EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
During our recent territorial election, I spent many hours visiting residents of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut in their homes.
The need for new housing in these communities is acute, as it is throughout Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the job of allocating new units between 25 communities is a difficult challenge.
When the Nunavut Housing Trust was originally announced in 2006, approximately 725 units were planned to be constructed. Cape Dorset and Kimmirut were allocated 47 of these. I encourage the Nunavut Housing Corporation to ensure that the allocation of units from the new housing funding recognizes that most, if not all, communities are in need.
Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of initiatives to provide training and apprenticeship opportunities for our residents.
I also encourage the Nunavut Housing Corporation to take steps to maximize the Inuit and local labour content of its new projects and to avoid the use of prefabricated units.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that there is a trade-off between the speed at which units can be built and the time required to allow apprentices to put in the necessary hours to obtain experience and qualifications.
I believe that we should view this time as an investment in our territory’s future. Building a trained and qualified workforce will allow us to reduce our dependency on imported labour, lower unemployment in our communities, and provide the foundation of a more prosperous society.
Member’s Statement 081 – 3(1): Importance of Upgrading Arenas (Ningeongan)
I rise today to address the need to upgrade arenas and other recreational facilities across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that all MLAs recognize the importance of having adequate recreational facilities in our communities so that our youth have opportunities to pursue healthy lifestyles.
It saddens me to see that many of our rinks in Nunavut cannot be used for longer periods of time during the year because they lack artificial ice.
As our winters get warmer, this problem will only get worse.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that upgrading our arenas so that they can be used for longer periods of time will result in many benefits to our communities. Instead of being on the streets, our kids will have the opportunity to be involved in organized activities.
Instead of being underutilized, our arenas will be able to be used for a variety of activities.
Mr. Speaker, the recent federal budget announced that $500 million will be provided over two years to support construction of new community recreational facilities and upgrades to existing facilities across Canada.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that our government is making efforts to negotiate Nunavut’s share of this funding.
Please conclude your statement, Mr. Ningeongan.
I recognize that our government is making efforts to negotiate Nunavut’s share of this funding. I encourage our government to use some of this funding to upgrade arenas in our communities so that they can be used for longer periods during the year.
Member’s Statement 082 – 3(1): Healing for Residential School Survivors (Pauloosie)
I rise today to speak about the importance of addressing the needs of residential school survivors.
Mr. Speaker, all of us know people who are still living with the legacy of their residential school experience. In many cases, their wounds have not healed and they are all in need of support.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that we have come a long way. Last year’s historic apology to residential school survivors demonstrated the nation’s willingness to face its past. Although the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission has encountered hurdles, I am hopeful that it will ultimately be successful and I am hopeful that it will fully represent the experience of Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation has provided funding for the work of the Qauma Mobile Treatment Project.
This project has seen healers travel to a number of Nunavut communities.
I encourage all residents of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak to make their wishes known to the project’s organizers.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage our government to contribute to the healing process wherever and whenever it is possible.
I am personally aware of situations where residential school survivors later took their own lives. I also urge the government to keep the needs of residential school survivors in mind as it works to develop and implement anti-suicide programs and initiatives.
Member’s Statement 083 – 3(1): 2008 Bowhead Hunt at Kugaaruk (Ningark)
The summer of 2008 was fantastic in Kugaaruk and many units were constructed in the community.
Many residents of Kugaaruk were employed in this construction.
Both housing and employment are advantageous to a community’s well-being.
Additionally, I believe you all are aware that during that summer, a bowhead whale hunt was allocated to Kugaaruk.
They were able to harvest a bowhead whale as a result. Since Inuit know that the population is not endangered, the whale hunters made a choice to harvest a younger whale that was not too large and the reason was, Mr. Speaker, it has been many years since our people last harvested a whale.
This was the first bowhead harvest within memory, so their choice was in the medium size category.
Another choice made was to conduct this hunt later on in the fall with the view that it would make the preservation of the meat easier with the onset of the colder weather.
The hunters were successful in their attempt to get the whale of their choice and their timing of the hunt is in accordance with our traditional laws, which was to preserve the meat and not have any wastage.
The whole whale was completely used and all edible parts were taken.
They laid out a platform prior to butchering the whale.
During the butchering process, the hunters invited students. Many teachers allowed them to observe even though it was during school hours. Perhaps every student in the schools came out to watch and learn about the whale and how they are butchered.
We are very thankful that our hunters were able to harvest a bowhead whale.
I wish to reiterate and conclude that the bowhead whale population is no longer endangered.
This fact allowed our hunters to pick and choose amongst them.
