EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The reason I’m asking the question is for the benefit of those that are watching, or listening, or interested, or curious about whether they qualify or not.
Assuming that the list of those qualifications or the ineligible provision in the current Act, do we have, currently, a list of former candidates that did run that are not eligible now, or do you have the exact percentage of the total ineligible candidates?
Is there such a list and if not, could you or your officials explain to us, yes or no, are there ineligible candidates that would be listed in the newspapers?
Otherwise, it will be a useless provision if there are no ineligible candidates.
Following the last election, we would have names that would be under the ineligible candidates list. They won’t be eligible to run at the next election.
Mr. Curley, are you finished? Thank you, Mr. Curley.
We’re on (interpretation ends) clause 3. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Is the committee agreed to Bill 32 as a whole?
Chairman: Thank you. Do members agree that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 32 can immediately be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kusugak, and Mr. Orr.
(interpretation) We have now concluded our business for the day.
As per the request, I would now like to rise to report progress to the Speaker.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Chairman, Member for Uqqummiut, Mr. Arreak.
Your committee has been considering Bills 31 and 32, and would like to report that Bills 31 and 32 are immediately ready for third reading.
He made a motion to have the report agreed to, so is there a seconder?
Members, before proceeding with the Orders of the Day, I wish to address... I’m sorry. We will go to Item 21 first.
Minister of Finance and Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Quttiktuq, that Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3, be read for the third time.
I apologize. We didn’t have our mic on.
Speaker’s Admonition
Before proceeding with Item 22, I wish to address a matter of concern related to order and decorum in this House.
Prior to the House resolving into Committee of the Whole earlier today, I was disappointed to note that someone present in the Chamber behaved in an inappropriate manner.
I should not need to remind members and visitors that such action as the throwing of paper airplanes is childish and beneath the dignity of this House.
I would remind all members and visitors that our proceedings are open to the public to observe and are being broadcast in communities.
I would remind all members and visitors to conduct themselves accordingly.
I also wish to advise members and visitors that I will be reviewing the video record of today’s proceedings, and, if required, I will revisit this matter when the House reconvenes tomorrow.
We will now proceed with the Orders of the Day.
This House stands adjourned until Friday, May 30, at 10:00 in the morning.
>>House adjourned at 16:28
Friday, May 30, 2008
Pages 4340 – 4372
Opening Prayer 4340
Members’ Statements 4340
Revert to Item 2: Ministers’ Statements 4344
Oral Questions 4346
Tabling of Documents 4368
Notices of Motions 4370
First Reading of Bills 4370
Orders of the Day 4371
Friday, May 30, 2008 4340
190 – 2(4): Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence (Picco) 4344
191 – 2(4): Development of Turbot Fishery in Clyde River 4345
192 – 2(4): Long Term Employee, Brent Boddy Retiring (Brown) 4345
464 – 2(4): Congratulations to Cambridge Bay Grade 12 Graduates (Peterson) 4340
465 – 2(4): Pending Increase in Cost of Fuel to Nunavummiut (Curley) 4341
466 – 2(4): Have a Good Summer Break to Students and Staff in Constituency (Aglukkaq) 4342
467 – 2(4): Youth in Nunavut in Spring (Picco) 4343
578 – 2(4): Attendance and Drop-out Rates in Schools (Evyagotailak) 4346
579 – 2(4): Conservation Officer Needed in Kugaaruk (Mapsalak) 4349
580 – 2(4): Medical Travel in the Kivalliq (Curley) 4350
581 – 2(4): Government Job Vacancies in Baker Lake (Simailak) 4354
582 – 2(4): Fuel Delivery Contract in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 4356
583 – 2(4): Handling of the Resignation of the Qulliit Status of Women Council President (Tootoo) 4358
584 – 2(4): Narwhal Quota for Arviat (Alagalak) 4360
585 – 2(4): Additional Assistance for Turbot Fishery in Clyde River (Arreak) 4362
586 – 2(4): Suspension of a GN Employee for Pre-employment Criminal Charge (Peterson) 4364
587 – 2(4): Pending Fuel Cost Increase (Tootoo) 4366
243 – 2(4): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report 2004-2005 (Netser) 4368
244 – 2(4): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report 2005-2006 (Netser) 4368
245 – 2(4): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report 2006-2007 (Netser) 4368
246 – 2(4): Transportation of Dangerous Goods Annual Report 2007-2008 (Netser) 4368
247 – 2(4): Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) Goals and Objectives (Picco) 4369
248 – 2(4): Children’s Advocate – Letter to Premier from Canadian Pediatric Society Calling for Appointment in Nunavut (Peterson) 4369
249 – 2(4): Food Price Comparison between Taloyoak and Yellowknife - Photos (Aglukkaq) 4369  250 – 2(4): Canada Elections Act Changes: Impact on Nunavut Voters – Letter to Premier (Aglukkaq) 4369
251 – 2(4): Elections Nunavut - Annual Report 2007-2008 to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut by the Chief Electoral Officer (Speaker) 4370
039 – 2(4): Reappointment of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut – Notice (Peterson) 4370
040 – 2(4): Adjournment for the Day (Picco) 4371
Bill 35 – Energy Efficiency Act – First Reading 4370
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Honourable Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. Peter Kilabuk)(interpretation): Good morning, Members. I would like to ask Mr. Curley to say the opening prayer. Mr. Curley.
