EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Before we proceed with the Orders of the Day, Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of Nunavut is prepared to enter the Chamber and give assent to bills.
Bill 41 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2013-2014 – Assent
Bill 42 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – Assent
Bill 43 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2012-2013 – Assent
Bill 45 – An Act Respecting Constituency Names and Superannuation of Certain Independent Officers of the Legislative Assembly – Assent
Bill 42, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013;
Bill 43, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2012-2013; and
Bill 45, An Act Respecting Constituency Names and Superannuation of Certain Independent Officers of the Legislative Assembly.
Although the air outside is turning cold, our hearts grow warm at the knowledge that the festive season will soon be upon us.
(interpretation ends) On a personal note, this month being the month of Movember, I noticed, watching the proceedings today on the television, some looked pretty clean shaven, some have peach fuzz, and a few faces have changed.
So I would like to acknowledge and thank all those members who, I’m guessing, have joined the Movember movement, supporting the cause of prostate cancer research.
I encourage those of us who cannot grow a peach fuzz to contribute by making donations.
I wish you all a safe journey home and a very good winter.
Just for certainty, there are no meetings scheduled for regular members tomorrow.
Orders of the Day for February 26, 2013:
Speaker: I guess a big “thank you very much” is in order for you, Mr. Clerk, for that.
I’m sorry about that little distraction.
Hopefully it didn’t throw you off too much; it doesn’t sound like it did.
Before we adjourn, members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our pages, Joe Audlakiak, Amanda Purcell, Uliipika Irngaut, and Laura Churchill, for their time here.
I hope you enjoyed yourselves and thank you very much for looking after the needs of the members.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Sergeant-at-Arms, Sammy Josephie, for his first sitting. He did a great job. Thank you very much.
Also, I would like to thank all the technical staff that kept our lights going on and off, and fixing my mute button in a hurry, for all their work and ensuring that everything went smoothly in here.
As well, I can’t finish without thanking the interpreters for all their work during our proceedings as well.
With that, I wish all of them, everyone that I mentioned, and all of you a safe journey home and a very safe and happy holiday season.
This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
>>House adjourned at 17:31  Appendix – November 5, 2012
Return to Oral Question 437 – 3(3): Lack of Daycare Spaces in Nunavut
Date: October 29, 2012
Please see attached charts.
Response to Petition 003 – 3(3): Petition for Resignation
Petition tabled by: Tagak Curley, MLA (Rankin Inlet North)
Date: October 23, 2012
Subject: Rankin Inlet Teacher
Point of Order Raised by the
Member for Rankin Inlet North
I am now prepared to deliver my ruling on the point of order raised by the Member for Rankin Inlet North at the Legislative Assembly’s sitting of November 2, 2012.
The point of order was raised in relation to the Minister of Education’s delivery of the government’s formal response to Petition 3-3(3), which had been presented by the Member for Rankin Inlet North at the Legislative Assembly’s sitting of October 23, 2012.
Rule 43(10) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut provides that:
“The Speaker or Minister responsible shall provide a response to a petition within 60 calendar days of its presentation.”
I would note that the rule does not prescribe any specific form for a response to a petition, beyond the implied and self-evident requirement that it respond to the substance of the petition in some way.
Having now had the opportunity to review a copy of the Minister’s response to Petition 3-3(3), I note that it does provide a response to the subject matter contained in Petition 3-3(3).
Members who are dissatisfied with the government’s response to a petition are at liberty to ask questions to the responsible Minister or make statements in the House concerning the substance of the response.
Accordingly, the document shall be entered into the records of the Legislative Assembly in fulfillment of the Minister’s obligations under Rule 43.
The official date of the response shall be noted as November 2, 2012.
A copy of my Ruling will be attached to the response.
In reviewing the relevant excerpt from Hansard, I note that the Member’s intervention focused on the appropriateness and necessity of the general observations contained in the response which concerned provisions in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act and the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut with respect to the function of petitions and Members’ obligations in relation to the presentation of petitions.
