EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, we are investing in capacity building for the future; we are establishing Relief Nursing Pools in all three regions. We are increasing support for nursing students by initiating long-term strategies focusing on upgrading skills, foundation studies, and mentoring. We shall continue to support tutoring and study time for nursing accreditation.
We are also looking into ways of expanding the nursing program at the Arctic College into Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet.
As is the case for all Nunavummiut, housing remains a critical issue. In the particular case of nurses, there is a lack of parity in providing accommodation support among nurses offering similar functions. The Government of Nunavut is currently reviewing its Staff Housing Policy.
The Government of Nunavut fully respects the collective bargaining process.
The compensation and benefits package for Nunavut nurses is subject to negotiation with the Nunavut Employees Union and will be resolved through the collective bargaining process.
The strategy calls for a significant investment in creating an effective Health Care System to serve Nunavut.
But, without it, social and economic development will falter.  As we gradually reduce our dependency on costly agency nurses and stabilize our own nursing workforce, Mr. Speaker, the strategy I will be tabling tomorrow outlines a number of Action Items that my department will be implementing immediately.
Member’s Statement 268 – 2(4): Sanikiluaq Honours the Memory of Fallen RCMP Officer (Kattuk)
I rise today to tell the House about a ceremony that took place yesterday in Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, almost two thirds of the community of Sanikiluaq joined together at the RCMP station to pay tribute to fallen Officer Douglas Scott.
Mr. Speaker, the whole school was there and a moment of silence was held, and people sang Amazing Grace.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Sanikiluaq is saddened at the lost of this brave young man.
We join with Kimmirummiut in their time of sorrow. We share in their need for healing.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all the members to join me in acknowledging this important moment.
Member’s Statement 269 – 2(4): Grade One Classes in Cambridge Bay (Peterson)
I rise today to tell the House about a special group of children who recently visited me in my constituency office.
Mr. Speaker, both grade one classes from the Kullik Illihakvik Elementary School, 30 kids in all, were on a community tour with their teachers to all the offices in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I have to say that it was one of the best visits I have had from constituents in my nearly four years as MLA. They asked me a lot of interesting questions that only kids can ask.
Mr. Speaker, when you have a group of five and six year olds in your office you let your mind slip back to simpler days when you were that age and your entire life was ahead of you.
I remembered one time when my mom caught me hitch-hiking to my grade one class at Takini Elementary in Whitehorse after I missed my bus.
I loved going to school even if I missed the bus that day.
School is one of the biggest steps in a kid’s life and they should enjoy it.
Mr. Speaker, like me, the grade ones who visited me told me that they love going to school and being among their friends and with their teachers.
They told me what they were learning and many even had plans for what they wanted to be when they grow-up.
However, Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that they didn’t mention becoming an MLA.
I thought to myself that it is good to have dreams when you’re a kid but they shouldn’t grow up too fast.
Childhood is for children to enjoy and experience to the fullest.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, the life of a politician is not a bed of roses, particularly if you’re working hard to help your constituents and your communities. As we’ve seen during this current sitting it can be a very rough and tumble experience on both sides of the House.
Mr. Speaker, there are the occasional moments when I find myself wondering why anyone would want to be a politician and be thrust into a very public career in one of the least respected professions in Canada, thousands of miles from home, grinding away in Question Period, Committee of the Whole, or the daily standing committee meetings reading legislation word-by-word, clause-by-clause.
Mr. Speaker, on those rare occasions I only have to think about the kids in my community like the grade ones who visited me in my office.
We chose this job to help make life better for the people who we represent and to always do the best that we can.
I thank my colleagues again this week.
And Mr. Speaker, in the not-too-distant future one of those grades ones will be standing here just like I am and the reason they will be here is because they want to help the people in the constituency of Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the House, and yourself, for working hard on behalf of all Nunavummiut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson, (interpretation ends) and you’re very welcome. (interpretation) Members’ Statements. Member for Iqaluit Centre, Mr. Tootoo.
Member’s Statement 270 – 2(4): Facing the Challenges of the Future (Tootoo)
I rise today on what is likely to be our last sitting day of 2007 to address some issues that face us in the months ahead as we approach the end of the Second Legislative Assembly, as an election is anticipated to be called at some point next fall.
Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that it is important that we not duck the tough choices or avoid making the hard decisions.  At times, we have met this challenge as a Legislative Assembly.
Over the years, a number of important motions, bills and other initiatives have been considered by the Legislative Assembly. Ultimately, formal votes on these matters have been taken and decisions have been made.
Not everyone can be expected to be happy with every single decision.
