EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Speaker (interpretation): There was a point of order.
The point of order is finished, but Mr. Tapardjuk you could go ahead with your statement.
Well, it is a learning process and, as I said, and I do want to be open in the House if I want to properly represent my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, having said that, I would like to assure my constituents that I will continue to exercise my right as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Again, I look forward to working with the government and members of the Legislative Assembly.
As the code of Members obligation dictates, I will work with determination in a spirit of good will and good faith to find solutions for problems that create hardship for our people and to strengthen the greatness of our land.
That will be my goal as an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly.
I wanted to make those statements.
Member's Statement 176 – 2(2): Sports in Nunavut
I rise today regarding sports in Nunavut.
I don’t think we can overestimate the importance of sport to the health and wellbeing of our youth.
(interpretation ends) Study after study clearly demonstrated that developing an active lifestyle at a young age has long term health benefits.
A young person who is involved in sports is at less risk of self destructive behaviour.
Mr. Speaker, the sports that our youth can take part in are limited by the facilities that exist in the communities.
For example, an athlete cannot pursue swimming with their backstroke, butterfly, or breast stroke if there is no swimming pool in the communities.
Likewise Mr. Speaker, athletes must have coaches.
Mr. Speaker, too often the smaller communities are forgotten when it comes to sports and recreation facilities.
I believe that providing opportunities for the youth is as important in the small communities as it is in the regional centers.
This is not to underestimate the work that has been done in some smaller communities to produce quality athletes that are competitive at the national level.
Coral Harbour’s wrestling program comes to mind right away.
However, the fact remains that there must be investment in the sport infrastructure and the coaching to produce successful athletes.
A year ago responsibility for sports was transferred to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. (interpretation) When the minister and some of the representatives went to Arctic Bay they found that the Recreation Facility was way too small for the size of our population.
Resolute Bay, Grise Fiord and Arctic Bay are communities where the outlying communities go there for sports.
It is very obvious that the sports facilities are way too small.
Usually what happens is that the athletes from the smaller communities will lose out because they don’t have the proper facilities and coaching.
At the proper time I will be asking questions to the minister.
Member's Statement 177 – 2(2): Committee Motion 4 – 2(2): Deletion of $500,000 from the 2005/06 Main Estimates of the Department of Community and Government Services
I would also like to make a few comments.
After the vote on the motion , the people of Nunavut have now found that the $500,000 will be moved for other purposes.
As all of Nunavut was watching the proceedings here yesterday, there was not even one opposition to the motion and I would like to thank each one of the Members of the Legislative Assembly because there was no opposition from any of the 19 members.
When you vote on a motion, you are either for it, opposed to it or abstaining from it. The Cabinet stated why they opposed the motion.
They stated that they are using it to build the tanks and also for environmental assessment.
I would say this, that would be the responsibility of another minister, if it is under Petroleum Products.
Again, there was one sentence here in these 200 pager that states that it would be used as a small transition from one body to another.
I would like to say that this item was to be deleted and we all agreed to it, without one opposition.
I would like to say to the House Leader, the Premier and the members of Cabinet, we all know that we will work diligently on this issue.
Member's Statement 178 – 2(2): Lack of Roads in Nunavut Cause Hardship
We know that we don’t have any roads that are connecting the communities in Nunavut, especially so in Pangnirtung, as it is surrounded by mountains.
We couldn’t get a plane up to Panniqtuuq for a number of days because of the weather.
It has affected a lot with the cargo, the passengers that travel with First Air and Ken Borek and a lot of the people were stuck here in Iqaluit for at least a week and then there were passengers stuck in Pannirtuuq who were trying to go out of there.
We also had no shipments of food or fresh products for that length of time.
But, then again, I’m pleased now that the flights are going up to Panniqtuuq and it will probably be non-stop for a while.
Mr. Speaker, we hope to see fair weather for a while and at a later time, I will be recognizing an individual who now has an opportunity to visit the House.
Member's Statement 179 – 2(2): Recognize Individuals Using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
I rise today to thank the individuals or men who are working very hard and they are, I believe know Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
There are some people from Kuujjuaraaluk who are going up to the Kivalliq region to bring materials or supplies by bombardier from Churchill, and it indicates that we are still using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
There are floods in the rivers at this time and I am so proud of these individuals are bringing back those materials.
Some are still going up.
The snow is very soft and very high.
But they’re not giving up hope.
They are determined to make sure that they reach their destination and it’s very important now and very evident that we need a road from Manitoba to the Kivalliq Region.
