EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Today if we look at the communities, some of the communities I hear have not followed the time zone because the communities are broken up because of this issue and especially in the Baffin region.
It has a negative impact for that reason.
I myself, after reviewing the Bill, I feel that we seem to be useless now as a Legislative Assembly because it did not go through the regular procedures and I feel like they're treating us as if we're nothing and if it was dealt with prior to October 31 it would have been more appropriate and it seems senseless to deal with this issue after October 31.
I tabled a document as we are always saying since we became the Nunavut Government that we would utilize Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and incorporate that into our system. Especially when Inuit are opposing this through their Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, through their tradition, I feel that this is very important.
I just wanted to point that out.
I know there are other general comments around the floor.
Mr. Premier would you like to respond.
I know that we have already agreed we would come up with a single time zone and when we had our meeting in Baker Lake we also discussed this with the members of the Legislative Assembly.
In August we stated that also.
The regulations have been worked on since September 30 and myself, I have publicized that changes to the regulations of the Nunavut Government and the Federal Government were made already.
I have gone through the radio stating that we have utilized, that this was not done behind the members of the Legislative Assembly, the Bill was given to all the members of the Legislative Assembly and it was tabled prior to October 31 so you had ample time to deal with that, that's just my response, Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I think we have discussed this here.
However as to how we will arrange the time zones, as MLA's we have never been involved as to whose time zone we will follow, whether we will lose 2 hours, we've never discussed that.
I just wanted to state that as a supplementary.
If you wish to respond Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation):Yes, this has been discussed in election times, it was discussed at last year's NTI AGM that the central time zone would be adopted and we have reviewed this. So we felt that the central time zone would be the best for all of Nunavummiut and we have studied it and communities have seen how it was for Kitikmeot and Kivallimmiut when you have a different time zone.
We are not trying to make corrections irrespective of where you are in Nunavut you have the right to call us and have access to us anyway just going back to the old arrangements it will be too cumbersome.
We can only deal with odd hours if you are from Cambridge Bay or if you are from Iqaluit.
If you are working for only 3 hours in government there is a problem there and as far as constituents go we would like to see support because the past arrangement was inappropriate and we've made changes as of a few days ago and it's been implemented because we have worked on it and we have made corrections.
We will probably be able to consider this again if a real problem did arise because of the new time zone.
According to my list of members who wish to speak I'll start with Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Bill 3 was it in English, Inuktitut and French.
I think it would be advisable if Bill 3 was in all these three languages.
So I'm asking the Premier if this was done.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Isn't it in three languages?
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Nutarak would you like to clarify your question.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I believe we should have it in four versions.
If it's in four languages and dialectal versions we would be able to pass it but it is only in 3 versions and we cannot pass it.
I just want clarification on that.
Does anybody wish to deliver a response?
Mr. Nutarak if it is appropriate with you maybe the legal advisor for Nunavut can give a response to you.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I have no problem with who answers it because I just want clarification on that.
Ms. Cooper.
Ms. Cooper: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
The legal requirement for the proper passage of the Bill is that it be introduced in two languages; English and French but certainly in my book it has the Bill in four languages Mr. Nutarak.
I'm not sure if yours does.
Yes, a response is given, if it's in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtuun and if we’re going to make it legislation for Nunavut there will have to be three official languages for official questions to the legislation.
I'll pass this again to Ms. Cooper for a response.
If you were to want to make passage of the Bill in four languages a legal requirement would be that it has to be done through a legislative change or amendment to the appropriate legislation.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Maybe to be brief with my comments.
It is written in an English version and also I believe in French and Inuktitut.
I haven't seen the Inuinnaqtuun version that's just my point.
The Bill from my understanding after third reading, after it's passed in our session, maybe I'm mistaken or not, however here on two it states section 25 is (inaudible) and the following is substituted how does this read, "unless otherwise prescribed the reference to time shall be deemed to be a reference to central standard time".
As it says, the central standard time as I asked earlier, what exactly does it mean.
During the session if it is going to be central standard time, I think the wording should be corrected if it is going to be written in English, French, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtuun.
