EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So you can't go to those communities without stopping through Iqaluit first.
So on behalf of my constituents, who wish to visit their relatives in other communities, it is becoming impossible because of the airfare costs.
These airlines can only travel to communities even in the Baffin Region but first they have to go through Iqaluit all the time.
Even if you want to go to the Keewatin Region, you can only go there through Iqaluit first.
Also, you can only go to the Kitikmeot region through Yellowknife and because of the schedules and when you travel these routes you have to overnight in the stopovers.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to finish his member's statement.
Please continue Mr. Irqittuq.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you fellow colleagues.
I am seeking support from all my fellow colleagues in the House because to travel to Hall Beach and Igloolik we have spent a great deal of dollars as well as our government paying out huge amounts of money for patients to travel out to hospital facilities.
We cannot make other arrangements.
Each time there is a patient travelling, sometimes you have not just one but more than one and we have to start looking at the costs Mr. Speaker.
I am seeking support.
For those that are listening, I ask that you lobby First Air because I am sure they are listening and they have to seriously start considering our needs and see if they can help us.
That was my member's statement.
Member’s Statement 332 - 1(3): Qaqqalik School Student Exchange
I would like to thank the following people and I would like to congratulate those people.
The Kimmirut Qaqqalik School students who welcomed students from Montreal’s St. George private school.
For over two years now they had been plan to do a student exchange to Montreal and they were supposed to do an exchange with Kimmirut and this year they were finally able to do it.
There were twenty students and chaperones in Kimmirut and they had a good time there.
They were made to feel welcome by the students, they were taught some specifics of Inuit cultural life, and we would like to welcome the students from Montreal.
Member’s Statement 333 - 1(3): Condolences for Arviat, Good Wishes for Duffy’s
First maybe I should say to the people of Arviat, I feel for them.
They lost their relative John Arnalukjuak who was a great man and a wise man.
He was always very friendly to everyone that he met.
Our prayers are with them and we hope that God will give them some peace.
We will continue our faith in that.
Also, I just wanted to say that Ron Duffy had a heart operation and he is currently home now after this operation.
He is the husband of Leonie Duffy and many people know him.
These are two leaders of the church. So I wish to thank the nurses and the doctors and whoever had to take care of him.
Presently he is at home right now and I wish him to rest now so he can get well after his operation.
I would like to extend my gratitude to my fellow colleagues who were sympathetic.
Member’s Statement 334 - 1(3): Leadership in the House
This morning I rise to speak about what is on my mind.
As members of the legislature and representatives of the Nunavut people, we are given the responsibility to be good leaders and to be strong leaders on behalf of the people here in the House.
We are given certain authorities as representatives of Nunavut.
So we have to do things justly using our abilities and our capabilities. We have used dog teams as an example.
When you use a dog team you have to have a strong leader and so it is in the House.
Sometimes if we are going to start abusing our powers we are going to lose our own strength and I think we are going to have to work like a good dog team.
Using our traditional dog teams as an example because we know how Inuit work and they have to be sensitive to the people they represent.
You cannot just abuse or neglect your dog team because you will have a healthy pack if you have a healthy leader.
The same way with this House.
You have to be sensitive to each other and try to remember your Inuit culture in the House.
You have to work together and you have to talk with one another with good respect and that way we can be a proper team.
We can pave the way for the future.
That was my statement Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 335 - 1(3): Iqaluit Recreational Complex
Mr. Speaker, earlier at this sitting I spoke to this House about my support for the Arctic Winter Games 2002.
The host society plans to build a multifaceted recreational complex here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the proposed facility would include space that could be used and utilised as a permanent youth centre for Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, a steering committee has been formed that includes three representatives from the town, three volunteer representatives from the 2002 host society, and the host society representative Jerry Ell.
Faced with the goal of beginning construction in the spring of 2000 for completion in 2001, the steering committees mandate is to represent key stakeholders and act on their behalf from concept to completion.
The steering committee will be the prime authority on the project and will oversee all aspects of the planning and the implementation.
Mr. Speaker, last week the Iqaluit town council passed a motion to support the project in principle.
That motion helps move the multipurpose facility project forward.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Iqaluit Town Council for the motion of support.
I look forward to working together with the town, the Arctic Winter Games 2002 host committee and my Iqaluit MLA colleagues to help support and move this much needed infrastructure forward.
Member’s Statement 336 - 1(3): Lack of Response from Airlines
I agree with my honourable colleague from Hall Beach about airlines and airline travel in Nunavut.
I brought up that fact about regional traffic patterns almost a year ago.
Still no airlines in Nunavut seemed to address this problem of the travel corridors from the Kitikmeot to the Kivalliq to the Baffin without having to go through Yellowknife.
