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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you and all Members of the House the success of this summer's 100th anniversary celebration of Roald Amundsen's arrival in Gjoa Haven.
Mr. Speaker, celebrations included performances by local dance groups, bands, drummers and throat singers.
A new monument was unveiled.
It is an impressive rock cairn overlooking the harbour on the north end of the community with a bronze plaque.
This monument was unveiled by His Excellency Ingvard Havnen, Norwegian Ambassador and by our own Premier Okalik.
I would like to thank the Premier, the Ambassador and his wife, Elisabeth, for sharing this event with us.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to emphasize that the community as a whole worked together to make this event a true celebration.
I would especially like to thank the lead coordinator, Anthony Anguttitauruq, the Recreation Coordinator, Dave Hunter, and the Northwest Passage Working Group that was chaired by Charlie Cahill.
Mr. Speaker, this event would not have been possible without the help and support of our community elders.
Mr. Speaker, the people of Gjoa Haven have many projects that they would like to see develop from this initial celebration.
Plans are in place to create a community website dedicated to the anniversary.
Speaker: Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude a statement. Are there any nays?
There are no nays. Please proceed Mr. Puqiqnak.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you very much my colleagues, and thank you Mr. Speaker.
This will promote Gjoa Haven as a tourist destination.
In addition, schools plan to dramatize the historic meeting of the Inuit and Europeans.
Mr. Speaker, the monument is only the first part of a vision to create a park overlooking the harbour and community.
Next year, the ship from Norway will arrive in Gjoa Haven when the passage is clear.
It would be wonderful if further development has been achieved by the time we welcome the ship.
I would like to encourage the Minister to work closely with the community to see this vision fulfilled.
Later today, I will ask the Minister what plans his department has in this area.
I would like to show you T-shirts to celebrate this trip.
We also have other promotional items that will be coming in to mark the celebration of the Northwest Passage.
Member’s Statement 609 – 1(6): Compliment Minister for Health and Social Services
I will wear my bright orange shirt tomorrow so that you will be able to see me in the House.
Mr. Speaker, it is not very often that I stand in the House to compliment the Government on a job well done.
Today I have to take special notice to the Honourable Minister of Health.
I know that sometimes that I am very cruel to him.
I banter with him occasionally and I am always saying that he is not doing a good job.
Mr. Speaker, there are times when I stand up and say, “Yes, he is doing a good job,” occasionally.
This is one of those days that I will stand up and compliment the Minister for a job well done.
As you know, we attended the grand opening, the grand opening of the new Kivalliq Boarding Home in Winnipeg this June.
Mr. Speaker, after so many years of Kivalliq people suffering in that old health facility or that old boarding home with the rats and the mice, and the non-air conditioned building and things like that we finally get a facility that is probably the best, I would say to the Minister, in Canada.
So I would like to take this time to thank the Minister for helping my constituents in my community, and also all Kivalliq people for finally have a boarding home that they can be proud of.
Member’s Statement 610 – 1(6): Tragic Incidents in Hall Beach
Mr. Premier, my colleagues, and also Patterk Netser.
This past summer we had some tragic incidents in my community.
Two of my relatives drowned during a boating accident.
Even though there are such tragedies, life must go on, especially for my relatives in Hall Beach and Igloolik.
I would also like to thank the people in my riding.
Member’s Statement 611 – 1(6): Annual Medical Visits to Community
Yesterday, I was not able to participate in this meeting because of the poor weather in Pond Inlet.
For the fifty years that I have been living there, that was the first time that we have had poor conditions.
In the early sixties, the C.D. Howe vessel used to go to the various communities on an annual basis.
During those tours the people would have medical check-ups done in the communities.
It is a very different lifestyle today where we do not get the annual physical check-ups.
For example, I do not even remember the last time when I had my lungs x-rayed.
In Nunavut, we do not get annual medical check-ups anymore, not like the days where the CD Howe used to go to all of the communities in the 1960s to do blood work and provide other physical check-ups.
I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 612 – 1(6): Awarding of Contracts
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue of transparency and accountability as they relate to the Government tendering practises.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House I tabled materials relating to the Government’s recent award of the construction for the Kivalliq Health Center.
As Members are aware, the Cabinet chose to award the contract for this major project to accompany that was not the lowest bidder.
Mr. Speaker, a number of important questions has not yet been satisfactorily answered by the Government on this matter.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the Government is consistently faced with the need to balance the principles of economy with the goal of supporting local business.
However, as we have often heard our Finance Minister tell us, our capital dollars are in very short supply.
The Government needs to make sure that when it chooses to pay more than it has to for projects, they had better have good, solid ground in which to support their decisions.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, it looks like the ground is pretty shaky.
