EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We are developing new communications materials and supporting events such as the ‘Celebration of the Seal’ to dispel the misinformation on sealing, raise the profile of sealing products from Nunavut and celebrate in a tradition that is an essential part of our culture and economy.
We will continue to look for opportunities to communicate and celebrate our sealing tradition.
We want to keep the industry alive for future Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 013 – 3(1): Nutrition and Dental Health Months - Drop the Pop Challenge (Curley)
I am pleased to announce that March is Nutrition Month and April is Dental Health Month throughout Canada, both of which encourage healthy lifestyles throughout the year by making healthy food choices along with practicing good dental hygiene.
The Department of Health and Social Services provides nutrition programs to address food security, nutrient deficiencies and chronic disease prevention. Our dental health programs in communities target mothers and children by making use of promotional posters, newspaper and radio advertisements to promote good dental hygiene.
One such program addressing both nutritional and dental issues is the Drop the Pop Challenge that was launched this week. This is a pan-territorial campaign that encourages all Nunavummiut to stop drinking pop and make healthier drink choices such as water, milk, and 100 percent fruit juice.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services has partnered with the Department of Education and 36 schools are now registered for this territory-wide event. Students participating receive fresh fruit juice or milk coupons donated by the Northern Stores.
The key message of the campaign is that you ‘Drop the Pop’ for a better smile, stronger bones, better concentration at school, a healthy body, a more traditional diet, and a greener environment.
Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me in ‘Dropping the Pop’ this month and encourage healthy living in Nunavut. I was invited to partake in eating country food today, which provides much better nutrition, at least from my perspective. Please encourage your constituents to do so.
My Annuraaqatik, Minister Tapardjuk.
Minister’s Statement 014 – 3(1): Terminology Development Workshop (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon on this very pleasant day, my Annuraaqatik. Mr. Speaker, you welcome all of us everyday and I am reciprocating this welcome on this beautiful afternoon.
I would like to state this so people can know what happened.
Mr. Speaker, last week, a group of 15 elders and 14 medical interpreter/translators from across Nunavut got together for a terminology development workshop here in Iqaluit, a similar workshop was also held in Kugluktuk on March 2 to 6, 2009.
The purpose of the workshops was to identify, develop, and standardize Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun terminology related to the human body and also to bridge the communication gap between unilingual Inuit patients and medical interpreters/translators to the nurses and doctor.
We all know that there is a need to develop more Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun terminology in all fields in order to achieve our commitment to making the Inuit language the working language of the government.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will continue to sponsor and stage terminology development workshops.
Mr. Speaker, over 500 human anatomy terms were covered.
The terms created and reviewed will be used to create an Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun glossary and anatomical poster to distribute to health centres, hospitals, and schools.
There were over 30 participants from Nunavut communities. The involvement of elders played an important role in workshops. Elders have extensive knowledge in our language and it is very important that we document that.
In closing, I would like to thank the elders, medical interpreter/translators, and the organizers for sharing their expertise and knowledge which led to a very successful workshop.
I would like to express my immeasurable gratitude, Mr. Speaker, to these individuals as they provided an immense store of knowledge to draw from as we work towards making Inuktitut the working language of our government and its operations.
Minister’s Statement 015 – 3(1): New Rock and Mineral Teaching Kits (Taptuna)
I am very pleased today to bring to the attention of this House the public release of a new and innovative educational product for our young people in our schools and for people truly to be prospectors.
My department, in partnership with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, has produced the “Nunavut Rock & Mineral Teaching Kit.”
Each kit contains more than 60 different rock and mineral samples.
The samples come from well-known Nunavut locations and some have been denoted by mining companies working in our territory.
Knowledge of these rock and mineral samples will give a student a basic understanding of the geology of our territory – the foundation for our mineral exploration and mining industry.
Mr. Speaker, the kit includes a guidebook that shows how to identify rocks and minerals, where they are found in Nunavut, and explains their uses, both in the traditional and in the industrial economies.
The guidebook is in all four official languages.
Mr. Speaker, the rock and mineral kits will support new earth science curricula being introduced in schools by the Department of Education.
The kits will be distributed to all Nunavut high schools and middle schools by next month.
The same kit will also be used in our department’s Prospector Training Course, offered in Nunavut communities.
And they will also be available to mining companies for use in their community outreach activities.
Mr. Speaker, the “Nunavut Rock & Mineral Teaching Kit” will be officially introduced to the public during the mining symposium.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the “Nunavut Rock & Mineral Teaching Kit” will quickly become a valuable tool for all science educators in the territory.
Students of all ages will develop a deeper understanding of the natural geology of Nunavut.
Above all, the kits will help inspire our young people to pursue careers in our growing mineral exploration and mining industry.
If there are no more, we’ll move on to Item 3.
