EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The need for accredited elder teachers through the program called Innait Inuksiutilirijiit came out of the Education Act.
This legislation speaks to the need for elder teachers to teach these skills.
As a result, we have started to provide accreditation, which was initiated in Iqaluit, with presentation of certificates to elders.
As well, we also presented certificates to several elders during the Nunavut teachers’ conference.
As I announced earlier, we accredited 15 more elders in Igloolik and they can now be teachers in cultural skills.
A lot of these elders are chosen for different skill sets and this initiative will be driven by the local DEAs. They work with the school operations staff as well as the principals where they negotiate which elders have the best fit for their cultural activities.
This would result in a certificate recognizing the elders’ skills, for example, whether it’s sewing, harvesting, or child bearing. These different types of categories are what we look at.
To date, there are 70 elders within Nunavut who have received certification.
This process is ongoing and we’re increasing the number of elders who are able to teach in the schools. The DEAs would initiate the certification. So you can check with your local DEA and recommend elders for recognition.
I know that some communities are just starting that.
At this time, I don’t have the written information on who have been certified, but they are available at all schools.
For my first supplementary, it’s very good news to hear. Perhaps if we looked at Canada as a whole and looked at life in general, the traditional Inuit are most likely a very unique society.
With that in mind, when we look at fellow Canadians, could residents submit recommendations to the Department of Education about elders or could we send these requests for certification to Ontario, Alberta, or other universities where certain elders get honorary degrees, for example, journeyperson certificates?
Is there any way that these types of certificates could be available for these elders to teach all over Canada?
These certified cultural teachers for our Nunavut schools are part of the implementation requirements under the Education Act.
It is not identified as being applicable to other institutions of learning here in Nunavut; only our schools.
For my second supplementary question, I would prefer that this matter be announced publicly in Canada and throughout the provinces that we now have elders certified to teach cultural programs.
Some elders are very capable and perhaps more skilful than other people in the whole world, especially when it comes to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I don’t believe the minister responded to the second part of my question pertaining to Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay requesting certification for their elders to teach in their schools.
Who can they send their requests to? Perhaps they can send their requests to the Department of Education or the Premier’s good offices to invite them to certify elders.
Yes, my colleague understood that perfectly.
It’s usually run by the local DEA that makes these decisions as to which elder will receive certification.
So it would be the local DEA that makes that decision.
Question 360 – 3(3): Mandate of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (Tapardjuk)
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good morning” to my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has recently issued a public notice which indicates that the official name of the department will be changing on July 1 of this year to the (interpretation ends) “Department of Culture and Heritage.” (interpretation) The Inuit language versions of the department’s name will remain unchanged.
Mr. Speaker, my question is this: can the minister explain why the department is removing the word “Language” from its official name?
The original name in English is the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
With changes to the title of this new department, why isn’t language included in this department?
I would like to thank my Annuraaqatik for listening to these announcements and paying attention.
Yes, it is true that the English title of the department will change from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, which was too long, and it identified what the department was undertaking.
With respect to the fact that language will not form part of this new department, there is another portfolio for that.
I will be the Minister of Culture and Heritage and I also hold the portfolio of the Minister of Languages.
The responsibility for languages will continue to be held by this government.
The reason why I raised that question to the minister is because the minister spoke about languages and the Uqausivut Plan that will be tabled this fall.
I wanted to raise that question because earlier this week, the Legislative Assembly approved supplementary appropriations that changed the responsibilities of some departments, including the Department of CLEY.
Parts of the funding that we agreed to were transferred to other departments in conjunction with the transfer of authority.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate if additional changes to his department’s mandate are planned to occur in the coming months?
Looking at the upcoming three months, there is nothing planned at all as to what other parts of the mandate will be taken out from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
With respect to the second question as to the planning for Uqausivut with the transfer of funds to other departments, these also require a lot of preparatory paperwork, especially in relation to operational funds.
Once this work has been completed, we will be tabling that documentation and we’re hopeful that it will be completed by the fall session.
I know that this plan is delayed because it was supposed to be completed last year and now we will have expectations that the Uqausivut Plan will be completed this fall.
Mr. Speaker, I continually bring this question up, especially in Committee of the Whole, where this issue was raised and where we talked about Nunavut, as well as the Legislative Assembly having to understand when the Official Languages Act will come into force. This legislation was passed in 2008.