We have been told, Mr. Speaker, that the Government entered into a negotiated contract with a joint venture company in order to achieve a higher Inuit labour component.
I applaud the efforts to increase local labour and training and opportunities in our communities.
But the Government has not yet clearly explained to this House or to the public why it did not enter into a similar arrangement with the actual lowest bidder on this project, thereby achieving two goals at the same time more Inuit employment and the lower cost for the Government on the project.
Mr. Speaker, saving money is not merely an exercise for bean counters.
If we can save a half a million dollars on a major projects, that frees up funds that can go to other important initiatives. $500 thousand dollars can to a lot good in any of our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I am a fair-minded person.
Perhaps the Government has an excellent reason why it appears to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars more than it had to on this tender.
But as you can see from the Public Works Minister’s letters to me, the Government clearly does not appear very eager to provide full justification for its actions.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my Statements.
Speaker: The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his Statement.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, my Colleagues and I have been fighting for the past four and a half years to reduce what I see as an unhealthy addiction to secrecy when it comes to the Government’s contracting and leasing practises.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, I am sure that is an issue that many of us campaigned on openness and transparency in Government.
Our Standing Committees have made recommendations to this area; actions to address this problem have been slow in coming.
Mr. Speaker, later today during question period, I will provide the Premier with the opportunity to be open and transparent on behalf of Cabinet on this issue.
Member’s Statement 613 – 1(6): Awarding of Contracts for the Construction of Houses
During the Finance Minister’s Statement, he of course, wants to promote the services and everything else for the people of Nunavut.
There’s approximately $10.1 million dollars that will be used for housing and there will be other projects that will be initiated, because of course the people of Nunavut when they get new housing or new schools the people in the communities benefit.
Mr. Speaker it does support the people in the communities but it doesn’t benefit the individual, and the money doesn’t stay in the community.
Usually the people who are contracted to construct buildings from outside of Nunavut or outside of their community and when they finish their project they usually go away with the money.
They have to fly in electricians and other trades people in order to construct those buildings.
For example, if we are going to construct a building in Kimmirut we are well aware that there will be a lot of money used and the monies will leave the community.
There are able people in the community who can construct those facilities but are not allowed because of the contracting services.
If we can award those contracts to the people in the communities there will be spin offs and the money will stay in the community.
Who does the awarding of the contract?
I will be directing these questions to the Finance Minister at the appropriate time.
If we really want to help the communities and we want them to grow economically then we’ll have to take that road.
Member’s Statement 614 – 1(6): Government Projects
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my Member’s Statement.
Our communities have elected us, and usually the monies are given by the governments and we’re provided services and buildings and schools and everything else.
I think on rare occasions we should thank the government for giving us this money and for building the infrastructure in our communities.
It is only through the hard work of the Ministers and their departments.
We are now going to be getting a new school in Kugaaruk and I would like to thank the government for that.
Member’s Statement 615 – 1(6): Appreciate the Projects and Construction in Rankin Inlet
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Ng for his Minister’s Statements regarding our fiscal position.
I have been looking forward to hearing this for awhile.
In Whale Cove is in need of an office.
They will be receiving approximately $575 thousand, that’s for Whale Cove and we’ll probably be able to train Inuit who will become wildlife officers.
I would also like to thank our Premier on behalf of the people of Whale Cove.
Mr. Paul Okalik, who was there to open the RCMP building and I would like to thank the Premier.
Again, we will be constructing a Health Facility in Rankin Inlet.
We will be able to train people who are getting into the pre-employment trades, for example, painters, and so on.
We had made an agreement where pre trade workers will be hired with contractors.
Those projects are starting to go ahead and I would like to thank the Government for giving us these opportunities to train Inuit who will be able to get into the workforce after their training period.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people in my riding, I would like to thank the contractors in our communities for working with us on this as they will be working with the Adult Education Centres.
Member’s Statement 616 – 1(6): Upcoming Plebiscite in Kugluktuk
Today is Inuinnaqtun Day and I would like say hi to the people of Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the issue of the upcoming plebiscite in my community of Kugluktuk in November.
Nunavummiut in four communities will go to the polls next month to give direction on the issue of access to alcohol.
In Kugluktuk voters will be ask about whether they want to bring back an Alcohol Education Committee that will have the power to limit who can legally import alcohol, and in what quantity.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention that I served on such a committee at one time.
This is never an easy issue, as we all know.
As we know that we face challenges of seeing families and friends go through such problems.
I have spoken many times on the need for Treatment Programs in our communities.
I have supported efforts at the community level to promote healthy lifestyles and choices, especially among our youth of today.
