EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It seems as though the media, like CBC, if they touch upon a subject, they go after that one certain story so much that it’s exaggerated to a point where that individual is feeling like they’re being attacked.
If there’s a certain subject through the media, like CBC, they probably will think of different stories on one subject for a whole year.
Also, as Inuit, we tend to make fun of other people.
And we tend to make other people look bad by looking down on them.
That has a very big effect on different people as well.
Mr. Chairman, I have no more time.
Mr. Chairman, I believe I am probably the last Member who hasn’t had an opportunity to speak.
I would ask for the indulgence of my colleagues to allow me to finish my opening comments before we report progress.
Mr. Chairman, it’s obvious from some of the emotional discussions that have taken place from our colleagues here today, this afternoon that this issue has impacted all of us in one way or another, whether directly, indirectly.
The case remains that it is an issue that is prevalent in our constituencies and in Nunavut.
I don’t think anybody has the easy rationale for the reasons.
I think that probably bridging the generational gap between a traditional lifestyle into a more modern lifestyle.
I get the view if somebody who originated from the south, as far as bringing a new system to the north, is one of the reasons.
It certainly is a factor, I think.
The exposure to media that we bring in from the south that has not happened before.
I think there have been discussions on that in the past.
Certainly the issue about the young population that we have.
I know that it does impact women and men.
It does impact older people all through the age groups but predominantly, like Minister Picco stated, it is young males where the incidents happen unfortunately.
So I think you have to look at why.
You have to try to find the reasons, determine the reasons, before you can find the some solutions.
There are issues about young parents, you know, whether they are able to cope with more permanent relationships, having young families.
The social conditions that many of our constituents are under, as far as the issue of having affordable housing, having employment opportunities or income generating opportunities to support yourself and your immediate family members.
Peer pressure, the people you hang out with and the possibilities of using alcohol and drugs.
The issue about parental pressure even, what do your parents expect of you as a young person growing up and becoming a part of your community and society as a whole.
The issue of abuse, whether or not the individual was abused as a child or as a young man or young woman, whatever the case may be, those are all factors that come into play at one point or another that are determinates, I think of suicidal behaviour.  So, I think there is a whole wide spectrum there.
It is how do you address that issue that everyone is looking for the solutions. I think we have to make sure, obviously there are issues around having the possibility of hope for our people, hope for a happy, productive life, of being able to look forward to a future of being able to provide for themselves and their families.
Those are all factors as well.
I think what we have to do, and the mental health strategy, is certainly a good start, we have to look at hearing first hand from youth primarily on what they see as the problems, from elders who have been around for a long time, from all the front line worker who deal with our people on a daily basis.
Whether it is the staff at the health centre, the police, the mental health workers, the alcohol and drug workers, the community health representatives, the shelter workers, whoever is out there to try to bring some information in?
The more information we have, the better to deal with the issue.
As a government, it’s obviously our responsibility to try and facilitate that, to bring forward the resources necessary, to develop that strategy and to implement a strategy.
But more importantly, once that is in place, to monitor it and to see if it is working.
And if it is not, to refine it because I think we all want to try and tackle this issue but nobody really knows the perfect solution.
I think it is valuable that we are here talking about that.
I, like all of us here, will do the best I can to try and make sure that we put mechanisms in place to try and deal with this matter.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. For all the Members, who have voiced their concerns and there is also one more Member who needs to make his comments, Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to start off by reading some statistics.
According to statistics, there were 26,745 people living in Nunavut in 2001.
According to the Chief Coroner, there were 29 suicides in 2001.
If we look at it across Canada, there are roughly 30 million people.
In 1998, about 3,700 people across Canada committed suicide.
If the rest of the country experienced the same rate of suicide that we have in Nunavut, that would be over 32,000 suicides across the country.
I think this is an issue that is very serious and that we have to find a way to try and deal with it.
As I mentioned to some of my colleagues this morning, it is not an easy topic for some people to talk about.
There are Members in this room, myself included, who have been affected very personally and very closely.
You know, I heard hope mentioned earlier; I think that is what a lot of it is.
People lose hope for whatever reason.
I think that some of the things are the factors that we hear about like the alcohol abuse, substance abuse, physical, mental or emotional abuse and people say that was the problem.
I do not believe that those things themselves are the problems.
Those are the result of another problem that lead to that problem.
I think that there are a lot of the social issues that we have to deal with as a Government like housing, adequate housing, good quality education and employment opportunities for our young people.
That is what is going to be more effective in the long-term in dealing with the rates like we see today.
People have something to look forward to.
I think many people do not like to talk about it, but any chance I get when I talk to young people is to tell them to never be afraid to talk to somebody.
