EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, Kitikmeot representatives are now concerned that the informal agreement to rotate the Nunavut Mining Symposium among the three regions might be in jeopardy. They are concerned that decision makers may feel that the event has grown too large to be held in regional centres outside of Iqaluit. In a sense, it is a victim of its own huge success.
Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot’s answer to that concern is to continue to host a Nunavut Mining Symposium that suits the size of your community.
Speaker: Thank you. The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Cambridge Bay has shown that we can easily host events of up to 250 participants. They believe that the Nunavut Mining Symposium should not stray from its original mandate and risk losing touch with the people in the communities who will benefit or be most affected by nearby mining activities.
Mr. Speaker, Kitikmeot interests are now considering the concept of hosting an annual event that alternates annually between the highly successful and growing Kitikmeot Trade Show and a Kitikmeot Mining Conference which would focus on highlighting all the business and mining opportunities that the Kitikmeot has to offer and remain close to the people.
Member’s Statement 404 – 2(4): Congratulations to Arctic Fishery Alliance (Barnabas)
I send my greetings to my constituency.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House of an important event, which I’m very proud of, that took place yesterday evening in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the communities which I represent in the High Arctic are committed to identifying economic development opportunities that will help to address our high rate of unemployment.
Mr. Speaker, the sustainable harvesting of our natural resources is an area of tremendous potential, and I am committed to supporting my communities in their efforts to move forward.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the HTOs from Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nattivak HTO in Qikiqtarjuaq to form the Arctic Fishery Alliance.
These HTOs have committed to work together to develop the inshore fisheries in their respective communities and to cooperatively harvest offshore fishing quota in Nunavut’s adjacent waters.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to have been a part of the ceremony held last evening in Iqaluit.
As the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Quttiktuq, I want to express my appreciation to Nunavut Senator Willie Adams and Member of Parliament Peter Stoffer for their ongoing support of my communities.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to pay tribute to the hard work undertaken by the chairs and representatives of the HTOs in my communities: Isaac Kadluk and Simon Idlout from Resolute Bay, Tommy Kilabuk from Arctic Bay and Jaypetee Akeeagok and Lydia Noah from Grise Fiord.
I also want to pay tribute to Lootie Toomasie of Qikiqtarjuaq.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to bright days ahead for the Arctic Fishery Alliance, and I ask all members to join me in congratulating these communities for their efforts to create opportunity for our residents and achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.
Member’s Statement 405 – 2(4): Climate Change Effect on Wildlife (Kattuk)
I rise today to comment on the report regarding global warming in Canada’s arctic, and especially in relation to polar bears and the perceived impacts of climate change on our polar bears.
As per my previous statements in the House in regard to this issue, I again make a statement directly from my heart in respect to climate change as you well know.
As I have stated before, we know that the arctic will become warm again.
Inuit have known that this will occur for many years, in fact, for thousands of years, our ancestors have stated that climate will warm in our lands again and this is why I continue to make statements as this is near and dear to my heart.
Wildlife, particularly polar bears, can walk wherever they wish. This report states that polar bears are of special concern due to the shrinking ice in the arctic as a result of climate change.
For that reason, I state unequivocally Inuit have known that the arctic will return to a warmer state that will affect our wildlife.
In regard to the concerns about polar bear population declining due to this reason, I know, Mr. Speaker, having heard from our elders that the wildlife will disappear in the future in our lands.
This was foretold to us when we were growing up that most wildlife will disappear except for fish. Our fish have been foretold to be the last remaining animals to survive and that most wildlife currently in the north will disappear.
These animals of the arctic are our animals, they live in our territory of Nunavut, and we prefer that outsiders not be concerned with our animals.
