EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me this afternoon in the Legislative Assembly lobby as I present Louise with her Council of the Federation Literacy medallion. Congratulations, Louise!
I apologize. I recognize you as the Minister of Education for that statement, for the record.
Minister’s Statement 081 – 3(3): Suicide Prevention (Curley)
I say “good afternoon” to the residents of Rankin Inlet and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, the subject of suicide was raised at a national level earlier this month when Liberal Members of Parliament called upon the federal government to develop a national suicide prevention strategy.
This is timely and welcome news for Nunavutmiut.
Last month, the partners involved in the development of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy released the action plan.
The plan delivers the promise of the partners to provide more suicide intervention training, additional mental health services, culturally appropriate grief counselling, research, and more support for children and youth.
Mr. Speaker, since March 2009, close to 500 people in Nunavut have completed the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a nationally recognized program. Five workshops have already been delivered in Inuktitut.
However, to make the ASIST training culturally relevant to Nunavutmiut, my department has been working to adapt the ASIST materials, which we will be calling Uqaqatigiigluk! Talk About It! , which has been completed by a program and I will be able to table it in the House in the near future.
In the coming months, my department has scheduled 13 sessions, including specific ones for trainers.
Information about the upcoming sessions is now available on the HSS website and the information has been distributed to local health centres and regional offices.
Groups and individuals who are interested in taking Uqaqatigiigluk!
Talk About It! should contact their local health centre.
A database of individuals who complete the training has also been developed to support those who have become registered trainers to stay current and connected.
Mr. Speaker, community members across the territory – from frontline health care workers, teachers, police, elders, and more – continually and consistently raised the need to have access to effective programs and services to prevent suicide in Nunavut.
Talking openly about suicide has been encouraged by this government and our partners during the development of the strategy and action plan. We also encourage Nunavutmiut to consider taking a training session so that we learn to better help ourselves, our families, and our communities.
Minister’s Statement 082 – 3(3): Polar Bears Range States Meeting, October 24-26 (Shewchuk)
I would like to inform members that the five-nation signatory to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears will be meeting in Iqaluit this week from October 24 to 26, 2011 to discuss polar bear research and management issues throughout the circumpolar basin.
I am very pleased that Iqaluit was chosen as the host city for this international meeting to acknowledge Nunavut’s special role in polar bear conservation and the role of Nunavutmiut in that process.
Nunavut has or shares about two-thirds of the world’s polar bear populations.
About 65 participants from five range state countries are expected to attend the two and a half day meeting.
Observers and media will also be in attendance. The total number of people attending the meeting may reach up to 80 people.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will also be present at the meeting, including the World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF). They will be given the opportunity to present materials outside of the main meeting time and space, either through posters or displays.
NGOs with observer status will also be invited into meeting proceedings in the first day.
The Canadian delegation is expected to include the director general of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), as well as the director of population and conservation management - CWS, one or two provincial/territorial government representatives (e.g. wildlife directors), representatives from several key Inuit organizations, and the chair of the Polar Bear Technical Committee or a research scientist from the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Science and Technology Branch.
The director of wildlife management from the Government of Nunavut Department of Environment will be on the delegation representing the Government of Nunavut.
The primary focus of the meeting will include a discussion and development of the circumpolar action plan that is being collaboratively drafted by the range states, as well as the presentation of each nation’s action plan.
Canada’s contribution is expected to be the Polar Bear National Conservation Strategy that is currently being finalized.
Canada’s strategy represents a non-legally binding memorandum of understanding-like agreement between jurisdictions with the aim of increasing coordination and collaboration on actions related to polar bear management and conservation in Canada.
Our staff has worked diligently to ensure that our mandate for polar bears and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement decision process for terrestrial wildlife has been respected and has not been compromised by Canada’s strategy.
We believe that our wildlife co-management system is the best conservation system in the world and that polar bears continue to be an example of a conservation success story, not a conservation crisis.
Please join me in welcoming the range state delegates from around the world to the polar bear capital of the world.
Member’s Statement 126 – 3(3): Congratulations on Weekend Soccer Tournament (Elliott)
I rise today to congratulate all the participants and organizers of this past weekend’s under 18 soccer tournament here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot over-emphasize the importance of sport for our youth and the role it plays in their well-being. Participating in a sport contributes to good physical health and good mental health. These are solid foundations for a healthy life and future.
Mr. Speaker, I welcome and appreciate the government’s role in providing opportunities for our youth to participate in events such as this weekend’s tournament.
Medals and trophies aside, all the participants win in the areas of self-esteem, lifestyle, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Arctic Bay had two teams attending this event. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of the airfares, the communities of Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord are often unable to participate.