On the Inuktitut version if we have Kitikmeot standard time, yes, there would be a difference of one hour.
Chairperson (interpretation): It is making reference to the central time zone.
It is obvious the Inuktitut version needs to be revised because in the English version you have central standard time, but the wording in Inuktitut refers to Kitikmeot standard time.
We have two different versions, English and French but they have to be available in the regions so they'll have to be revised as to the exact wording.
That was just a supplementary.
If it can be revised, I would like to recommend that it be revised.
If the Premier wants to revise, then I'll agree with him including the whole content of Bill 3.
Yes, number 4 (2), as it reads, if this act receives assent as of October 31, 1999, this act comes into force on assent even if it's not really assented.
As soon as it's assented it will be in full force after October 31.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): As I mentioned earlier the different languages should correlate to each other.
It states here if this Act receives assent on or before October 31, this Act comes into force at 2:00 A.M. It does not say before, it only states October 31 first in Inuktitut.
If it was stated in Inuktitut then I would agree with the Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes, the translation requires amendment so that it can correlate with the English version.
We can deal with that here, and we are here to deal with it.
The English is clear and self explanatory.
The translation should just follow the English version.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I did a have a question.
I want to give other members an opportunity to voice their concerns as well.
I agreed with a single time zone in the previous days.
This Bill was tabled in April and I agree with all the reasons why this was brought up however, today I understand the public's concern.
I understand that the public was quite confused when this was tabled because when the Baffin Region realized that they were going to turn their clocks back two hours, in Inuktitut but in the Qallunaaq way, they said we would move our clock back one hour.
In Inuktitut, it's literally two hours.
We are used to daylight savings time and another hour on top of that, the public's perception is that they understood they would move their clock back two hours because they are Inuit using traditional knowledge.
This has had a most negative impact on the people and since the Premier stated that we have already dealt with this for quite some time now, this is the very first time that we have actually as regular members of the Legislative Assembly dealt with this issue.
This is the very first time that we can actually speak to this issue for those of us representing constituents from the Baffin Region.
We were able to discuss this during our member's statements but we were not allowed to ask questions to the issue.
For that reason, the people are concerned about the fact that they were not involved.
They were not even consulted regarding the time change.
They have petitioned against it and these petitions were tabled at the House during the official session.
Many people have signed them.
When we went down to Item 10, Petitions, during our tabling of Documents, Item 13 in our Orders of the Day, we were tabling petitions and tabling documents.
In regards to this issue, these are some of the things that we've done.
Perhaps the petitions that came from the Baffin are useless.
I'm sure we can talk about this right now but nothing will change since this is our first opportunity to speak to Bill 3, we've felt that under my member's statement it's even seemed funny because we worked very hard not to let this Bill go through in the house and on Friday we were happy because it did not go through and we thought our clocks were not going to turn back but our happiness was short lived.
It didn't even last an hour as our Clerk had told us that even without the passage of Bill 3 our clocks would still turn back.
None of the regular members were smiling.
All the faces changed drastically
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Does that mean that the government is going to control the Inuit now?
Is the government never going to consider the concerns of the people?
I know that this is going to create a lot of conflict.
It's already to started to create conflict with the government.
The Kitikmeot and Keewatin are happy because there's no negative impact with the time change but for those of us who live in the Baffin Region have felt the impact.
And so therefore there's quite a lot of opposition throughout Baffin Island.
If we don’t listen to the people of Nunavut, we're not preparing their future.
Chairperson (interpretation): We have to follow the rules.
You cannot as a person in the gallery, please be patient.
You cannot cheer or do any clapping in the house.
Please follow the rules accordingly.
These are the issues I wanted to bring forward.
The population of Baffin Island is the majority of Nunavut and when we are given something that we oppose, there's room and we have the right to oppose.
I know that even if this Bill doesn't go through, the time still changes but our government, if they're not going to consider something, that reflects the Baffin Region and our next election, I would like to see something more concrete.
As I have stated before, we had set this up through the regulations and we tabled this information out to the public with the authority that was invested in us.