These are our sole sources of food and it depends on our maker as to when this will occur, and that is why, Mr. Speaker, I again state that we have heard, from our ancestors, of the changes that are to occur in our lands in respect to our wildlife, including climate change. That is what we know.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 406 – 2(4): Deline and Tlicho Trip to Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak)
Mr. Evyagotailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) First of all, I would like to congratulate my constituent for receiving a medal in the Arctic Winter Games, Mike Havioyak.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues about an upcoming event that will take place in my community of Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, on March 26, 2008, approximately 100 to 150 people from the four Tlicho communities in the Northwest Territories will be going on a trip by snowmobile to Kugluktuk. Along their way, they will be joined by another 150 people from Deline.
Mr. Speaker, the main purpose of their trip is to attend healing workshops that will be held in Kugluktuk during that week and to experience our Inuit culture, as well as participating in a variety of activities.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues may or may not be aware, there is a long history of trading dogs and goods between Kugluktuk and the two communities in the Northwest Territories. This gathering will reinforce the friendship that has already been established between the territories.
Mr. Speaker, the community has requested some assistance from the Government of Nunavut in helping to make this trip possible, and I encourage the government to provide a favourable response.
Mr. Speaker, I am very supportive of initiatives such as this one when other territories make efforts to visit our territory and to learn about our culture.
I encourage all Kugluktuumiut to show our western visitors our wonderful hospitality in the coming weeks and I wish them all a safe trip to Kugluktuk.
Member’s Statement 407 – 2(4): Nunavut Quest – Dog Race from Igloolik to Arctic Bay (Tapardjuk)
I send my greetings to my constituency, to my wife and my family.
For an information item, I believe it was this morning or last night, the price of fuel keeps going up, so I think we should go back to dog teams.
For that reason, on April 28 this year, there will be another dog team race from Igloolik to Arctic Bay, which is called the Nunavut Quest.
They will be celebrating their tenth anniversary of the quest.
This year, we have heard that the people of Repulse Bay, Hall Beach, Igloolik, and Pond Inlet, and I haven’t heard anybody from Clyde River, will be participating.
This is a very enjoyable event and they will leave on April 28. So I want to see all the Members of the Assembly from those communities.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Members’ Statements. Member for Iqaluit Centre, Mr. Tootoo.
Member’s Statement 408 – 2(4): Smoke, Mirrors, Myths and Realities (Tootoo)
I rise today to talk about smoke, mirrors, myths and realities.
Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks, our deliberations have been dominated by discussions of both the territorial and federal budgets.
Mr. Speaker, on some days, our Hansard could be mistaken for an accounting or economics textbook. We discuss the number of PYs, the impact of accrual-based budgeting, the activities of the NCIAC, the importance of TFF and the impact of DPAs.
Mr. Speaker, it all sounds very precise, but as I’ve been saying for many years, there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors in the way governments across this country approach the budgeting process, and we are no exception when it comes to myths and realities, and smokes and mirrors.
Mr. Speaker, for a number of years now, experts have had concerns with the way the federal government provides wildly inaccurate surplus projections year after year after year. Both the current federal government and its predecessor have given in to the temptation to manipulate figures for political ends.
Mr. Speaker, as we saw last week with the Northern Residents Deduction, the same number can tell different stories. An increase of 10 percent sounds impressive, Mr. Speaker, but a buck-fifty per day won’t even buy you a cup of tea in this town.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Speaker, here at home, the situation is not that much different.
We see departments bring forward spending estimates for approval which are based on the mythical assumptions that all of their PYs are filled.
However, we know that the reality is that our government is still suffering from a vacancy rate of around 20 percent.  We see departments bringing forward wildly optimistic budget projections that have almost no connection to their record of actual expenditures in prior years.
Mr. Speaker, the Budget Address which was delivered earlier this month was the tenth such speech since the creation of Nunavut.
I have personally lost track of the number of times that our surplus and deficit yo yo has gone up and down, as different Finance Ministers deliver different messages on different days.
Mr. Speaker, I say that we need to clear out the smoke and clean up the myths. I have frequently spoken out on the merits...
I was saying I have frequently spoken out on the merits of such approaches as zero-based budgeting, where we develop our numbers based on the hard realities of actual needs and historical trends.
