EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am looking at a forum of maybe six representatives from each of the 26 communities.
Is it possible for the government to look at outside sources of funds so we can pull them together and get such a forum underway?
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Speaker, one of the initiatives that the department is in the process of bringing forward in the new budget, we've discussed our Mental Health Strategy.
A component of that is the National Suicide meeting of the National Suicide Group.
Its Chairperson is Sheila Levy who is actually from Iqaluit.
At that meeting we’ll have people from all over Canada here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, at that time we also would be looking at funding people from other communities to come share their ideas, their thoughts, and exactly what the member is talking about.
So I would be interested Mr. Speaker, to facilitate delegates from each of the Nunavut communities to attend the symposium on suicide through the national meeting that will be taking place in the upcoming year here in Iqaluit.
I’m not just talking about Nunavut.
But the reason I am asking these questions is because there are a lot of survivors in each of the Nunavut communities and my question is, can we get such a forum or a meeting or a conference together with the survivors attending this meeting?
Mr. Speaker, there has been talk in the past about such a program, such an opportunity for a meeting.
Mr. Speaker, that is something again that I would commit to the member to do and maybe the idea would be to do it in conjunction with the national meeting.
So we’d actually have a Nunavut Symposium for Nunavummiut before we actually host a National Symposium, and probably do it around the same time.
I think that’s an excellent idea and that’s something Mr. Speaker, I will follow up with.
Question 003 - 1(6): Update on Turnover Rates
Like I said in the last session, which ended yesterday, I asked the minister if he could provide information on the turnover rate and he indicated that he had that information and would provide it to the members of this House.
I would just like to ask the minister for an update on the information that he had already.
Why hasn’t it been provided?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): I said that once I get the numbers compiled I’d get them to members.
When the session resumes I will have those numbers ready for the members.
But Mr. Speaker, like we said earlier, the database hasn’t been updated for quite some time now and they have to be entered into the database first before we have the complete total numbers.
I’ll have them ready next time.
Mr. Speaker, if I may correct the minister, he indicated when I asked him the last time that they had that information.
I also asked him at the time why it wasn’t incorporated in the Public Service Report that was tabled on the last day of the last session and again, here we are on the last day and we don’t have any information.
Is the minister now saying that he doesn’t have all that information available as he indicated earlier in the last session?
Since this is the first day of the 6th session, what I’m trying to say Mr. Speaker, is I will have the information available and what I want to do is give you the total information.
Our employees could not enter those into the database because of problems with the system.
I now have the information.
I will be giving out the information at the continuation of this session.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the minister indicated the last time I asked him that he has that information now.
I am just wondering if you could explain what putting that information into a database that he has already, has to do with providing that information to the members of this House.
Why, if he has that information as he had indicated before, do we have to wait until the next sitting to be able to get that information?
At that time when you asked that question, I did have the numbers but they weren’t divided up into categories.
I couldn’t give the information to you because of that.
I instructed my staff to divide them into categories so that you could have accurate information.
I guess, Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask the minister if he would be willing to commit that he table those documents on the first day of our next sitting.
Like I said, I will have the information available as soon as possible.
If you are not satisfied with the information, please inform me.
But they will be available and I will table them in the House.
Question 004 - 1(6): Staff Housing for 13 Positions in Kugluktuk
On my question to the Minister responsible for the Decentralization Secretariat yesterday…(interpretation)…I didn’t finish my question in regards to this issue, so I would like to do that today.
I had a response which said that 33 positions were supposed to be relocated to Kugluktuk. 13 positions were not filled as of yet.
If they were to be filled, would they have staff housing available?
We have had a shortage of staff housing everywhere in Nunavut.
Those that have been housed are priority positions.
We are looking for additional housing for staff and we are currently reviewing it.
There are only a few still vacant in Kugluktuk but then again we are looking at all the communities.
We would like to have this whole process completed this year.
As we know, the Nunavut Government was created on April 1, 1999.
Now it is 2002.
These positions should already have been filled.
I understand the minister when he states that we don’t have adequate housing.
When will you review or when will you tell the House that the staff housing is available?
As a government we are going to complete the decentralization process within three years.
We haven’t reached that deadline yet but there are quite a number of positions filled in Kugluktuk, the majority have been filled.
In regards to staff housing, we are working on that as a government and you have probably seen through the media that we are looking at finding additional staff housing in the communities and building additional staff housing.
I can’t respond to you at this time but we do have to talk to the people who might construct these buildings and we would like to complete that as soon as possible.
Thank you for your response and I understand your response.
My constituents would like to find out why these positions haven’t been filled.
These are the questions that I get from my constituents.