If something is bothering you, do not be scared to talk to someone about it, because if you keep it to yourself in your own little world, nothing can be worse than that.
Probably ten times out of ten, when someone has talked to another person about it and got it off their chest, they feel like things are not that bad and it is not going to stay like that, things will get better.
I think some of the work that the Department of Health and Social Services has done is great.
I think it needs to be more of a collaborative effort on behalf of the Federal Government.
You know those other issues that have to be dealt with, in housing and education, and justice.
You know, those types of things, by doing it from the Health and Social Services point of view, it is almost like putting a bandage on for nothing.
You are not addressing your real problems.
If you want to fix it, let us fix it right and I think that we need a Government-wide approach or strategy to deal with the issues around suicide.
It is not just this factor or that factor; I think that it is a number of things.
And like Minister Ng stated, you cannot put your finger on any one thing.
I believe that it is hopelessness that causes this.
The life we lead today is not the same life that was lead by our people yesterday, and what with the technology changing so fast, that has a huge impact on our people and our culture and our way of life.
Sometimes things have changed so fast in one generation and from one generation to the next, and then people start thinking who am I? what am I?
That leads to the hopelessness that’s out there.
People have questions and doubt in themselves.
I think that these types of issues, what we’re going through here in Nunavut, it’s new to us.
It’s not new to other people in other places.
It happens to other people in other places in the world, in the country.
Look at the aboriginal peoples in southern Canada, and in North America.
I am sure you could look at the same thing in other countries with aboriginal Peoples.
They’ve all gone through this before.
I think that from that, we should be able to look at some of the issues that they faced in those circumstances and how they dealt with them and maybe we can use some of the information to help us.
I might have some questions tomorrow.
I don’t want to go on too long.
But like I said, it’s not just a Health and Social Services issue; it’s got to be a government wide, to come up with some kind of a strategy to deal with the whole picture and not just putting band aids on things.
That’s it for now.
I have no more names or no more hands up.
Mr. Arvaluk: We would like to report progress.
Minister Picco, thank you very much.
At the beginning of your presentation, it was very interesting to hear your comments and we’ll get back to you tomorrow.
I would like to express my appreciation to you and your officials at this time.
We’ll see you again tomorrow.
We can ask the Deputy Speaker to come into the chambers.
Mr. Iqaqrialu ( interpretation ): Mr. Speaker, your Committee has been considering Minister’s Statement 095-1 (6) and would like to report that they are still considering it along withTabled Document 030-1 (6).
Speaker (interpretation): There is a Motion.
The Motion is in order. All those in favour.
Item 21.Third Reading of Bills.
Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 6th, 2003:
Motion 017 – 1(6)
Just before we adjourn, I would like to make a comment about the discussions that the Members carried out today about suicide prevention.
We will not give up on this discussion that we had today and we will continue to discuss it.
And our comments are going to be heard by the people out there and we will have a solid foundation to help each other and to work together to resolve suicide.
This house stands adjourned until March the 6th 2003 at 1:30.
>>House adjourned at 18.14 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Friday March 7, 2003
Pages 2374 - 2432
Opening Prayer 2374
Ministers’ Statements 2374
Members’ Statements 2374
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2381
Oral Questions 2387
Motions 2402
Friday March 7, 2003 2374
115 - 1(6): Tabling of Budget Address (Ng) 2374
365 – 1(6): Federal Government Report on Suicide Prevention (Williams) 2374
366 – (6): Human Rights and Laws of Nunavummiut (Irqittuq) 2375
367 – 1(6): Thank the Minister for a New Fire Truck (Iqaqrialu) 2377
368 – 1(6): Standardize Assessment Testing and Student Curriculum (Tootoo) 2377
369 – 1(6): Challenging and Difficult Times as Public Figures – Special Tribute to Wife (Anawak) 2378
370 - 1(6): Public Opinions and Concerns Through the Media (Thompson) 2379
371 – 1(6): Suicide Prevention and Tradition (Alakannuark) 2380
372 – 1(6): Weathered in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk) 2381
368 – 1(6): Heating Fuel Subsidies for Elders (Nutarak) 2387
369 – 1(6): Issue of Different Levels of Grades in the Classroom (Iqaqrialu) 2388
370 – 1(6): Doctor for Igloolik (Irqittuq) 2390
371 – 1(6): Arena for Resolute Bay (Williams) 2393
372 – 1(6): Construction of Docking Facilities Update (Havioyak) 2393
373 – 1(6): Plans to Use Elders as Counsellors (Alakannuark) 2394
374 – 1(6): Formal Policy in Closing Down Government Offices (Tootoo) 2396
375 – 1(6): Update on Shipping Dry Cargo to the Kivalliq (McLean) 2397
376 – 1(6): Study on the Academic Students and School Dropouts (Iqaqrialu) 2399
377 – 1(6): Automatic Investigation When a Child Dies (McLean) 2400
017 – 1(6): Removal of Minister from the Executive Council (Tootoo) 2402
Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Hon. Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Puqiqnak, Hon. Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Deputy Speaker (Mr. Puqiqnak): I would like to call on Mr. Iqaqrialu to say the opening prayer.
