EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Until that’s determined we won’t be know what kind of sources of support we need from our bureaucracy and what departments will be required to attend at whatever given time.
So until we have some certainty around the actual final topics and legislation requirements for Cambridge Bay, we won’t be in a situation of making those estimates here.
Question 026 - 1(5): Subsidy for Polar Bear Skins
I will be directing a question to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
The other day Mr. Speaker, under members’ statements, I said in my constituency the Kitikmeot polar bear quota was cut in the year 2001.
The new quota was not stated.
We are looking forward to the new quota that is going to be introduced by the Minister of Sustainable Development and also the Nunavut Wildlife Board is going to have a survey of polar bears.
The polar bears are very important in our communities.
We use them for food, as well as making money so that they can buy skidoos and other things we need.
People do make a living out of it.
I would like to know whether the Sustainable Development Minister has any plans to replace the income that has been lost from losing the quota for polar bears.
Do you have any ideas as to what kind of income program is going to be introduced.
Mr. Speaker, I visited the three communities that are going to be affected by this policy.
I went to visit the communities to try to find out exactly what type of a program they would be willing to take to replace the income lost from losing the polar bear quotas that they usually have.
We met with the Hunters and Trappers organizations.
The issues were presented and the ideas were taken so that we will be able to make a decision as to what kind of programs we should introduce to supplement their income.
The person who is assisting us with this program is starting to finish his report and then from there the hunters and trappers assistance program is going to be introduced from that.
Supplementary. Mr. Puqiqnak.
The minister’s visit was very helpful to the communities, and we were able to speak to him about programs delivered by these departments to replace the income lost because they lost their quota.
Looking through the legislation that was instrumental in implementing this quota, the polar bears do have a migration pattern and during the off hunting season, some of the polar bears do become wild.
Some people have to kill the polar bears that approach the communities.
The defence kill polar bear pelts are taken by the government and confiscated by the government from the person who caught the polar bear.
Maybe our quotas for polar bears should be less restricted and it is probable that there are going to be more people killing polar bears because of that reason.
During the off-season they confiscate the meat as well as the hides.
The person who killed the polar bear has to be charged through the courts and made to pay for his crime.
I remember these same questions when we were doing our tour in regards to defence kills.
Of course, wildlife officers have to follow the rules, the hide of the polar bear is returned to the hunter who got it and it's up to the Hunter's and Trapper's Association to do what they want with the meat and the hide.
We are just going to follow the required legislation.
I do understand very well but with the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the present legislation, there is a clash there.
Today with the Nunavut Government we have talked about the need to integrate the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into our laws.
So, with that in mind there's the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit that applies to polar bears and musk oxen and that affects the lives of the Inuit.
You said that we are going to be using our present legislation and I'm concerned about the management.
I do know about the legislation that we have to follow but how or what can we do to amend the legislation so that there's more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit integrated into it.
I think we have to review the whole Wildlife Act.
This Wildlife Act will most certainly have to be reviewed and it is in fact, in progress.
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, NTI, and Nunavut Government are working together in reviewing the Wildlife Act.
We are also going to be using the effected organizations at the community level and individuals.
The three main organizations, NTI, the Nunavut Government and the NWMB are going to be working together to be reviewing the whole piece of legislation.
Thank you Mr. Minister for responding to my question.
You said that the main organizations reviewing the Wildlife Act are NTI and NWMB.
Our quota system will come to an end in the year 2002 and of course there will be polar bears in our area.
Are you going to be making an announcement in the House on what is going to be happening after 2001 or 2002 or when are you going to be making a new announcement.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Sustainable Development.
We have already notified the NWMB and we have already made public announcements to the people of Nunavut and to the communities.
Question 027 - 1(3): Insurance Coverage for Inmates’ Survivors
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice.
There are incidents or occurrences that happen that we don’t anticipate.
In regards to the inmates, is there any life insurance for Baffin Correctional Centre inmates.
Do you have any type of insurance for the inmates because of course they have family members that they have to take care of at home.
Minister responsible for Justice. Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We are reviewing it as our insurance coverage is still administered out of Yellowknife.
There are no life insurance policies for inmates but there are other types of coverage available.
Mr. Speaker, anything that is being operated and maintained by the government and any new organizations or institutions we establish should have insurance.
For example, if I am going to have my own business, I have to have workers’ compensation and other insurance.
I am very surprised by your response that it is under review.
If the inmates for example at the Baffin Correctional Centre went up in flames, are there no types of protection for the inmates.