Not all choices are pleasant.  However, we as MLAs were elected and entrusted to make those decisions on behalf of the constituents whom we represent.
In turn, Mr. Speaker, we as MLAs have entrusted the Executive Council to manage our affairs responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is fair to say that no matter how fast you run, the mistakes of the past will eventually catch up to you.
As we have seen this week, Mr. Speaker, if you ignore warnings for too long, the problems simply get worse.
Mr. Speaker, in the remaining months ahead of us, I will continue to take firm and clear positions on the issues before us.
I can’t guarantee that everyone will agree with me all the time or at all, but you will know where I stand.
Member’s Statement 271 – 2(4): Nunavut Elders’ Gathering to Meet Members of the Legislative Assembly (Curley)
I rise today first of all, since the sitting session is almost near its end, but I do would like to state that many Iqalummiut and elders are always very receptive when I see them. Therefore, I would like to acknowledge them.
When they are very receptive to you it makes you feel more welcome when you’re visiting Iqaluit.
I would like thank all the people who are watching for being receptive. I wanted to say that we thank the elders for thanking us because they’re saying we’re working very hard in the North to make life better for Nunavut, especially for young people and all of Nunavummiut.
On behalf of the elders, because I am always very pleased to hear from the elders, I want you to know that all the elders of Nunavut to know that they don’t have a lobbying group, and that there is no entity that is geared towards solely for elders.
Therefore, perhaps we need to consider for the next winter session that we get together with elders, eat with them, and have a celebration with them.
If that can occur, I would like to bring an elder with me.
I’m making that statement because some elders are passing away. We might not see them again so we should be proud of them, and also thank all Nunavummiut in our communities and everywhere else.
Member’s Statement 272 – 2(4): Birthday Greetings for November 11 Celebrants (Brown)
All the things I was going to state have already been stated, so therefore I have nothing else to say. I’m just kidding.
I, too, would like to make a supplementary comment because the session is towards its end.
November 11 is quite new for Remembrance Day for the people who went to war. November 11 is also a birthday.
While I’m here, I would like to remember all those people, especially my brother, Battias Tootoo. That’s going to be his birthday. Also, in Rankin Inlet, a person who always assists me, my friend, Inuaraq Mary-Anne Tattuinee.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge my son, Jake, my youngest son out of all my children. When he was born we were so proud because there was an elderly woman who gave birth, too, in 1967.
Perhaps, it was six o’clock in the evening. We gave birth at the same time, my long time friend, Annie Natsiq. She got a daughter.
Her name was Leonie.
Every time when November 11 starts to come around, I remember them.
Natsiq is also my friend.
Leona Mikijuk, her last name used to be Natsiq. We think of all of you.
Have a wonderful birthday and many other people who might have their birthday that day.  And, for those people who will be going to the Remembrance Day celebration, we’ll also remember those people who went to war for us.
Member’s Statement 273 – 2(4): Greetings to Constituents of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak (Aglukkaq)
Today, I want to say greetings to my constituents in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, especially my mother and elders.
I think of you often.  Greetings to you all, smile at you, and hopefully see you very soon.
I am getting married in December in Gjoa Haven. Hopefully the people of Taloyoak will be there in attendance.
I think we will be wrapping up this evening. To all the MLAs, my colleagues, I probably won’t see you, so I want to extend my greetings to you for the Christmas holidays. I wish everyone to enjoy your break.
To my constituents in Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven, Merry Christmas to you all. I want to extend my greetings to all my colleagues and say Merry Christmas and have a safe holiday.
Member’s Statement 274 – 2(4): Update on Weather Forecasting (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to update the House on the issues around the weather forecasting.
I would like to thank all of the Nunavummiut, Mr. Speaker, who have emailed and called me with their personal support, as well as providing information on changing climates and weather conditions across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to speak with the Honourable Minister for Federal Environment and Meteorological Services, the Honourable John Baird, via teleconference, to explain why we needed the opportunity for a staffed weather station and why we need forecasting done here in Nunavut, instead of being 2,000 miles away in Edmonton.
As a result, Mr. Speaker, of our conversation and our correspondence with Minister Baird, Minister Baird’s department sent the Assistant Deputy Minister for Meteorological Services, Mr. David Grimes, and the Director General of the Business Policy Directors for Meteorological Services, Madam Danielle Lacasse, to Iqaluit to see and hear firsthand our concerns with weather forecasting.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Grimes and Ms. Lacasse were very busy during their stay here in Iqaluit. Meetings were held with local outfitters, hunters, trappers, representatives from NTI, the business community, the City of Iqaluit, shipping interests, as well as community residents.