Good day Members, Mr. Premier, and guests.
Before we begin I would like to welcome our colleagues who just came in because he couldn’t come because of bad weather.
Mr. McLean, Mr. Allakannuark and Mr. Kilabuk.
Minister’s Statement 115 - 1(6): Tabling of Budget Address
Hon. Kelvin Ng (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to advise Members of the Legislative of Assembly that on Tuesday, March 11th, I’ll bring down the Government of Nunavut’s budget for the 2002/2003 year.
Member for High Arctic.
Member’s Statement 365 – 1(6): Federal Government Report on Suicide Prevention
Ms. Williams (interpretation): First of all I would like to apologize as I have a bad cold.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of this House to yet another example of why we must continue to educate our Federal Government on the distinct issues that face Inuit as opposed to First Nations.
(interpretation ends) This Wednesday, almost every Member of the House had an opportunity to speak strongly and honestly about the crises of suicide in Nunavut.
It was a truly important day for this assembly.
Mr. Speaker, in an interesting coincidence of timing, the Federal Government First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada just released this month, a large 183-page volume of statistics, information and recommendations on suicide prevention.
(interpretation) However Mr. Speaker, while I applaud the efforts and thought that went into this document I am also somewhat disheartened because it doesn’t mention anything about Inuit.
This monumental piece of work titled “Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations”, focuses, as you have probably determined, almost exclusively on the First Nations youth.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the crises facing Inuit youth did not receive the same level of attention in this document.
I am saddened that there seems to be a lack of will on the part of our National Government to help us address this issue.
However, I am determined that we cannot give up.
With or without the help our National Government we will work towards finding solutions.
(interpretation) We will work towards bringing hope to where there is despair.
We will work towards bringing lightness where there is darkness.
Member’s Statement 366 – (6): Human Rights and Laws of Nunavummiut
Mr. Speaker, although it is Friday, I have a very important item to mention.
In our lives, we have noticed something that has to be changed.
Mr. Speaker, as Members of the Legislative Assembly we are working very hard to provide adequately for the needs of the Inuit, for example, in housing and social programs.
I think that my statement will go on longer than the allotted time.
Mr. Speaker, I do not really know how to express this because there is anger amongst us.
For myself personally, I can say that we have a new self-government that we can work to strive to make it our own.
We have a Government today that has so many laws and legislations that it is overwhelming.
Even as individuals we are scared to express our feeling because of being afraid to break legislation or laws.
If I have a Point of Order, when I am doing my statement, there is a Point of Order, automatically I have to stop speaking.
That is the way it is today.
As individuals, I think that we have to individually make sure that we recognize ourselves first before any laws.
Mr. Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
As individuals, as Inuit, we have our own Nunavut Government, and eighty-five percent of the population are Inuit.
We have to recognize that the Human Rights of Canada does not help Inuit.
It does not work for Inuit, because if we say that according to the Human Rights of Canada, if I did something wrong to an individual, automatically that person can take me to court if they felt that they were being abused.
As an individual, I do not have any rights at all because of the Human Rights of Canada, because if the person got offended, they would automatically take me to court.
That is not Human Rights for Inuit.
There is room for improvement.
My colleague has been waiting for years.
If we proceeded in a traditional manner, we would forgive each other automatically, if we talk about it.
As Inuit, we have to work really hard to strive to keep our traditional values and principles in helping each other.
Even our elders do not have any rights anymore because of the laws and regulations, although it says that they have human rights in Canada that is not what it appears to be.
I think the bureaucrats of the Government have to understand that when we discuss Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit we have to make sure that it is implemented into the government workforce.
There is much despair in my heart.
Please let the government look at Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit because we are an able people.
My sister passed away because of the legislation imposed by the government.
Because according to Inuit tradition, if she had used her Inuit tradition she would still be here today.
She passed away because of the legislation in the white culture.
It would not have been this way if it was in the Inuit way.
I'm so frustrated and angry with this because it’s come to a point where I'm so frustrated with Human Rights in Canada.
Do we recognize human rights because it will lead to better lives?
We’re going to be discussing Human Rights in Canada, but it will not improve the quality of life for Inuit people.
It’s just another law of Canada that protects the government instead of the individual.
It’s not our traditional law.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me a chance to speak.
Member for Uqquqmiut.
Member’s Statement 367 – 1(6): Thank the Minister for a New Fire Truck
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Member who just spoke, for his passionate comments.