I also acknowledged the fact that this approach would be impossible to implement all at once but would encourage our government to look at this approach on a step-by-step basis.
I will continue, Mr. Speaker, to be a forceful advocate of this approach.
Member’s Statement 409 – 2(4): Rankin Inlet Athletes at 2008 Arctic Winter Games (Curley)
When we hear of the Arctic Winter Games participants, we are also proud of our participants at the Yellowknife Arctic Winter Games.
From Rankin Inlet, I would especially like to have the athletes’ names on the record for Inuit Games and also all of the athletes.
For Inuit Games: Susie Pearce, Ronald Jr. Kanayok, and Amelia Ipkornerk.
For Under 14 Male Soccer: Tyler Tattuinee and Brandon Airut.
For Under 14 Female Soccer: Darla Pilakapsi, Molly Aggark, Adrian Angidlik, Angela Misheralak, Denise Graham, Heather Campbell, and their coach, Kaitlin Panikuluk Kusugak.
For Under 16 Male Soccer: Simeoni Aklunark, Kris Okpatauyak, Ben Angoshadluk, and their coach, Eddy Sandy. For Under 18 Female Soccer: Lori Tagoona, Victoria Kakuktinniq, Kandace Kusugak, Geralyn Kaludjak, Dana Tatty, our grandchild, Tara Green, and their coach, Germaine Kaludjak.
For Badminton: Karen McLarty, who is the manager.
For Male Midget Hockey: Aglukaq Tartak, Keenan Lindell, Kevin McLarty, Chad Taipana, Roger Tagoona, Mike Nukapiak, Wendel Kaludjak, James Merritt, and their coaches Neco Towtongie and Pujjuut Kusugak.
The mission staff for the athletes are: Doug McLarty, Tommy Bruce, and Justin Merritt.
We would like to thank them.
For Bantam Hockey: Vince Hickes, Samuel Adams, David Kakuktinniq, Louis Nattar, and Keith Sigurdson.
I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement. I’m almost done. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
I will start at the top of the list: Samuel Adams, David Kakuktinniq, Louis Nattar, and Keith Sigurdson.
For Gymnastics: Lisa Gresky, Kara Hicks, Desiree Autut, Lisa Dunkerley, and Tera Yarema. For cultural performances: Joan Tiktak, Chamaine Okatsiak, Becky Okatsiak, Angelina Tiktak, Mary Tagalik, Austin Pissuk, Gilbert Pissuk, and Sharon Makkigak. For Female Hockey: Catherine Ayaruak, Savannah Pilakapsi, and Bridget Tattuinnee.
The Dog Mushing coaches are: John Hickes, Dawn Brigham, and Steve Hartman.
For Dog Mushing: Silu Oolooyuk and Elizabeth Irkotee. The officials are: Darrell Greer, Max MacDonald, and John Taipana.
Let’s thank them all for being there. Thank you.
Member’s Statement 410 – 2(4): New Doctors of Iqaluit (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon.
I would like to briefly inform the House about the successes of two young constituents of mine. Mr. Speaker, our very own Dr. Luella Johnson, who received her elementary education in Kimmirut and her high school education here in Iqaluit at Inuksuk High School, is now a locum doctor at the Qikiqtani Hospital here in Iqaluit.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Also, Mr. Speaker, Palia Black is currently in Costa Rica and is continuing her Ph.D program, or doctorate program, there and outside of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, Palia is another young Nunavut student who is making her mark beyond Nunavut, and indeed, Canada.
Mr. Speaker, Doctor Luella Johnson and Palia Black are excellent young role models for Nunavummiut and I would like to ask the House to join with me in wishing them further success in their exciting futures. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 411 – 2(4): Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet Athletes at 2008 AWG (Netser)
It’s okay; I’m one of the beneficiaries.
Mr. Speaker, there are participants from Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet who are in Yellowknife.
From Chesterfield Inlet, we have Elizabeth Kukia, who is 14, who is in the Inuit Games, Siobhan Issaluk, and she is also with the Inuit Games, and Rebecca Sammuktok, also with the Inuit Games, Leah Tautu, also with Inuit Games, Nanau Tanujaq, who is 16, is there for Hockey.