I am very aware of the way that alcohol, like other drugs, can damage people’s lives. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I encourage all voters to participate in the upcoming plebiscite.
When voters go to cast their vote, I encourage them to think carefully about the choice that they make.
I think that it is important to keep that simply setting up a committee would not be a magical solution to the problem of substance abuse and bootlegging.
It is important for people not to think that such a committee will solve all the problems in this area.
Everyone has a responsibility to choose a healthy lifestyle. Don’t think that the committee will solve problems for you. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Speaker: The Member seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Then, Mr. Havioyak, please proceed.
Mr. Havioyak: Thank you to all my colleagues.
If a committee is established it will be important for its members to act fairly towards all residents.
In the past committees lost credibility because people saw favouritism in their decision-making, they saw instant inconsistency.
I’ve also seen situations where people can legally purchase alcohol come under severe pressure to place orders for those who can’t.
Uqaqtii, I will respect the decision made by my community and I will work with the residents in whatever way I can.
But please do remember that the best solution will start at home.
Member’s Statement 617 – 1(6): New Rent Scales
I would like to welcome my colleague to my right.
He was unable to attend the session yesterday.
I rise today to talk about housing.
Yesterday, Minister for Housing Corporation had made his report.
On January 1, 2003 the new rent scale, Mr. Speaker, the community are very happy about this new system because previously they were using a system they couldn’t even understand and is quite old.
Mr. Speaker the communities are expecting to see a better rent scale system, especially for the older homes.
The price has depreciated so much and the price shouldn’t be that expensive and they’re kitchen is so small and their laundry room is quite small too, so the community residents are expecting to see some kind of a review done and during the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister on this issues.
Member’s Statement 618 – 1(6): Proud of First Inuk NHL Hockey Player – Jordin Tootoo
Today I will not be talking too much on behalf of my constituents but there is one day that I will never forget in my life.
I flew south on October 9.
It was incredible to see an Inuk play hockey and this is the very first time that I’ve seen an Inuk in a professional hockey game and it was like a dream being there.
And it was a very important time and we became quite emotional at that time and I was very proud of that person called Jordin Tootoo.
I was very proud of him and my son’s name is Jordin and they have the same name and I was very happy to see him play at the NHL level and his parents were there and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
I really want Nunavummiut to recognize Jordin Tootoo and he is such a very nice young man and he is a very caring person and I will give him my full support.
I get used to not being recognized right away.
Mr. Speaker, I apologize. I would like to recognize a couple of my Constituents here in the Gallery.
She was recently elected as the Mayor of Iqaluit, Elisapee Sheutiapik.
Also, an individual sitting beside her is a hockey fan, such as myself and I know that during the election he was so concerned he could not stay still, her husband, Brian Twerdin.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my niece, Malaya Netser.
She is sitting right over there, my younger sister Mona and Patterk Netser is the new Member of the Legislative Assembly, that is their daughter.
Speaker: Members, I would like to recognize and must acknowledge a Diplomat from the British High Commissioner’s Office working out of Ottawa, Ms. Catherine Picky, in the political division.
Mr. Kilabuk.  Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like also take this opportunity to recognize the Mayor elect, Elisapee Sheutiapik and her husband Brian Twerdin.
I would also like to recognize our Elder, Celestine Erkijjuk from Iqaluit and welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, it also gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery the same two individuals that were just introduced and I would begin by saying that many of the Members here know Elisapee Sheutiapik.
Elisapee worked for Mr. Ken McRury as the Regional Director for the Baffin way back in the late ‘80s and many people met her at that time.
Mr. Speaker, Elisapee was successful in the elections for Mayor two days ago, it seems like it was just yesterday.
It was a late night at her campaign headquarters; she had many people show up.
I know I was at her house a couple of nights ago where she had people working the phones, she did a very good job and a lot of work goes into being elected.
Elisapee has had an experience as a Deputy Mayor and also and knows the work and challenges that are there.
I am sure I join Mr. Tootoo and Mr. Bruce Davis; we look forward to working with her on many of these issues for Iqaluit in the coming months and years.
Next to Elisapee, any person who goes into politics needs a partner, Mr. Speaker, and Elisapee’s partner is Mr. Brian Twerdin.
Brian is well known all over Nunavut, having been a resident for almost thirty years.
Brian is famous for hockey indeed, taking the Northwest Territories team at that time to Whitehorse, in the Yukon many years ago as a coach and just recently, last year, skating with Ken Dryden, Mr. Ken Dryden and Wendell Clark and myself on a line that scored four goals with Mr. Ron McLean.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ron McLean noted at that time, that Mr. Twerdin, we would call him Huff and Puff because he was having a hard time going up and down the ice, but I was able to help him with some of the skating skills.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Brian and Elisapee to this chamber and wish them very good luck in Elisapee’s new role as a Mayor of Iqaluit and Brian’s role continue to support the family in his role, not only in the business and entrepreneur, but as also father for Iola.