As a government, we have to work and lobby with the provincial governments to get this project going.
When I heard that they were brining materials by bombardier under extreme conditions; it’s very important to build that road.
We know that if we are determined enough, we can achieve what ever we can.
Member's Statement 180 – 2(2): Confusion on Power Bills
I rise today to inform my constituents in Sanikiluaq about the activities in this House.
(interpretation ends) I believe that there is a lot of confusion in our communities about government plans in the area of energy.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents already have enough problems dealing with the power corporation.
Some people tell me they get bills each month, one from Baker Lake and one from Iqaluit.
My constituents hear on the radio that financial problems with the power corporation are very serious.
At other times, they hear that the government has everything under control and that the problems are being solved.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that we need to get our House in order with the power corporation before we make any major changes in the Petroleum Product Division.
We have enough on our plate already, and that’s why I support yesterday’s motion.
Yes, it has been quite some time now that I have been a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
From the time we started, I have been telling you about someone that I don’t think a lot of you know who he is, and my grandson, Kevin, I would like to welcome him here; and also, I mentioned earlier that my grandson is here for a visit, and his mother is Susan Alikatuktuk, and I heard that Kevin’s little brother went to Panniqtuuq today.
Question 230 – 2(2): Policies on Chartering Aircraft
We all know, based on the executive summary of the report that the minister tabled, that there were some major concerns about accountability and practices going on at the Nunavut Arctic College.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister is, does the college follow any kind of policy in regard to chartering aircraft?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Picco.
There are general policy guidelines in regard to government chartering planes; there are specific guidelines to that.
My understanding is that the college would also adhere to those guidelines.
I am just wondering if there’s any mechanism that the college has in place for monitoring to determine whether the procurement of charters has followed the proper policies.
That’s something that we can follow up on and get back to the member on.
There are policies and guidelines in place for charters, generally, within the government itself, and I would expect that most Crown agencies, organizations, and corporations will also follow those types of guidelines, and they would be similar to the ones that the Government of Nunavut would have in place.
I know in the Government of Nunavut policy that’s in place…. the minister alludes to, assumes, that the college would follow the same thing. It indicates that charter aircraft should only be used when more economical travel such as scheduled air services are unavailable and impractical, and the most economical and practical air charter available should be used.
When the minister is looking into it, can he look into a particular incident where two charters were actually arranged out of Rankin Inlet, to Iqaluit, in one case, and on the same thing, from Rankin Inlet to Yellowknife.
I think it was in the last couple of weeks, due to weather, on a Saturday, that those charters were made.
When he’s looking into it, if he can look into those particular cases, and I think the carrier was Kivalliq Air, and ensure that the proper policies and procedures were followed and report that back to the House.
Yes, I will commit to the member and to the House to follow up on those two specific issues that the member has dealt with here and, again, get back to the member.
I know the minister has made commitments for things in the past like tabling the power corporation’s capital plan, and that was supposed to be in the next 48 hours, and I think that was over 48 hours ago.
So, I’m going to ask him: does he have a specific time in which he will get back to the members of this House with that information?
On the capital plan, as the member knows, the capital plan has been tabled; it’s in the Utility Rate Review Council document that’s also been tabled.
There is the capital plan that was approved, on top of that, as I said earlier, there is an interim capital plan that had been approved by the board.
I would hope to be in a position to table that.
I’ll have to bring that to cabinet.
So, I will be doing that.
At the same time, on this specific issue with the college: again, I’ll ask the staff right now to contact the college and hopefully have an answer on this for tomorrow.
Question 231 – 2(2): Appointment of Nunavut Commissioner
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, My question is directed to the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Commissioner was appointed on April 1st, 2000 by the Federal Government, and his term was for five years.
This term will be expiring very soon, so my question to the Premier is, has the Federal Government notified Nunavut Government about the Nunavut Commissioner’s position?
Yes, prior to his appointment, we were asked through correspondence by the previous Minister to nominate, but we have yet not received any correspondence from the Federal Government in regards to this, since the Federal Government makes the appointments.
Speaker (interpretation): First supplementary, Mr. Mapsalak.
Has the Premier talked with the federal Indian and Northern Affairs minister in regard to this position?
Yes, we continually have discussions about Nunavut with them, including the one we are talking about, we had asked what they were going to do.
Will the regular members be given the opportunity to nominate individuals?
This is totally up to the Federal Government, but if any of the regular members would like to provide names for nominations they may do so.