As far as these positions that are vacant have you as a minister been looking for people in Kugluktuk?
Some of the positions have been frozen because of the shortage of housing.
It’s something that we did not want to do.
It’s our last option but we did have to freeze some positions because of the lack of staff housing.
Also, if at all possible, that we appoint people to these positions who currently have housing.
It’s one of the options but one of the challenges that we have is finding employees and housing them.
Our Deputy Premier is now responsible for the Housing Corporation and we’re working on it.
Question 005 - 1(6): Gasoline for Coming Summer
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Public Works.
Just this last this week we’ve been discussing the quality of gasoline.
Recommendations were made, so can the minister state where they will be purchasing the gasoline for Nunavut this year?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Public Works, Minister Kattuk.
This past week we've been discussing the concerns regarding the quality of gasoline and the gasoline is purchased through NTCL.
I will be talking with NTCL about the concerns from Nunavut.
We will inform them that a better quality of gasoline needs to be purchased in Nunavut and we will be doing this shortly.
Mr. Speaker, samples of the gasoline in Nunavut are being sent out.
When does the minister expect the results to be in from the people that are looking into the quality of the gasoline?
The samples were sent out to England and we haven't received the results.
We expect the results will be in shortly.
We are aware and Nunavummiut are aware that Public Works is working very hard to solve this problem. (interpretation ends) Can the minister commit to buying a barrel from the south and bring it up here, get 2 skidoos, put in gas from the south and some from up here.
Let them operate and then take the motors out and check them.
Would he commit to doing that?
The tests would be done up here instead of going other places.
That is a very good question from the member.
The Department of Public Works and Services does not have or own a snowmobile that we would be able to use for this purpose.
So I cannot really commit to it at the moment.
I would like to ask the minister, there are a lot of snowmobile stores here in this area.
Would they be able to look into this to see if one could be made available?
I’m not sure about how the dealers will feel about doing this but I’ll look at it, although I cannot commit to it at the moment.
Question 006 - 1(6): Young Offenders Outpost Camp Supervisors
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): My question is directed to the Minister of Justice.
There are young offenders’ camps in some communities, in Pond Inlet and I think in Pangnirtung.
Do the camp operators have supervisors regionally?
There are staff that are reviewing this issue ever since there was a death that occurred last year in one of the camps.
We support these programs as a government.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): After the death occurred last year, has this program been slowed down?
The operator in Pond Inlet told me that he hasn’t been contacted since spring.
There was a coroner’s review done and we’re looking at how we could better set up the supervision of young offender camps.
But this is something we’ll be dealing with this year.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): While they’re working on this, are the camps shut down until then?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The program is continuing and we are looking at improvements.
We expect to make an announcement very soon on the program.
Are they presently laid off at the moment?
He didn’t answer my question.
From what I know they haven't closed the camps except where this incident occurred.
Question 007 - 1(6): Working with Financial Organizations
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Sustainable Development in regards to my Member’s Statement.
There are various small business support programs in place in Nunavut.
I know that there are criteria that we have to follow in order to apply for assistance.
First of all I would like to ask if you work closely with all these entities that support small businesses in regards to development?
I'd like my colleague to clarify his question.
Is he asking if I met with all the business people in Nunavut?
Speaker: Mr. Iqaqrialu, please clarify your question.
I am talking about groups like the Kakivak Association.
It is an entity that supports small businesses.
Your department supports small businesses and NTI has a program.
The banks have programs for assisting small businesses.
I was wondering if you work with these entities.
Now his question is clearer.
I thought you meant all the private small businesses in your first question.
But you are asking about these entities that support small businesses.
I have discussed this matter with these entities to find out how we can get more support for the small businesses of Nunavut.
I have plans and I've already stated that we would like to have close consultations with these entities.
So we are now working on that issue and I would like to see it sometime soon in the future as to how we can get better support to small businesses.
The member's question is a good question about how they can meet and consider other options for how to get more support to the small businesses.
I can consider this and see if there are other ways we can meet with these entities that support small businesses.
Speaker: Supplementary questions.
I thank the member for his response and I would like to see that go ahead.
I don't know if my question is going to be out of line and Mr. Speaker you can correct me if it is not related.
When small businesses start operating they have to start paying for all sorts of bills.
They have to pay for the insurance and they have to pay for income tax, and the Worker’s Compensation Board.
They have to pay for all these various bills.
They end up paying for everything, even though they are not making much money themselves.
They have to pay for their operations and maintenance, like the phone bill, and computers.
There are many bills that they have to pay.
I was wondering if your department could look into this to find out how we can improve this situation.
Yes, we do have start up funds.
We do provide support and assistance to small businesses that are just starting up so that they can develop themselves.