I also would like to work with the mayors, perhaps it's a bit too late tonight but I would like to discuss this with them tomorrow morning as to how we can proceed with this further.
As I've stated in the past, if this is going to create a lot of problems, we can review it but the time change was done to accommodate all the Nunavut communities, trying one time zone for the whole of Nunavut.
If we didn't change the time, it would be going onto 7:00.
I just want to remind everybody that we changed our clocks back an hour and I would like to work with all the members when we are consulting with all the communities.
We have other issues to deal with too so we should move onto other topics.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): I forgot to mention one of the things we now have one time zone for the whole of Nunavut so I know the offices are working a lot better now and we are accommodating them today.
Nowadays we have high technology.
We are not opposing the single time zone for Nunavut.
Igloolik residents and Hall Beach residents are not opposing the single time zone.
One thing that they have been requesting was that the single time zone should have followed the eastern standard time.
That way we would have had a unified hour all across Nunavut.
That was the request in these communities.
We would have had less impact with the Kitikmeot.
Keewatin and Baffin would have been happy that way.
When I go back to my office, if I had known better English here in this building, when I go there, I would turn my computer on and write a letter and I could just e-mail it to the community and the communities can pull out their e-mail anytime of the day.
So we do have this high technology.
We have better technology than GNWT had.
Therefore at this time, in my community I know that it's the dark season but with this new time change we will be getting dark at noon hour.
That's the impact that we are feeling in my community.
Our school students will be going to school after lunch, very dark and it's the middle of winter and it's very cold outside.
These are the things that we have to contend with.
We understand that we literally moved the time by one hour but it's pretty hard to convince my constituents because they are voicing their concerns.
If we go to Igloolik, they will be reiterating what I'm saying.
It's pretty hard to convince them.
I cannot convince my people personally so I'm representing my constituency and that's why I'm voicing my concerns.
Perhaps in consideration of the Premier has been saying, I don't think a different response will be made.
I have two more names on my list.
I believe you are next Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Prior to April 1, I believe in the month of March, when we were elected and got together here in Iqaluit, we started electing our Premier and I nominated him for the Premier position however considering his comments with respect to this Bill, he really wants to go through with Bill 3.
His colleagues are probably in the same boat and this is creating a problem.
For example, our Premier is the spokesperson in the media.
The Qikiqtaaluk Inuit are trying to state their views and he's overriding them.
As such, when he's asked, he keeps referring back to the need to experiment and this is seems to be the only response he can give.
With that in mind, prior to the legislation being passed, people keep emphasizing their concerns but there was more than one person who were barriers and if this Bill is going to proceed, we will create legislation that insensitive to the vast majority of people.
Going back to Bill 3, the amendments, we're talking about the interpretation act.
Please keep onto the topics.
Bill 3, Mr. Iqaqrialu was talking about the election process although what you're talking about is really good, we have to speak to Bill 3, the Interpretation Act which is an amendment to this Act.
I would suggest that you keep to the topic.
Perhaps our Premier has another comment to make.
Do you have a response for Mr. Iqaqrialu comments?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I did forget to mention, as a Committee as a Whole, we have certain regulations and when you wanted to discuss this issue, we did want to deal with it at that time.
We did want to discuss it as a whole but we didn't have any time to do so and we did want to further discuss this during our session.
First comment, we're dealing with a Bill here and we can't seem to really do anything with this and there are communities who refuse to go back two hours and whether we want to go back to one hour and these are hamlets in some communities.
We have the RCMP that are going to go along with the time zone and maybe going back as Mr. Irqittuq stipulated, there are some communities that will not go according to the time zone and what if they don't want to go along with the time zone.
As per our authorization we have proceeded with the time zone and the communities do have a right to exercise what time zone they wish to abide by but we will discuss further with the mayors as to what direction we can take and we can get a consensus.
We do want to make changes in the communities that have decided not to go along with the time zone.
I received a copy and I said earlier that we have to abide by house rules.
The individual in the gallery handed me a note apologizing for their actions earlier.
Mr. Nutarak.. Maybe a last comment.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Bill 3, I was a bit confused.