Member’s Statement 031 – 3(1): Congratulations to Nunavut Skaters (Okalik)
I wish to celebrate with my colleagues today. (interpretation ends) There were a number of competitions recently on speed skating both in Ontario and in Quebec, and I want to recognize a couple of young constituents of mine that were very successful during the event.
First of all, in Peterborough, a young lady by the name of Helena Crowley finished first in the India Class and won gold for Nunavut, so I would like to recognize her.
As well, she happened to have a sister who also won gold in Quebec for the first time ever and she skated for Val-des-Monts but she always skates for Nunavut as well, so Félicitation.
I want to thank the parents for their support for these wonderful young children and also the coaches for coaching them to great success and to all the young people that have great success and those that did their best for Nunavut. Great job and keep up the good work. Félicitation, congratulations, Quviasuqatigivasi.
Member’s Statement 032 – 3(1): Problems with Medical Travel Office in Pangnirtung (Arvaluk)
I believe that it has been more than a year, perhaps two years or longer now, that I have brought up this issue in statements and questions regarding the medical patient travel coordination in the Baffin region.
This situation is still not rectified. There are medical patients going to Iqaluit when the travel coordinator position is not there or even in the hospital since it was placed in Pangnirtung.
The first government stated to me that I should identify problems one at a time, wherever there were areas requiring addressing, so that the government could fix these issues as they were raised.
I was told that there would be a phone number placed in Iqaluit for patients to call and this has been created.
However, many patients are still experiencing problems today.
There are still many patients who are left behind due to the travel coordinator not being located here.
When patients are seen late in the day, the office is already closed and when people attempt to call the number, many of them can’t get through once it’s busy. This affects those least able to cope, especially unilingual Inuit who cannot go through an operator, elders included.
Additionally, this present government has stated more than once that it shall be a transparent government and this statement is praiseworthy.
Due to this statement, we urge this new government to review this process quickly as we all know that medical travel for Nunavummiut requires a better process.
Patients who are continually going back and forth to the hospital as well as elders especially need to have their travel arrangements looked after properly.
So therefore, I will be raising questions to the health minister on that at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 033 – 3(1): Constituency Concerns Over Sovereignty (Elliott)
I didn’t actually have my hand up, but I guess I should say something.
As most of the members know, yesterday I was on the theme of arctic sovereignty, so I guess today I’ll speak to being thankful because I have many things to be thankful for in terms of new beginnings. I’m eternally thankful to my constituents in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay for putting me here and it’s an honour getting up every morning and representing the people of those three communities.
To my friends and my family and extended family in Arctic Bay, I’m also thankful.
I know it’s been a bit of a rough ride over the last couple of months adjusting, and I’m sure most of the members are feeling the same sort of pressure in terms of being away from everyone and everyone is adjusting to not having everyone around.
So we had a really good Regular Members’ Caucus meeting this morning with the members that were in attendance and I’m really thankful to be working with a group of... I have never seen more dedicated people in terms of wanting to see change within Nunavut and having that change come about because I know there’s a lot of sacrifice that comes from change.
Obviously with the way the election and the way that the people of Nunavut and the outcome of the decisions that were made within the government, there was a lot of change that has happened. So with change comes some sacrifice, but I guess with change... I’m losing my train of thought.
But again, it’s nice to see that the Cabinet and also the Premier, in her Minister’s Statement as of yesterday, I wanted to make sure I had it correct, and here she is quoted as saying, “Mr. Speaker, members will remember from the November Leadership Forum that I view arctic sovereignty as one of the three serious challenges...”
And I know with that being said, with my community, that means a lot and I like the approach of it being arctic stewardship instead of just arctic sovereignty in terms of having it both ways.
Member for Arviat, Mr. Shewchuk.
Member’s Statement 034 – 3(1): Hudson Bay Quest (Shewchuk)
The Hudson Bay Quest is set for March 21 and invites racers from across North America to join in the celebration of arctic life and sled dog culture.
The Hudson Bay Quest is a 400-kilometre dog sled race linking Churchill, Manitoba, with Arviat, Nunavut. For five years, it has brought together mushers and sled dogs from Canada’s polar bear capital of the world, some of the finest Inuit mushers in the Kivalliq, and more than a few teams from outside.
The 2009 Hudson Bay Quest leaves Churchill at 9:00 a.m. on March 21. Twelve teams are registered for the sixth running of the Hudson Bay Quest, all of them race veterans.
This year’s teams from Arviat include:
Darryl Baker
Peter Mamgark Sr.
Philip Kigusiutnak
Moses Kigusiutnak
Jamie Kablutsiak
Barnie Kalluk, and
Johnny Mamgark.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the other teams the best in the Hudson Bay Quest and good luck in the race.
Members’ Statements. Member for Akulliq, Mr. Ningark.