We will continue to support them.
There are also various small businesses that could be supported by the Kakivak Association and by the Federal Government.
They apply for funding from these various entities and they do pay very close attention when they start up their businesses.
That is how it is.
In the future it is evident that we will look for ways we can continue to develop the small businesses.
I understood the minister’s response.
I do have a supplementary question.
If it is going through the Federal Government and there is some form of assistance for small businesses of Nunavut, are you working closely with your federal counterparts, or have you never worked with them?
Yes, for small businesses that are just starting up, I used to help these small businesses when I was an Economic Development Officer under the Hamlet.
Yes, when I was an Economic Development Officer, I used to look for additional funding, especially when you are an Economic Development Officer trying to help a small business start up.
As an Economic Development Officer you have to look at all these aspects.
We have looked very closely and I’m sure that the staff are doing the best that they can to support the small businesses.
We do have a program that provides services for small businesses and it is the Economic Development Officers who are working together to find additional funds to assist these small businesses in developing their businesses.
His responses are very interesting and I am very glad to hear them.
I think that there have been quite a few small businesses that go bankrupt because they can’t afford to pay certain bills.
Even though Iqaluit is a city, a small store is closing because they cannot make ends meet.
Is he willing to look for new ways to support small businesses?
Yes, we will do the best we can to assist the small businesses. We will continue to support the small businesses.
I would like to work with these entities that support or give assistance to small business whether they are Inuit organizations or government departments.
Question 008 - 1(6): Funding for Gravel Access Roads
I will be directing my question to the Minister responsible for Transportation.
In my constituency there is hardly any gravel to use to build access roads.
I was wondering if she would provide funding to complete the access road in Repulse Bay.
I have heard and know about the lack of gravel in Repulse Bay.
We were in Repulse Bay as a cabinet and saw it for ourselves.
Mr. Speaker, we will set up funding for access roads.
But at this time I don't know the figures.
But this has been one of my concerns.
I'll use an example in my question.
We’ve been trying to build an access road in Kugaaruk and annually they provide funding for access roads.
In Repulse Bay they weren't able to complete the access road.
I was wondering if the minister would provide funding for that.
For the Kugaaruk access road that was built when they cleaned up the old military site, we had to get funding through environmental programs and it was done through another program.
The money was coming from another source.
There was no funding previously when we became the Government of Nunavut for that, Mr. Speaker.
I will start setting up funding for access roads.
When would you expect to see the funding made available and in what year?
That is my last supplementary question.
I want this completed as soon as possible as I know that the summer is just around the corner.
Some communities have been just verbally requesting funding.
In the GNWT we had funding for access roads that could be obtained by the municipalities but once we became Nunavut Government we did not have that budget line.
But we are working on that now.
Question 009 - 1(6): Problems Encountered by Post-Secondary Students
During my statement, I spoke of those who graduated from grade 12.
Last year we had 100 graduates.
We are very proud of the students that graduate but in my constituency, they can’t access additional education beyond grade 12 even though some graduates try to further their education.
I am wondering what the problem is when they can’t get funding for tuition fees.
So I would like to ask the minister what the problem is.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister of Education.
When there is a problem with the students getting funding, we look at the problems of each individual, usually on a case by case basis.
I’m not exactly sure which question he’s asking so I can’t really respond to that.
I’ll use an example; there was an individual from Gjoa Haven and one from Taloyoak that completed grade 12.
I know this individual from Gjoa Haven tried to go to Nunavut Sivuniksavut and was told that it was already full.
I just wondered whether there could be another way that they can enter the Nunavut Sivuniksavut or another program.
If there is another avenue whereby he or she can apply?
We support Nunavut Sivuniksavut, which is used by Nunavummiut students.
The member already told me that the individual did not have room because the program was full.
Additionally, Nunavut Sivuniksavut is not really our department’s responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, I know that those students would like to take further training.
They have completed their grade 12.
I am sure that their parents prepared for them to go away to school.
But they have to wait for about two years and it just seems like their grade 12 education that they have gained is kind of a waste.
I just wondered if they have any policies in the Department of Education on how they pick people from various communities for that program.
Mr. Speaker the Nunavut Arctic College has personnel that deal with entrances.
Part of their job is promoting and advertising for the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program.
Just a short question.
I just wondered if the minister knows how many people have applied to the program from my constituency?
I don't have the information at this time on exactly how many people applied from the member’s constituency.
This year up to October 2001, there have been 319 students that received Student Financial Assistance from our department; 154 people in Nunavut and 165 outside of Nunavut that are taking their education down south.
Looking at how many people have graduated in 2000, there were 136 that completed their education.