In my question I am referring to insurance.
Well there are different types of insurance.
There are some for accidents, there are different types of insurance, I am not sure which one you are referring to.
There are different types of insurance that you can buy.
I don’t know which type of insurance you are referring to.
It is very clear when I am talking about it.
For example, if I died suddenly my insurance would cover and pay for expenses that would have to be incurred by my family.
It is not because my life is more precious than the inmates.
The inmates are just as precious as anybody else.
My question to the minister is, if they don’t have life insurance, can they get coverage.
Speaker: Minister of Justice. Mr. Okalik.
Yes, I have insurance as well. I pay for that policy myself.
Of course, if you want to buy life insurance it is up to you.
You can be covered by a policy.
If you are incarcerated that doesn’t mean that they should get more benefits than anybody else.
We won’t buy you life insurance if you happen to be incarcerated.
We have different types of insurance that can be applied in specific areas.
It is up to each individual of course, but the inmates are under the care of the Nunavut Government.
I would see them as Nunavut Government wards.
For example if I had my equipment or something that belongs to me I would cover it under my insurance because they are under my care or are my property.
If anything should happen to one of these individuals, what kind of help can the immediate family members or the parents get if there should be a sudden death or an accident.
Like I said, there are different types of insurance.
We wouldn’t really be able to deal with it if it was an accident that occurred because of two inmates.
But like I said there are different types of insurance and we have to do an investigation if there is an accident or a death.
Question 028 - 1(5): Kitikmeot Health Facility and Boarding Home
I would like to make reference to a statement made by the Minister of Health and I would like to direct my questions to him.
We are going to be getting a hospital facility in the Kitikmeot and my question was whether the hospital and the boarding home will be built together.
Speaker: Minister Responsible for Health & Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, we are just looking right now at the scope of the facility program for the Kitikmeot as well as the other two regions in Nunavut for the hospital facilities.
As an example, Mr. Speaker, as you know here in Iqaluit, which has had a hospital since 1962, we only had a boarding home in the last three years when the old student residence was made available as a boarding home.
Before that it was home boarding in people’s homes by residents of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, right now we are looking at the opportunity for a boarding home in both those locations, in Rankin and in Cambridge Bay.
This hospital that is going to be built in the Kitikmeot area, when are you going to be building it.
Mr. Speaker, we had a meeting this weekend, myself and the Minister of Finance along with senior members of our respective departments, to go through again the time lines and the time frames.
We are hoping Mr. Speaker, to be able to pull it off in the next 18 months.
We have a lot of work to do along with work for the Development Corporation as the major advocate or proponent for the facility.
So we would expect Mr. Speaker, that early 2002, in the next year and a half, we will be able to see construction started on the facility in the Kitikmeot, as well the Baffin.
I have to be contingent and say that it is based on getting functioning program reviews completed.
Also bringing the business case forward depends on the negotiations that we are involved in right now with the federal government.
But that is our timeline Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
I am asking those questions because of the concerns my constituency has.
There are people that have to go to Cambridge Bay and go to other medical facilities for examinations and so on.
They are usually billeted out to local families.
We have a concern, which is the reason why I asked the question on whether the hospital and the boarding home will be built together.
Mr. Speaker, maybe a level of comfort for the member and members in the House, Mr. Speaker, the three health care facilities are a priority of this government.
We have reaffirmed that as a government over a year ago.
We are moving toward a very tight time frame.
We also want to make sure Mr. Speaker, not only the administrative, but also the logistic and financial information is in place.
We want to make sure we get the best deal for the people of Nunavut and for future governments in regards to the leases and so on.
On the boarding home Mr. Speaker, the member is on the Standing Committee on Health and we have initiated a review of all of boarding home facilities in and outside of Nunavut.
As the member knows we operate boarding homes in Edmonton, Ottawa, Churchill, Iqaluit, Yellowknife and in Winnipeg.
So we have quite an infrastructure for health care not only in Nunavut but also outside of Nunavut.
So we are doing that review and the member’s comments are well taken.
Question 029 - 1(3): Polar Bear Study
It was asked earlier but I would like to elaborate on the question.
For many years now, my community have had problems with polar bear quotas.
I encountered a bear once and almost kissed a bear at one time, not on purpose of course.
I also know when the polar bears are around the community, ever since I was a child, from what I have learned and from what I know and what the polar bear biologists do are two different things.
They do a survey and they don’t seem to really know and they don’t really seem to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
They do surveys perhaps for two months and they do a report.