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, Ministers and Members.
Minister’s Statement 464 – 2(4): Congratulations to Cambridge Bay Grade 12 Graduates (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about six grade 12 students in Cambridge Bay who are graduating on June 7.
Mr. Speaker, their families and the entire community of Cambridge Bay are very proud of our grade 12 students for their personal achievement. They have worked very hard from kindergarten to grade 12 to realize their dreams.
Seeing them graduate reminds us all that they’re embarking on a great journey that everyone begins after high school.
Mr. Speaker, the six grade 12 students are:
Cassandra Evaloakjuk;
Ovi-Olsen Hakongak;
Jaynine McCrae;
Dedre Maksagak;
Peter Ohokannoak; and
Denise Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to know where they will go from here. We hope that they will pursue higher education and become doctors, scientists, tradespersons, community leaders, or whatever career they choose.
Our fervent hope is that they succeed in everything they choose to do and that they live fulfilling lives filled with joy and accomplishment.
Mr. Speaker, at the age of 17, or 18, or 20, they have long lives ahead of them that will be full of many exciting and enriching experiences.
Wherever life leads them, they can be confident that we are all behind them, supporting them.
Mr. Speaker, as parents ourselves, we must give a pat on the back to the parents of these students for a job well-done.
We must also pay tribute to the many educators who have taught them during the 13 years that most of them have attended school.
In Cambridge Bay, we have many teachers who have helped to make June 7 possible.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating these six young people, and wish them all the very best in their future lives, studies, and travels.
I would like to ask for unanimous consent to return to Item 2.
I would like to remind you that we are still on Item 3.
Members’ Statements. Once we are done with Members’ Statements, you may ask to return to Ministers’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 465 – 2(4): Pending Increase in Cost of Fuel to Nunavummiut (Curley)
I rise today to voice concerns and our residents in Nunavut would like to hear that we share their concerns about the issues revolving around energy production, especially where it involves energy and petroleum.
It raises the question of how Nunavut will be able to provide energy to its residents if we are still going to depend on our current system.
Mr. Speaker, the reason why I voice this concern is because we are not the only region to be apprehensive about the skyrocketing costs of fuel, especially for areas completely dependent on fuel for energy production. The whole world is being affected by the unprecedented rise in fuel costs.
The increases and continuous rising of fuel prices has reached levels never before seen in the developed world to the tune of $135 per barrel of oil. We are not the only concerned region impacted by this issue.
However, Mr. Speaker, I wish to raise this point.
The developed countries of this world, especially our fellow southern Canadians, are not solely dependent on fuel for their energy needs.
They have alternative options, as well as cheaper alternatives, should they choose, and they also have options to purchase more energy efficient products.
Here in Nunavut, we are on the opposite end of the spectrum, Mr. Speaker.
We, in Nunavut, still depend on the annual re-supply of petroleum products. The products are bought in bulk, shipped up once a year to the communities and it has to last the entire year, and we have no other options.
For these reasons, the Nunavut Government has to expend a ton of money just to supply its communities for that one year.
Mr. Speaker, I raise this issue that is causing consternation amongst our constituents.
I believe that the Nunavut Government has to develop an Alternative Energy Strategy, brainstorm on a different method of electrical energy production, and see what options we have in Nunavut.
Last year, I was at a conference in Tuktoyaktok where I happened to listen to a presentation from the GNWT, the government in the Northwest Territories. They made a presentation on what types of energy options they had to meet the increased demands.
They spoke of wind turbines as a viable option in their area and that they wanted to use wind power alternatives where they could.
Today, we also take notice of news stemming from Russia about their proposed solutions to proved cheaper energy for their northern regions.
Their chosen method to meet their challenges is to construct nuclear energy reactors to provide cheaper energy to their northern territories. This is also a cheaper option, as well as providing less emissions and pollution than producing energy via fuel.
Due to this reason, we can state unequivocably that the Nunavut Government’s plan is just to hold out their hands, waiting for assistance.
Yet, there are many experts who have knowledge of the alternative energy option whom we never invite to Nunavut, neither do we request factfinding meetings with them.
We have to start preparing for our future now.