I would like to take this opportunity welcome Mr. Celestine Erkidjuk and through a family like an elder.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery, Brian and Elisapee, Captain and of course our elder.
Question 595 – 1(6): Mental Health Worker for Kugluktuk
I will address my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Regarding the assistants in the hospitals and mental health workers in the communities, there should be staff such as mental health workers in Kugluktuk.
To date, that position has not being filled.
When will it be filled?
I would like information on this.
For a long time it has been vacant.
This is the question that I have, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: The Minister of Health and Social Services.
Minister. Picco.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had mailed the Health Strategy a little over a year ago.
We are in the position now to hire extra psychiatric nurses, as well as five child and Outreach workers.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know when the position in Kugluktuk will be filled, Mr. Speaker, I would have to get that information and get it back to the Member because I don’t have it with me.
There has not been anyone in that position and there seems to be lot of work and I just want to get information on this.
Question 596 – 1(6): Status of Annual Medical Checkups in the Communities
During my Member’s Statement I stated that there used to be C.D. Howe annual check up of patients in the communities.
My question is, Mr. Speaker, since the 1960s when we had the C.D. Howe doing an annual medical check up, what is a status today for carrying out medical check ups on Nunavummiut in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, back in the days of the C.D. Howe, the C.D. Howe would go to communities, if the Member is correct, they would do lot of x-rays and blood work and so on because there was huge problem at that time with tuberculosis, for example.
Because the trip was only an annual trip, when it went into the communities indeed, and many people were still living in out on the land, and people came in for a regular yearly check up.
Since that time, Mr. Speaker, in every community we have health professionals and nurses stationed in the health centers.
We have visiting doctors and physicians.
At any given time, Mr. Speaker, a patient today can go to a Health Centre and ask for a physical examination or a check-up.
The difference between the fifties, where there were no medical professionals, other than in Pangnirtung where we had a hospital, and indeed Chesterfield Inlet, where there was a hospital, there was no other facilities available to most people in Nunavut at that time.
So that is why when the boat went around once a year, everyone would get an opportunity for physical examinations, check-ups, and TB tests.
Today that is not the case; indeed they can get them at any time.
I hope that helps to answer the Member’s question.
They used to have x-rays done on the C.D. Howe when were no nurses in the communities.
Today there are Nursing Stations in the communities.
How often do the Inuit people have to get the x-rays now?
Is it okay if they do not bother to get x-rays done every so often?
Mr. Speaker, in the fifties, when the C.D. Howe was going around, the x-rays were used, in most cases, for the discovery of tuberculosis.
Those were usually chest x-rays.
Today, in the year 2003, we have more technology that is available to us.
There are other avenues available to medical professionals other than having to do just the chest x-rays, for example, on TB.
X-rays today, Mr. Speaker, are done for a variety of reasons.
That can include, for example, tuberculosis; it can also include, for example, fractures, broken bones, and so on.
Mr. Speaker, the x-rays now can be done and are carried out at the Health Centres.
If there is a need for further examination than an x-ray, like a more elaborate one, then, Mr. Speaker, the patient can be sent, for example, to Iqaluit if they are from up island, and indeed to Yellowknife, or Winnipeg, if they are living in the Kivalliq region.
That is the process that has been in place today.
As there are nurses in the communities today, if I was to go to a hospital, I would get a medical examination.
They would listen to my chest, and they would check my ears.
I have not gone to a doctor for a long time but that is what they do.
What about the examination for blood pressure?
Is it not the same anymore when they do examinations of your physical well being?
Mr. Speaker, I am not a medical professional.
Mr. Speaker, all the tests that are carried out in the Health Centres, and indeed, if it is in a hospital, by the nurses.
The nurses are trained to take blood pressure.
For example, that is done with the equipment that is available, in most cases; it consists of a pump and the pressure on the arm.
Mr. Speaker, all those types of tests are regular courses of action, routine procedures that are carried out in the Health Centres.
Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct in saying that indeed the technology today many other types of programs that are put into place are a lot different and better than what was in the past.
Mr. Speaker, I think that we can say with some degree of authority that the medical professionals and the services that are being given today are second to none compared to what we were dealing in the forties and fifties, and so on.
The Health Minister and I are not medical experts.
As the Minister stated yesterdays standards are not the same as today.
Can the Minister give me in writing the differences from years ago and today’s standards, exactly what kind of tests I should get done if I go to a doctor or a medical professional today?