EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to say Mr. Speaker at this time we are the Nunavut government in the Nunavut Territory and we have students from all over Nunavut who go over to Hay River for further training and trades training, possibly an electrician getting into the electrical field.
At this time I would like to see a trades centre or trades institution set up here in the Nunavut settlement area.
I would like that considered.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Irqittuq.
Members Statements, Mr. Alakannuark.
Members' Statements 16 - 1 (2): Thanks to Constituents, Support to Assembly
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday I mentioned that I would like to appreciate the support from Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay.
I would state that I will do the best I can to represent those two communities and again I will give my full support to the Members sitting at the Legislative Assembly to the best of my ability, because I would like to see Nunavut Government and Nunavut get off to a good start.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Alakannuark.
Members Statements, Mr. Tootoo.
Members' Statements 17 - 1 (2): Welcome Members to Iqaluit
Today I would like to rise and mention something that I couldn’t say yesterday.
On behalf of myself, the Premier, Paul Okalik, Honourable Minister of Health Ed Picco, and all the residents of Iqaluit, I’d like to welcome all the Members back to our Capital City and I am glad that they are here.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Tootoo.
Members Statements, Mr. McLean.
Members' Statements 18 - 1 (2): Appreciation of Minister Kilabuk
Mr. McLean: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Today I would like to pass on my praise to the Honourable Minister of Sustainable Development, Peter Kilabuk, for his recent trip down South.
This Minister walked in to the jaws of the grizzly bear promoting the traditional economy and the fur industry in the hard land of Greenpeace country.
This is the type of commitment to the traditional economy that raises hopes for the life style of the people of Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. McLean.
Members Statements.
Going back to the orders of the day.
Item #4, Returns to Oral Questions.
Returns to Oral Questions.
Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions
Speaker (interpretation): Returns to Oral questions. Item five, recognition of visitors in the Gallery, Mr. O’Brien.
Permission to return to Oral questions.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. O’Brien we're still on item five, we’ll go to item six and that’s the next item Oral questions.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Tootoo.
I’d like to recognize Mr. John Hicks, he's Assistant Deputy Minister for Sustainable Development and a former Mayor of Rankin Inlet, I’d like to recognize him in the Gallery.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Tootoo and Mr. Hicks.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I haven’t had a chance to make my recognition of visitors in the Gallery, there's hardly any people from Rankin Inlet in the Gallery, so they’ll be less people for me to recognize. My aunt’s son Peter Itinnuar, I would like to recognize him, he's sitting in the Gallery and he now works in the Sustainable Development Department.
Speaker (interpretation): Recognition of visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to recognize a person from my constituency, he's Chuck Gilhuly and he is the very last person on the last row.
Also Roberta Roberts she’s also sitting over there and also Town Councillor of the Town of Iqaluit, Mathew Spence.
Thank you and welcome.
Welcome to all the people who have been recognized by Mr. Okalik.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery, Mr. Irqittuq.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a person who has worked very hard to get the government going, George Qulaut.
He is on the staff of Mr. Havioyak’s Department.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome, thank you Mr. Irqittuq.
Recognition of visitors in the Gallery, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Quite a few years ago when we started doing the last elections for the Qikiqtaani Inuit Association, I think it was around 1970’s and 80’s, a person whom I use to work with was Simon Awa.
He told me about the NDP and Liberals and the party politics they use and they were trying to give me plastic membership cards to the political parties.
I’ve never been a member of a political party.
He told me if I use Inuit tradition it’s okay, I don’t have to be a member of the political parties, so I’m proud to have this consensus Government and so proud to be a member of the Nunavut Legislature.
For that reason I would like to recognize Simon Awa for his wise words.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Recognition of visitors in the Gallery.
I too would like to recognize Paul Quassa who now works for the media.
If he did not sign the Ratification Agreement we would not be here, so I would like to recognize Paul Quassa and all the other people who have not been recognized, I would like to recognize all the visitors in the Gallery.
Going back to our orders of the day # 6, Oral Questions.
Speaker (interpretation): Oral questions, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Question 6 - 1 (2): Inuktitut Documentation
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker and to the Ministers and all the Members to the Legislative Assembly.
I have a question to pose to all of you, some of us Members.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Iqaqrialu would you please sit down, if you will be directing your questions, I think you should be directing your questions to the Government Leader, you cannot pose a question directed to all the members of the Legislative Assembly, but you may go ahead Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Thank you now I know better, I will direct this question to the Government Leader of Nunavut.
For those of us who are Inuktitut unilingual speaking members and cannot read and write English.
When we receive documents that have not been translated to Inuktitut, they usually hand us documents in English and it seems senseless for those of us who cannot read and write in English and we feel that this is very important.
I would like to ask the leader when the government will be giving out documents in English, all the documents should be translated into Inuktitut so that we can have a good input.
