EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Iqaluit’s needs are many, as Canada’s newest and coolest capital city, the pressures on our infrastructure are intense, our residents expect quality services and innovative leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Mayor and Council are up to the challenge and I ask all Members to join me in wishing them every success for the road ahead as we build a capital city in which all Nunavummiut will be justly proud.
Member’s Statement 600 – 1(6): Commonwealth Regional Seminar in Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I would first of all like to say my greetings to the people in my riding and I would also like to congratulate the new Member for Nanulik and this was your first rising in the House.
I congratulate you for it and I welcome you to the House.
Please let me know if I am running out of time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the Members about the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Canadian Regional Seminar held here at the Assembly last week. The seminar was very successful and I would like to thank Mr. Quirke, the Deputy Clerk, Nancy Tupik, and also the Interpreters who were interpreting during this seminar.
The seminar was very successful with twenty six delegates from nine provincial and territorial legislatures attending, as well as delegates from the Parliament of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, this was the first time that Nunavut has hosted a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association here.
The seminar got underway last Thursday, with an opening reception that I had the distinct pleasure of emceeing.
Sammy Qaummariaq and Mary Wilman lit the Qulliq, while explaining the significance of the Qulliq to Inuit culture.
The Joamie School drummers and the Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik Choir entertained the delegates.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you colleagues.
The Joamie and Aqsarniit drummers and choir entertained the delegates with songs, drum dancing, throat singing and traditional games.
The evening was capped by a wonderful performance by Madeline Allakariallak, and Sylvia Cloutier.
They formed an excellent duo.
During the opening reception and meals, all the delegates had the opportunity to try our country foods, including char, turbot, caribou, and musk-ox.
During the seminar’s five business sessions, we had lively and thought provoking discussions on topics including consensus government, e-democracy, and the nature of casting a vote.
The delegates were particularly interested in the unique form of our Government.
I was joined at the seminar by my colleague, Ms. Williams, and I would like to thank you for your attendance.
I am sure that she will join me in thanking all of the delegates from across the country who took time out of their busy schedules, to attend the seminar, in many cases, visit Nunavut for the first time.
Member’s Statement 601 – 1(6): Congratulations to the New Council Members
I raised my hand quite a while ago.
I welcome you back.
First of all, I would like to welcome the new Member, Mr. Patterk Netser, welcome.
It was good to hear your opening comments.
First I would like to mention the election yesterday.
It was quite exciting to see the results, to see more Inuit elected to the Council.
They were quite recognizable.
This is a sign that Inuit want to start taking on their own destiny, by using their language and working hard for their people.
First, I would like to recognize my constituents who were elected. For Mayor, Elisapee Sheutiapik who is from my riding, I congratulate her.
As well, our Sergeant-At-Arms, Simanek Kilabuk was elected, and congratulations to an elder, Goola Nakasuk, who is also in my riding, I congratulate him and as well Stu Kennedy, congratulations for being elected to the City Council.
Inuit were elected onto more than half of the Council seats and I am very proud of that.
In this way, Inuit concerns will now be heard more and be dealt with.
And those that were also campaigning for other seats, I congratulate them for taking the time to put some ideas out in the open during the campaign.
Member’s Statement 602 – 1(6): Encourage Nunavummiut to Volunteer
I am very glad to be back here in the House today and I would like to welcome Mr. Netser here for representing his Riding and it is good to see you here.
(interpretation ends) I rise today to encourage Nunavummiut to be more active contributors to their communities.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about increasing volunteer base across Nunavut.
I am especially talking about increasing the number of volunteers to mentor our youth.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank many of the people who already volunteer their time to make the community a better place to live and to show our youth how valuable they are to us.
Many people spend countless hours coaching organized sports.
I would like to recognize dedicated people who keep the Kugluktuk Grizzly Youth Program running.
I would like to see more adults and elders involved with our youth.