When will the new Official Languages Act be brought into force?
I just followed my previous announcement that once the Uqausivut Plan has been tabled in the fall session…. the plans we tabled last year and the list of activities which resulted from 35 submissions of concern related to the Uqausivut Plan.
So we have to work with various organizations, such as NTI, the Languages Commissioner, as well as officials from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, who had to work to come to a consensus on this Uqausivut Plan.
Now with the completion of this plan, I announced that we would try to have it ready for the fall session.
With respect to the operational funds for the implementation, once it has been completed and approved by the Legislative Assembly, the implementation activities can start being undertaken, although the legislation will be implemented gradually. So it would not be all at once; it would be implemented in steps.
I want a response to the question which I raised.
As regular MLAs, we were led to expect that the Official Languages Act would be in force by this spring or on Nunavut Day.
We have been given expectations as regular MLAs. The Official Languages Act was passed in 2008, which has yet to be implemented and is not even ready, but we were told this winter that we could expect the Official Languages Act to be implemented starting on Nunavut Day, which I believe is July 9. We were told that after this day, the legislation would come into force and that was our expectation.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister clearly state which date we should expect this legislation to be implemented? Will it be in the fall, when our session starts, or will it be on the date the minister mentioned, Nunavut Day?
What date will it be implemented?
Can the minister clearly identify the date? At this time, we’re confused as to the actual date of the legislation coming into force.
We have been expecting the legislation to be implemented shortly after 2008. During the member’s tenure as the Minister of Languages, he led us to those expectations and that is still the case currently.
Although we had expectations about the approval of the plan and our implementation to start in June or July and having it ready for the spring session, without the completed implementation plan to append to the legislation, including the O&M funding, I didn’t want to see a partial implementation proceed.
Once the details have been fully approved by the House, even though it has been approved in principle by this government, we wanted to wait until all the information was available. Our expectations are now for this fall, where I will first announce the plan, and shortly thereafter as winter commences, this legislation will finally start being implemented.
That is what I can state will happen, that you can expect to see the final plans during this current calendar year.
Question 361 – 3(3): Poverty Reduction Initiatives (Ningeongan)
My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, whose department is responsible for the government’s Anti-Poverty Secretariat.
CBC News has reported that his department is holding community consultations this week in the Kivalliq concerning the government’s Makimaniq Plan to reduce poverty in Nunavut.
Can the minister indicate to the House today which communities will be visited as part of these consultations?
Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the list of communities that the committee is visiting at this time in the Kivalliq region.
Once I get access to the information on which communities they will be visiting, I’ll forward the information onto the member.
Can the minister outline the next steps in the process of implementing the government’s poverty reduction plan after these visits have occurred and have been dealt with?
The process is ongoing. We’re expecting and hoping that we can get the legislation for approval in cabinet by August.
Thank you, Minister, for the response.
An important component of the government’s poverty reduction plan is food security.
I addressed this issue in my Member’s Statement earlier this week. In March of this year, I asked the minister a number of questions concerning community freezers under his department’s Country Food Distribution Program.
Can the minister update the House today on the success of this program?
Speaker: Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Taptuna.
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of departments that are involved and of course, our partners with NTI and RIAs, including community members, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations that participate in these round table discussions to come up with the best possible plan and best possible way to benefit those folks who are most in need, especially our youth.
At this time, we’re hoping to launch a plan and prepare a Nunavut food security strategy in March 2013.
Thank you for the response, Minister Taptuna.
The Makimaniq Plan for poverty reduction talks about developing a territorial action plan, as you indicated, on food security.
Can the minister indicate when he expects that this will be ready for tabling in the Legislative Assembly?
Once the implementation plan has been agreed to by all partners involved, we expect… last year, we assisted 16 communities in dealing with their food insecurities and this year, we’re expecting to do the same.
Once the implementation plan is agreed to by all partners of the Makimaniq Plan, we’re expecting and hoping to table the strategy by March of 2013.
Question 362 – 3(3): Public Housing Issues (Ugyuk)
Quite a number of people in Nunavut are living in storage sheds and tents after being evicted from their public housing units and we have an overwhelming housing shortage, including my communities of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven.
