EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m unsure if the minister has been briefed about this incident, but perhaps his staff are already aware. I know his local workers and I know that he told me that this incident would be reported.
In any event, there was a polar bear found dead close to Sanikiluaq.
Can the minister inform me as to what exactly will be done by his staff with respect to the dead bear?
With respect to the dead polar bear, the investigation has begun, but apparently, the carcass was missing some body parts.
They have tried to do a complete investigation as to what the cause of death was, but we still don’t even have a preliminary assessment to date. That is due to the advanced decomposition stages that bear was in when it was found and that’s the reason why it’s taking some time to determine the cause of death.
Question 674 – 2(4): Bridge Closure in Arviat (Alagalak)
I will try to finish up this matter.
Although I believe it to be under this department, I may be wrong. I would like to direct my question for an issue being handled by our hamlet to the Minister of Community Government and Services.
Perhaps it also applies to her colleague sitting next to her, the Minister of Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if the minister is being briefed appropriately in regard to the bridge issue in Arviat by the inspectors that look after bridges over creeks and rivers, as the case may be. In any event, the bridge in Arviat was closed to the public, pretty much upon ice break-up, and it has not been reopened to date. Could the minister give us an update on this issue?
I’m looking for the information from my briefing notes. We generally receive briefing notes and news briefs, as well as reports from our staff.
However, with respect to the bridge in Arviat, I had not been informed as to the status.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Can you hear me now? You can hear me now?
This is a serious issue and it’s incomprehensible for this not to be reported to you. This bridge is our insurance, there’s a store close by and this bridge leads to the lake, especially when we are fighting a fire.
As well, the other bridge, which is just upstream of this bridge, is unusable during the spring floods as it’s generally washed out.
Today, we are now in the middle of the fall season and I’m starting to believe that the design planners and technical people are grossly incompetent.
There were several areas that required further studies and this has been an issue for many years.
There were supposedly plans for construction for the next year. When the study was commenced, they took one look at it and closed the bridge unilaterally.
They never even informed the hamlet about any options with respect to the bridge or any replacement options.
I apologize that the light for your microphone wasn’t functioning properly.
Minister responsible for the Community and Government Services, Minister Brown.
I didn’t hear anything about the issue my colleague just spoke to and I don’t even recall being briefed about it. However, we will most likely have to include the replacement in the next capital plan.
Thank you as well, Madam Minister. I’m sorry you were not informed. This showcases the fact that your staff consider this an unimportant project, especially since they haven’t even apprised you of the situation.
Can you check into this issue prior to fall freeze-up?
The hamlet tries to prepare for the winter due to their local responsibilities.
So if this is not looked into prior to freeze-up, can you inform our community as to what the plans are for the spring?
Currently, we are in limbo.
The stores at the other side of the bridge can’t cross over sometimes. It was closed for heavy equipment and it was closed completely with no exceptions, even for lighter vehicles, and the entire public was told that it’s unusable.
I’m urging the minister to look into this issue and speak with our local hamlet staff regarding this issue.
Can the minister commit to doing that?
Yes, I will definitely look into the matter. On top of that, my top level staff are listening to the proceedings in their office. They watch the proceedings on television, so they are listening and watching us.
By virtue of their watching, I task my staff to look into this matter with utmost urgency. So I would like them to find out what the situation is and brief me on the matter immediately upon their review.
If there are none, Item 11.
Committee Report on Bills 021 – 2(4): Bill 41, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008-2009 (Tootoo)
I wish to report that Bill 41, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2008-2009, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability, and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 41 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to have Bill 41 moved into Committee of the Whole.
The members agree, so therefore, Bill 41 will be referred to the Committee of the Whole.
If there are no more, Item 13.
Tabled Document 284 – 2(4): Ministerial Meeting Report – F/T Northern Premiers’ Meeting with the Prime Minister, August 28, 2008 from the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs (Okalik)
Northern Premiers’ Meeting with the Prime Minister, August 28, 2008.
Tabled Document 285 – 2(4): Nunavut Youth Committees Funding Resources Calendar 2008-2009 (Tapardjuk)
Tabled Document 286 – 2(4): Public Accounts Non-Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Consolidated Financial Statements March 31, 2007 (Tapardjuk)
I have two documents to table today to the House.
The first one is the Youth Funding Resources Calendar.
This is a tool for Nunavut’s youth committees to apply for funding from organizations and foundations across Canada and Nunavut.
This document was created with youth in mind based on the information provided to CLEY during the 2008 Youth Strategy Update Meeting. This calendar is currently being distributed to youth committee members in each community.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table the Public Accounts for 2006-07 and I am pleased to relate that we are now up to date with our financial reporting.