There were boys’ teams and girls’ teams from the communities of Igloolik, Hall Beach, Pangnirtung, Cape Dorset, and Iqaluit, as well as Arctic Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I was very impressed with the level of teamwork and the sense of fair play exhibited at this event.
I would also like to congratulate the organizers of the event for a very successful tournament.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Bay teams did extremely well with the boys’ team placing fourth overall and the girls placing third. I would like to congratulate Wesley Attagutsiak, the coach of the boys’ team and the players Steven Taqtu, Jaypeetee Olayuk, Kyle Inutiq, Veevee Kilabuk, Bruno Attagutsiak, Aaron Kilabuk, Ricky Iqaqrialu, and Chris Kalluk.
I would also like to congratulate Leone Eecheak, coach of the girls’ team and the players Anabelle Eecheak, April Eecheak, Sheena Kilabuk, Inga Muckpa, Patty Levi, Louanne Iqalukjuak, and Napasie Joseph. Unfortunately team member Carla Oyukuluk was unable to attend the tournament.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy trip home.
Member’s Statement 127 – 3(3): High School Graduates of Arviat (Shewchuk)
I would like to take this opportunity to say “good afternoon” to the residents of Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, on August 27, 2011, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the 2011 graduates of the John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat.
This was indeed a wonderful day for 27 graduates, their parents, and their families to celebrate their accomplishments of graduating and moving forward into the next phase of their lives.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize every graduate and wish them all the best with their future endeavours and encourage them to continue with their post-secondary education.
They are, Mr. Speaker: Daniel Alagalak, Gabriel Alagalak, Delen Alareak, Keith Alikut, Dorean Arloo, Rhea Gavin, Alex Gibbons, Rochelle Illnik, Andrea Kablutsiak, Jackson Kablutsiak, Anthyme Kadjuk, Dana Kalluak, Chelsea Kaludjak, Kirsten Kaludjak, Samuel Karetak, Peter Komak, Michelle Malla, Ivan Mamgark, Jimmy Napayok, Rebecca Nagiyak, Terri Nibgoarsi, Jamie Okatsiak, Douglas Ollie, Patrick Pingushat, Sylvia Suluk, Patrick Sulurayok, and Mary Ulimaumi.
Member’s Statement 128 – 3(3): Appreciation for the Kivalliq Inuit Centre in Winnipeg (Ningeongan)
I rise today to extend my thanks and appreciation to the management and staff at the Kivalliq Inuit Centre in Winnipeg.
Mr. Speaker, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Kivalliq Inuit Centre with some of my colleagues on a yearly basis. I have been favourably impressed with the quality and level of services provided in the areas of transportation, appointment scheduling, and accommodation and even in the food that is offered to clients staying at the facility.
That is not to say that there haven’t been any glitches along the way. I have been impressed with the high level of service despite how heavy the traffic can become at times.
Mr. Speaker, I have found that the management and staff have been very open to the suggestions made by myself and my colleagues.
The contractor in charge of the centre was willing to work closely with us and was very receptive to making changes to improve the level of services.
Mr. Speaker, it would be very nice of similar levels of dialogue and working relationships could be established for the out-of-territory services provided to Nunavummiut from the other regions.
Having good communications with an ongoing review of the changes made since our last visit goes a long way to supporting the well-being of Nunavut’s medical clients.
It is important to be able to communicate back to the communities the changes that are being made for their benefit.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to complement the staff, management, and contractor of the Kivalliq Inuit Centre for their hard work and the level of service that they provide to Nunavut residents in their care.
We will move on in the Orders of the Day, Item 4.
I rise today to recognize individuals in the House. Ms. Louise Flaherty, who just won the Council of Federation Literacy Award, is here with her husband, William, and her relatives.
In just a little while, I will be giving her an award and I hope that you will join us.
I rise today to recognize people from my community.
The first person I would like to recognize works with the Baffin Fisheries Coalition, Jacobie Maniapik, who is behind me.
The person sitting next to him is also part of that fishing organization. I believe he has retired, but his name is Manasie Audlakiak from Clyde River.
I also want to recognize individuals who are not in the Gallery, our interpreters behind the glass, because they allow us to communicate in either language.
I also want to recognize some visitors here. First of all, I would like to recognize my assistant who allows me to sit in this seat, Martha Arreak, my wife, and her niece, who was recognized already, Louise Flaherty, which is her older sister’s daughter, Louise’s spouse, William Flaherty, and Janet Joanas, who is also my wife’s niece.