We will try to keep promoting it.
I asked the minister if he could find out how many students were from my riding.
I tried to tell the member that this would take a while for me to try and get the information.
But as to how many of them have not been approved for Student Financial Assistance that will be more difficult.
Tabled Document 001 - 1(6): Letter from John Jacobson - Tower Arctic
Mr. Speaker, again as Chairman of the Standing Committee for Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development I have to table a document regarding the extension of the sunset clause on the NNI Policy and today I’d like to table a document from Tower Arctic in Iqaluit.
Tabled Document 002 - 1(6): Press Clippings - Auditor General
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a package of press clippings on the subject of the Auditor General’s recent report to the Legislative Assembly.
I was hoping to be able to have them attached to my report yesterday, unfortunately I missed it but I will table them today.
Tabled Document 003 - 1(6): Education Act Overview
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the following document “Education Act Overview” which provides an overview of the major sections of the Education Act with a brief description of each section.
It also provides a selective list of significant changes that have been made in the Act and compares them to previous legislation or previous drafts of the Act.
Item 11: Notices of Motions
Motion 001 - 1(6): Extended Adjournment
Mr. McLean: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on March 11, 2002 I will move the following motion;
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding Rule 4 that when the House concludes its sitting in Iqaluit it shall be adjourned until April 24, 2002;
and further, that at any time prior to April 24, 2002 if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during adjournment the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and transact business as if it has been duly adjourned to that time.
Mr. Speaker, at the proper time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Bill 1 - Education Act - Notice
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, March 11, 2002 I shall move that Bill 1, Education Act be read for the first time.
At the appropriate time Mr. Speaker, I will seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Item 13: Motions
I’m also happy it’s the last day.
Mr. McLean, you have unanimous consent.
Mr. McLean: I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that notwithstanding Rule 4 that when the House concludes its sitting in Iqaluit it shall be adjourned until April 24, 2002;
And everybody have a safe trip.
Mr. Kilabuk.  Item 14: First Reading of Bills
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Mr. Speaker as per Rule 62 (2) and notwithstanding rule 62 (1), I request the consent of this Assembly to waive the two day notice required for first reading of Bill 1, Education Act.
Bill 1 - Education Act - First Reading
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Mr. Speaker I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that Bill 1, Education Act be read for the first time.
Clerk (Ms. Aglukkaq): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Orders of the Day for Wednesday April 24th, 2002. 1:30 p.m.
As well tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development will be meeting in Tuktu.
Speaker: Members before we finish for the day I would like to thank our Pages.
They deserve a round of applause along with our Sergeant-At-Arms, Mr. Kilabuk for their services.
Of course our staff and the interpreters without whom we wouldn't get through the session.
Mr. Clerk, this House stands adjourned until April 24th, 2002 at 1.30.
Everybody have a safe trip home.
>>House adjourned at 4.29 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Wednesday April 24, 2002
Pages 38 - 69
Opening Prayer 38
Ministers’ Statements 38
Members’ Statements 41
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 47
Oral Questions 48
Notices of Motions 63
Second Reading of Bills 63
Orders of the Day 68
Wednesday April 24, 2002 38
002 – 1(6): Gasoline Testing Update (Kattuk) 38
003 – 1(6): Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (Picco) 39
004 – 1(6): 2002 Conference of Ministers Responsible for Physical Activity, Recreation and Sport (Thompson) 40
005 – 1(6): Minister Ng’s Absence from the House (Okalik) 41
006 – 1(6): Minister Anawak’s Absence from the House (Okalik) 41
015 – 1(6): Recognition of Byron Alonak 41
016 – 1(6): Nattilik Cup Hockey Tournament in Taloyoak (Puqiqnak) 42
017 – 1(6): Iqaluit Medal Winners in AWG in Iqaluit (Tootoo) 43
018 – 1(6): Stevie Amarualik of Resolute Bay – Four 44
019 – 1(6): Dog Mushing Race – Clyde River to Pond Inlet (Iqaqrialu) 44
020 – 1(6): Gratitude to the Minister of Health (Nutarak) 45
021 – 1(6): Gratitude to Members for Support (Okalik) 45
022 – 1(6): Drum Dancing Event in Repulse Bay (Alakannuark) 45
023 – 1(6): Cape Dorset Pee Wee Hockey Team (Akesuk) 45
024 – 1(6): Hockey Tournament in Hall Beach (Irqittuq) 46
025 – 1(6): Pangnirtung Athletes at 2002 AWG 46
026 – 1(6): Fifty Ulus Won by Nunavut During AWG (Thompson) 46
027 – 1(6): Iqaluit Street Names (Picco) 47