(interpretation ends) The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2012-15 business plan indicates that the GN Comprehensive Long-Term Housing Strategy was “still in development” and that an initial strategy document was “expected for early 2012.”
Can the minister indicate if this initial strategy has been completed and will he commit to tabling it in the Legislative Assembly?
I’m not aware of at what phase the strategy is at this time. Once I have that information, I will make the member aware on the timeframes and timelines, and when we expect to complete and table the strategy.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) On December 15 of last year, the federal government and the GN announced the signing of a new Affordable Housing Agreement.
The news release indicated that “Nunavut will use the funds under the new agreement to create new and renovate existing affordable housing for households in need.”
Can the minister provide an update on this new Affordable Housing Agreement and can he indicate how many new housing units it will actually create?
I thank the member for that excellent question. In Nunavut, we support any federal investment that the federal government makes in addressing ongoing housing issues.
As the member stated during the timeframe there, we’ve got a three-year multilateral framework and bilateral agreement for the renewal of investment in affordable housing to replace CMHC’s funding under the affordable housing initiative.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, this government and the housing corporation is prepared to match federal investment on a new cost-matching ratio of 50-50, which changed from the previous 75-25 of the federal-to-territorial ratio.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2012-15 business plan indicates that one of its priorities has been to “Adopt and implement a revised” public housing rent scale and guidelines and that “Options, along with their financial impact, are being prepared for early 2012-2013.
Can the minister indicate if the revised public housing rent scale and guidelines have been completed and can he indicate when changes will be made?
Again I thank the member for that very excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, the public housing rent is calculated on key components and of course, this ties into our reducing poverty strategy.
One of the things that we’re trying to do with the review and amendments to the rent scale is to encourage economic activity and employment.
At this time, Mr. Speaker, we’re preparing options for consideration, with an anticipated implementation of new rent scale by 2013.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I appreciate the minister’s response as they are informative.
It is quite hurtful to see people facing homelessness and people being kicked out of their units.
The Kitikmeot is experiencing a severe housing shortage, including the communities of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven.
(interpretation ends) The 2013-14 capital estimates will be introduced in a few months. Does the minister expect to have new funding for public housing construction in his estimates? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister responsible for Nunavut Housing Corporation, Minister Taptuna.
Hon, Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, we do lobby for more funding to alleviate some of the housing pressures we have in Nunavut. Of course, once there has been approval from FMB and the Legislative Assembly, we will be releasing these figures to the standing committee and the public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 363 – 3(3): Closure of the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (Elliott)
As the minister is aware, the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory is located on Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic. This facility performs important work in such areas as atmospheric research and climate change.
Recent news reports have indicated that lack of funding threatens this important facility’s ability to operate on a continuous basis.
Can the minister indicate if the Government of Nunavut is concerned about this situation?
I also thank the Member for Quttiktuq for raising that matter with his question.
This is a concern shared by the government. However, it’s not part of the Nunavut government’s mandate to operate this laboratory.
This was undertaken by the federal government and they funded its operations. The decision to close the facility was due to budgetary cutbacks and that is why it will be closing in the near future.
This facility that the member is asking about is not part of our territorial government’s mandate.
Yes, the minister is correct. The federal funding has been cut. Has the minister had the opportunity to raise this issue with the federal Minister of the Environment?
I don’t think we have ever even discussed what further steps to take to this day.
I thank the member for expressing his concern and for providing more information about the fact that this poses a concern for many Nunavummiut.
One of our government’s priorities is to address the issue of climate change, the effects of which are being felt in the Arctic today. It’s no secret that the federal government has earned a reputation as being sceptical of climate change, as was recently evidenced by Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. Does the minister share my concern that the lack of federal support for PEARL reflects a lack of support for action against climate change?
The announcement about the planned closure of this facility caught us by surprise.
The government is greatly concerned due to the importance of the environment.
It is our preference to keep the facility operating and its continued funding was our expectation.
However, when the federal government makes any decisions to make budget cuts, the Nunavut government has no say, even when we voice our positions on these decisions. It is the priority of the federal government is to reduce their deficit and that is why they decided to make that cut.
We are concerned about the pending closure, but we haven’t initiated any discussions about it with our federal counterparts.
As previously stated, one of our government’s priorities is to address the issue of climate change. The cut was announced back in March.