We are now making good progress with 2007-08 Public Accounts and we are working hard to provide timelier reporting in the future, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 287 – 2(4): Youth Parliament 2008 - Hansard (Speaker)
Members, I am very pleased to table today the 2008 Nunavut Youth Parliament Hansard.
I would ask all members to join me in congratulating the students who took part in this year’s Youth Parliament.
Bills 7, 20, 21, 40, and 41 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
Prior to commencing with the Committee of the Whole, I would like to inform the members that in the foyer or great hall, there are several displays showcasing the cultural practices of Inuit and I urge those members who have some time during their break to go and check these displays out.
Before we proceed with Committee of the Whole, we will take a 30-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:30 and Committee resumed at16:05
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 7, 20, 21, 40, and 41.
We wish to commence our review of Bill 7, the Inuit Language Protection Act, followed by Bill 40 and Bill 41. If time permits, we would then proceed to reviewing Bill 20.
Are we in agreement that we will deal with Bill 7?
Bill 07 – Inuit Language Protection Act – Consideration in Committee
I would now like to ask the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Minister Tapardjuk, to make his opening remarks.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, my Annuraaqatik.
I think I’m going to keep saying Mr. Speaker instead of Mr. Chairman as you were the Speaker for quite some time.
Thank you and I am honoured to stand before you at this time.
Today, a milestone has been reached that will further enable Inuit to develop their communities and public government in a way that truly responds to their aspiration and dream as a distinct society with its own unique linguistic foundation.
These tools will help the government reach its goals and objectives, especially as Inuit who are unique in Canada and due to the fact that the Inuit language is unique. These identify that Inuit are trying to retain their cultural pride and history.
Our deliberations will complete the work required to ensure that we have a well-crafted legislative package to protect and promote the Inuit language.
Adopting Bill 7 is the final step required to fully support the dream of an Inuit language that is at the centre of work, education, and daily life in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, before we start our detailed discussions, I would like to take a moment to review why Bill 7 is so important.
What I have said before bears repeating – for too long Inuit have been denied basic services in their language.
There is an absence in Canadian society of understanding, respect, basic rights, and the means that are necessary to achieve substantive equality between speakers of the Inuit language and those that speak the other two official languages. Our unilingual elders are being disadvantaged in their homeland.
With the dominance of English in many aspects of our society, youth are concerned about losing their ability to speak the Inuit language and even more so when they become young parents struggling to pass this important part of their ancestral heritage to their children.
Our language is endangered.
We cannot take this lightly for language is at the heart of Inuit culture.
It reflects the generations who came before and their relationship to our arctic world. It speaks of who we are, how we view our surroundings, and how we wish our children to know their world.
To lose one’s language is to lose an essential part of one’s identity.
In fact, the survival of our language is crucial to the survival of Inuit as a distinctive people and to our dream for what Nunavut is and will become.
We urgently need to reverse the language shift among our young people and strengthen their use of the Inuit language.
We must not forget our elders and unilingual Inuit language speakers and the support they need to ask for services in their language.
We need to ensure the growth and adaptation of the Inuit language so that it functions well in all aspects of our daily life and in the government and private sectors.
These issues require us to take action now before it is too late.
Mr. Chairman, the Inuit Language Protection Act has three main objectives which focus on language use in daily life, education and the workplace.
The bill contains provisions to ensure that the Inuit language is:
A language used daily in services and communication with the public throughout all sectors of Nunavut society;
A language of instruction in a school system that prepares children to enter adult life having a rich knowledge of the Inuit language and full ability to use it; and
A language of work in territorial institutions thus supporting a representative public service and the full participation of Inuit in it.
To assist in realizing those objectives, Bill 7 also:
Supports the importance of the use of the Inuit language in early childhood and adult education;
Addresses the need for language revitalization, particularly in communities and age groups at risk;
Ensures language standards and the development of new terms by establishing the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit; and
Supports the roles of the Minister of Languages and the Languages Commissioner.
Mr. Chairman, the review of Bill 7 with Ajauqtiit resulted in a number of helpful adjustments, including amendments designed to:
enhance the Preamble by stressing the past actions that have hurt the Inuit language,
clarify definitions of some Inuit language terms,
clarify issues related to private sector bodies,
provide for regulatory powers concerning compliance,
clarify issues related to Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit,
clarify the powers of the Minister of Languages,
ensure consistency between Bills 6 and 7, and
affirm parliamentary privilege and related regulatory powers.