Question 232 – 2(2): Student Accomodation Policy
I would like to address the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.
It is in regards to the students who have families that would like to take Arctic College courses, such as trades and others, and who have to try to get their own accommodations.
Do you have a billeting policy in place for students being accomodated with families?
Speaker (interpretation): The minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Picco.
It is my understanding that the college has a process in place where allocations are done for the units that we have available for student housing.
For example, here in Iqaluit, we have what we call the Q units.
Those are allocated based on need and based on the size of the family, if a student is accepted. It is based on availability, for the students to find accommodations.
Once a student is accepted at a campus for a program, they are informed at that time if housing is available.
In some cases, they may be accepted for a program, but then have to find accommodations if accomodations are not available through the auspices of the college.
I understand quite well that you do have a policy in place.
Is that because the facilities here for students have a proximity to where the minister is?
I am asking the question particularly for Rankin Inlet in the Kivalliq region.
There does not appear to be a similar billeting policy for students with families that are going into Rankin Inlet from other communities. Even if they make their own arrangements, there is no payment for families who are accommodating them. Why is that?
In Rankin Inlet, at the Kivalliq Campus, we have adequate housing for single students. However, the issue has been, as the member has stated, family accommodation units.
I believe at the present time we have leased two units in the community that provide family accommodations.
In our supplementary capital plan, there is also money to look at the needs of family housing.
That is not just unique to the Kivalliq.
For example, here there is also a shortage of family housing.
When a person applies to the college, who comes from outside of this other community, in this case, outside of Rankin Inlet, they are informed if housing is available.
We appreciate, and I know that the students certainly appreciate, that there are capital plans for establishing various options for student housing.
I believe that the students are not restricted to single people only.
Therefore, I would like to ask the minister why is he having such difficulty in establishing a clear set of guidelines for students who are making their own arrangements, because they cannot wait until the capital plans are in place.
They are taking these limited courses and so on.
So, will the minister take this issue as a priority and look for housing options in Rankin Inlet, because there is optional housing available in Rankin Inlet.
There have been a couple of options with that, and in consultation with Community and Government Services and the department, we have looked at it a lot there.
A lot has been identified in Rankin Inlet where we could actually move forward and be able to pull up family accommodations for the community and for the campus.
At the same, the issue around the amount of finances that are available at the college to be able to lease on the open market is a concern.
As I stated earlier, we were able to lease two units for family accommodations and we weren’t in that position this fiscal year to be able to lease additional units.
I am making it a priority again.
It’s in the supplementary capital plan and it’s something that we realize, and the government realizes, that there is a need for family accommodations in the community.
But, currently there are a number of, at least one family, who is accommodating a student with their family but they’re not getting paid.
Could the minister look into that and ensure that the student who is getting free meals and whatnot and accommodations from the family, that the family hosting them gets paid as soon as possible.
Yes, we will follow that up and find out what has occurred and indeed what the remuneration issue is.
Question 233 – 2(2): Sport Recreation Infrastructure
To go back to my member’s statement, this is for the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
I wonder how the minister works with his department and with Community and Government Services in regard to getting adequate facilities for recreational purposes.
Are these considered a priority?
I am not too clear on what his question is.
Maybe he can clarify if it’s for recreation. Can he clarify his question, please?
Speaker (interpretation): Can you clarify your question, Mr. Barnabas?
Maybe if I say it in English he’ll understand.
(interpretation ends) How does the minister work with his colleagues in Community and Government Services to ensure that sports related infrastructure receives priority?
The programs or projects are separated.
There is one for elders and youth and there is one for recreation and leisure.
Recreation infrastructure, especially for community centres or for swimming pools and major capital items, they are under the program of Community and Government Services, under Minister Kilabuk. But I can say that if there is infrastructure already in place to make use of the building, or if renovations need to be made, we actually handle that.
But for the other major capital items, it’s under Community and Government Services.
First supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Can the minister identify if they have any long-term plans for capital facilities in Nunavut.
This is the responsibility of Community and Government Services, so at this time I can’t give a response, although I am confident that my colleague here, on my right, can give a proper reply.
What type of projects have been benefiting from the $270,000 recreation facility capital fund in 2004-05?
The funds that we have identified are for recreation facilities, and I will be saying what those are once we go under the discussion of CLEY. I will give him a more detailed report on that then.
When you look at the $270,000, that’s not very much, especially for Nunavut.
My question, as I stated in my member’s statement: can the minister tell me how many coaching clinics have been held in Nunavut in 2004-05, to date, and where those clinics have taken place?