All echoed concerns with the accuracy of weather forecasts and provided information on changes in climate and weather we are experiencing right here right now in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, we followed up the assistant deputy minister and the director general’s visit with another letter to thank Minister Baird for taking an interest in this issue, and we’re waiting now on his response and actions on having Nunavut weather forecast here in Nunavut.
Question 345 – 2(4): Assistance to Locate Graves Down South (Arvaluk)
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like ask the Minister of Health regarding the headstones.  Mr. Speaker, years ago, many Nunavummiut were sent down south for medical treatment, especially for TB. Many of those Inuit died and were buried down south.
Mr. Speaker, very many of their graves are unmarked. Some families have been fortunate enough to locate the gravesites of their loved ones and have been able to add their names to the headstones.
Mr. Speaker, there are still a number of unmarked graves down south.
My question is: has the minister’s department ever provided assistance in searching for the graves of family members and how did the department assist them?
Speaker (interpretation): I’m sorry. The light took a while to turn on.
I would have to look into that to see if the Government of Nunavut had, in the past, provided assistance to search for unmarked graves outside the Nunavut Territory, or whether in fact that was done through the Northwest Territories Government at the time and get back to the member on his questions because I’m just not aware of whether we have done that in the past or not.
I’m not sure whether to ask the notice.
Will the minister then provide public information to the communities when she finds out what the procedures are and how to go about it?
I will provide that information. I will look and see what we’ve done in the past, and what we can do and provide that information to the member as well as the Regular Members of the House.
Can she also find out if there’s any organization in places such as Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba that people can call to inquire about locating graves of their relatives, and if so, will she commit to sharing that information with me so that I may pass that onto my constituents?
I will provide that information.
The same questions were just raised when we were at the Kitikmeot Inuit Association meeting as well for people that have passed away in the Edmonton area from TB and so on, so there is some work around that, and perhaps, for the whole territory what processes are in place and what support can be provided.  I will look into that and provide the information.
Since she will be finding out about a lot of things, hopefully, can she also find out if the department has any financial assistance for Nunavummiut for travelling down south to mark the headstones?
I will look into that as well.
Question 346 – 2(4): Oversight of Crown Agencies (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the time. My questions are for the Premier.
Yesterday we received some information that could be understood as inconsistence with what the government has been doing. I would like to try and see if we can correct some of these by way of questions today.
In December of last year, the Premier reshuffled his Cabinet.
In his official announcement, he stated, and I quote, “By combining responsibility for the Departments of Finance along with Economic Development and Transportation, we will bring greater financial discipline to our operations.”
In light of this week’s Report of the Auditor General, is the Premier satisfied that this has been accomplished, and if not, why not?
Yes, my fellow ministers are working this issue. Up to now, their co-operation has borne fruit and are beneficial to our work.
The work of the financial officials to pool their resources has been very useful as we try to resolve this matter.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Speaker, I think the Premier needs to remind himself that he said this was the first time we heard about the problems when the Auditor General’s Report was tabled yesterday.
In light of last September, the government’s annual letters of expectation to Nunavut’s Crown agencies were prepared. These were subsequently tabled in the Legislative Assembly for the public record.
My question for the Premier is this: will this year’s letters of expectation be tabled in the Legislative Assembly today before the House adjourns and if not, why not?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think we’ve heard about some of these problems over the last few years and that’s part of the responses that I’ve been involved with.
I must say that the Auditor General, in her report, was quite clear. If I may quote, “In the context of this report, the government response required the direct involvement of the corporation and the Departments of Economic Development and Transportation and Finance, among others.
Therefore, it does not mean a response on behalf of duly elected officials of the Government of Nunavut.”
So the officials were involved but we, as a Cabinet, were not directly involved in giving the final results of the Auditor General. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate some of the information coming in from the government.
Last year’s letter of expectation to the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, dated September 29, 2006, stated, and I quote that from the Cabinet, “You are instructed to table in the Legislative Assembly a plan of action addressing all observations and recommendations of the Auditor General pertaining to the NBCC.”
Mr. Speaker, this has not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Why was the corporation allowed to defy its letter of expectation?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think the minister has outlined, in chronological order, what took place and what the government did over the last year and a half to two years.
So I think my minister has explained quite clearly that these unfortunate events took place over a period of time and as we found out additional activities, we took steps to make sure that whatever happened will not be repeated.