Member’s Statement 035 – 3(1): Healthy Food for the Less Fortunate (Ningark)
I also wish to thank my erstwhile colleague, the Hon. Tagak Curley, who spoke about March being Nutrition Month.
He also stated that he ate exemplary food today and he also encouraged us to eat healthfully.
We can eat well in Nunavut because we can go hunting for our food and most of us here more than likely have snowmobiles and ATVs.
However, Mr. Speaker, many Inuit, elders, and widows don’t have ready access to country food because they do not have hunters to hunt for them.
During my campaign, I stated that healthy living would be one area that I would work on.
As the minister stated in reference to healthy living, he practices it and I am thankful for that.
In our communities, there are many elders with expertise in land skills who are able to survive off the land.
We also have many youth who need to be taught land and survival skills. I would like to see them teach the youth the skills required to survive and to hire elders to teach those skills even if it’s only part-time. The fringe benefits would be that whenever anyone was craving for caribou meat, seal meat, or fish, then the meat harvested through those courses could be used to benefit the elders, widows, or even disabled people to get healthy meals.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the minister for his statement.
Member’s Statement 036 – 3(1): Update on Constituency Office in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq)
Last year in 2008, my father, William Aupaluktuq, passed away and today I am thinking of my mother. I hope she is well and has a good day. I hope that my sisters and brother and my relatives in Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, and Arviat are doing well.
I would also like to express my thanks for being able to eat healthy food.
Even though my mother is 67 years old, she is a very good hunter.
I think she is even a better hunter than a lot of men I know.
I thank her for providing us with dry meat, fish, and other food that I crave.
I also want to inform my constituents, especially those who are waiting, that my constituency office is open but my constituency assistant will not start working at the office until March 30.
I wanted to let Baker Lake residents know that on March 30th, my assistant will start in the position. That person is still currently working at their old position, but I wanted to inform that they will commence working for me on March 30th.
Member’s Statement 037 – 3(1): Addressing the High Cost of Living in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
I rise today to address an issue that may be of economic crisis. I am not talking about the global economy or the possible recession in North America.
I am talking about individuals in our home communities who are wondering how they are going to be able to feed their families and pay their bills.
Mr. Speaker, the cost of living on everyday food and clothing items are on the rise in our communities, which means that everyday people are facing greater and greater pressures to make ends meet.
Sometimes, these pressures drive people to desperate actions. They put their health, their safety, and sometimes even their lives at risk.
Mr. Speaker, the cost of living in Nunavut is one of the highest in Canada.
To make up for that, those who are lucky enough to have a job usually have salaries that are higher than elsewhere in Canada. And there are often benefits through their employers, such as the Northern Allowance. These salaries and benefits are regularly reviewed and renegotiated, taking into account the rising cost of living.
For those who are not lucky enough to have a job, or for whom there are no jobs available, one of their last options to turn to is income support.
Mr. Speaker, income support benefits such as food allowances are calculated according to a formula and according to where you live.
For residents of Sanikiluaq, the income support food allowance rates are in zone 1, which is the lowest rate of all communities across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, government employees in Sanikiluaq receive over $400 more in monthly Northern Allowance benefits than government employees in Iqaluit.
At the same time, however, a Sanikiluaq family of nine on income support receives $100 less in food allowance than a family of the same size in Iqaluit would receive each month.
Mr. Speaker, this doesn’t seem fair.
Mr. Speaker, it’s time that the government consider changing the zoning allocation of food allowance rates for income support clients in Sanikiluaq. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Minister responsible for Income Support that over the next few days, I may be asking questions on this issue.
Member’s Statement 038 – 3(1): Nunavut’s Speed Skating Champions (Aariak)
I will be speaking in English so that our guests who are over there can understand what I’m saying firsthand.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Iqaluit Speed Skating Club for the hours of dedicated practice and for performing their personal best in competitions across Canada.
Congratulations to all of the skaters for working so hard and making it to the competition.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate some of my constituents for winning medals at the third eastern Ontario meet. In November, Mitchell Tilley won gold.
At the fifth eastern Ontario regional meet in Peterborough, Ontario, in February, Max Shoo won gold.
And Mary Dunphy and Amelia Nevin won silver.
Three skaters represented Nunavut at the Speed Skating Canada Youth Leadership Symposium at the New Olympic Oval in Richmond, BC. Congratulations to:
Manasie Kendell;
Calvin Tilley; and
(inaudible) (interpretation) I don’t believe he’s here.
This would not be possible, Mr. Speaker, without the dedication of Coach John Maurice.
Under his guidance, the club has gone from two skaters to a club that has won 50 Arctic Winter Games’ medals for Nunavut since 1999 and has set four records at the games.
I would like to personally congratulate my neighbour, little Mary Becky Alak Dunphy.
