EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
044 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou (Hickes) 179
045 – 4(3): Foster Parenting in Nunavut (Angnakak) 181
046 – 4(3): GLOs to Receive ASIST Training (Mikkungwak) 182
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016 – Notice 184
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016 – First Reading 185
Bill 06 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2015-2016 – Second Reading 185
Bill 03 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2016-2017 – Nunavut Housing Corporation – Consideration in Committee 185
Speaker (Mr. Joe Enook) (interpretation): Can you say the opening prayer, please, Mr. Mikkungwak.
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Premier Taptuna, (interpretation) ministers, members, welcome to your Legislative Assembly.
We will again commence our meeting today.
Moving on to the orders of the day. The first item is Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 009 – 4(3): Travel and Tourism Act Renewal (Ell-Kanayuk)
As Nunavut’s economy grows and diversifies, tourism will play an increasingly important role.
The Government of Nunavut wants Nunavummiut to help shape how the industry moves forward.
To do this, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation visited seven communities and talked about what changes to make in the Travel and Tourism Act.
Feedback from the community sessions as well as online surveys and conference calls are being collected and used to help draft a new Travel and Tourism Act.
Mr. Speaker, the current legislation is 23 years old.
It needs to be updated to reflect the creation of Nunavut and the perspectives of Nunavummiut.
Nunavut has a unique culture and land that we should showcase proudly.
We hope to reduce barriers for tourism growth and ensure that tourism creates business opportunities and other benefits for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, by some estimates, the tourism industry adds about $40 million per year to Nunavut’s economy.
Through the new Travel and Tourism Act, we hope to increase this value and make sure more of it stays in our communities.
Minister’s Statement 010 – 4(3): Government Liaison Officers to Receive ASIST Training (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Ullaakkut, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, Kuglukturmiut, and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that all of my department’s government liaison officers will receive the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, or ASIST for short.
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier this session, suicide in Nunavut has reached a tipping point and there is an urgent need to increase action. My government is planning swift action to ensure we face this issue head-on.
As such, at a departmental level, government liaison officers from every community in the territory will come together on December 9 in Rankin Inlet to take this important two-day workshop.
My department is coordinating the delivery of ASIST to the 25 government liaison officers with the help of Nunavut Arctic College.
ASIST is the world’s leading suicide intervention program. With this training, community members will have additional access to ASIST-trained government workers, if they need help.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage more Nunavummiut to take the ASIST program and learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
Every single Nunavummiuq has been affected by suicide, and we need to collectively stand together and put an end to this crisis together.
Minister’s Statement 011 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to speak about Baffin Island caribou.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the hunters and trappers organizations on Baffin Island and our other co-management partners for their support and cooperation during the recent moratorium on caribou hunting on Baffin Island.
Mr. Speaker, my department is constantly working to ensure that all of Nunavut’s wildlife resources are managed in a sustainable way. We must balance the need for Nunavummiut to have access to healthy country food with the need to conserve our wildlife resources so that future generations will also be able to enjoy the benefits of healthy wildlife populations.
We acknowledge that the moratorium may have created some difficulties for hunters and their families, and we are grateful to them for working together with us to help protect this important resource.
Minister’s Statement 012 – 4(3): G.R.E.A.T. Program (Ugyuk)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the launch of our pilot phase of the Getting Ready for Employment and Training Program.
The program is one of our new labour market programs specifically focused on income assistance clients.
The G.R.E.A.T. program is an extension of support to clients who want to become employed, and helps them be better prepared to enter the workforce.
The program includes a ten-week labour market training and a tailored two-week work placement within the person’s home community that is specific to the needs and choices of each client.
The G.R.E.A.T. program will be piloted in 10 communities in 2015-16.
This fall, we are rolling out delivery of the program in Kugluktuk, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
My department anticipates the winter delivery to be offered in a number of communities in all three regions. Our goal is that 120 income assistance clients will participate in the pilot phase.
Clients who graduate from the program will be better prepared to be successfully employed or to seek further training and schooling.
We are proud to offer this new program as a department, and G.R.E.A.T. demonstrates the successful collaboration between Nunavut Arctic College and our income assistance and career development divisions.
This partnership is the first of its kind and sets a high bar for future programs.
Minister’s Statement 013 – 4(3): 2015 Fire Prevention Week (Mike)
I rise today to speak about the 2015 Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Prevention Week is marked during the month of October each year across the country to remind Canadians about the importance of fire safety in their homes and communities.
This year, Fire Prevention Week was held from October 4 to 10, 2015 with the theme, “Hear the beep where you sleep: Every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm.”