The Coral Harbour residents: Ashley Ittuq, Glen Ell, Norman Nackolak, Vincent Ningiungat, Amilia Netser, Taylor Paniuq, Annie Nackolak, Jeffrey Natakuq, and they are there for Wrestling.
And, Britney Pudlat, Desmond Matuk, and Selma Angungitialuk are there for Soccer.
David Palia for Badminton.
Jackson Ell and my good buddy, Malu, who are there for Tennis in Yellowknife.
If there are no more, we’ll move on to (interpretation ends) Item 4.
Return to Oral Question 497 – 2(4): Numbers of Ships Travelling in Nunavut (Netser)
I have a couple of Returns to Oral Questions, and if you don’t mind, I would like to indulge in one of the responses from one of the questions. Mr. Speaker, on March 10, Levi Barnabas asked on the number of ships travelling in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, on March 10, 2008, the Member for Quttiktuq asked for the number of ships that had travelled in Nunavut last year.
The information the member has asked for is collected by the federal government. The department made a request to the Canadian Coast Guard on the member’s behalf and has received the following information.
The Canadian Coast Guard recorded the number of vessels in Nunavut waters between June 26 and November 15, 2007.
The Canadian Coast Guard itself made eight voyages in waters adjacent to Nunavut.
There were two voyages by naval vessels from the Department of National Defence. Fifteen commercial cargo ships sailed in waters adjacent to Nunavut, and several of these made two or three voyages.
There were six commercial tankers and 21 tugs and barges. Nineteen grain vessels sailed to the Port of Churchill, and there were seven cruise ships and six pleasure craft.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, 15 vessels were in adjacent Nunavut waters conducting scientific research.
In all, Mr. Speaker, over 100 vessels travelled in Nunavut last year, and there were 131 voyages, make that 132, including my little boat, Mr. Speaker.
I want to add, Mr. Speaker, that these numbers are collected through reports provided by the Coast Guard by vessels on a voluntary basis, and do not include fishing vessels.
(interpretation) This question was asked; (interpretation ends) the $200,000 question by the member as well, Levi Barnabas.
I’ll just give it to you.
Return to Oral Question 434 – 2(4): $200,000 Approved for Arctic Bay Road (Netser)
Mr. Speaker, on February 28, 2008, the Member for Quttiktuq asked my colleague, the Minister of Community and Government Services, two questions regarding the funding for a project to upgrade the Nanisivik-Arctic Bay Highway in 2007-08.
As that project was funded by my department’s budget, I would like to provide the following answers to the member and to the House.
The first of the two questions that were asked was whether the project to upgrade the Nanisivik-Arctic Bay Highway had been tendered out, and the second question was why the funds were transferred from the project without first notifying the House.
The answer to the first question is yes; the project was tendered out on July 13, 2007, with a closing date of July 23.
Two bids were received and both were over the budget that had been allocated to the project.
In addition, both bids were much higher than the estimated value of the work.
Following consultation between my staff and staff from Community and Government Services, the tender was cancelled and the work was subsequently completed by staff from the Nanisivik Airport.
I would like to recognize a constituent of mine, David Igutsaq. He’s from Taloyoak and he is with Search and Rescue and well known.
I, too, would like to recognize a constituent.
Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents is here from Cambridge Bay, Jimmy Haniliak. His nickname is Little Jimmy. He’s one of the finest guys in Nunavut; he’s had to opportunity guide the Premier and hasn’t lost him, so that speaks volumes for his ability as a guide.
Question 505 – 2(4): Investigation into Alleged Political Interference (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, last month, I believe on February 19 or 20, the minister was on the radio, I believe, and he was asked if he had looked into the fact that an individual had testified in court that he was instructed by his former supervisor to seek imprisonment of someone because an unidentified politician was pressuring them to do so.