Not every child has an opportunity to go out on the land and learn about our traditional lifestyle, but every child can benefit from these experiences.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage Nunavummiut to invest their time in our youth, to take young people out on the land, to coach a team, to spend time reading, teaching, and socializing with our youth.
Member’s Statement 603 – 1(6): Spiritual Gathering in Baker Lake
Uqaqti, first off, I would like to welcome Patterk Netser to the Assembly.
I first met Patterk in 1975, when I worked for the infamous Hudson’s Bay Company in Coral Harbour.
He was a willing customer and a purchaser of many snowmobile parts.
Today, it is great to see a guy from the Kivalliq in this House because it is no secret that I felt very alone in the last two or three years representing my Constituency and the Kivalliq.
Uqaqti, I would like first, to say thank you for the wonderful sleigh, of carrying it to our tapestry that is now on display in the Legislative Assembly foyer.
When I walked into the Assembly this afternoon, I almost thought I was back at home in Baker Lake, but I guess you cannot have everything you ask for.
Uqaqti, I am pleased today, on the First Sitting of our Fall Session and I hope that all of the Members of this House were able to spend a lot of time in their communities during the past few months since we last gathered together for the tremendous success and successful sitting in Baker Lake.
Uqaqti, it has been a great summer and early fall in Baker Lake.
Earlier this summer, we hosted a very successful Kivalliq Summer Games and approximately 70 athletes from across the Kivalliq came to Baker Lake to take part in this excellent event.
Last month, Mr. Speaker, a major spiritual gathering was held in Baker Lake and I want to pay tribute to Bill and Joan Kashla, who made this event a reality.
Mr. Speaker, there were over 400 people from Nunavut, Nunavik, and other parts of Canada who attended this spiritual gathering, and today, Mr. Speaker, Baker Lake is a better place for that.
Mr. Speaker, far too often, we neglect the spiritual side of our lives, and I am glad that Baker Lake was the place of much celebration, and reflection on that.
Uqaqti, I even had a little archaeological adventure of my own this summer.
As Members may have heard, we stumbled across an interesting mystery in Baker Lake, an old burial site that appears to be dating back to the nineteenth century.
I want to thank the folks at Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, who are helping us out on solving this mystery.
Uqaqti, the fall is going to be a busy one for us.
Next month, residents from my community will be voting in an important plebiscite question.
I want to encourage everyone in my community to think carefully about this issue and to make our voice heard in the ballot box.
Over the next few weeks I am pretty sure that I will be able to identify a number of areas where we need to make further progress, and I will look forward to speaking on these issues in the House over the next three weeks.
Member’s Statement 604 – 1(6): Recognition of Sons
I would like to rise as well today. There have been two occurrences of firsts for me that are most important to me. First of all, I would like to thank Joseph, my son.
This is the first time that he bought me a tie that I can wear in the House, it is a golf tie.
And Kevin Alikatuktuk, not you Mr. Speaker, I will send my regards to him.
During the fishing season in Pangnirtung, he caught two fish for the first time, this year.
I would like to congratulate him, I am very proud of him.
As well for quite a while now, in Pangnirtung, in 2003 we have had two springs for the first time.
We were riding our snowmobiles a while ago and now the snow is all gone, and we are out boating again.
So it is our second spring this year.
My regards to the people of Pangnirtung.
Member’s Statement 605 – 1(6): Ministers Retreat in Sanikiluaq
I would like to rise today to send my regards to my family.
As well, welcome to Mr. Patterk Netser to the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministers were able to travel to Sanikiluaq for a retreat.
The residents of Sanikiluaq were very proud to host the Cabinet.
They were made quite welcome in the community.
They also had an opportunity to see a different part of Nunavut and also eat what they have never eaten before.
So it was quite an experience for everybody.
We also have seen some minerals that are quite different in the Belcher Islands.
So they had quite a few experiences and took home a few things from Sanikiluaq.