I understand that is self-explanatory.
Speaker (interpretation): Although this is an Oral question I would like Mr. Havioyak to respond.
Hon. Donald Havioyak (interpretation): Those documents that have not been translated, some of them are being worked on and we personally are working on them at this time.
I will make sure that these documents are translated before they are given to the Members that speak only Inuktitut.
Question 7 - 1 (2): High Costs of Transportation
The cost of living is very expensive today because we have to transport the goods by airfreight.
If I were to order one snowmobile from Montreal to Hall Beach the freight would cost over $2000.00.
Or if you send goods by the post office it is very expensive too, because it’s almost twice as much to send something through the post office.
Mr. Speaker I would like to ask our Premier if he will be looking into this issue.
Speaker: (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Irqittuq.
Premier if you would like to respond it is totally up to your discretion.
I think this question could be posed to a few Ministers, either to the Minister responsible for Transportation, or Mr. Ng. Would you like to respond.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, we know that our government does have several subsidies that we provide to our constituents.
I cite the example of the power subsidy, POL subsidy, we haven’t looked at any more specific things that aren’t currently in existing programs but it certainly is an issue and you know that we will continue to take a look at that.
Speaker (interpretation): Do you have any other questions?
Oral questions?
Question 8 - 1 (2): Letter To Minister on Challenged Constituent
Mr. Puqiqnak: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Education.
I wrote a letter to you Mr. Minister, I am sure you have received the letter I have sent you, dated April 3.
There was a person who died in my community on that date who had adopted.
That person is an adult now, twenty four years old, deaf and mute.
Since he is deaf and mute I think he really missed his adoptive parents, especially his father.
He was acting differently after the father died.
We spoke to the step-mother and we spoke to that person who is adopted as to how he or she wants to be educated.
That person wants to go to school and he or she felt he or she would feel much better after leaving the community.
I would like to ask the Minister, what his position is in regards to the letter I sent him.
Speaker (Interpretation) Thank you, before the Minister replies, I would like to elaborate that you don’t have to make reasons for your questions, you can ask your questions directly.
Minister Arvaluk.
Hon. James Arvaluk: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Yes I have received the letter.
Yes in regards to his comment or his question, he stated that he wanted to go to school in Yellowknife, not within Nunavut, however I cannot respond to you and therefore I have asked if our department can look into it.
Through the Department or Arctic College we would look for ways as to how we can give them support or as to how we can finance his education because he is deaf and mute and he wants to go to school in Yellowknife.
So I have asked my staff to look into this, I have not received a response from my department to date, because we have been quite busy with this second sitting of the House.
Once I find out I will reply to his question as soon as possible.
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Arvaluk.
We are still on oral questions, Mr. O’Brien.
Question 9 - 1 (2): Discontinuing Payroll Tax
Mr. O’Brien: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Finance and F.M.B.S. Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the Minister has given any consideration to discontinuing the one percent payroll tax that has been in existence for a number of years, given the fact that we are now into Nunavut which has a much smaller number of dollars to collect.
Hon. Kelvin Ng. Thank you Mr. Speaker, I cannot answer that question at this time.
The issue of the taxation within Nunavut will be addressed in the budget speech tomorrow.
Speaker: You should ask that question probably after the address of the Minister of Finance on the budget.
(Interpretation) Thank you.
We are still on oral questions. Item six.
Question 10 - 1 (2): Traditional Curriculum
Mr. Alakannuark (Interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to address this question to the Minister of Education.
Yes I really appreciate the fact that our children have a chance to go to school in academics.
I was wondering what you are going to be doing about traditional education because there are many students up there who require traditional instruction.
For those of us who are at this age we learned all these things from our parents, but now that our children are in school, I was wondering what you are going to be doing in regards to traditional curriculum.
Speaker: Mr. Arvaluk.
Hon. James Arvaluk: (Interpretation) Mr. Speaker, his question, I can answer his question and it would probably take all day to answer his question.
The response would be quite lengthy, perhaps if my friend can tell me what he is talking about in detail.
Are you talking about Inuktitut curriculum, traditional on the land, or Inuktitut language instruction.
Perhaps if you could be more specific.
Speaker: (Interpretation) Mr. Arvaluk, Thank you.
Could you rephrase your question Mr. Alakannuark?
I was thinking more when I said Inuktitut curriculum, of survival out on the land and how to go hunting and how you survive out on the land especially in winter time.
Also making traditional clothing such as caribou clothing.
In the past we used to utilize the traditional clothing more, but now it is not being used today and many young people are freezing to death, so that’s my question.
Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Alakannuark.
We’ve only been a government for just a little over forty days but we’ve already been discussing how the previous government was within Nunavut.
I met with the Baffin Divisional Board of Education last night, to discuss this matter, or to discuss this issue.
We are committed to working on curriculum that could reflect the Inuit culture, to utilize the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, whether it be in school, or whether it be technical.