The minister, at the time, had indicated that he would investigate the allegations. I’m just wondering if he could give us an update on that.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The matter is still under investigation.
My officials have ordered the transcripts of the testimony and are looking to the matter at this point. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If they haven’t received the transcripts in the court, I’ve got them right here and I can give them to him if he wants.
Can he indicate if he’s checked with any of the officials that were identified in the Department of Justice to see if these allegations were actually true or not?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) That is exactly what we’re trying to do is to determine if these are valid or not at this point. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Does the minister have an idea of when this investigation will be concluded?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I’m not sure when it will be completed, but it’s being undertaken at this point. I can’t say exactly when, so I’ll get back to the member as soon as I get an idea how long it might be. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
I appreciate that commitment. I think that whenever there are allegations of political interference, it’s a serious matter.
I would like to ask the minister, once they have determined whether or not there is any validity to these allegations, that he would notify the Members of this House.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Yes. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 506 – 2(4): Consideration of Safety Checks on Sewage Lagoons (Alagalak)
Inuit have expressed concerns time and time again, and my colleague from Baker Lake was just alluding to and giving a report, that the sewage lagoons are a concern to people in the communities.
In Arviat in particular, during springtime and all summer, we have geese coming into the community that eat and drink from the sewage lagoon.
Many of the geese, including snow geese and Canada geese, migrate to our community area and it seems like they’re invited time and time again to our land in the Arviat area, our environment.
This is a major concern to many people and I know that CGS is responsible for this area.
There is so much wildlife in our area and I’m wondering if your department has thought about what they could do about doing safety checks on the sewage lagoons in our community so that the geese and other wildlife would not be endangered by drinking the sewage.
I don’t know, but we would be able to look into and review if there are any kinds of diseases in the sewage lagoons and work with the CGS Department.
When Inuit have concerns, they keep pounding on our doors until they get a clear answer.
This has been a concern for a long time and there has been a sewage lagoon in the community for a long time, but when the wildlife comes nearby, they drink from that sewage lagoon.
The residents are concerned; they tell their children that they don’t want to eat the wildlife if they had been drinking from the sewage lagoon, therefore, some of the children don’t want to eat our country food any longer.
Does the minister have (interpretation ends) any plans for monitoring the waters of these great lakes in Nunavut?
You can call them great lakes because they’re the most conversation pieces in our home communities such as Arviat.
It’s a real problem; it’s breaking the minds of those elders especially, and I think it’s about time now that the department takes action to monitor the waters of these great lakes, we can call it.
Can the minister assure us that he would be willing to do that?
Yes, we will look into it and see what we can do.
As I said earlier, CGS would have to be involved with us on reviewing the great lakes in that area on what kind of diseases or whatever that it may contain.
I will seek information from my officials and find out what further we can do about the situation.
Yes, what you say is true.
Even for trying to get fencing, we don’t have enough funding for it. Although the fence can stop animals that walk or crawl on the land, such as foxes, arctic hares or babies of the year, any avian species can fly over the fence and land in the lagoon.
Birds are not intimidated by the fence, and we do not have enough people to keep watch, even if we had the funds to have it monitored 24 hours a day.
With these issues, can the minister work with the department of CGS to discuss other options, such as noise makers or sirens that can scare the animals away?
What other options are available to us here in Nunavut? Is it practical to use noise making devices that can scare animals away up here?
I would like to see more options explored and not just have it stand there since people do not just stand around when they have duties to perform.
Perhaps, you can copy that by using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to keep wildlife away from the sewage lagoons and whether these lagoons can be better managed, especially with devices to deter wildlife.
Yes, we will work with CGS on how we could produce something to scare the wildlife away from the sewage lagoons and also, perhaps, work with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Since they deal with avian species, we would have to work with them to deal with the issues the member has raised.
I shouldn’t talk about this but the budget that was allocated for this can be reallocated. What I could say about the proposed bridge for the Sylvia Grinnell River is you would have to kneel down and beg from your fellow minister to do the work in our community because there will be geese coming in this spring again.