We also make dried meat, and the person to my right had never heard that they dried up the intestines of the whales.
We always throw those parts away, but he took those and said that he would dry them.
He taught a lesson to the people of Sanikiluaq in that regard.
Member’s Statement 606 – 1(6): Health Diagnosis in Nunavut
I don’t have my voice back. I would like to send my regards to my family, my wife and my daughter, should they be watching, I say hello to them and also would like to extend my congratulations to the new Member elected for Nanulik.
I rise today on behalf of Nunavummiut to talk about health.
I know that Nunavummiut get sick and some will have poor health.
At times, these individuals are not diagnosed for a very long time.
Even though sickness may never be eradicated in Nunavut, I would suggest that some individuals should be tested for what kind of illnesses they have.
Currently, we now have more technology to diagnose some illnesses better than before and also, I know that the nurses and the doctors are very professional and I praise them for their work, but we all have to help each other and they should be giving more support to those people in need.
And when the time arises during question period, I will be asking questions in regards to this issue.
Member’s Statement 607 – 1(6): City Council Election
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to begin by thanking the people of Sanikiluaq for their excellent fishing pole I guess they gave me in June.
I won another contest there.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday an overwhelming number of Iqaluit residents went to the polls to elect a Mayor, Council and Iqaluit Education Council Members.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to begin by saying that over the past several years, I have had an opportunity and a chance to work with Mr. John Matthews as the Councilor and a Mayor.
John provided yeoman service as Mayor during some of the most tumultuous and difficult times that the City of Iqaluit has seen in the past several years.
Mr. Speaker, John Matthews held the Office with dignity, and Mr. Speaker, with honesty and I would like to take this opportunity to thank John for his services to all the people in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, Councilor Irving and our former mayor Mr. Jimmy Kilabuk also dedicated much time in elective office representing all of Iqaluit residents and I wanted to thank them also for offering themselves to the people of Iqaluit for elected office yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, our new Mayor brings experience, drive and dedication to the position and I look forward to working with her and her colleagues during the Assembly over the coming months and years.
Mr. Speaker, almost overlooked in the election yesterday was the election of the Iqaluit Education Council and the Iqaluit Francophone Education Council.
I wanted to congratulate them on their elections and single out a former employee of ours, here at the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Aseena Allurut.
I congratulate Aseena for her election yesterday to the Iqaluit Education Council.
And finally, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take this opportunity to extend best wishes, Mr. Speaker, best wishes to a former Iqaluit resident, my good friend and well-known CBC broadcaster, Mr. Winston White, who is seeking election under the PC, the Progressive Conservative banner today in Labrador.
Winston’s family and his friends here in Iqaluit, his sister Pauline, his nephews and nieces, all wish Winston the very best in the election when we are watching the returns tonight.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, Winston chose to represent the Progressive Conservative Party and I am hoping, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Grimes pulls through.
If not, we will move onto Item 4.
Return to Oral Question 533 – 1(6): New Air Terminal Extension
This question was posed to me by Mr. Puqiqnak.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide the Member for Nattilik with a response to the question that I took as notice regarding the air terminal building stationed in Gjoa Haven.
Mr. Speaker, my Department has secured federal funding support for an air terminal building in Gjoa Haven.
A large portion of the funding is provided through a federal infrastructure program, for which there are strict guidelines.
Transport Canada Service Levels and Criteria are used for sizing the building.
The Federal Government would not cost share any additional changes that went beyond the required specifications.
These specifications do provide for a terminal that allows for the continued growth and economic development in the community over the next ten to fifteen years.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the building will support the needs of the community for some time to come.
In this time of fiscal responsibility, ensuring that buildings are built to the appropriate guidelines provides for maximum use of the limited funds available.
I am very much looking forward of the opening of new air terminal building in Gjoa Haven soon.
Return to Oral Question 501 – 1(6): Plans for a New Government Building in Arctic Bay
I rise today to provide a response to a question from Ms. Williams on March 26th, 2003.