Speaker I don't have to mention again that a majority of the business for these airlines is from the Nunavut Government. It doesn't seem the airlines want to accept that.
Travel patterns change and a perfect example of this is the jet service from Yellowknife to Rankin to Iqaluit. These airlines fly behind each other only hours apart on the same days. Mr. Speaker, Nunavut is a reality and the airlines in Nunavut will have to start realising this and respond to all the people in Nunavut in the centres, whether they are regional centres or the small Nunavut communities.
Member’s Statement 337 - 1(3): Cambridge Bay High School
Mr Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the constituents I represent in Cambridge Bay, Bathurst Inlet and Umingmatok.
Speaking on behalf of those who are not able to respond to statements made by members in this assembly.
I am responding to statements made by members in this assembly.
I am responding to a member's statement that was made yesterday.
And I quote Mr. Speaker, "members are dismayed recent media coverage have been critical of members etc. etc. " unquote.
Mr. Speaker, all of us enjoy positive media coverage.
Nobody likes to be portrayed in a negative fashion.
I would say Mr. Speaker, welcome to politics.
In another part of that statement Mr. Speaker quote, " members are particularly concerned about students and others in Cambridge Bay are being manipulated into thinking and making statements to the effect that members do not care about their needs. " Unquote.
Mr. Speaker, these are serious allegations being made by the member.
He is alleging that somebody is manipulating students and others Mr. Speaker.
I challenge the member to identify the individual responsible for this manipulation.
The statement goes on about the costs and refers to the average cost of 28 hundred to 32 hundred dollars per square metre, and he uses the tender advertisement size and the member indicates the cost should be 10 to 11.5 million dollars.
Yet the budget is 14.2 million dollars.
The member uses these calculations to suggest the school is above average.
I quote again, " that extra 3 million dollars could have done a lot of work to meeting the needs of other students in other communities " unquote and it goes on Mr. Speaker.
This is an erroneous perception and I refer to tabled document 60 - 1(3) the project budget report on the Kiilinik High School project Mr. Speaker.
I will give some liberty here.
I use the figure that is higher than the 14.2 million dollars that is referred to in this budget projection, 14.9 million dollars Mr. Speaker.
That includes in the 98/99 year 1 million 756 thousand dollars for temporary facilities, junior high school annex, high school annex, portable classroom, temporary mechanical buildings, and debris removal.
In the 99/00 year it lists the library annex, temporary clean up, another 266 thousand dollars.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his member's statement.
There are no nays. Please proceed Mr. Ng.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you colleagues.
So, Mr. Speaker the total temporary facility construction costs of those 2 years, 2 million 22 thousand 766 dollars.
You add in again another line in that budget.
Contingency, Mr. Speaker 1 million 15 thousand dollars.
Contingency for unexpected costs that may arise during construction.
It is not spent yet.
You have another 800 thousand dollars Mr. Speaker, for fire marshal's requirements, for additional requirements for safety reasons the fire marshal has ordered over and above what any other school would have right now.
Then Mr. Speaker, the large gym and cultural heritage centre is only another 920 thousand dollars.
If you take out Mr. Speaker those items that I have listed they total 4 million 757 thousand 766 dollars.
If you take that away from the 14.9 Mr. Speaker, you have 10 million 191 thousand 566 dollars which works out on approximately 3400 square metres to under 3 thousand dollars a square metre, the 28 and the 32 hundred the member refers to.
Mr. Speaker, the member then goes on the attack using language that I quote " blatantly unfair, shame on the government for continuing to blindly support all aspects of this school project with no questions asked, no limits, no consideration for the priority needs of the other communities needs and no consideration of the precedent” unquote and it goes on. Well Mr. Speaker I have to respond again.
Blindly support all aspects of this project without questions asked, no limits.
Well let’s clarify this again.
The original requests from the community were for 293 square meters now they are only asking for 100 square metres.
The community gave up the enhanced change rooms, the gym office, storage rooms, stage etc.
All the support infrastructure that normally goes with a full sized gymnasium.
On the matter of no consideration of priority needs in other communities.
There has been full consideration and considerable discussion with the Financial Management Board for additional school infrastructure needs.
In fact, items were added to address these but once again though we have to recognize we can't deal with all the needs in one fiscal year.
That is why we are planning the 5 year capital plan and that is why the department of education is planning a twenty year capital plan.
Mr. Speaker, no consideration of precedents, again Mr. Speaker we did consider past precedents.
We only have to look at Pangnirtung and Repulse Bay, which are communities which have had enhancements through community contributions.
The Cambridge Bay situation is not unique here.
There is no special treatment Mr. Speaker.
Again Mr. Speaker it goes on about delaying the budget quote "the minister and government should take a hard look at how their vague answers, delays and total lack of leadership on this issue have contributed to the crisis of confidence" unquote.