In preparing my Ruling, I reviewed a number of past government responses to petitions, some of which also addressed matters concerning current and former employees of the government.
In some cases, the government has provided extensive detail in support of its position.
In other cases, the responses have been very brief.
In this case, nothing in the government’s response to Petition 3-3(3) directly contravened our Rules or requires further action on the part of the Chair, such as ordering the item to be withdrawn.
That being said, I would note that it is already incumbent on all Members of the Legislative Assembly to be familiar with relevant provisions of our Rules and legislation.
The language in the Minister’s response to Petition 3-3(3) concerning the function of petitions and Members’ obligations in relation to the presentation of petitions was unnecessary.
Accordingly, I would strongly urge the government to ensure that future responses to petitions focus on the subject matter in question.  I would also note that this matter could have been avoided altogether if all parties involved had sought and had followed my office’s advice concerning petitions and responses to petitions at an earlier point in the process.
I would also note that the response to this petition was not provided to my office immediately prior to the sitting day.
I would also note with concern that the response to the petition contained critical commentary regarding its form and other matters, including speculative remarks concerning the petitioners. I would remind the House that individual Members, Ministers and their officials do not have the authority to unilaterally determine whether or not a given item is in compliance with our Rules, procedures, practices or precedents.
I would close by reminding the House that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges exists to consider matters arising under our Rules. In the event that the Standing Committee chooses to review the existing provisions concerning petitions, I am confident that the House will review its report and recommendations with interest.
Having delivered my Ruling, this matter is concluded.
I thank all Members for their attention.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Pages 3369 – 3423
Opening Prayer 3369
Money Message 3369
Ministers’ Statements 3370
Members’ Statements 3372
Returns to Oral Questions* 3379
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3379
Oral Questions 3382
Written Questions 3400
Returns to Written Questions* 3403
Tabling of Documents 3403
Notices of Motions 3405
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 3406
Motions 3407
First Reading of Bills 3408
Second Reading of Bills 3409
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3410
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3422
Third Reading of Bills 3423
Orders of the Day 3423
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 3369
223 – 3(3): Notice of Budget Address (Peterson) 3370
224 – 3(3): Pathway to Adult Secondary School Graduation (Aariak) 3370
225 – 3(3): Raising Awareness around Nunavummiut Experiencing Homelessness Ell) 3371
226 – 3(3): Keep Our Language Strong – Speak Inuktut Inuit Language Week 2013 (Arreak) 3372
367 – 3(3): Tribute to Kenojuak Ashevak (Schell) 3372
368 – 3(3): Congratulations to Father Toni Krotki (Tapardjuk) 3373
369 – 3(3): Reflections on Democracy in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) 3373
370 – 3(3): Women’s World in Nunavut (Ugyuk) 3374
371 – 3(3): Polar Bears Are Not Endangered (Curley) 3375
372 – 3(3): Gathering of Women in Kugluktuk (Taptuna) 3375
373 – 3(3): New Constituency Office in Building 723 (Ell) 3376
374 – 3(3): Allocation of Five Narwhal Quotas for Arviat (Shewchuk) 3377
375 – 3(3): Inuktitut Calendar Terminology (Ningark) 3377
376 – 3(3): Congratulations to High Arctic Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and Commissioner’s Awards (Elliott) 3378
377 – 3(3): Successful Search and Rescue in Qikiqtarjuaq (Arreak) 3378
Return to Oral Question 462 – 3(3): School Community Counsellor Training (Clerk) 3379
Return to Oral Question 474 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut’s Legislative Agenda (Clerk) 3379
483 – 3(3): Liquor Regulation in Nunavut (Aupaluktuq) 3382
484 – 3(3): Inuktitut Calendar Terminology (Ningark) 3384
485 – 3(3): Status of Wildlife Damage and Compensation Programs (Ningeongan) 3386
486 – 3(3): Update on the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council (Ugyuk) 3388
487 – 3(3): Activities of the Office of the Chief Coroner (Tapardjuk) 3390