They report about them to the people in the United States and to the foreign countries and say that the polar bears are declining in numbers.
But for us they say that they use us to do the surveys but they don’t utilize us, and the people down south and in foreign countries believe those reports of the polar bear biologists.
So, I would like to ask the Minister of Sustainable Development about the reports from the polar bear biologists, say for instance in the communities of Cambridge Bay, Uqsuqtuq and Taloyoak.
It seems like the survey that was done by the polar bear biologists might not be accurate but the department believes in the reports from the biologists.
So after they do a study, will Sustainable Development accept the reports of the biologists right away without having the input of local individuals.
Speaker: Just to remind members that the questions are not to be statements and try to keep your preambles short that we can hope to get more questions for the other members.
I appreciate the member's question.
As the Nunavut Government we have stated that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has to be used a lot more now especially in regards to the study of polar bears and we would like to utilize the Inuit knowledge more so than before.
So we have talked about this and the three communities that the member mentioned we visited those communities and we asked questions of the hunters in regards to polar bears, the number of polar bears in their area and they said to us that they're declining in numbers because they use the Inuit knowledge and we asked the hunters before we released the report.
The polar bear biologists that he talked about work with the people in the communities and we will be using the knowledge of the Inuit people in the communities more so than before. That's what we are working towards.
Speaker: Just another reminder to the other side of the House, the ministers, try to keep your answers precise and as concise as possible to allow more questions.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will make my questions brief.
I would like to ask the minister that since he stated he will be using Inuit more than ever before, will you be able to provide some funding to the hunters, so the hunters can be perhaps paid more money than the helicopter contractors and to utilize the Inuit more and provide them funding so they can do more studies.
I thank the member for his question.
Yes, we will be using them more in the future.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Akesuk.
Yes, that is very good to hear.
The hunters will also be working to help with the study of polar bears in areas close to your community.
We have to look at it first, to try to find out how best we can use the hunters to help out with the polar bear survey.
We have to look into it first and I can’t really answer at this time, on exactly what we are going to be doing.
Question 030 - 1(3): Winnipeg Inuit Centre Contract
I’d like to direct a question to the Minister of Health & Social Services.
Does the minister know if the contract for the Inuit Centre in Winnipeg still has the original owners.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the original owners on the award of that contract or percentage of it Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the numbers in front of me has changed hands.
Indeed Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the birthright corporation for the Inuit, for the Members of this House is now an equal shareholder or operator of the contract in the Winnipeg boarding home.
Is the contract between the new owner or new partner and the Government of Nunavut still valid.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that it is valid.
My understanding Mr. Speaker, is that one of the partners who originally bid on the contract decided for whatever personal reasons or business interest reasons, they wanted to get out, extricate themselves from that contract.
At the same time they sold their interest to the regional corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the numbers or the contract in front of me so I wouldn’t be able to comment on that part of it.
Well I hope it will be checked or at least reviewed for the purpose of availability or the delivery of goods under that contract because I hear there is a lot of dissatisfaction from the patients who still go down to Winnipeg and it has deteriorated quite rapidly.
Can the minister tell me under the contract, has there been some inspections or at least monitoring to ensure the quality of service that is delivered under that contract.
Mr. Speaker, in this House several concerns were raised with the boarding home in Winnipeg.
It is an older facility, it is in the older section of town.
My understanding is there was a drug bust recently very close to the facility.
I have been in the facility three or four times in the past 12 months.
I think that is what the member is trying to indicate.
Mr. Speaker, a review of the boarding home facility is underway.
The review of that facility has been completed.
We’ve talked to clients, patients who have gone through the facility.
The operators of the facility have come forward to the Department of Health & Social Services indicating that they would like to move out of that facility because of the conditions that we talked in this House.
The Member for Baker Lake brought up the incident of mice being in the facility, which turned out to be true.
Mr. Speaker, the health protection branch and the other services in Winnipeg went through that and we found out that indeed that was the case.
That still seems to be an issue, so there are concerns with the facility.
We have not had complaints about the operators of the facility, we have had complaints about the facility itself.
It's very hard to complain about the operators when the operators are in Yellowknife not in Winnipeg. Have Inuit made any complaints about the practices of the management who are in Winnipeg or the treatment of the patients by the management in Winnipeg.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in general and as I tried to explain earlier to one of the other questions, we operate several boarding homes in four different provincial jurisdictions and in Yellowknife as well as here in Iqaluit.