The coaching clinics, where they train coaches in the communities, and that benefit the lifestyles of the people… . I don’t have that information in front of me, but there are coaching clinics held in Nunavut. We participate in those clinics and in that training; for the volunteers, which is also under that, we host coaching clinics, and we have discussions within our department on how we can improve sports in our territory.
Question 234 – 2(2): Firearms Registry Update
My question is for the Minister of Justice and it concerns the firearm registry.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose in the House in order to highlight the problems facing elders in my riding, with respect to the federal gun legislation.
During the Nunavut Leadership Forum back in 1999, then candidate Okalik spoke eloquently on the issue.
So, my question for the Minister of Justice: can the minister update the House today on the status of the challenge against the gun control legislation?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister for Justice, Mr. Okalik.
The only real news that has occurred is that the Nunavut Court of Justice issued an interim motion to permit Inuit to be able to harvest without having a licence or to pay fees.
That’s the only advance that we have so far.
Our challenge is still in place, but we are still awaiting a trial date on this matter.
In the interim, Inuit don’t have to have any licences or any fees to exercise their harvesting rights under the Land Claim Agreement.
Nunavut, along with some provinces, has always opposed the federal gun control legislation for various reasons; it’s a law that has no application up here.
My question for the minister: did the minister raise this issue with his federal counterparts at the recent national meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial justice ministers?
I not only just raised it, but I keep raising with the federal government that this particular legislation is not acceptable. I don’t wait for regular meetings to take place.
Our challenge continues, and we will continue to challenge this piece of the legislation which infringes on Inuit harvesting rights under the Land Claim Agreement.
That’s good news to hear, that the minister continues to lobby, even between meetings with his federal counterparts. I recognize that we don’t have complete control over this situation.
My question for the minister: can he tell us what support we’re getting from our Northern MPs and senators in terms of at least getting the federal government to address such practical and basic issues as having a staffed firearms office located in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All I know is that we have volunteers in a number of communities that volunteer their time and provide the training program for those that need a licence.
So, we have a number of good individuals that have taken the initiative in offering some courses in some of the communities.
We appreciate those people.
I do hope that one day we’ll have an office again so that our constituents won’t go through such hardship.
That’s also good to know.
Some constituents in my riding have contacted the people in Ottawa. It’s a very bureaucratic process, to say the least. It could take years.
My question for the minister: could he give any advice to Nunavumiut who are having trouble complying with the system, in terms of how they can expedite the process.
We have been working with NTI on this file, and they have been assisting in finding volunteers. But largely, I suggest that you call your MP and provide your comments.
Question 235 – 2(2): Update on Polar Vision Contract
I usually ask you questions.
I brought this up last spring: you indicated that you would check into the optometrist services in the Kivalliq region.
Has this been started?
The optometrist, the same people, still travel through the Kivalliq communities, so I would like to get more information.
I checked into this and the people from Yellowknife, their contract is still valid, so until we have to renew it they will be the same people.
I can certainly check into what other people we can use.
Polar Vision has had the contract for quite a long time. It stipulates in the contracts that they make improvements or their contract could be terminated if we are not happy with the services.
People have to wait for a long time, about three or four months, just for their glasses to get in.
When their eyes are checked, sometimes they have to pay then; they pay, and I wonder what their reason is for being so slow.
I thank you for bringing this up. I have heard the same concerns.
As minister, I certainly can check into this, how we can maybe terminate their contracts or how we renew them.
Polar Vision, thanks for reminding me, they are still the contractors.
I will ask my officials to check into this.
A lot of times there are mistakes where the lenses are switched, where the lens should be on the right instead of on the left, and this is harmful for the person.
As the government here, we will stand up for what we believe in, for anything, when it comes to our employees, and I really want the contractors to know where we stand as MLAs. We should make this visible.
So, I am urging the minister to check into this. I am very serious about this because the people are serious about us.
Your words are very strong. I will certainly check into this because we have to get such requests from our members, and contractors should live up to their responsibility.
So, I will certainly check into this.
Question 236 – 2(2): Roles of Regional Local and Boards of Housing
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Can the minister tell this House what role the Nunavut Housing Corporation, local housing organizations, and the boards of local housing organizations have with respect to approving applications for public housing?
If I understood my colleague’s question correctly, the roles of the local housing organizations, at the community level, include such roles as setting up allocation committees for tenants to move into vacant units or units that become vacant.