488 – 3(3): Status of Nunavut Development Corporation’s Divestment of Majority Ownership of Pangnirtung Fisheries (Oshutapik) 3392
489 – 3(3): Application Process for Social Insurance Numbers (Elliott) 3394
490 – 3(3): Complaints Procedure for the Department of Health and Social Services (Curley) 3397
023 – 3(3): Annual Fuel Purchases by the Government of Nunavut (Rumbolt) 3400
024 – 3(3): Development Partnership Agreement between the Government of Nunavut and the Meadowbank Mining Corporation/Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited (Aupaluktuq) 3400
025 – 3(3): Direct Appointments under Section 18 of the Public Service Act (Enook) 3401
026 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Responses to Resolutions Adopted at the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (Tapardjuk) 3401
027 – 3(3): Correctional Facilities, Recidivism Rates, and Rehabilitation Programs (Elliott) 3402
Returns Written Questions
Return to Written Question 019 – 3(3): NAC Courses to Support Early Childhood Education (Clerk) 3403
Return to Written Question 020 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Staff Housing and Public Housing Units Equipped with Hurricane Strapping (Clerk) 3403
Return to Written Question 021 – 3(3): Status of Decentralization (Clerk) 3403
Return to Written Question 022 – 3(3): Allocation of Conservation Officers (Clerk) 3403
299 – 3(3): 2011-2012 Public Accounts (Peterson) 3403
300 – 3(3): Letters of Support Concerning Bill 46, Donation of Food Act (Elliott) 3404
301 – 3(3): Department of Education Annual Report 2009-2010 (Aariak) 3404
302 – 3(3): Correspondence Concerning Relocation of Graves in Hall Beach (Tapardjuk) 3404
303 – 3(3): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012 (Shewchuk) 3404
304 – 3(3): Baker Lake Municipal Council Resolution Concerning Community Infrastructure (Aupaluktuq) 3404
305 – 3(3): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report 2011-2012 (Taptuna) 3405
306 – 3(3): 2010 Annual Report - Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (Kusugak) 3405
307 – 3(3): 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer - Elections Nunavut (Speaker) 3405
039 – 3(3): Appointment of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut – Notice (Oshutapik) 3405
040 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments – Notice (Elliott) 3405
041 – 3(3): Extension of the Review Period for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act – Notice (Ningeongan) 3406
042 – 3(3): Extension of the Review Period for Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Justices of the Peace Act – Notice (Ningeongan) 3406
039 – 3(3): Appointment of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Oshutapik) 3407
040 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments (Elliott) 3408
Bill 47 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2012-2013 – Notice 3406
Bill 48 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2013-2014 – Notice 3407
Bill 51 – An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act – Notice 3407
Bill 53 – An Act to Amend the Medical Care Act – Notice 3407
Bill 55 – An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act – Notice 3407
Bill 46 – Donation of Food Act – First Reading 3409
Bill 46 – Donation of Food Act – Second Reading 3409
Bill 46 – Donation of Food Act – Consideration in Committee 3410
Bill 46 – Donation of Food Act – Third Reading 3423
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Mr. Tagak Curley, Honourable Monica Ell, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Joe Enook, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Hezakiah Oshutapik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Mr. Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. (interpretation ends) Before we proceed, I would like to read the following letter that I received from the Commissioner of Nunavut.
Bill 47, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2012-2013;
Bill 48, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2013-2014; and
Bill 49, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2013-2014.
Signed sincerely,
Edna Elias
I would like to welcome everyone back to the Assembly. I hope you had a good break.
Again, before we proceed with the orders of the day, I wish to make a statement.
As members will recall, the 2012 recipients of the Order of Nunavut were Mr. Charlie Panigoniak and Ms. Kenojuak Ashevak.
Mr. Panigoniak’s investiture ceremony took place in this Chamber on September 20.
Following the adjournment of our recent fall sitting, I had the honour of travelling to Cape Dorset with Commissioner Elias to preside over the investiture ceremony for Ms. Ashevak.
