid is.
If you have a water truck spill its whole load into the ocean, nobody would complain, but if you have a sewage truck spill its load to the ocean, then someone would complain and there would be regulations against that. It’s not the amount of sewage that is going into the ocean; it’s the quality or the condition or how much pollutants are in the liquid that is seeping out from natural sewage lagoons or wetland areas that go into the ocean.
It’s what’s in the water, not the amount of the water.
Indeed that may be, but it is rather unsightly to see raw sewage being dumped on the tundra with no designated lagoon.
Further, that pond is getting larger due to the sewage dumping in that area.
With that being the situation, the project was deferred or rather it was cut.
I refer to the funding that was allocated for that project for the sewage lagoon. Furthermore, it was delayed.
I wonder if the minister could respond to my question on what time frame is involved for this delay. How many years has it been pushed back?
I can’t tell the member exactly how many years it’s postponed. It depends on the natural filtration system that is doing the work it’s supposed to for Naujaat.
When the study was done, it was completed last year and the report was issued at the end of 2016 or early 2017, I believe, to my department.
At that time the current conditions were the natural filtration of the wetlands was doing what it does on its own with sewage that was being pumped there.
There is going to come a point where something would have to be done because the quality of the sewage coming out from the natural filtration wetlands has to be of a certain quality. We can’t just dump raw sewage into the ocean. There are regulations against that.