If it was a priority, I would hope that the minister would pick up the phone and speak to the federal minister or send a letter.
As he has stated in the past, he has sent letters regarding other issues based around the seal hunt, the ban, and whatnot.
I realize it can be frustrating with federal programs. When funding is cut federally, there’s not much we can do.
As a priority for our government and within the realm of the Government of Nunavut, what is your department doing to address the issue of climate change?
I also thank the member for Quttittuq for asking that excellent question.
Currently, we deal with environmental concerns. We have sent correspondence about the concerns expressed in the Legislative Assembly, as well as those by our department.
I stated this winter that we would present a report about our environmental stewardship initiatives.
I used to call that the NCCC, (interpretation ends) the Nunavut Climate Change Centre. (interpretation) That is one avenue we’ve made publicly available on how the climate is changing throughout Nunavut. If you have access to a computer, you can access that information via the (interpretation ends) Natural Resources Canada (interpretation) website, as well as our (interpretation ends) Department of Environment (interpretation) website.
This is an ongoing initiative.
When you talk about environmental stewardship, climate change will continue to be a priority for the Nunavut government.
Question 364 – 3(3): Durable Garbage Bags for Hunters (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Environment.
Based on the minister’s statement, I want to thank him for announcing the anti-littering campaign. That’s a very good initiative.
As people start going out on the land, people start seeing garbage. A lot of people are beginning to collect this garbage and bring it back to the community.
I have been out on the land for about four or five days and one thing I have noticed is there’s a lot of garbage all over the place.
When I asked what we’re going to do with the garbage, I was told that we’re going to bring back every piece of garbage we produce.
Most hunters now are very diligent about keeping their environment clean. Sometimes we pass by sites where hunters have gone hunting and there’s a lot of garbage in their camping area.
The minister spoke about this initiative and that they wanted to hear the concerns of Nunavutmiut to ensure that this continues in Nunavut.
This week, I believe, is Environment Week in Canada.
We did note that hunters are bringing back the garbage they produce and that you have to be very careful about plastic bags.
Can the minister consider providing a sturdier garbage bag to be given to the hunters so that they can bring back all of their garbage?
I’m not talking about a big wooden crate because it also has to be accommodating to hunters so that you can tie it onto the qamutik.
Can you look at some sort of durable container and not just a plastic garbage bag to be offered to the hunters to bring back their garbage that they find out on the land?
Speaker: Thank you very much, Mr. Curley.
Hon. James Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) That’s a good idea.
(interpretation) I thank all of those hunters who bring back their garbage out of a sense of responsibility. When we leave, we carry a lot of heavy cargo, but after all the contents have been consumed, people are lazy to bring back the garbage, even though it’s a lot lighter with nothing in them.
So we have to continue to push and encourage people to be environmentally responsible, especially to not throw away any kind of coffee cups or Styrofoam cups and to try to collect all cigarette butts because you see them all over the communities.
I think that’s an extremely good idea. I think we have to collaborate with various organizations at the territorial, regional and local level because they might have their own ideas as to what would best constitute a garbage container type for the hunters. So if other members and organizations have good ideas such as that one, we welcome them.
I also want to acknowledge that it’s becoming a lot more noticeable with garbage bags, especially shopping bags.
Some of these plastics cannot degrade and cannot break down in the environment.
We’re starting to see that a lot of the stores are no longer offering plastic garbage bags and they’re voluntarily offering paper or cloth bags.
What I want to ask about is when you’re undertaking this program about the anti-littering campaign, with that as a backdrop, some of the garbage created by hunters is quite observable because there are a lot of people who go hunting.
For instance, just between the three of us, we produced a lot of garbage.
It can become very stressful.
I wonder whether the minister could proceed with the idea of a durable garbage container because sometimes you can’t put all of your garbage into one plastic bag.
So I wonder if there is any kind of initiative to that effect, whether or not you could speak to this issue during Environmental Week or even afterwards. We would like to get a response as hunters.
I also thank my colleague for raising that matter. When we were first elected in 2004, plastic shopping bags were also a concern of mine. I felt there were too many plastic bags all over the environment.
Now that this initiative has started to operate for a longer period, it’s becoming easier and you’re starting to see the differences. We’re also asking for more biodegradable packaging and if the stores can undertake them, they are doing their utmost to comply.