Mr. Chairman, a compelling aspect of the Inuit Language Protection Act is that it is entirely within the power of this legislature to enact.
Unlike Bill 6, which requires approval from Parliament and Senate, Bill 7 can go into effect as soon as it is passed and proclaimed.
The Inuit Language Protection Act will have quasi-constitutional status which offers the highest level of legal authority within the power of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
As a result of this, one significant amendment I will be proposing today reflects the need to take action immediately to protect and promote our Inuit language.
Bill 7 must be able to stand alone if there is a delay in getting approval of Bill 6 from Parliament as now is inevitable given the federal election. While parliamentary concurrence to Bill 6 is beyond the control of the Government of Nunavut, we can have complete control over Bill 7.
I have therefore prepared a detailed amendment to make it clear that Bill 7 stands on its own.
I will be seeking your support for that amendment so that we avoid unnecessary delay in our work to protect and promote the Inuit language.
Mr. Chairman, I will conclude by emphasizing that through Bill 7, we will be taking direct and comprehensive action to fulfill our obligation under Article 32 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to respond to the linguistic goals and objectives of Inuit and their land claim rights.
The Inuit Language Protection Act affirms the inherent right to the use of the Inuit language in Nunavut and outlines the actions government is required to take to protect and promote it.
At the same time, it affirms the commitment of the Government of Nunavut to uphold the English and French language rights of our citizens.
As the life of this government approaches its end, we are at a critical point in realizing the dream of a Nunavut where the Inuit language is at the centre of daily life for all our people.
After extensive consultation, substantial debate, and much collaboration, we have before us the final piece of the legislative puzzle.
I can’t emphasize enough that it is critical to the very existence of the Inuit language that we take the steps necessary to bring this legislative process to completion so that we can protect the language.
Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the discussion today to respond and clarify any matters that are not understood properly. However, Mr. Chairman, we need to ultimately approve the draft Inuit Language Protection Act here in this House.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister.
Minister, would you like to bring officials to the witness table?
Chairman (interpretation): The minister says yes.
Do members agree to have the minister’s officials at the witness table?
Welcome, Minister and your officials.
On my left is Stéphane Cloutier, Director of Official Languages with the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and on my right is Susan Hardy from the Department of Justice, who is our Legal Advisor, Mr. Chairman.
Does the Chairman of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit have opening comments?
As Chair of the Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, I am very pleased to make some opening comments concerning the standing committee’s review of Bill 7, Nunavut’s proposed new Inuit Language Protection Act.
As members may recall from my opening comments in June of this year during the Committee of the Whole’s consideration of Bill 6, Nunavut’s new Official Languages Act, the standing committee held two sets of public hearings on Bills 6 and 7.
In October of last year, the standing committee heard directly from a number of organizations and individuals. The Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth subsequently appeared in public before the standing committee in December to discuss issues of concern.
I would like to again take this opportunity to formally and publicly thank those organizations and individuals who took the time to make submissions to the standing committee. Their input into this process was very valuable.
I am pleased to state for the record that the standing committee and the minister enjoyed a respectful dialogue throughout this process.
The standing committee is of the view that this legislation, along with the new Official Languages Act, will provide a solid foundation upon which to build in the future.
(interpretation ends) I would note that it is important to be mindful that both the new Official Languages Act and the new Inuit Language Protection Act include provisions that require the Legislative Assembly to undertake comprehensive reviews of both pieces of legislation every five years.
This requirement will help to ensure that future legislatures have the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of both Acts and make amendments as necessary.
I would also note that one of the priorities of the next government will be to appoint the members of the new Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit.
The work of this body will be vital in the years ahead with respect to Inuit language use, development, and standardization.
A number of amendments have been made to Bill 7 since its introduction.
These ensure consistency with Nunavut’s new Official Languages Act, provide for an expansion of the statute’s preamble, add new language in relation to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and clarify a number of provisions in relation to the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit.
Mr. Chairman, as members are aware, section 38 of the federal Nunavut Act contains provisions with respect to the need for the concurrence of Parliament for changes to Nunavut’s current Official Languages Act.
The standing committee understands that the minister will be bringing forward a motion during these proceedings in relation to this matter.
The committee recommends the passage of Bill 7 to all members. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
We have been debating this bill endlessly, so I assume members no longer have long-winded comments towards the legislation.
The reason for the length of the review is due to the complexity of the proposed bill.
I recall in 1968 when Tagak and I used to argue about these issues. We debated the issues Inuit faced and of the fact that we needed to repatriate our language and culture into the circle of decision-making.