Are we finished with this.
We have not even voted on this.
I just want to end the discussion now.
Chairperson (interpretation): We're just under general comments.
It was also mentioned that we can revisit this and review it and I think that would be an appropriate time to do so.
I think we know that in the Baffin Region, this is opposed to but maybe we can just start discussing the review and then maybe we could make amendments to the Bill.
Maybe by next year we will be able to ask questions as to which corrections can be made and maybe we'll have a better sense of what the residents in Nunavut have on this Bill.
I didn't hear a questions, more of a comment.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Mr. Nutarak did ask a question irrespective of whether we oppose it or not, this has already be enacted and enforced.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We have implemented it.
The Bill 3 just further clarifies that we have enforced this so we're moving ahead to gain ascent.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): I don't think we have a quorum.
We can't proceed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Irqittuq, we have a quorum.
I'd like to ask if you want to go clause by clause.
Do you want to proceed with that.
We do have a quorum.
Bill 3.
We don't have a quorum at this time.
Can the MLAs be asked to come in?
Would you like to go clause by clause.
There is a comment on the floor.
Mr. Chairman on the Bill as a whole, I'd like to ask for a recorded vote.
The reason I'm doing this is because I'd like the people to be able to see who wasn't here for the vote.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. We're on Bill 3, clause by clause.
If it's the committee's wish to go clause by clause then we will.
Bill 3, an Act to amend the Interpretation Act, one, two. Mr. Irqittuq.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): I would like to move that we have a recorded vote on this Bill.
Chairperson (interpretation): You weren't here earlier when a member had already requested that when we deal with the Bill as a whole a member had requested that there be a recorded vote.
Alright then?
Recorded Vote
We have just completed Bill 3 clause by clause.
So I would like to ask that starting from the Premier that we have a recorded vote for Bill as a Whole.
Please stand up for those of you who approve of the Bill.
Please stand up for all those who approve the Bill.
Please stay standing up, I will call your name.
Mr. Okalik, Mr. Havioyak, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Alakannuark, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. McLean, Mr. Tootoo, Mr. Picco, Mr. Ng.
For those people who oppose, please stand up.
Mr. Irqittuq, Mr. Akesuk, Mr. Nutarak, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
In favour 9, opposed 4.
No abstentions.
Do you agree that Bill 3 is concluded?
Do you agree that Bill 6 is ready for third reading?
I would like to thank Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I'm sorry, point of order, it's not Bill 6, it's Bill 3.
Do you agree that Bill 3 is now ready for third reading.
Bill 3 is now ready for third reading.
I would like to thank our Premier, Mr. Okalik.
There are no other Bills to deal with so therefore I would like to report to the Speaker.
Mr. Speaker your committee has been considering, committee report 8-1 (3) and 9-1 (3) and Bill 3.
I would like to report that committee report 8-1 (3) and 9-1 (3) are concluded and that Bill 3 is ready for the third reading.
Mr. Speaker, I'm move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred.
Speaker (interpretation): Is there a seconder to Mr. Puqiqnak motion?
Mr. O'Brien seconds the motion.
There's a motion on the floor.
Item 21, Third Reading of Bills Mr. Ng.
Bill 5 - Supplementary Appropriation Act 1 99/2000
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the honourable member from Iqaluit East that Bill 5, Supplementary Appropriation Act 1 99/2000 be read for the third time.
Mr. Ng, your motion is carried.
Thank you. Item 22, Orders of the Day.
Wednesday, November 3rd, orders of the day.
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Consideration of the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Third Reading of Bills, Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act
Under authority given to the Speaker by way of motion 3-1 (3), this House is adjourned until Wednesday November 3, 1999.