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to remind Nunavummiut of the following fire safety tips to use in their homes:
(interpretation) Ensure you have a smoke alarm in every bedroom
Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries when necessary
Never turn off or cover smoke alarms
Make a home fire escape plan so you know what to do, where to go, and what number to call to reach emergency responders in the event of a fire.
Mr. Speaker, we would like to encourage Nunavummiut to talk to their family about how to be fire safe at home and in the community.
(interpretation ends) Although Fire Prevention Week is only a weeklong event, talking to our children, families, and communities about fire safety and fire prevention is something we must do all year round.
(interpretation) I would like to thank all of the community fire departments who took part in recognizing Fire Prevention Week this year and for their ongoing work in keeping our communities safe.
Moving on with the orders of the day.
Mr. Shooyook, Member for Quttiktuq.
Member’s Statement 034 – 4(3): Suicide Prevention in Nunavut (Shooyook)
I say “good day” to my colleagues and the people who are watching the televised proceedings and listening to the radio broadcast.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about suicide. Today is October 23. It’s actually our anniversary and I know that we need to work in Nunavut to try and eradicate suicide in Nunavut.
To the people who are watching and listening to the proceedings, instead of just talking about suicide, we need to actually do something.
Sometimes when we are trying to work on something, we say that there’s no funding or money for it.
When we see that, it’s very disappointing for me because we’re not going to improve our lives just by money.
It’s evident now, for that reason, we say that once we get funding, we will start working on that.
This is very disappointing for me to hear.
Although we can resolve our situations without having to pay money, we can also talk about our issues.
Mr. Speaker, it’s not due to illness that I have lost a grandchild.
Many people in Nunavut have lost a loved one due to suicide.
Many people have been impacted. When you have been impacted, it’s very painful and you ask many questions why he or she did that.
It has been four years now, but I still ask that question and I am still impacted today.
It’s probably not as painful to lose a relative to illness.
I’m sorry. I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
You may proceed, Mr. Shooyook.
I know that this is very stressful because I have lost a grandchild too just recently, and it’s very sad.
Let’s move ahead starting from now, not just talking about it.
We hear it through CBC Radio. Let’s actually do something.
The government and staff have to do something.
Today is October 23. After this, let’s make an action on this, not just on correspondence. Let’s actually do work.
It’s very difficult and urgent now.
Mr. Speaker, starting from today, let’s work together. I urge all the members to work together, not just to talk about it, but do some action.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all the people, instead of it just being in written documents, to do actual work because it’s an urgent case now.
Elders who can actually help are passing on.
Let’s not worry about not being educated.
Only then can you start working on suicide prevention.
This is getting tiring for me.
There are many Inuit and elders who are knowledge-holders and I know that they can work as well as the educated people.
Mr. Speaker, let’s utilize our elders instead of depending on funding. Let’s depend on the people who are willing to work and help. Starting from today, let’s utilize them and work on this issue.
Let’s move ahead and be happy about dealing with suicide prevention. Let’s clap our hands.
Member’s Statement 035 – 4(3): Addressing the Need for Long-term Care for Elders (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Good morning. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my commitment to working towards the establishment of a long-term care facility for our elders.
Mr. Speaker, our population is steadily growing and the number of elders needing programs and services is also increasing.
Sadly, services and options for our elderly are sorely limited.
Many of our elders and their families face physical, medical, and cognitive challenges on a daily basis.
We need to do more for them and we need to do it soon.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to describe an initiative that I am working on with a number of like-minded individuals. We are seeking to establish a non-profit organization which will put together a business plan for a long-term care elders facility that can offer a number of programs and services for elders.
Mr. Speaker, we are ambitious and we are hopeful. We have received encouragement and advice from the Nunavut Housing Corporation, the Department of Health, and the Nunavut Construction Corporation. We are looking into land options.
We are determined to push as hard as we can to get a plan in place and piles in the ground by the summer of 2016.
We envision opening a community facility, run by a steadfast and committed board of directors, and which can offer long-term care, dementia care, assisted living, and more programs for our elders and their families.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that my colleagues will all agree that efforts must be made to support our elders. It need not always be the government that steps up to address our issues. We, as a community, can work together to find solutions too.
Member’s Statement 036 – 4(3): Premier’s Visit to South Baffin (Joanasie)
Good morning to the people of Nunavut and my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to publicly express my appreciation to our Premier, (interpretation ends) Premier Taptuna, (interpretation) for his recent visits to the communities of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut in my constituency of South Baffin.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member’s Statement yesterday, the community has been in pain since the destruction of our high school.