I believe Manasie Audlakiak was already recognized and he lives in our community. He has been involved with the hunters and trappers organization for a very long time and he has been involved as a lone maintainer in our community for many years as a heavy equipment operator. That person is Manasie Audlakiak.
Moving on to Item 6 in the Orders of the Day.
Question 182 – 3(3): School Attendance Tracking System (Ugyuk)
Mr. Speaker, one year ago, I asked questions in this House regarding the attendance rates across Nunavut’s schools.
At that time, the minister of the day indicated that the department was developing a new student records system that would be able to track attendance rates on an ongoing basis.
I believe this system could be very useful in keeping parents aware of attendance patterns in their community’s schools.
Can the minister update this House on the current status of the student records tracking system so that we could know how many students are attending?
At this time, we’re collecting that data under the student records directive in the Department of Education so that all schools can start collecting that information at the same time.
It is scheduled to be implemented by the year 2012.
I expect that 2012 will be the year when we will see this. Since I asked the question last year, it has taken about a year to implement that.
(interpretation ends) Can the minister provide an update on how often the student records system produces attendance reports for Nunavut’s schools and if these reports are distributed to communities across Nunavut?
They’re now working on the record system with the DEA and the principals are also involved.
In English, it’s called the “Stay in School” initiative.
That’s what they’re working on and it is still a work in progress.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Having a specific and regular report on how many students are attending school on a day-by-day, week-by-week, or even month-by-month basis could be an excellent tool to encourage more parents to send their students to school.
Will the minister commit to providing these reports to all communities across Nunavut at the earliest possible opportunity and to continue providing them on a regular basis?
I know for sure that each school maintains their own attendance records.
They know who is tardy and I’m sure that during the parent/teacher meetings, they talk about the attendance of their children.
All this information is available in each of the schools.
I believe you are asking me whether we could provide those reports to all communities across Nunavut.
Whether that can be done is something I cannot agree to because the issue of truancy rates is in the process of being worked on. It’s also very important for students.
Once we get that information, I’ll be very pleased to provide that information to Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Aariak.
Last year, I also raised another question with respect to the DEAs. When would they be attending a workshop about the Education Act?
Apparently the communities don’t want to be rushed into a workshop.
I’m wondering whether or not these workshops have been prepared and when they would be presented.
Minister responsible for Education, Minister Aariak.
District education authorities and schools continue to work on school improvement plans as one approach to improving attendance.
Of course, this is a continuing initiative that is being done by principals, DEAs, and the Department of Education.
Speaker: Thank you, Madam Minister Aariak.
Question 183 – 3(3): Public Housing Rent Scale Review (Aupaluktuq)
A couple of years ago, I had posed a question to the Minister of the Nunavut Housing Corporation about rent scales. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Hon. Tagak Curley.
The current business plan for the Nunavut Housing Corporation states that, and I quote, “A review of the current Public Housing Rent Scale as part of NHC’s Tamapta Action Plan objectives is currently underway. The NHC expects to have the review completed by Spring 2011.”
Mr. Speaker, we’re heading into the fall season; it’s almost November. I want to ask the hon. minister: can the minister update the House today on the status of the public housing rent scale review?
Hon. Tagak Curley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I certainly will be glad to do that. I can tell the member that our corporation staff has been doing an extensive evaluation of the whole rental scale. The work is obviously lagging behind, but this is not at all to suggest that the work is not being done.
It is being done. I have yet to present the whole document and the recommendations for changes to my cabinet colleagues.
Once that has taken place, I will be quite happy to table that report and I certainly feel that, by the winter session, it will definitely be completed.
From the corporation’s side, I know that there were minor issues but complex issues that have been dealt with. They had to be dealt with other departmental coordination, which is in place within the whole review process.
Once these have been worked out, I intend to take the whole document to my cabinet colleagues before too long and certainly by the winter session, the policy document should be completed.
I appreciate the response. I’m sure the rest of Nunavut will be eager to get an update on that.
Mr. Speaker, almost two years ago, on October 26, 2009, all MLAs met in the Chamber to develop our priorities for the Third Legislative Assembly.
At that time, we announced that, and I quote, “comprehensive reviews of the public housing rent scale and the income support program are required.
Can the minister indicate if the Nunavut Housing Corporation has been coordinating its review of the public housing rent scale with the Department of Education’s review of the Income Support Program?
Yes, that is precisely what I meant when I said there is interdepartmental coordination that had to further consult with the department.
Very importantly, the income support workers and the office of that must concur with the changes that we’re making.
It was that very issue that the corporation had to consult further with our partners and the whole review process. The income support group is very much part of that consultation and that will be reflected.