As we argued, I commented that if Inuit aren’t educated properly, we may never progress anywhere.
To which he replied, if there’s a notwithstanding clause, then the reclamation of the Inuit language and culture may succeed, and that’s when he started using the notwithstanding clause.
As well, I wish to thank Tagak personally for his vision. He had the foresight, going back 40 years ago, where he envisioned the federal government, as our minister and chairman alluded to briefly.
In those days, the federal government had a policy that Inuit had to be assimilated and that all vestiges of their culture and language be obliterated and banned.
As a matter of fact, during our initial schooling years, whenever we inadvertently blurted out in Inuktitut, the teacher would slap the back of our hands with a yardstick.
For many years, it was impossible to even imagine that the Inuit culture and language would be preserved, especially as we underwent these experiences.
However, the seeds of self-sufficiency were borne then as we suffered through these barbaric assimilation attempts. Only when Inuit had Nunavut, controlled their homelands, and had its own government that the issues could be resolved or debated.
The federal government treated the Inuit culture and language as a foreign and alien one, and has never once understood the Inuit ways and practices.
Why, you ask, doesn’t the federal government understand the Inuit?
Because they had no intention of ever recognizing the Inuit.
Their policies were those of colonizing people in Canada, that the peoples of the land would be assimilated into their culture and completely eradicate their rich history, culture, and language.
They also brought schools where Inuktitut would be forgotten because they were to be schooled in a new language.
Those Inuit with the vision were leaders who fought this assimilation policy, including Tagak, who helped found the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. You could state that many were the founding board members of this organization. I wish to offer my heartfelt thanks because I became an employee of it.
This was in the beginning of the 1970s.
From the time we started working towards the protection of Inuit rights, some of us are now getting quite advanced in our age.
Many were gratified at the Prime Minister’s apology to the aboriginal people, especially the commitment that the government would discontinue the eradication of aboriginal cultures and languages.
Those of us who experienced the days of residential schools accepted the apology made by the federal government.
Following the traditional Inuit cultural and societal knowledge, when someone offers a heartfelt and sincere apology from the bottom of their heart, one has to accept that apology.
One cannot keep a grudge once the apology has been given as this has consequences.
I’m trying to keep this brief, Mr. Chairman. We are aware of Inuit being known worldwide as patient and tireless people and further, that Inuit never give up on their goals.
There’s a saying about Inuit, the lands upon which Inuit live is a harsh, unforgiving, and brutal climate. Inuit also say that they are the only ones to live in these climates.
I’m also thankful to the committee membership that, once they started scrutinizing this bill, immediately set about to fix dates and times for public hearings to consult the public. I thank every single Nunavummiuq who participated.
We had Inuit who came up at every opportunity to voice their concerns, even if the member was by themselves, and we thank them for that. They gave us many ideas, thoughts, and issues to mull over.
This bill, as the minister indicated earlier, is setting a precedent.
Once the door is open, we can use the legislation.
The door was closed in the past for the recognition of our Inuit culture and language.
The Inuit language was only taught in schools and spoken at home, but attempts to protect the language failed due to the fact there was no legislation and no one voluntarily followed those initiatives.
Due to this fact, this bill, once we have reached concurrence, will not be implemented if it’s just put on a shelf and gathers dust.
What the government has to do is keep it alive as a living document to protect the Inuit language, to have this issue studied in the schools, to keep the debate alive, and to provide the funding for its programming.
One doesn’t develop legislation for our residents just to let it gather dust. To just draft a bill would be shameful, so we can’t do that.
For that reason, I want this as a living document. I will be supporting Bill 7 once we vote on it.
There are many people out there in Nunavut listening and watching these proceedings today, so I wish all of them to be happy.
The fact that we had a person translating into sign language for the benefit of our deaf Nunavummiut shows us that not all people can follow the proceedings. As the sign language specialist showed, this makes our proceedings comprehensible to our deaf constituents and I’m grateful that they have an opportunity to follow along.
As well, prior to commencing with my general comments, we have many people to thank here for the completion of Bill 7. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the minister.
Thank you very much for working on Bill 6, which was passed, along with Bill 7, and the elders were in attendance when we spoke to the bills.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart and please pass along my thanks to your staff and all the ministers. I’m sure that they were meeting on issues that surfaced and many were quite complex during its drafting.
Even though I didn’t attend to all the meetings, I know that the committee members worked extremely hard to deal with this and they also visited communities.
They had many long hours holding public and committee meetings.
The issue of dealing with the Inuit language is very complicated and very hard to deal with. It was never recognized in law.