I can advise the House that the ceremony was a moving experience for me and all who were in attendance.
As the House is aware, Ms. Ashevak passed away shortly after her investiture.
I know that all members join me in paying tribute to her many accomplishments, and
I am confident that the Member for South Baffin will be offering further reflections on Ms. Ashevak’s life and career at the appropriate time.
I am pleased to take this opportunity to announce that nominations for the Order of Nunavut reopened last month.
Information concerning the nomination process is available from the offices of Members of the Legislative Assembly and can be downloaded from the Assembly’s website.
Nominations close on May 17 of this year. I encourage all Nunavummiut to consider nominating a deserving individual.
My colleagues and I on the Order of Nunavut Advisory Council look forward to considering the nominations of distinguished Nunavummiut and I look forward to announcing this year’s recipients later this year.
Minister’s Statement 223 – 3(3): Notice of Budget Address (Peterson)
Good afternoon to Nunavummiut, especially my constituents in my Cambridge Bay riding.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, I will be delivering the Budget Address.
Minister’s Statement 224 – 3(3): Pathway to Adult Secondary School Graduation (Aariak)
First of all, I would like to welcome my constituents in Iqaluit East and all Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, there is a shortage of skilled workers in Nunavut.
We are preparing to welcome billions of dollars in investment in our mining sector.
Will it be Nunavummiut who will fill the jobs of building and operating these mines or will we be forced to import skilled workers from elsewhere?
We know there are Nunavummiut in every one of our communities who want to work but who lack the skills they need to land a job.
As we take action on Tamapta, this government is helping more Nunavummiut to graduate from high school.
My department is developing a new method for adults to achieve the Nunavut secondary school diploma called the Pathway to Adult Secondary School Graduation, or PASS for short.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, PASS is a process that will be unique to every individual.
Depending on a person’s background and experiences, it may include recognition of prior learning assessment, literacy training, adult basic education, and completion of high school courses.
PASS will enable adult learners to meet Nunavut’s high school graduation requirements and earn their diploma.
With their diploma in hand, more Nunavummiut will have access to university and college programs throughout Canada, opening up a world of possibilities.
Mr. Speaker, the PASS initiative is an important achievement of this government. It will make a lasting contribution to our efforts to reduce poverty.
It will qualify more Nunavummiut for jobs in our public service so that we achieve our land claims commitments on Inuit employment. And it will strengthen our made-in-Nunavut workforce so that we can build a strong economy on prosperity for future generations of Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister with responsibility for Homelessness, Minister Ell.
Minister’s Statement 225 – 3(3): Raising Awareness around Nunavummiut Experiencing Homelessness Ell)
Good afternoon, people of Iqaluit West, and welcome. Thank you. I want to welcome my fellow MLAs who had travelled to Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Nunavut is alarming.
More than 1,200 Nunavummiut are in need of shelter and acute overcrowding presents an additional challenge to those individuals who are housing vulnerable.
I invite you and my fellow members to the Qayuqtuvik Soup Kitchen during lunch hour on Thursday, March 7, to help raise awareness around the challenges faced by at-risk and homeless Nunavummiut who live in Iqaluit, and how essential the various services and agencies are to their well-being and to the health of our communities.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Qayuqtuvik Soup Kitchen opened in 2009 and, since that time, has served more than 60,000 meals to individuals experiencing food insecurity and who are at risk or homeless.
The soup kitchen serves approximately 60 to 80 people per day for lunch five times a week and dinner on the weekends.
Mr. Speaker, community-based organizations, such as the soup kitchen, Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank, Tukisigiarvik Society Friendship Centre, and the other two homeless shelters, the Sivummut House for women and children and the Oqota Men’s Shelter, cannot survive without the support and commitment of our community members.
I encourage you to join me on this day to show our support to the agencies whose existence is crucial to providing assistance to Nunavummiut experiencing homelessness and to recognize the Government of Nunavut’s commitment in helping our partners in the fight against homelessness.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, these organizations also accept any cash donations. Currently, they are selling raffle tickets, so I further urge my fellow MLAs to purchase these raffle tickets to assist the food bank charities.