Member’s Statement 084 – 3(1): Hudson Bay Quest Suspended (Shewchuk)
Last week, I advised you of the Annual Hudson Bay Quest Dog Sled Race taking place between Churchill and Arviat that started on March 21, 2009.
Mr. Speaker, I report with mixed emotions that this race has now ended due to blizzard conditions. What is usually a three-day race is changed to almost a weeklong race and the race had to be suspended due to the weather.
The racers completed almost two-thirds of the race before it was suspended.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all the racers, especially racers from Arviat that took part in this race, and would like to wish them all the best. The racers and their dogs were very fatigued due to the weather conditions.
The official results of this race are as follows:
First place, Darryl Baker from Arviat;
Second place, Dave Dailey from Churchill;
Third place, Ernest Ager from Churchill;
Fourth place, Philip Kigusiutnak from Arviat;
Fifth place, Johnny Mamiak from Arviat;
Sixth place, Peter Mamiak, Sr. from Arviat;
Seventh place, Ed Albright from Churchill;
Eighth place, Jamie Kablutsiak from Arviat;
Ninth place, Harry Tattuinee from Rankin Inlet;
And tenth place, Barnie Kalluk from Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, a banquet and feast to celebrate this event will be held in Arviat tonight. I wish everyone to have a good time at the celebration.
Member’s Statement 085 – 3(1): Congratulations to Army Cadet Corps of Arctic Bay (Elliott)
I rise today to inform the House of the Annual Cadet Review of the 3045 Royal Regiment of Canada Army Cadet Corps of Arctic Bay.
The review was held yesterday evening at the Qaggivik Hall. The ceremony, with 18 cadets on parade and approximately 40 parents in attendance, marked the end of another successful training year.
Mr. Speaker, the army cadets have been active in Arctic Bay since 1991.
As members are aware, the Cadet Program is a national program for all youth ages 12 to 18 who want to participate in fun and challenging activities while making new friends.
Mr. Speaker, the Cadet Program promotes teamwork, leadership, and citizenship; helps develop decision-making skills; and increases self-confidence and physical fitness.
At yesterday’s annual review, the following awards were presented:
“Best Boots and Uniform” to Cadet Jennifer Taqtu
“Perfect Attendance” to Corporal Mickey Iqaqrialu
“Athlete of the Year” to Sergeant Sye Qavavauq
“Most Improved Cadet” to Cadet Annabelle Eecheak, and
“Top Cadet” to Corporal Bruno Attagutsiak
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of our youths’ achievements and their dedication to the Cadet Program.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to formally thank Arctic Bay’s Army Cadet staff for their dedication and hard work over the past year. They are RCMP Corporal Christine Wood, Civilian Instructor Kate Fenlon, Civilian Instructor April Shaw, Civilian Instructor Irene Swoboda, and Commanding Officer Second Lieutenant Frank May.
I encourage all members to join me in congratulating Arctic Bay’s 3045 Royal Regiment of Canada Army Cadet Corps on another successful year.
Member’s Statement 086 – 3(1): Physical Activity for Nunavummiut (Okalik)
Today, I am in a good mood and while I am able to celebrate, I would like to point out that our hockey team was able to win a game last night.
I’m not sure what the result will be tonight and that’s why I say this during the scant time that I can celebrate.
I also wish to encourage my colleagues to participate in what the previous Members of the Legislative Assembly did and that is they used to play hockey against various teams, such as the firefighters, sometimes against women’s teams.
We would play hockey games to help raise funds to assist those who have financial difficulties in our communities throughout Nunavut.
I would strongly encourage all Members of the Legislative Assembly to take part in any hockey game whenever the members are invited to play against any team and I would like to play with them some time in the future.
I also would like to urge my fellow Nunavummiut to start exercising in any manner or sport that they can perform because many of our people are very talented.
I have also started walking to work here and it is an enjoyable exercise with side benefits, such as meeting people you know.
You can talk to people that you pass and walking is a very healthy form of exercising.
When I haven’t walked for a while, it seems like my body gets antsy since I have started exercising and am now conditioned to it.
So I encourage everyone to start walking because walking is free and if you are mentally stressed or depressed, it is a healthy way of relieving your stress levels. Therefore, I further encourage all my fellow Nunavummiut to exercise so that our bodies and minds can rid themselves of unwanted stress.
Speaker (interpretation): I thank you as well, Mr. Okalik.
Member’s Statement 087 – 3(1): Fundraising Efforts in Pond Inlet for an Arena (Arvaluk)
Sorry, my voice is still not back to normal.