I’ve watched her grow up and it seems just like yesterday that little Mary was a toddler. But here she is at 10 years old at Nunavut’s 10, skating against much older and bigger skaters. Congratulations, Mary, for winning silver in Peterborough.
Considering this was her first major competition, she apparently has nerves of steel.
Member’s Statement 039 – 3(1): Happy Birthday David Akoak (Tootoo)
I, too, would like to rise today and recognize a constituent of mine and someone that I have known since high school.
We all know I went to school out of Rankin Inlet to Yellowknife and this individual came out of Gjoa Haven. He is actually now one of my staff, he’s one my senior officials with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, and his name is David Akoak.
And I just wanted all members to join me in wishing Mr. Akoak a happy birthday today as it’s his birthday.
If there are no more... Mr. Komoartok.
Member’s Statement 040 – 3(1): Pangnirtung Fishery (Komoartok)
I rise today to speak to an issue regarding the Pangnirtung Fisheries manager.
Currently, members of our community are fishing for turbot with great success due to the sea ice freezing solidly, enabling them to reach the best fishing areas. The ice has also stayed solid and not broken up even during the neap tides because we haven’t had too many storms.
Our success rate has risen due to the ice being stable, enabling our fishermen to catch over 66,000 pounds of turbot last week.
This has allowed our fish plant to hire 20 workers who are working the entire week and the only days of rest are Saturdays and Sundays.
If the conditions remain favourable and our sea ice remains stable, our fishermen foresee another two months of fishing and forecast catching 150,000 pounds of turbot over this winter fishery.
The turbot are being caught on the sea ice outside of our community. Our manager also deals with other fish species at the plant, such as char.
We currently have 15 lakes available for commercial char fisheries and the overall quota is approximately 50,000 pounds.
This allows the plant to hire more workers from our community to work on the char and this is good news for our community.
As well, last summer, there was a test fishery conducted in our waters to see if it was feasible to fish for turbot using trawlers in the summer.
They caught enough to pique their interest and they are planning another round of test fisheries this upcoming summer. I wish them success as our adjacent waters have an overall quota set at 500,000 pounds and it hasn’t been reached due to unfavourable ice conditions for the past number of years.
We are extremely pleased that the ice is back to its usual limits and I wish to thank you for the opportunity to speak to this matter.
Item 4. (interpretation ends) Returns to Oral Questions.
I wish to acknowledge a fellow resident today, someone who was previously not from our community but moved to Rankin Inlet.
I would like to welcome and recognize Mr. Thomas Suvisak, who is currently in Iqaluit attending a meeting.
Please welcome my fellow resident from Rankin Inlet. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Mr. Ningark.
I would like to note that prior to residing in Mr. Kusugak’s community, this individual resided in my community and he was my fellow resident, so I wish to also recognize Thomas Suvisak.
I would like to recognize this individual who seems lonely sitting alone across from us (interpretation ends) but she’s staying in my riding for the time being.
I welcome Jane George to our Assembly. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral Questions. (interpretation) Member for Tununiq, Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 025 – 3(1): Problems with Medical Travel Office in Pangnirtung (Arvaluk)
I wish to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
As the members know, I have raised this issue in past sessions in regard to the transportation coordinator position which is in currently situated in Pangnirtung.
Indeed, we have even heard of residents of Pangnirtung who experienced difficulties when trying to travel home with no transportation coordinator at the hospital here and similar to other residents, they had to call Pangnirtung to fix their travel.
This issue was one that I kept raising as requiring further review, but they wanted to deal with this matter in a different manner.
I would like to ask the minister: will he conduct a review on the decentralization policy? Members support decentralization to the communities and we don’t oppose it at all.
There are government offices situated in Pond Inlet, Arviat, and other communities such as Cape Dorset, and this policy is adequate.
Bur with respect to the position, it’s not a department but rather one position dealing with the travel arrangements or providing tickets to passengers.
This position was moved to Pangnirtung. Can the minister review this matter and find out if this position can be returned to Iqaluit?
Firstly, I would like to thank the member for inviting me for lunch today and I was thinking that he might ask me questions about that.
He has swerved to other items, so perhaps I can provide my thanks when he has invited me again.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to state that we continue to review the policy and plan on continuing to do so during our preparations for the O&M proceedings. What we can say with respect to the medical travel contracts is that the airlines are not only handling patients. When the contracts are put together, the airlines have to do their own review as to whether they are fulfilling their contracts, more or less policing themselves, and this causes problems in a lot of places.
If I were to speak from personal experience with respect to the operations of airlines, there are certain routes where they rake in enough revenue without having a medical contract in place to subsidize their routes but that unfortunately doesn’t apply to all of Nunavut.
When there’s more than one airline competing for these contracts, we have to look at assisting both airlines.