It is Friday today and because it is Friday, I would like to express my appreciation in this House.
The fire truck for our community caught on fire and I would like to thank the Minister of Community Government and Transportation for providing a fire truck in a short period of time.
The residents of the community were really happy to receive the fire truck.
I think if you meet the needs of the communities as quickly as you just recently did, every community will be really happy with our government if it gives us what we need immediately.
Member’s Statement 368 – 1(6): Standardize Assessment Testing and Student Curriculum
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to restate, reiterate and reconfirm my strong support for the concept of standardized assessment testing in our schools.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that one of the long-term goals of this government is to do things in a made in Nunavut way.
I support the work that is underway to develop a made in Nunavut curriculum.
Mr. Speaker, it must be recognized that the curriculum currently being used by our students and particularly by those students in the English language classes is based on the Alberta curriculum.
In our high schools it is the Alberta curriculum that is followed and used and our grade 12 students have to pass Alberta departmental exams in order to graduate.
Our students deserve to reach the same academic standards as other students in Canada.
How do we know whether our system is doing a good job of implementing this curriculum?
By conducting appropriate standardize assessment testing.
This testing does not judge the abilities of our teachers nor does it judge the abilities of our students.
It provides a measure of how well our system is doing in helping our students and our teachers reach their objectives.
It is a valuable and necessary tool to help our Department of Education achieve its stated goals of excellence and education.
However, Mr. Speaker, how can we reach this worthy goal if we avoid using the means and tools available to us?
How can we determine if we’re getting closer or moving further away from our goals?
The answer is simply, we can’t.
Mr. Speaker, I'm sure that other Members have heard voices publicly criticizing the Iqaluit District Education Authority expressed desire to implement standardized testing in Iqaluit schools.
It would seem to be Mr. Speaker, that if individuals do have concerns, they should attend the Iqaluit District Education Authority meetings, which are held on a regular basis, publicly advertised and open to the public, and to all parents and anyone else who is interested.
Instead of publicly broadcasting uninformed assumptions they would do their children a better service by raising their concerns in the appropriate forum and making informed decisions.
Mr. Speaker, I remain gravely disappointed with the Department of Educations’ staff on this issue.
I urge any parents who would like to know more about this issue or have concerns to contact the Iqaluit District Education Authority or attend any of the regular meetings.
Member for Rankin North.
Member’s Statement 369 – 1(6): Challenging and Difficult Times as Public Figures – Special Tribute to Wife
It is sometimes rare for us to make a Member’s statement.
At times as Members of the Legislature we go through challenging times and difficult situations.
When we are going through difficult times we only think about ourselves.
During last week we went through a difficult situation and I have been receiving phone calls by people who are unhappy and hurt, and my relatives have been calling me, defending me as well.
I would tell them that I love them and not to worry about me.
But when we were dealing with this issue we try to represent the people and at times there are disagreements.
There are other times where we are targeted by the media.
But when we are dealing with this we should expect criticism.
When we are going though difficult times we feel them, and our spouses feel what you are going through.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, what I'm trying to say here is that, as public figures, of course, we expect criticism and have to develop a fairly thick skin at times.
However, it’s not necessary only us, or, I shouldn’t necessarily say that, it’s not us that may be hurting the most.
So today I’d like to pay special tribute to a person, who has been with me for 27 years; who has gone through an awful lot as I’ve gone through public office.
I would like to pay a special tribute about a person who has been, as I said, with me for twenty-seven years.
Who has gone through an awful lot, even more than I have, because I think that it is harder for the person you are with when you are going through very hard times.
Not just the person you are with, but your family as well.
I have been with my wife who is sitting across, Caroline Anawak, for twenty-seven years.
To quote the Duke of Windsor, “ All the things that I have been able to do in that last twenty-seven years, would not have been possible without the help and the support of the woman that I love.
The Member for Rankin South and Whale Cove.
Member’s Statement 370 - 1(6): Public Opinions and Concerns Through the Media
I would like to take this opportunity today to extend my appreciation, and also I would like to acknowledge Mr. and Mrs. Anawak, because I was there when they got married in Whale Cove.
I would like to say Mr. Speaker, is that in our previous Government, the system was more embedded operationally in English, because the majority of the Members spoke English for thirty years of its existence.
Even though this new government is a new government, most people speak English and Inuktitut.
I myself, when I was a Member of the previous government, I used to think that Inuit people, when it is time for them to rise up and speak about an issue, just because they did not understand, they did not speak out.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the CBC, because through the radio, people can voice their concerns.
The Government listens to the points that are being made by the public through the media.
We can understand both the Inuktitut and English.
I believe that the Inuit people have more opportunity to voice their concerns now than before.