The Technical Division of Public Works and Services has completed a technical evaluation on the current government facilities in Arctic Bay.
Government employees with offices in that facility have been working out in their homes.
We are addressing the short term office needs by renovating a portable to meet current building codes.
These renovations are scheduled to be completed by mid January.
I would like to recognize constituents of yours who are here for the education materials.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a couple of individuals behind me, Mark Kalluak, Louise Angalik, and Donald Uluadluak, who will be displaying the things in that room and you will be able to ask questions.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, one more who I would like to recognize, is an individual, Sergeant-at-Arms for this week from Rankin Inlet, my constituent, Paul Kanayuk.
(interpretation) Paul Kanayuk, if he could rise.
I have invited him for Sergeant-at-Arm, and the Sergeant-at-Arms had trained him this morning and I would like to thank the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Paul Kanayuk started carving in Rankin Inlet, in Reception Bay, when he was sixteen years old.
He started working the mines.
He also worked in the transport ships for four years and he has worked at a power house for a year and half.
Also, Mr. Speaker, Paul Kanayuk has worked for twenty-eight years in Rankin Inlet as a road maintenance worker I'm glad that he’s retiring and we’re glad that he’s here.
I’d also like to recognise Mark Weason Donald and encourage everybody to go through their display from the side room here.
It’s a very comprehensive and exciting display.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognise the former legislator of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, a former colleague of mine, I believe he was the longest serving Member by the time he had left office, and that’s Mr. Ludy Pudluk.
Mr Puqiqnak.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognise a couple of individuals behind me.
My wife Lorraine, and beside her are her cousins, please rise; they now live in Pond Inlet although they came from Gjoa Haven, and her name is Rachel and her brother Tunnua.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognise another individual, Sarah Takijuk; she is from Gjoa Haven and she’ll be one of the pages and I’d like to thank her for coming, although this individual has already been recognised, one of my relatives, I find it very difficult and uncomfortable to say his name, Paul Kanayuk, Although he is my in-law, please welcome him.
First of all I’d like to welcome Mr. Lootie Palluk and also there are two individuals who are from Sanikiluaq that I would like to recognise.
They’re behind me.
This lady is my Constituency Assistant in Sanikiluaq and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for providing support services.
We also have the Qikiqtani Inuit Association who are having their annual general meeting here in Apex, Iqaluit.
I would like to welcome the Members of QIA.
This individual was recognised, but I too would like to take the opportunity to recognise this Nunavut wide known individual; his name is Lootie Palluk.
I would also like to recognise two individuals who are not here, Karen Inutiq, who is my Constituency Assistant in Resolute Bay and May Inutiq in Arctic Bay.
The person beside me who is from Sanikiluaq forgot the names of the people who were here from Sanikiluaq.
Mosesie Novalinga and Louisa Meeko and I would also like to recognize Ooleepeka Veevee, who could be a comic at times.
She will probably give us a little bit of entertainment during our break.
Speaker: Any further Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery?
First of all, I would like to welcome Mr. Puqiqnak’s wife and also our comic, Rebecca Veevee. (interpretation ends) Rebecca, Mr. Speaker, will be beginning a new program, modelled after ‘This Hour Has 22 Minutes’ beginning in November and Rebecca was dressed up as that crazy Marge with the sword, or as ‘Xena Warrior Princess’.
We are looking forward to that, Mr. Speaker, starting and she is in here now studying some of the attributes of the Members, because many of the Members will be on TV in that Comedy Special being aired across Canada on the APTN Network as well as CBC North.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to welcome Rebecca and thank her, in all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, for the daring rescue she was involved in about a month ago here in Iqaluit at the breakwater, so I want to thank Rebecca for that.
I also wanted, Mr. Speaker, to also welcome, at this time, someone who has been welcomed several times, but I wanted to add a little footnote and that is Mr. Lootie Pulluk.