I am requesting support on Inuit knowledge, traditional knowledge to utilize these, how you survive on the land, but this will require a lot of preparation.
Usually the system was such that each community was making their own educational curriculum in the community themselves without consulting with the other communities.
So for all these reasons, we will have to work together along with the members of the Legislative Assembly and the communities to find out the best ways to be instructing the students on how to survive on the land.
Do you still have questions Mr. Alakannuark?
Mr. Kattuk, Member for Hudson Bay.
Question 11 - 1 (2): Disputed Islands in Hudson Bay
Mr. Kattuk (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to ask this question about the disputed islands. I would like to direct this question to the Government Leader.
In the past we used to talk about the islands on the Hudson Bay with the Nunavik people.
To date we are still, we still have a dispute on the islands.
The community of Sanikiluaq is quite concerned about this because Sanikiluaq is adjacent to the islands that are in dispute.
We are wondering if the community of Sanikiluaq will be involved.
Speaker: (Interpretation) The question is posed to the Premier.
Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik : Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Next week my staff will be meeting with officials of the Federal Government to discuss what is going to be happening to the islands in James Bay and they will be meeting with the Cree of Northern Quebec.
They are just going to be identifying the issues and concerns at that meeting and this will not be an official negotiation, but if there is going to be actual negotiations the nearest communities will be involved in the discussions.
Speaker; (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Premier.
Mr. Kattuk do you have a supplementary?
Thank you, questions?
Question 12 - 1 (2): Hall Beach School Addition
Mr. Irqittuq: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker.
This is directed to the Minister of Education.
In the community of Hall Beach, there is supposed to be a school addition built this year, the specifications were completed or so I thought but in the capital plans, that project has been delayed.
He may not be aware but I would like to ask him what has happened to the funds that have been slated for our school?
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Irqittuq: I don’t think you can ask for detail about how the money was spent that caused your addition to be delayed.
Mr. Arvaluk it is up to you.
Hon. James Arvaluk: (Interpretation) Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker.
I don’t know why that was delayed or if funds were used for something else so I will take the question as notice.
He will find out more details about your question and will answer you later on.
I am sorry you cannot ask your supplementary question because he hasn’t had a chance to look into your question.
Mr. O’Brien.
Question 13 - 1 (2): Internet Connections for Communities
Mr. Speaker my question is directed to the Minister responsible for D.P.W., Communications, and relates to internet hook ups.
I wonder if the Minister could tell the House what the status of the various hook ups for the internet are throughout the communities of Nunavut.
Where it stands to date.
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. O'Brien.
Minister Thompson?
Hon. Manitok Thompson (Interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
The telecommunications in Nunavut are still being worked on with the three main communities of Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay being concentrated on.
Right after that there will be eleven communities that will be linked, but this is very new so we are working slowly towards getting everybody linked up to this communication system.
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you Minister Thompson.
I wonder if the Minister could provide the House with a time table as to when the smaller communities, it is fine to hear that here in Iqaluit and Rankin and so on, the main centres will be hooked up, a time table as to when the smaller communities will be hooked up.
I know that she may not have that available now but when it is available can the House have that?
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you.
It is difficult to predict the future, but if you want to respond you may do so, Minister Thompson.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker we are only 40 days old as a Government and we will be addressing these very issues but you will have to be patient.
We are not going to forget our smaller communities however, and I will ask my officials to write the timetable up and provide the House with copies of that.
Oral questions, Mr. Puqiqnak?
Question 14 - 1 (2): Letter on Adoption to Minister
This is directed to the Minister of Social Services.
He is not present but I will direct this question to the Premier.
I wrote a letter to the Minister regarding one of the communities in my constituency about adoption.
I wonder if he was aware of that adopted person in one of my communities.
Speaker: (Interpretation) I would like to remind you that we are only forty days old.
I would like to clarify for you that you cannot ask a question of a Minister who is absent from the House, but it is up to the Premier if he wishes to respond on his behalf.
Hon. Paul Okalik: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Speaker.
The Minister is absent from the House right now so I am unable to respond to that question at this time.
I am sure that the question has been noted and I will pass it on to the Minister, the appropriate Minister.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier. I wish to remind members that when Ministers are absent from the House we cannot ask them a question, or if he is not sitting in his chair in the House you cannot ask him that question because the Minister cannot respond when he is not in the House.
Since there are no oral questions we will go on to Item 7.
Written Questions.
Item 8.
Replies to written questions?
Item 9 Replies to Opening Address.
Item 10 Petitions.
Item 11 Reports of Standing and Special Committees.
Item 12 Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Item 13 Tabling of Documents.
Item 14 Notices of Motion.
Item 15, Notices of Motion for first reading of bills.
Item 16, Motions.
Item 17 First Reading of Bills.