I was recently advised by members of the Pond Inlet’s recreation department that they have been fundraising for a long time for equipment that was going to be purchased for the new arena. I imagine the funds are for Zambonis and other equipment which they have now been using for a long time, even to this day.
They would like to hear news from the Department of Community and Government Services as they were told that the arena design phase has been completed by 98 percent. The community wants to see this design phase to see if it includes space for a Zamboni.
They are really in a bind and that’s why I keep repeating in this House about this issue.
Just recently, a resident emailed me to raise this issue again.
The community doesn’t have an arena, although one is supposedly being designed, because the building they have was a pilot project from 40 years ago. This pilot project was just to see if a covered ice rink could be utilized by Inuit and to see if it would work in the High Arctic. What was supposedly a pilot project hasn’t apparently produced any results because the government keeps reneging on a replacement facility.
The government should not have to keep an ancient pilot project ongoing because that facility is too old. Because it’s only a metal-clad ice rink, some people have partially frozen lungs and if you play in the middle of winter, your whole face gets frostbitten.
It is nothing more than an outdoor rink covered with a metal shell, with no additional upgrades because it was just a pilot project that never quite made it past that stage.
At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services on this issue to see if they are indeed working on a replacement for this 30-year-old project and ask for an update.
We will move on to Item 4.
Question 083 – 3(1): Status of Federal Concurrence on the Official Languages Act (Okalik)
Today, I would like to direct my question to our Premier.
Last year, our government passed two pieces of language legislation in this House. The Official Languages Act has to be approved by way of a resolution of the federal government. Once the federal government has approved this legislation, then it would become law and enable this government to implement the legislation to protect our official languages, which are French, English, and Inuktitut.
I would like to ask the Premier if the government has contacted the federal government on the status of the approval of the Official Languages Act.
With regard to his question, this government views this legislation as being critical because it will be legislation made for and by Nunavut once it has been approved by Ottawa.
When I was last in Ottawa, I kept bringing up this legislation to the federal government. I especially brought it up during a meeting I had with Michael Ignatieff. I urged him to urge his government to approve the legislation and also to keep us informed on the status of this issue.
I will keep bringing it up to the federal government until it’s approved.
We would like to see the approval and the implementation of the legislation.
It was unfortunate that our Prime Minister was caught off guard during his brief visit here.
At that time, he hurriedly replied by urging us to put off their implementation.
We will have to do some lobbying with the federal government because the Official Languages Act is very important, especially for unilingual Inuit, who cannot speak English, let alone speak French, who face many challenges.
If we look at the post office here, unilingual Inuit have nowhere to turn to because there is no provision of services provided in Inuktitut.
I would like to ask the Premier if she will again lobby the federal government to approve this legislation and once it’s approved, to also fully implement certain sections of the Act that are specifically geared towards Inuit.
I think the implementation is very important and I’m sure that the Minister of Languages makes this as a priority.
The Official Languages Act recognizes French, English, and Inuktitut.
It is of importance to the government and we will keep lobbying the federal government to approve it.
I think it was put on the backburner for a while when they were doing their budget session, but in any case, I will keep lobbying the federal government.
I would like to thank the Premier. I would urge her to keep lobbying the federal government. Once we have overcome these barriers, there will be an improvement in everything else, kind of like a domino effect.
Looking at it from a financial perspective, time is money.
For anyone going to the post office, there’s a financial loss reflective of how long you have to wait.
If they had an Inuktitut-speaking postal worker, then they could be better served at a much shorter time, which would also benefit everyone else. It’s the same case with the banks in Nunavut.
I would like to again state that it would have a positive financial impact and create a more effective and efficient service to the people of Nunavut.
I wholeheartedly support this government in its efforts to lobby the federal government on this matter.
That’s just a comment; I just wanted to state my full support of this government.
I’m sure that the government has heard your request.
Question 084 – 3(1): Healing for Residential School Survivors (Pauloosie)
In my Member’s Statement, I spoke about the importance of addressing the needs of residential school survivors.
Can the minister indicate how his department is contributing to the healing process?
I would like to thank the member for bringing up the issue of residential school survivors.
My attention was more on something I’m working on, so I would like him to rephrase his question, please.
Mr. Pauloosie, if you could rephrase your question.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Curley.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, yes, I understand his question now. With respect to the residential school survivors, we appreciate and recognize the hardship they suffered, but I want to point out that it occurred approximately 40 years ago.
This is solely the responsibility of the federal government and they have provided a large source of funding through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
They had also struck committees to deal with the needs of residential school survivors. We have assisted only in asking that they deal with the concerns of these survivors.
What I can state is that our department and the Department of Education have no mandate as it is entirely under the responsibility of the federal government, but we have continued to lobby on behalf of the survivors and that’s the only response I can provide.