Members state that the budget brought down March twenty-fourth gave only three weeks to discuss in the open the budget for the whole government for the next year.
I remind members that on January 13th, I met with them in Cambridge Bay and we agreed to the budget review development schedule.
All draft capital and departmental business plans were provided in full and reviewed both in camera by the Standing Committees and with ministerial appearances during the last week of January and the first week and a half of February.
There has been more than ample opportunity Mr. Speaker, to review and make recommendations and address issues.
It’s easy Mr. Speaker, to cast blame on others.
Perhaps the government hasn’t been as receptive in responding in a timely fashion to members’ concerns.
Certainly Mr. Speaker, we can’t arbitrarily plunk items into different communities without some planning and consideration of overall government requirements and ongoing financial obligations.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it is fair for the member to abdicate full responsibility for committee motions that specifically refer to the deferral of the Education Capital Plan.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, on the matter of referencing the erroneous extra 3 million dollar allocation for the Killiniq School project, I am quite disappointed in the member for suggesting that this is the case when clearly a financial budget report tabled in this House shows otherwise.
Mr. Speaker, I say shame on the member for misrepresenting the cost of the Kiilinik High School project for his own political means.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Members’ Statements. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 338 - 1(3): Review of Chief Electoral Officers’ Report
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report on the last meeting of the Standing Committee of Ajauqtiit regarding its review of the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut entitled, “The Election of the First Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, 1999 A New Beginning.”
Mr. Speaker, our committee was privileged to have had Paul Quassa, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and John Lamb, Director of Implementation for NTI, appear before us last Thursday evening to discuss these important issues.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Quassa reminded us of the prominent role that elections and referenda have played in Nunavut’s history citing the plebiscites on the division of the NWT, the new boundary between the two territories and the vote on the Nunavut final Land Claim Agreement.
As well as NTI’s own elections whose leadership helped to lay the groundwork for creating the Nunavut Territory and Nunavut Government.
I agree with Mr. Quassa when he said, “it is worth thinking about the history because it reminds us of the strength of our democratic process in Nunavut.
It is something that we should all be proud of.”
Mr. Speaker, our standing committee is interested in developing a made in Nunavut elections office and we were extremely pleased to hear Mr. Quassa that, “NTI would be prepared to work with the Government of Nunavut and other parties to explore the question of such a central elections office.”
Mr. Quassa noted that the potential cost savings as well as the opportunity to share and learn from one another’s experience in conducting elections points to the value of examining the committee’s suggestions closely.
Potentially at least there could be a great deal to gain by the establishment of a central election office.
Mr. Speaker, there could be obstacles in creating a one-stop electoral office or common electoral list but the important thing is that a partnership with NTI in exploring these issues and seeing what we can accomplish working together.
This is the spirit that will make Nunavut a uniquely successful territory.
It is our understanding, sorry Mr. Speaker.
This is the spirit that will make Nunavut a uniquely successful territory and our standing committee is very pleased to play a role in this regard.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk.
Return to OQ 434 - 1(3): Gjoa Haven Soapstone Quarry
I would like to respond to a question that was asked on April 12, 2000 by Mr. Puqiqnak in regards to the Gjoa Haven soapstone quarry.
I received a letter from Mr. Puqiqnak about the need to supply soapstone to the carvers of Gjoa Haven.
The Regional Superintendent for the Kitikmeot met with a representative of the Carvers’ Association to discuss a project that would result in retrieving a supply of soapstone for the carvers of Gjoa Haven.
The result of that meeting was that the Netsilik Carvers’ Association was encouraged to submit an application and a budget under my department’s Community Initiative Program.
To date my department has not received an application for this project though it is our understanding that the association did apply to the Inuit Art Foundation for some funding for this project.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Sustainable Developments’ Community Initiative Program has been used by a number of communities across Nunavut for soapstone mining projects.
Each year we advise Hamlets of their annual allocation of funds under the Community Initiative Program.
The Hamlet Councils then determine where these funds should be spent in their communities for projects that support community economic development.
Mr. Speaker, the Gjoa Haven soapstone project could begin as soon as the Gjoa Haven Hamlet Council approves the project under the Community Initiatives Program.
There is both a Community Economic Development Officer and a Community Economic Development Officer trainee in Gjoa Haven who could assist with developing a proposal for this project.
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the issue of access to soapstone supply is something that effects many communities in Nunavut.
I have asked the department officials to prepare a briefing on the issues with the aim of developing a strategy for this important aspect of the arts and crafts economy.
Return to OQ 440 - 1(3): Polaris Mine Status
I am sure you recognize me.
I would like to make a return to an oral question that was asked on April 12, 2000 by Mr. Barnabas in regards to the status of Polaris Mine.