Member’s Statement 466 – 2(4): Have a Good Summer Break to Students and Staff in Constituency (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): Good morning. Greetings to my constituents in the Nattilik riding, although it is only 8 a.m. in the morning. However, today is the last day of school for students both in Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven.
I wish the young people a very good spring and summer break.
(interpretation ends) I would also like to wish the staff at the schools in both Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven a very good summer. I know, over the years, they worked really hard to teach our children in our schools.
So today is their last day and I would like to wish them a safe and happy summer, and to get as much rest and enjoy the nice weather, hopefully we will have this summer, with their families.
So for both Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven students and staff, thank you as well as a well deserved and happy summer.
Member’s Statement 467 – 2(4): Youth in Nunavut in Spring (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning. Good morning, my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak a little about our youth here in Nunavut.
What a great time it is for our children in Nunavut. It’s spring and in many of our communities, it’s daylight now all the time. With this time of year, many people go out fishing and now geese hunting have begun.
Mr. Speaker, last week in Kugluktuk, it was very exciting to see so many families headed out to their camps on the spring ice.
Here at home in Iqaluit, the melting has happened again early this year. Still, many people are heading out geese hunting and for ice fishing.
There are so many things to do outside when the darkness of night is gone.
Mr. Speaker, two young boys I know have been very busy hunting right around here in the City of Iqaluit.
Every night after school and on the weekends, they are out scouring the tundra for their prey.
Mr. Speaker, they have not used a hakapik, a rifle, a harpoon, or even a bow and arrow. They have been catching their prey by hand and using their baseball caps.
Mr. Speaker, catching lemmings is a great pastime for many Nunavut children.
Many times, Mr. Speaker, we hear about all the negatives and the social issues we have. But Mr. Speaker, to see the sparkle in a young child’s eyes and see our young people having fun outside where they can play safely is certainly a blessing in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, we do live in a beautiful place and sometimes we need to be reminded of that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If there are no more… I apologize.
I seek the consent of the House to go back to Item 2.
The member is seeking consent to return to Item 2. Ministers’ Statements. Are there any nays?
There are no nays. Please proceed, Minister.
Minister’s Statement 190 – 2(4): Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence (Picco)
I am very pleased to announce a Nunavut educator as one of the 2007-08 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education.
Earlier this week, Mr. Simailak also paid gratitude to the following teacher.
Mr. Speaker, a little bit about this, every year, the Prime Minister chooses outstanding educators who exhibit innovative ways to teach to provide outstanding learning opportunities for their students.
Mr. Speaker, as noted by Mr. Simailak, Shannon McCarthy, a kindergarten teacher from Baker Lake, received a certificate in excellence for KinderAtii, a program she developed to prepare preschoolers and their parents for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Mr. Speaker, this award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work that Nunavut’s educators do each and every day.
Mr. Speaker, the success of our schools and students is dependant on the leadership and guidance of their educators.
Teachers represent the strength and support role in our schools, Mr. Speaker. The direction they provide to students is invaluable in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Nunavut’s teachers and the exceptional work they do on behalf and for our youth across Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 191 – 2(4): Development of Turbot Fishery in Clyde River
Good morning, my colleagues and the public.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the development of an inshore turbot fishery in the community of Clyde River.
This inshore fisheries development project was supported financially by GN Fisheries Development and the Diversification program.
The community of Clyde River took the initiative to explore the commercial viability of their winter turbot fishery with positive results.
They conducted test fisheries and held courses to help them develop this local resource.
Inshore fishery development is an objective of the Nunavut Fishery Strategy. The department has provided financial support to a number of other communities as well in efforts to determine the extent of local resources and the viability of developing them.
Projects like this, with support from the Government of Nunavut and other partner organizations, and driven by the local initiative, hold great promise for local economies.
We will continue to support inshore community fishery development and continue to deliver our programs in a manner that provides the most effective support in the fishing industry.
Minister’s Statement 192 – 2(4): Long Term Employee, Brent Boddy Retiring (Brown)
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today with mixed feelings and a heavy heart to announce that after 31 years of dedicated public service to this territory, Brent Boddy is planning to leave the Government of Nunavut on June 25, 2008.
I am happy for him but at the same time, we are going to miss his great corporate knowledge and advice he has provided to our government on many, many issues.
Brent started his public service life in the territorial government on September 26, 1977 and has contributed tremendously to the development of policies and programs related to the project and assets management field.
Mr. Speaker, Brent has been stationed in the Cambridge Bay Regional Office since 1995 and has worked tirelessly delivering programs and services for the Kitikmeot and has been successful in training and retraining Inuit beneficiaries to the regional operations by giving them the tools to becoming managers and senior managers.