>>House adjourned 6:47 p.m
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1999
Pages 332 - 388
Opening Prayer 332
Members’ Statements 332
Returns to Oral Questions 334
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 335
Oral Questions 336
Written questions 351
Point of Privilege 352
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 353
Tabling of Documents 373
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 374
Orders of the Day 386  Third Reading of Bills 386
Assent to Bills 386
Orders of the Day 387
A.  Daily References
Wednesday, November 03, 1999 332
72 - 1(3): Rescue of Doreen and Stanley Kenalogak (McLean) 332
73 - 1(3): Reason for Yesterdays Absence (Kilabuk) 333
74 - 1(3): Baffin Leaders Summit in Hall Beach (Irqittuq) 333
75 - 1(3): Support for Smaller Communities (Iqaqrialu) 333
76 - 1(3): Retirement of Mathias Awa (Arvaluk) 333
08 -1(3): Question 7 - 1(3) Annual Cost of Caribou Harvest in Coral Harbour  (Kilabuk) 334
131 - 1(3): Asbestos in Baker Lake School (McLean) 336
132 - 1(3): Dewline Cleanup (Iqaqrialu) 338
133 - 1(3): Inuit Teachers in Secondary Classes (McLean) 338
134 - 1(3): Trades Training in Arctic College (Puqiqnak) 340
135 - 1(3): University for Nunavut (Iqaqrialu) 341
136 - 1(3): Postal Rate Increases (Tootoo) 342
137 - 1(3): Aviation Fuel for Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay (Alakannuark) 343
138 - 1(3): Health Board Deficits (O'Brien) 343
139 - 1(3): Nunavut Representation on Canada Post Board (Tootoo) 344
140 - 1(3): Task Force on Housing Consultation with the Smaller Communities (McLean) 344
141 - 1(3): Information from Task Force on Housing (O'Brien) 345
142 - 1(3): Policy for Medical Escorts (O'Brien) 346
143 - 1(3): Economic Agreements with Echo Bay Mines (Tootoo) 347
144 - 1(3): Purchase of Government Vehicles (McLean) 349
145 - 1(3): Distance Between Public Housing Units (Iqaqrialu) 350
146 - 1(3): Premier’s Ability to Build Igloo (Nutarak) 350
147 - 1(3): Manitoba / Keewatin Road Link (O'Brien) 350
10 - 1 (3): Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health –Report on 1999/2000 Six Month Departmental Progress Update 353
11 - 1 (3): Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development – Report on the 1999/2000 Six Month Departmental Progress Update 368
Written Questions  1 – 1 (3): Requests for Proposals and Tenders (Tootoo) 351
16 - 1(3): Newspaper Article “Whale Gets Funding” (Tootoo) 374
17 - 1(3): Clyde River Hamlet Assessment (Iqaqrialu) 374
18 - 1(3): Unsigned Note to Mr. Picco (Ng) 374
10 - 1(3): Capacity for Electronic Communication (Puqiqnak) 375
11 - 1(3): Language Policy (Puqiqnak) 375
12 - 1(3): Translation of Nunavut Legislation (Puqiqnak) 376
13 - 1(3): Detail on Heritage and Archival Facility (Puqiqnak) 376
14 - 1(3): One Stop Funding Source for Arts Community (Puqiqnak) 376
15 - 1(3): Funding for Inuit Place Names Project (Puqiqnak) 377
16 - 1(3): Involvement of Elders in Policy Development (Puqiqnak) 378
17 - 1(3): Creation of Women’s Council (Puqiqnak) 379
18 - 1(3): Education Responsibility in Communities (Nutarak) 379
19 - 1(3): Office Space for Decentralization (Nutarak) 380
20 - 1(3): Millennium Scholarships (Nutarak) 380
21 - 1(3): Students with Disabilities (Nutarak) 380
22 - 1(3): Teachers Housing (O'Brien) 381
23 - 1(3): Surplus Targeted to Health Boards Debt (O'Brien) 381
24 - 1(3): Cost Saving Measures for Health Boards (O'Brien) 382
25 - 1(3): Health Staff Retention (O'Brien) 382
26 - 1(3): Preventative Programs (O'Brien) 382
27 - 1(3): New Approach to Mental Health (O'Brien) 382
28 - 1(3): Community Based Decision Making (O'Brien) 383
29 - 1(3): Authority to Community Health Committees (O'Brien) 383
30 - 1(3): Evaluation of Telehealth (O'Brien) 383