Mr. Speaker, I had taken this as notice and I have now found out that the Polaris Mine is scheduled for closure on October 31, 2001.
Exploration within a kilometre of the mine may extend the mine life but indications at this time are that an extension is unlikely.
In 1996, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Federal Government, at the request of Heritage Canada, placed an exploration restriction on the north half of Bathurst Island pending the outcome of a study assessing that location for potential as a national park.
The proposed park area is located fifty kilometres north-west of the Polaris Mine.
While the park study did remove an area of high mineral potential from exploration, Cominco explored other sites within the region with equally high potential and failed to discover another ore body.
Mr. Speaker, in the gallery I would like to welcome a young person who is the daughter of member Enoki Irqittuq, who is one of our pages.
I didn’t recognize her Mr. Speaker, I haven’t seen her since 1992 and she has grown up a lot since that time.
I don’t see her right now either but I know she is here as a page.
Also Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today we have a member of the Arctic Winter Games 2002 committee that I spoke about earlier today in my member’s statement, Mr. Jonah Kelly.
Next to Mr. Kelly is that well-known, excellent interpreter, translator and all around good person, Ms. Mallie Curley.
I would like to return to item 5, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: We haven’t gone to number six yet so you can carry on.
In the Inuktitut translation I heard that we were on item six so I apologize.
I would like to recognize, like I said yesterday, there were people here from Pond Inlet.
We have Ivan, who is one of the cadet members.
Joanisie Kowtangnirk, again from the cadet troupe.
I am sure she will be wearing her uniform again tomorrow.
She is from Pond Inlet.
I also have my daughter here somewhere, I think some of you know her, Melanie.
She is living here in Iqaluit, but she is not here in the House at this moment.
Question 479 - 1(3): Letter to Clyde River DEA
Mr. Speaker, first I would like to have a good debate with the members in regards to the budget session and of course there are more questions coming up as we progress.
We would like to get things going and we do want to see the budget approved.
Even though that’s the case I would like to ask a question of the Minister of Education about the letter that I received a copy of and I wasn’t informed of what was happening.
I got a copy of this letter only from the Education Council.
My question to the minister is, why is it that I was not informed when they were going to delete that school project in my community.
Mr. Speaker, maybe I misunderstood.
He mentioned something about a school being deleted.
We did not do anything like that.
Maybe what he is trying to say is that the money that was allocated for the building of the school, or the construction of the school in the beginning of the year, I think it was 1.5 million, is that what the member is talking about.
Speaker: I wonder if the member could further clarify his question, and furthermore if he is referring to a document that has not been tabled and is not before the House, it’s very difficult and almost impossible for the minister to speak to it.
Furthermore, it is not appropriate for members to speak of documents that have not been tabled and are not in the hands of all the members.
So if you could further clarify your question, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
The letter that I am referring too comes from the DEA in my community.
I am sure you have a copy of that letter because the letter is coming from your office.
This letter was written on April 12, and it states that there will be a deferral of the dollars that were allocated to Clyde River.
Why is it that you informed the local Education Council when I was not informed.
Speaker: Thank you member.
The people of the community elect the DEA.
They were delegated the task to make the decisions on behalf of education matters and matters of the school.
We had to inform them because they had to consider the issue.
We have not deleted the item.
The Baffin Divisional Board, if they wanted to send a copy to you during the deliberations it would be up to them.
Again, they are an elected body by the community and they were given the task to come up with a decision on what would be best for their community and for the school.
Speaker: Supplementary, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
This letter came from the Department of Education.
I am representing that particular community and because of that everything has to go through me.
We do the same thing but this was not the case.
The DEAs are elected by the community and I believe that as an elected member myself, I have to work with them.
I was not informed in this case and it effected me.
Maybe I could mention that 1 million 547 thousand dollars is deferred, or are you going to keep it in the budget so that we can get the architectural drawings and preliminaries done.
The Baffin Divisional Board of Education, I will talk to them and recommend that if they are going to be writing a letter to any one of the particular communities to CC a copy to the elected member.
When I write a letter I CC copies to members.
It seemed like he asked two questions.
When we were drafting up the budget for 1999/2000, we approved 400 thousand dollars to do the architectural drawings for the Clyde River School.
The reasons were a certain part of the school would be demolished and we would make a new addition to the part of the school that is falling, to do some improvements and now that we have new policies we have quotes upgrade that are newly implemented.
Since we did that review and looked for architects, that was close to February 2000, of course the Nunavut Government looks for the best price and the cheapest was 500 thousand dollars.
We had only set aside 400 thousand dollars for the preliminary works.
Because it was 150 thousand dollars over our budget we were told that it would take 16 to 24 weeks to do the preliminary work.
As a result, we would not have had the opportunity to finish the preliminary work and the architectural drawings before sealift.