Mr. Speaker, I was very honoured to host the Premier on his recent visits to Kimmirut and Cape Dorset, which provided him with the opportunity to meet directly with many of my constituents and local leaders and to see with his own eyes the challenges and opportunities in the community.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, one of the issues that I have been raising in each and every sitting of the House is the urgent need for a new power plant in Cape Dorset. (interpretation ends) During the Premier’s visit, he was able to see how the lack of power generation capacity at the community’s existing power plant has prevented the construction of any new housing in recent years.
Mr. Speaker, I used to mention the fact that the power plant in Cape Dorset is older than I am.
Well, as of this Monday, it’s also older than the Prime Minister of Canada.
It may, however, still be a little bit younger than our Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased at the Premier’s willingness to listen to ideas and solutions from community residents, including such ideas as bringing in mobile generators to boost capacity in the community while we wait for the new plant to come online.
Mr. Speaker, the government is well aware of the frustrations that the community of Cape Dorset has had with respect to the issue of securing the land for the new power plant, and I will have questions for the appropriate minister at the appropriate time.
Mr. Speaker, the government is also well aware of the frustrations that the community of Kimmirut has had with respect to the issue of the need to find a new location for the community’s airport.
This is another issue that has been identified for years.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk for taking the time to come to Kimmirut in person to move forward on the new airport.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by again thanking Premier Taptuna for taking the time and making the effort to join with me and my constituents in South Baffin to Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.
Member’s Statement 037 – 4(3): Iqaluit’s Qanukiaq Studios (Hickes)
Quite often on Fridays, we try and add a little bit of humour to the legislature.
I just wanted to comment, on social media, there’s a bit of an uproar going on, on the goal celebration made by Jordin Tootoo last night in Ottawa.
Apparently he was doing a turkey dance that he had promised some friends and family that he would do if he got a goal last night, so he followed through with that commitment.
He was quite entertaining, if you get a chance to take a look at it online.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge some constituents that I have that are involved in a studio here in Iqaluit. Qanukiaq Studios Incorporated is a 100 percent Inuit owned television, film, and media arts company based here in Iqaluit.
It is jointly owned by Stacey Aglok MacDonald, Thomas Anguti Johnston, Vinnie Karetak, and Josh Qaumariaq.
This studio specializes in live action comedy and drama.
Qanukiaq Studios is committed to sharing Inuit culture and language from a distinctly modern Inuit perspective.
Currently, Qanukiaq Studios is filming season 5 of their television series, Qanurli, which will air on APTN in 2016.
Qanurli, which means what’s next in Inuktitut, is an unpredictable and hilarious Inuktitut language sketch show featuring parodies and satire, as well as profiles of inspiring Inuit youth.
Qanurli’s audience is expanding from Nunavut to across Canada and all Inuit Nunangat.
Qanurli is a family show that children, teens, parents, and grandparents can watch together.
I just wanted to have this House acknowledge all the fantastic work that this group of people are doing, bringing forward youth issues in a humorous and light comedy way.
Member’s Statement 038 – 4(3): Developments in Constituency (Ugyuk)
Good morning to the people in my community.
It’s very early over there.
Yesterday, when I was making my statement, I welcomed and thanked my colleagues, Johnny Mike and the Minister of Health.
I apologize for forgetting the Minister of Transportation, Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
I didn’t want to forget her, but I did. Sometimes I forget things when I’m talking. It’s not intentional, but sometimes we forget things.
When Monica was there, she met with the hamlet council and they were able to ask her questions about the airport terminal. They asked questions about the dock and airport terminal to the minister and she responded well to the questions. I am grateful to her for that.
The hamlet council raised concerns about the elders facility.
There’s an old building that they’re looking at repurposing for that purpose and the old women’s shelter is what the hamlet is looking at to make it into a men’s committee type of building.
Those are some of the things that are happening, and I am very grateful to my fellow minister for being able to come to Taloyoak.
Member’s Statement 039 – 4(3): Tribute to Joanasie Kooneeloosie and Family (Keyootak)
I rise today to express my pride and I would like to have you share in acknowledging on what happened last year.
First of all, let me say that in my community, we go far distances to go hunting and caribou hunting.
Last year, we had two hunters that we were worried about. They were delayed and they had gone caribou hunting and fishing to a distant land and we became very worried about those two men because they never came back.
At that time, there were other fishermen and when we got worried about those two other fisherman… .
I would like to express my pride in these people and say their names. They had been out hunting.
They had been in a cabin and just as they were leaving from the cabin, one of the people who had been lost appeared.
Those people who were in the cabin, Joanasie Kooneeloosie and his wife, Leah Komoartok-Kooneeloosie and their children and grandchildren were there.
Meanwhile, those two hunters were missing and Joanasie and his family were just leaving the cabin when one of the lost hunters appeared, walking just as they were leaving. They had shut off the heat for the cabin because they were leaving and the lost person who was walking would have gotten into a cold shack.