The 2004 Report of the Auditor General on Nunavut’s finances devoted an entire chapter to problems at the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
The Auditor General found, and I quote, “extraordinary,” problems with the corporation. The government had three years to fix these problems.
Why was this not done and who is accountable for the failure?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I believe that my Minister of Economic Development made sure that there was some accountability that took place. He outlined the actions that we have taken.
So we have done as much as we can up to this point and if there is additional steps that have to be done.
We’ll get them done. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 347 – 2(4): Records Requested in 2006-07 Information and Privacy Commissioner (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, in a document that was tabled on October 26, the 2006-07 Annual Report of the Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner, I was a little surprised to see a mention of the minister personally in her report, and I’ll just read this section.
“In the matter the applicant had requested all letters, memos, faxes and e-mails, to, from, with the applicants name or job description during a stated time period, the request was addressed to Minister Aglukkaq personally. The public body was unable to find any records responsive to the applicants request for information. However, a similar request had been provided to the Department of Health and Social Services and the applicant received responding materials.
Some of these materials indicated that Minister Aglukkaq had been involved in email discussions respecting the applicant and the applicant felt that these records should have been discovered in the minister’s records. For this reason, she was asked that the Information Privacy Commissioner review the matter.”
So I’m just wondering if the minister could explain how come records that were supposed to be there weren’t.
I am glad the member raised that question because when I read that report, too, I was a little bit irked by how that was described.
What happened there was what we discovered during this whole process of doing the ATIPP, and when you do the ATIPP, there is a timeline required for you to respond to your files.
At the time that the request was made, I was in Gjoa Haven, in my constituency, working out of my constituency office and accessed my email through the www.nuaccess.gov.ca process. I did about four searches when I was in Gjoa Haven in my constituency office. I don’t work out of the government office in those communities.
I work out of my constituency office and did the search through that process.
During that search, nothing showed up.
What I discovered, and I worked through CGS IT people, I have also worked through the ATIPP Manager at EIA, as well as the department, and afterwards, tried to discover why when I did the search out of my community that information did not show up.
What we discovered in that process, which is not outlined by the commissioner’s report, and she is aware of that because I made sure that her documentation was forwarded to the ATIPP Manager in CGS the problems encountered in the system.
What we discovered is that, under the nuaccess tip, when you’re in a constituency office, the same demand of commands and functions of the GN email do not work out of those offices, unless you’re in the Iqaluit office physically.
So by the time I discovered that the timeline had passed, and when I came back to Iqaluit and I did the search, it did come up out of my office here, but that information requested did not come out of the office under the nuaccess system.
Question 348 – 2(4): Marshalling of Qulliq Energy Corporation Supplies/Materials (Barnabas)
We became aware that the materials that were ordered by the Nunavut Housing Corporation had been left behind.
My question to the minister: is the Qulliq Energy Corporation in the same situation?
I think I answered this question already during this session, but I’m not aware of any information that material belonging to the Power Corporation had been left behind, at dockside, or indeed, in the marshalling area for sealift in connection with what has occurred on the Housing file.
Your first supplementary, Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Barnabas.
If there were any material left behind, what’s going to happen?
The Nunavut Housing Corporation has stated that they’re going to send the material up by air.
If the Power Corporation is in the same situation, would you airlift the material to the communities?
Again, it is kind of hypothetical, if it were to occur.
What I can suggest to you is that the Power Corporation had the plan in place that we would, in cases where major equipment, and indeed, materials and supplies for the Power Corporation that were essentially needed at a give time and in a given community, then we would have to airlift that in if it had not met the sealift requirements for annual shipping.
That contingency would be in place in that case. Again, it would be based on how essential the material that would be in question, if it was in question, would be having to be brought into the community.
So, hopefully, that helps clarify the member’s question.
We have heard that the Nunavut Housing Corporation doesn’t know which material is going to which community.
What would happen if you were in the same situation; if you can’t figure out which part, or which materials, or supplies are going to which community?
If that were the case, and again, I can’t speak for another department, or the Minister of Housing can to speak to the housing issues, but what I can say is, if the material were left behind and if there was an essential need, again, for that equipment and material, and if there was no other way of bringing that material to the community, and if that was the case, then we would probably use the airlift capability to do that.
Question 349 – 2(4): Need for New Dozer in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
My questions are for the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Sanikiluaq was expecting to receive a new dozer as part of the department’s five-year capital plan.
The community’s present dozer is getting too old.
Can the minister tell me when the community will receive its new dozer?
I think the member is referring to a capital item.
I can’t remember if it’s in the capital but I can look into it.
I’m not sure which year this dozer was put in.