We get complaints from time to time on the services and management and so on and so forth so those types of inquiries are made generally.
But on the specific issue of that facility in Winnipeg, I think it's fair to say that it is an older facility.
We've had complaints, we've done our review of the facility there, we've actually done a review with the patients, we've talked to them, we've done a survey with them on the quality, of the control of the standards that are in place.
We have seen improvements actually since the corporation took over.
I haven't named the corporation particularly because I'm not sure if that has been announced by the news release or so, I know the member knows like most of the members in this room know, and I’m sure most people in the Keewatin know who they are.
But I'm not sure if they actually released that and I'm not sure if the person who sold out, that has been made public yet. So I'm not at liberty to say that.
Question 031 - 1(5): Update on Funding for Transportation Strategy
Ms. Williams: Qujannamiik, Uqaqti.
I would like to direct this question to Minister for Community Government and Transportation.
In the recent presentation on the government transportation strategy, it was mentioned that federal funding might be available and I would like to know if the minister could update the Assembly on what steps have been taken to date to access this funding.
One of my communities would like to know the answer to this question as I come from a community that has lots of mountains.
We need roads up there.
First of all when we were developing this transportation strategy, access roads in the communities were an important part.
I would like to thank the Premier that when he met with the Minister of DIAND he discussed this matter and later on I was able to meet with Bob Nault to discuss this matter.
We expect that the access roads could be developed in the communities and when we have access roads we can develop ourselves more economically.
But at this time I cannot tell you whether we will get the funding prior to April 1st but I can tell you that I'm sure we can get additional funding for that.
Also, once we find out how much funding we can access we'll discuss this matter with the members of the legislature.
Speaker: Supplementary. Ms. Williams.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to further ask, would the communities be able to apply for this funding or would the funding be going to Community Government & Transportation.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister Anawak.
At this point in time the Department of Transportation would be seeking the funds from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
We already have some plans for what we can do about the access roads and we would be talking to the MLAs as well as to the communities about how we might go forward on it.
But it would be Community Government & Transportation dispensing, or at least arranging to get the funding from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and dispensing the funding to the communities.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It would be very good to know about this funding as soon as possible so the communities can plan to do the work in their communities.
So I would ask the minister to let us know as soon as he can.
Question 032 - 1(5): Status of Firearms Registration Licences
I am going to direct my question to the Minister of Justice.
This fall staff from the department visited our community to assist the residents of Kugluktuk to try and get their certificates and registration to purchase rifles and to buy ammunition.
Can you update us as to how those visits went and when the applicants will receive their certificates and registration.
It is a federal Act, administered by the federal government so I can’t respond to how soon it might take place. Ma'na Uqaqti.
To date people are having difficulties purchasing ammunition and are unable because they don’t have the licence to purchase ammunition. They are unable to put food on the table because they have no ammunition due to not having their licence yet.
I am not happy with that response. Yes, it is difficult.
How and when will Inuit be able to obtain their licence so that they can purchase ammunition and own rifles.
The weather is getting very nice, there will soon be a lot of game.
While we wait how are our people going to deal with this situation. Thank you.
Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Ma'na Uqaqti. Yes, we have written letters to the federal government opposing this gun legislation and asking them to hold on for a while but we have been denied. We are still waiting and have no jurisdiction over this because it is federal jurisdiction.
We tried to apply to the courts to have the Inuit as an exception, but we don’t have the jurisdiction over that. Ma’na Uqaqti.
I’ll make another comment.
When Jack Anawak was the minister he wanted to assist and bring about an expedient result to this issue of people being able to purchase ammunition.
They want to know from the Government of Nunavut how they’ll assist the people or even write a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada.
We as Inuit leaders should help them as much as we can to write letters today or tomorrow so that the people can be able to purchase ammunition.
This is becoming very difficult.
I need an answer for this because people are still waiting for the federal government to respond to some of the applications so that the people can purchase ammunition.
Speaker: Minister of Justice.
Yes, I would like to respond to you adequately, but this is not our legislation, if it was I am sure we would have deleted this regulation but it is the jurisdiction of the federal government.
I am sure the courts will start dealing with it in the summer time because we don’t have jurisdiction over it.
We can approach the Member of Parliament for Nunavut. NTI has a 1-800 number for complaints.
But again, we have no jurisdiction so therefore I cannot respond to you in any other way.
Speaker: Question Period is now over.
Written Question 007 - 1(5): Kivalliq Dental Services
My written question today is to the Minister of Health & Social Services.