Over this past year, he has assumed the role of the Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Capital Planning and Technical Services for the department and has provided invaluable expertise to my office, the Legislative Assembly, the department and throughout the government.
Mr. Speaker, Brent is a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1987 for his participation on the Steger Expedition to the North Pole. He has sailed the Northwest Passage and travelled to Resolute Bay from Cambridge Bay by snowmobile.
As an avid outdoors adventurer, he has plans to travel to various parts of the world as well as continue his passion for kite skiing.
Brent has no plans in leaving Nunavut and will still call Cambridge Bay home.
Mr. Speaker, I wish him all the best in his retirement from civil service and thank him for 31 years of government service. (interpretation) Thank you, Brent. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Boddy. (interpretation ends) Best of luck in the future. (interpretation) Thank you.
If there are none, welcome to the Gallery.
Question 578 – 2(4): Attendance and Drop-out Rates in Schools (Evyagotailak)
A few days ago, I made a statement in the Legislative Assembly congratulating this year’s graduates from Kugluktuk high school. I was very pleased that the minister was able to attend the graduation ceremony.
This year, 15 students graduated. This was the largest number ever.
However, the community is concerned about attendance problems and drop-out rates.
Can the minister indicate to me what steps his department is taking to address the issue of high drop-out rates in our schools?
An Hon. Member: Hear, hear.  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak.
The issue of attendance and drop-out rates has been one that has been raised many times not only in the Assembly but in the public at large.
And when we talk about drop-out rates, for every 100 children who enter kindergarten, at the present time, only about 28 will graduate to grade 12, and so that means the drop-out rate is about 78 percent and the reasons for that are many, Mr. Speaker.
There are issues not only within the home with socio-economic issues, there are also some issues with bullying, for example, where some kids might say that they’re being bullied and they don’t feel comfortable coming to school.
What the government has done and what the Department of Education has done over the last four years is we have introduced a new skill set and programs at the school level to make school more interesting, we have Nunavutized the curriculum, we have put a multifaceted program in place for multi option graduations, meaning more shop programs that interest kids, more computer programming programs in the school, all of our schools are now fully wired, giving the kids and students an opportunity to use the internet, and so on.
So there has been a range of things done over the past several years to try to stem that tide.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Evyagotailak
Some students do very well in school. However, others face problems and need extra help.
Can the minister indicate to me what support is available for things like on-the-land programs to help motivate students?
It’s great the member has raised the question. When we were in Kugluktuk, we saw, as the member has indicated, probably the largest class we have seen graduate in Nunavut.
Twenty years ago, there were only 25 graduates of grade 12 in the whole territory.
This year, we will graduate over a 190 and in the member’s community, there are over 15, so there are successes.
Some of the issues that cause the drop-out rate are the socio-economic conditions at our homes and the support between the DEA and the parents, and I don’t think we can understate those. Part of the program that the school runs, as the member has indicated, through the auspices of the DEA is more land programs and culturally relevant programs that will help attract and keep our kids in school. But today, in the year 2008, a lot of kids don’t want to do the camping type of programs and the outdoor programs, and so we have other programs that are in place to support that, and we just talked about some of those.
For example, we have the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program that we are helping to support and other programs.
So, Mr. Speaker, there are monies within the department and the DEAs to support cultural and land based programs, but we need to also enhance some of the other offerings in school to keep our kids there.
Mr. Evyagotailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again, Minister.
Attendance is always an issue in our schools. In a situation when a student is not attending school on a regular basis, how does the department work with teachers, parents and the DEAs to address the situation?
The member raises a good point and the point is this: when we look at the tracking of students in school, our kids, when they go to school from K-6 and attendance is 70 to 80 percent, when we track our kids through the school system, they are graduating.
What happens, Mr. Speaker, is when our children get to grade seven, grade eight, grade nine, and they start showing up on Monday mornings, Wednesday afternoons, Fridays, and they’re not attending a full week in school, then they fall behind and then they basically have to drop out or fail.
What we need to do as parents and as teachers in the school and the DEA is to help ensure that our kids are able to attend school.
There are individual education programs and plans in place to help students, as the member has indicated, there are student support services within the school itself, but at the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, the school only has a student for five hours a day, five days a week, and we need to be able to put more resources into the school.
Yes, Mr. Curley, more resources, I think that’s what you mean.
That’s what we’re trying to do and with the support of the Members of the House, like the member, I’m sure we can do that.
Thanks again, Minister for Education.
Kugluktuk is very proud of our Grizzly Program.
Can the minister indicate to me what support his department provides to the Grizzlies to help them organize events and activities for students?
Here is a good example of a program that’s community-based, that has had a lot of success over the past several years.
The Grizzly Program in Kugluktuk involves the students at the high school level, and indeed, in some cases, in the middle school level, and the program involves the youth in a wide range of activities.