Just as Joanasie and his family were leaving, they saw this man coming up to the cabin and he had snow in his clothing. If that family had not seen him, he would have probably not made it, but Joanasie and his family saved him and they were able to put him into the warm cabin and save him.
We have been very grateful to Joanasie and his whole family for saving that person who was walking.
Mr. Speaker, at a later time this summer, there was another incident when we were out fishing.
Member is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Please proceed, Mr. Keyootak.
Mr. Speaker, this past spring, there was another incident when we were out fishing. There was an avalanche and some people got snowed under by the avalanche that happened while they were still in their tents and they had children with them. When the avalanche hit them, the people were able to save them before they died.
The same family, Joanasie Kooneeloosie and his family, was there and they had been at his cabin. They’re the only people who have cabins in that fishing area.
Many of them were injured, including one who was unconscious. The children were naked and they were tumbled around the tent because the avalanche was pushing the tent down.
The people got out of the tent unintentionally and they ended up in the snow outside with not a whole lot of clothing on.
It was Joanasie Kooneeloosie and Leah Komoartok-Kooneeloosie and their children. They were the only ones with a cabin over there.
All of those people who had been in the avalanche were brought into Joanasie’s cabin, and the family saved a lot of people on more than one occasion. I would really like to thank them, along with everybody here, because all of those people would have died if it wasn’t for Joanasie and his family.
I want everyone here to thank them.
Member’s Statement 040 – 4(3): Congratulations on the Successful Federal Election (Mike)
Good morning, people of Nunavut and fellow residents of Pangnirtung.
I have some news from Pangnirtung and those of us from there would like to comment on the recent elections. We would like to congratulate Trudeau for being elected. There was a Trudeau that won before in a previous election.
We are grateful for all who ran for Nunavut MP. They all tried hard to get elected.
They worked really hard in their commitments this last Monday during the election.
As the people of Pangnirtung, we welcome the new government and the recently elected MP for Nunavut, who will be our next MP and working for us in Ottawa, Hunter Tootoo.
We would like to thank the previous MP who will be completing her work.
She was the Minister of Health and Minister of Environment.
The people of Pangnirtung express their appreciation to her because she worked hard on things affecting Pangnirtung, the people of Nunavut, and the people of Canada.
Therefore, I would like to explain that when Leona Aglukkaq was the minister and MP, work on marine infrastructure started to exist in Nunavut, and we would like to see that continue.
CanNor was brought to Nunavut and they can now have an office in Nunavut that may have landed outside of Nunavut if it wasn’t for her.
I didn’t hear any nays. Mr. Mike, you may proceed.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues.
With respect to fisheries development, especially offshore fishery in the turbot fishing area 0A, the entire 0A quota was given to Nunavut communities for the very first time.
Some fishing areas are not like that, although Nunavut is capable to fish, along with other groups.
I am only talking about some of the ones that I remember when Leona was the MP.
Internationally, work on polar bears, which we consider extremely important because animals are very important to us in the Arctic, she brought the Inuit knowledge to polar bear management. Inuit knowledge is now a part of polar bear management and that’s very important.
Sealing was banned by the European Union. While we tried to get an exemption certificate on the sale of sealskins, she helped us make that proceed by supporting it.
Also, she loudly voiced her opinions on climate change in the past two years when I was the Minister of Environment.
I worked with her on climate change efforts on the land that we live in. She really talked about it down there and the fact that the rest of Canada needs to be aware of the effects on us.
Also, CITES has really now believed Inuit more about the way we manage polar bears and the fact that we are not depleting the polar bears through our management.
That was a very difficult thing that she had to work on. Since she has been involved, it has become easier to work on polar bears.
As the people of Pangnirtung, we are grateful to her and we would like to work with the new government as the people of Pangnirtung.
I’m talking on behalf of the people of Pangnirtung.
Member’s Statement 041 – 4(3): Celebrating Naujaat (Mapsalak)
I would like to express my gratitude today and make a few comments.
This past July 2, the name of Repulse Bay was changed to a new name and we celebrated.
I would like to thank Minister Mike for being able to come to the community, along with Minister Quassa, Minister Okalik, and Minister Kuksuk.
They were all able to come and help us celebrate the change of the community name to Naujaat.
At that same occasion, Leona Aglukkaq came to open a new parks office for the Ukkusiksalik National Park. There were a whole lot of people who came to town for that purpose and I would like to thank them. We had a great time when we were celebrating the opening.
There are too many people for me to name them all.
It’s unfortunate that the people of Igloolik were not able to make it there due to weather, but it was a great occasion.