Item 18, Second Reading of Bills.
Item 19, Other Matters.
Item 20, Report of Committee of the whole.
Item 21 Third reading of Bills.
Item 22 – Orders of the Day.
Deputy Clerk.
Item 22: Orders of the Day
Deputy Clerk (interpretation): Regular committee meetings at nine o’clock in the morning.
Orders of the Day for Friday, May 14, 1999 at 10:00 am.
Budget Address
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Written Questions  Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Budget Address
Notice of Motions
Notice of Motions for First Reading of Bills
Speaker. (interpretation): Thank you Deputy Clerk.
The House sits adjourned until Friday May 14/99 at 10:00 am.
>>House Adjourned at 2.28 pm.
DAY 3
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1999
Pages 39 - 61
Prayer 28
Budget Address 28
Members' Statements 28
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 28
Oral Questions 28
First Reading of Bills 28
Second Reading of Bills 28
Consideration in Committee of the Whole, Bills and Other Matters 28
Reports of the Committee of the Whole 28
Orders of the Day 28
Friday May 14, 1999 28
19 - 1 (2): Appreciation of Finance Minister (Nutarak) 28
20 - 1 (2): Appreciation of Iqaluit Co-op Steering Committee and Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (Tootoo) 28
21 - 1 (2): Balanced Budget (Thompson) 28
22 - 1 (2): Funding For Artists and Carvers (Puqiqnak) 28
23 - 1 (2): Congratulations on Birth (McLean) 28
24 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Graduates (O'Brien) 28
15 - 1 (2): Affirmative Action Policy (O'Brien) 28
16 - 1 (2): Status of Memorandum of Understanding with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (Tootoo) 28
17 - 1 (2): Required Qualifications for Government Positions (Irqittuq) 28
18 - 1 (2): Construction of Road to Keewatin (Iqaqrialu) 28
19 - 1 (2): Federal Firearms Control Legislation (Kattuk) 28
20 - 1 (2): Promoting the Sale of Furs (Alakannuark) 28
21 - 1 (2): Funding for Outpost Camps (Puqiqnak) 28
22 - 1 (2): Status of Legislative Assembly Building (O'Brien) 28
Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 99/2000  First Reading 28
Second Reading 28
Friday May 14, 1999  Nunavut Hansard
Iqaluit, Nunavut  Friday May 14, 1999
Speaker (Mr. Barnabas) (interpretation): I would like to ask Mr. Irqittuq to say the opening prayer.
Item 2: Budget Address
To the orders of the day.
Item number two.
Budget Address.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present our first Government of Nunavut Budget.
This Budget Address, along with the Main Estimates which I am tabling today, provides our financial position and plans for our first fiscal year of operation, which ends March 31, 2000.
Across this country tradition has Finance Ministers delivering new budgets wearing new shoes.
In establishing a Nunavut tradition, I am proud today to be wearing a pair of new caribou kamiks made by respected elder Bessie Omilgoetok of Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, new kamiks, a new budget, a new beginning.
This Budget ensures the early success of our new territory.
It also provides a strong foundation on which we can build our future.
The needs of Nunavummiut are great.
But like the journey taken by the Founders of Nunavut which led to the creation of our new territory, the meeting of those needs and the realization of those expectations will take time.
There is a great conviction on the part of all MLAs to see that this happens in the least amount of time possible.
Government programs and services will be reshaped as quickly as possible to better meet the needs of the people; and to better meet the vision of Nunavut.
Some changes to programs and services have been made already, and are reflected in our Budget.
Many other changes are in the planning stages and will be announced in the coming months.
Other more substantive reforms will require careful study and extensive public consultations.
One option that does not exist is for us to fund new programs, services and capital projects without regard to our fiscal means and circumstances.
Our Fiscal Plan
The Government of Nunavut is in the fortunate position of starting without an accumulated deficit, or debt load.
Despite the attractiveness of borrowing money to finance current spending on needed government programs, services and capital projects, such actions would be short-sighted.
We must avoid the problems faced by other governments.
We are adopting a sound budgetary policy which will allow us to move towards improving the quality of life in Nunavut.
Most governments, including the federal government, have large accumulated debt loads.
The associated interest costs greatly reduce the amount of money that can be spent on health, education and other important social programs.
Similar to other jurisdictions, here in the North we have seen the impact of reductions in spending on our social programs.
Most governments in Canada have experienced negative effects from financing current programs and services with borrowed money.
Interest costs on borrowed money soon outweigh any short-term benefits.
We can and we will learn from their mistakes.
We plan to stay debt free.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut will have a balanced budget in the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
Our fiscal plan projects revenues of $610 million and expenditures of $600 million.
We have a small 1.6 percent operating reserve to accommodate unforeseen expenditure increases or revenue declines.
Our projected expenditures do not exceed projected revenues.
We do not plan to spend money we do not have.