Whatever the changes are will be an improvement. Also the fact that once the review is done, in consultation with the other department, I will be bringing it forward to the cabinet. From then on, we will make it public.
Your second supplementary question, Mr. Aupaluktuq.
As the minister indicated that he looks forward to tabling it in the House, I’m sure all members will have the opportunity to consider the proposed changes to the public housing rent scale prior to their implementation.
With that, I would just like to leave it and indicate that all members and the rest of Nunavut will be looking forward to seeing it tabled. It’s just a comment.
Question 184 – 3(3): Carving Stone Quarry Near Proposed Iron Mine (Enook)
Mr. Enook: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Last week, the minister made a statement on carving stone deposits.
We all know that Mary River might have a very large deposit of carving stone. In the Baffin region, we also know that this deposit is one of the best that have ever been found in Nunavut.
It is located at the proposed mining site. I would like to ask if the minister has spoken with Baffinland as to the status of the carving stone deposit to ensure its integrity and how they could ship it to nearby communities.
Mr. Speaker, we keep in close contact with the mining and exploration companies to identify unknown soapstone deposits.
I appreciate the fact that some of the companies, exploration companies plus the mining companies, assist in that.
Mr. Speaker, for quarrying of any kind of deposits, it depends on where the deposit is located. If it’s on Inuit owned land, we do have to abide by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement where only a certain amount can be quarried according to the land claims agreement.
I don’t have that information with me at this point on the tonnage and amount of soapstone that could be quarried on Inuit owned land, but I surely will get that information to the member from Tununiq.
Member for Amittuq, Mr. Tapardjuk
Question 185 – 3(3): Prospector Training Program (Tapardjuk)
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to wish a good afternoon to my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach.
I would like to refer back to an item that was just spoken to by the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. I believe the title is the Nunavut Prospectors Program, including training in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the minister. I think it’s a very good course involving the training of our residents.
He stated that there have been approximately 750 graduates of the introductory prospecting course. He stated that 24 students in 10 communities will be offered more advanced prospecting courses.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation this question: what happens after the participants have completed the prospecting program?
What else can they do if they come across base metals and precious minerals? I would like to know if there are any other programs available to assist these graduates.
Again I want to thank the member from Amittuq for that excellent question.
At the department, we are very proud of the program that assists Nunavummiut, and I know the folks in the small communities take advantage of the knowledge of the land they have.
These courses are short in duration, but the students and the folks who take the course are knowledgeable, they know the land, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to encourage.
When they go out there prospecting, the first step is to actually get a $5 prospecting licence. Our geologists or even the EDOs are there to help them out in preparing the prospecting licence.
Once that happens, once you get that, you’re qualified to apply for funds in our program. It’s up to $8,000 per applicant.
I would like to raise this secondary question.
In the past 13 years since the program was commenced, you’ve had 750 participants who have completed this program.
To date, how many graduates have been involved in prospecting or found deposits and applied to develop a claim on their own?
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation tell me how many of these 750 graduates have benefited in being able to become self-sufficient as a result of their courses?
Again I thank the member for that excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, out of the 750 applicants, I am not 100 percent sure; I don’t have those numbers in front of me.
We know in Kimmirut, we have some locals there who partnered in with other southern exploration companies to work on the discoveries that they had made. Also, in the Kitikmeot area, there are a couple of folks there from Kugaaruk who are working with other companies.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, prospecting is very difficult.
The reason why we encourage this within our department is because our northern folks know the land, they know what they see out there, and it’s more natural for them to identify and remember some of these landmarks that they come across daily.
Of course, our program is to make sure that they know what they’re looking at, geological deposits out there, to make sure that if the prospector knows that these properties are out there, they have a pretty good chance of finding some sort of deposit.
Prospecting is very difficult.
As you know, we’ve got a couple of famous prospectors in the NWT who actually made it big.
It’s not very often that prospectors get rich, but as you know, Mr. Speaker, the one person whom we all know about is Chuck Fipke, who discovered the Ekati diamond mine. He was just a prospector doing some exploration work and he eventually found a deposit. At the end of the day, he sold that deposit for $850 million.
Exactly what we’re trying to do is find some of these key people who want to become prospectors and entrepreneurs on their own. Of course, Mr. Speaker, once a discovery is made, there has to be some assistance and we’re willing to do that with our geologists and outside help from the experts.
I also appreciate the minister’s response with respect to my questions.
Would there happen to be any kind of report with respect to the 750 graduates from this prospecting course and what assistance the government has provided to them?