Minister’s Statement 226 – 3(3): Keep Our Language Strong – Speak Inuktut Inuit Language Week 2013 (Arreak)
I say “good afternoon” to my constituents in Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq.
Mr. Speaker, from February 18 to 22, Nunavummiut celebrated Inuit Language Week throughout the territory under the theme “Keep our language strong, speak Inuktut!”
I am proud to report that the Department of Culture and Heritage coordinated a number of activities, including the production of a colouring book about an Inuit legend and the launch of a birthday song CD. The goal is to foster the use of Inuktut among our children, particularly in the home, and promote pride in our Inuit culture and identity.
The department also collaborated with a number of stakeholders, including the Office of the Languages Commissioner and the Inuit Language Authority, on a special CBC broadcast on traditional terminology.
Mr. Speaker, although language week is now over, I urge all Nunavummiut to keep our language strong by speaking Inuktut every day.
Member’s Statement 367 – 3(3): Tribute to Kenojuak Ashevak (Schell)
I rise today to pay tribute to Kenojuak Ashevak.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin this tribute by expressing my appreciation to you and the Commissioner for having travelled to Cape Dorset last November to preside over Kenojuak Ashevak’s investiture into the Order of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, Ms. Ashevak passed away earlier this year in the company of her family.
Mr. Speaker, Kenojuak Ashevak was one of Canada’s most distinguished artists.
During her many decades of accomplishments, Kenojuak Ashevak received numerous awards in recognition of her work.
In 1967, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
In 1982, she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, which recognizes the highest degree of service to the nation or humanity.
Mr. Speaker, Kenojuak Ashevak was an inspiration to many generations of young artists in Cape Dorset and other communities.
Her work, which is recognized around the world, represents the best of Inuit culture, creativity, imagination, and inspiration.
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of being in attendance at the memorial service for Kenojuak Ashevak that was held last month in Cape Dorset.
The community came together to share their memories of her countless contributions and to honour her remarkable legacy, which will endure for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in paying tribute to the memory of Kenojuak Ashevak Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 368 – 3(3): Congratulations to Father Toni Krotki (Tapardjuk)
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents in Amittuq, particularly in Igloolik, are probably viewing the televised session; however my constituents in Hall Beach can’t view the channel.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my Annuraaqatik, the Minister of Environment, for being able to come to Igloolik and Hall Beach to meet with the wildlife officials. It’s always pleasant to see the ministers when they come into our communities.
Mr. Speaker, the reason I rise today in the House is that in Igloolik, especially my constituents, there are over 700 Roman Catholic parishioners. We were very pleased that Father Toni Krotki was elected as bishop for the Churchill Hudson’s Bay Diocese.
In Igloolik, people had a hard time dealing with the Roman Catholic Church, particularly with respect to past abuses to our fellow residents in our communities, especially for our community of Igloolik.
It is clear that the new bishop will experience hardships since he will have to impact many of his followers here in Nunavut to try to overcome this hurdle of past abuse and problems.
We will continue to support the new bishop and won’t abandon his efforts to meet these challenges.
However, Mr. Speaker, what I want to voice now is to encourage Toni on behalf of my constituents.
We call him Toni, not Father Toni or Ataataa Toni; just Toni. I urge him to work hard on behalf of his parishioners. I believe he is now in his 40s and I imagine he will work until he is 75, just like his predecessors, and become an elderly priest, as he is quite young.
We are quite aware that his duties will be quite difficult, but I want to express our pride in his appointment on behalf of my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach. Further, we want to provide assistance to heal these past abuses here in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 369 – 3(3): Reflections on Democracy in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq)
I rise today to offer some reflections on democracy in Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, residents of Baker Lake and other Nunavut communities exercised their fundamental democratic rights last year on the occasion of the territory’s 2012 municipal elections.
Mr. Speaker, over 500 ballots were cast in Baker Lake for the position of mayor.