Our government does not provide funds to be used for residential school survivors and I can only say that we will continue to lobby the federal government for extra funds.
I’m just going to continue asking these questions that I would like to ask to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, the Qauma Mobile Treatment Project, which was launched by NTI, is funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Can the minister indicate whether his department has been asked to support this work?
I will have to look into the matter he raised in his question and take it as notice. Once I get the information, I will make sure to update the member.
The minister said that he will get back to you. (interpretation ends) The question has been taken as notice. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 085 – 3(1): Federal Funding for Recreational Infrastructure (Ningeongan)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement, the recent federal budget announced $500 million will be provided over two years to support construction of new community recreational facilities and upgrades to existing facilities across Canada.
Can the minister update the House on his efforts to negotiate Nunavut’s share of this funding?
In regard to the Member’s Statement made by Mr. Ningeongan, I totally agree with his accurate assessment that we need to plan on replacing our recreational facilities.
It’s becoming obvious that we may also have to look at cooling systems for the arenas in some parts of Nunavut due to the warming of our climate.
It’s quite obvious that we have to do something soon and we have started initial discussions about these issues.
With the recent federal announcement and the monies made available for upgrading aging facilities and also building new facilities, Nunavut has been informed about its eligibility, Mr. Speaker.
The minister didn’t respond to whether or not he made any effort to negotiate for Nunavut’s share of this funding for upgrading facilities.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you. As I stated earlier, we made a request to get a portion of the $500 million to be used for Nunavut facilities and completed an agreement to get our share of these funds, Mr. Speaker.
In my Member’s Statement, I suggested that we use some of our share of this federal funding to upgrade our arenas with such features as the ability to make artificial ice so that they can be used for longer periods of time during the year.
Will the minister commit to pursuing this idea?
The member raised a very good question.
With respect to hockey in Nunavut, I believe that it runs in the veins of a lot of our communities, though not all. Some communities are more into hockey while others are more into ball sports and that is the way things are in the communities.
Yes, we are currently reviewing the issue with respect to artificial ice in the arenas.
It’s currently under consideration and we are now contemplating which communities ought to receive artificial ice. We are now starting to grapple with these issues in our department, Mr. Speaker.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Ningeongan.
With that being the case, can the minister commit to reporting to the House on this issue at our spring sitting?
I reiterate that our department is just starting to deal with this issue and conducting a review to see what is required in order to place artificial ice in arenas. However, some communities just want artificial ice, others want concrete foundations, and others want to put perimeter glass along the boards.
So there’s a multitude of different requests being made here in Nunavut.
With respect to our review, I cannot ascertain at this time whether the report would be completed prior to our next sitting, but if it were to be completed on time, then I will make a report on it.
But if there are still outstanding issues that don’t allow for its release, then I will inform my colleagues as to its status at that time.
Question 086 – 3(1): Protection of Nunavut Waters from Pollution (Elliott)
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Environment.
Yesterday, the minister advised the House that the GN acts in an advisory capacity, working with the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, and DFO, on the protection of our waters.
With my three communities of Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay right on the Northwest Passage, I am very pleased that the minister and his department feels confident that the GN and other agencies have systems in place to properly respond to oil spills in our arctic waters.
The federal government recently introduced Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act. This bill is currently being considered in the House of Commons.
Can the minister indicate if the GN was consulted in the development of this legislation and whether our government has any concerns with this initiative?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Mr. Speaker, I cannot confirm that at this present time, but I am willing to look into that and get back to the member.
Mr. Elliott: I can wait, Mr. Speaker.
The member will wait.
Question 087 – 3(1): Architectural Design of Pond Inlet Arena (Arvaluk)
When I spoke about arenas, some communities would like to get artificial ice and some communities would like to get Plexiglas. In Pond Inlet, we are just waiting to get an arena. We just want to get an arena to begin with and that is our first priority.
As the minister stated previously or as he had agreed with me that this design is almost 98 percent complete, the Pond Inlet residents and the recreation committee are requesting to see the design.
They are now fundraising to buy other equipment besides a Zamboni and they would like to get them around the same time. Perhaps the minister’s staff can provide an update on the status and a copy of the design to show the committee.
I thank the Member for Tununiq for asking that question. I have been expecting that question for quite some time now and he finally asked that question at the end of the month, so I thank him.
No wonder they want to get an arena, as the member previously stated, their hockey players freeze their face and ears whenever they play hockey.
Our arenas in Nunavut are in various stages.
Some communities would like to get artificial ice, some would like to get concrete flooring, and some don’t even have arenas.