Lootie’s brother was also elected yesterday to the Education Council here in Iqaluit, Mr. Andrew Tagak, a good friend of mine, and I wanted to mention joining Andrew in Elected Office yesterday, a repeat offender, Mr. Glenn Williams, was elected to the Iqaluit Council and a Constituent of mine, I wanted to wish him the very best also.
Do we have any Oral Questions?
Question 583 – 1(6): Three Territories to Increase Credit Limit from the Federal Government
I am a few years younger than Mr. McLean; my reflexes are a little quicker.
I believe it is tomorrow that he is going to be giving us a fiscal update on the Government of Nunavut. Without pre-empting that, I know that there have been a number of rumours and stuff going on throughout the bureaucracy on our situation.
But one thing that I would like to ask him is, earlier this month there was a report that all three Territories might be approaching the Federal Government to increase their borrowing limit.
I would like to ask the Minister if this Government is going to be looking at doing that.
Mr. Speaker, maybe a consideration for the future, but at the present time, no, I mean we are working within the credit limit that we have with the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, maybe just for the record, I’d like to ask the Minister to let us know what our limit is and where we are at on this right now.
Mr. Speaker, our limit is that $200 million dollars and it involves the guarantees that we put out for some of the Crown Corporations, in particular, two larger ones being the Nunavut Housing Corporation debt and the Power Corporation debt.
I do not have the actual estimates here with me given that the public accounts are now still being finalized by the Auditor General, but I can get the information certainly at a reasonable timeframe and advise the Member on that.
I don’t know if that will be in our fiscal update or not, but I look forward to getting those numbers.
Mr. Speaker, I guess the reason that this comment was made about approaching the Federal Government to increase the borrowing limit, I believe was made by Mr Ng’s counterpart in the NWT, and it related to the fact that all of the money that’s recently been announced for infrastructure and housing and things of that nature is all matching money.
The funds that we received, if we’re not going to be looking at going to borrow, do we have the capacity to be able to match to maximize all those dollars?
Mr. Speaker, as usual it’s a very good question that the Member raises.
I can say that given those discussions with Infrastructure Canada at the officials level that have been ongoing for several months before the final announcement made by the Federal Government on the infrastructure funding that the majority of the contributions for the Government of Nunavut have been put into our fiscal outlook.
So they have been included in the capital plan to allow us to maximize the opportunities in matching federal funding that’s available.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues from Qamanittuaq would say it’s no secret that this Government has been going on from day one over the need for additional funding and resources from the Federal Government.
Given that, and what we’ve done as the Government has on numerous occasions over the past we’ve spent our money, putting our money into public housing and infrastructure and things of that nature.
Would it be possible for the Minister, if he could look at going back and counting the funds that we’ve already spent over the last number of years since division of our money that we’ve spent and put into those types of infrastructure and housing projects, and at least count it as a credit towards the matching funding for federal dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that the Federal Government, the representatives and their political representatives are well aware of some of the needs that we have in Nunavut and it has been reflected in being able to access federal funding that is available without having to be penalized based on our current situation.
So, yes, there are some provisions to recognize money that is being spent by this Government as part of the matching contribution required for the federal infrastructure dollars.
Question 584 – 1(6): Healing Centre Facility Training for Prospective Employees
This question is for the Minister of Justice.
First of all I’d like to thank him for coming to Kugluktuk this summer to deal with the issue of a Healing Centre.
(interpretation ends) I would like to ask the Minister on the position he is taking for the Kugluktuk Healing Centre; are there going to be any training programs put on during the winter of this year before the place is opened?
The plan is to train prospective employees to work in facilities before the facility opens in the summer of next year.
Maybe I did not hear part of it.
When will the training take place?
When will it commence before people are employed in the Healing Centre?
To train perspective employees, before actual opening of the facility, we are looking at the program currently.