EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I understand that are still recovering from their last few months of exams, and looking forward to a relaxing summer. I would note that unique to Nunavut, these nursing students had additional training in their last year of studies.
They were taught nursing skills such as surgery and casting that are needed for rural and remote work.
This training is usually not part of the Bachelor of Science nursing curriculum, and reflect the care that has gone into developing and offering the four year long degree program here in Nunavut.
I congratulate the individuals also.
Minister of Education and responsible for Energy, Mr. Picco.
Minister’s Statement 111 – 2(3): Master of Education Program for Nunavut (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House about a newly founded Master of Education Program for our Nunavut students. This program is being coordinated by the University of Prince Edward Island, in partnership with the Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College, and Saint Francis Xavier University.
The Master of Education and Leadership Learning for Nunavut is a part-time course opportunity to be offered in December 2006 to May 2009.
Experienced Inuit educators will complete seven courses at central locations throughout Nunavut, while three additional courses to be completed via distance education.
The Master of Education and Leadership Learning Program is designed specifically for Nunavummiut so the educators can enhance their knowledge, understanding, critical awareness, confidence and skills to effect change in our education system.
This program is another enhancement or part of the fundamental shift in education here in Nunavut.
Please join with me in supporting our educators in enrolling in this program.
Minister’s Statement 112 – 2(3): Progress at the Baffin Regional Hospital (Aglukkaq)
Many improvements have been made at the Baffin Regional Hospital over the past six months, which are worth noting given the important role of the hospital in our health care system.
These changes address risk management and quality of care. Our number one goal is to ensure that we have a safe and high quality system of care for Nunavummiut. Unfortunately, we have not always met that goal over the years.
I am committed to supporting the efforts of our staff to achieve that goal. Once we get there we will make sure that we never lose sight of it again.
Patients and visitors to the hospital already see changes in the service as a result of the new staffing being hired.
There are four more housekeepers on staff, two more RNs, two more health records clerks, and three more interpreters. Also, there are more administrative staff.
Infection control and overall cleanliness are much better and will get better. A special spring cleaning is underway.
Our nurses are less stressed since they are not working short-handed as much as before.
Health records are more up-to-date; and
It is much easier to obtain interpretation services.
What patients and visitors won’t see are some of the system improvements that make for a more stable and reliable service.
Regular fire drills and equipment inspections improved security at the hospital, regular surveys of patients to get direct feedback on service quality and issues, and revised and new policies on hospital processes such as cleaning equipment.
These improvements don’t come without some disruption. For example the hospital had to suspend specialist clinics in May so the referral and tracking system could be overhauled. But clients should find that specialist clinics coordinate better with their referral from Ottawa and their home communities and with all the needed records ready at hand.
I would like to commend all the staff at Baffin Regional Hospital for their ongoing efforts in making the hospital a better place to work and get health services.
These efforts will help us achieve our goal of high quality and safe system of care.
We owe that to our residents and we owe that to our staff.
I look forward to reporting further progress when the House resumes in the fall.
I’m sorry, let’s go back, I went ahead since I saw no hands up.
I’m sorry, Mr. Alagalak.
Member’s Statement 268 – 2(3): Thank You to Dr. Mitchell Taylor (Alagalak)
I will just be another Aglukkaq then.
I wish to compliment and appreciate a long-term Government of Nunavut employee Dr. Mitchell Taylor, a Nunavut polar bear biologist.
This statement refers to tabled document on June 12, 2006.
(interpretation) I would like to thank this individual as he made some statements on the issue of polar bears to the Hudson Bay, and especially in the Western Hudson Bay area where the people of Arviat hunt polar bears.
Americans were thinking of putting polar bears on the species-at-risk list, and Mitch Taylor wrote a letter to their government and identified some of the issues coming from Nunavut and he also included Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as part of the contents.
I am very proud of Dr. Mitch Taylor who is very competent.
This is the main source of revenue for some of the people who take Americans out for big game hunts, and they use traditional dog teams to take those big game hunters out on the land.
With those in mind, Dr. Mitch Taylor wrote a letter to those people to make sure that they understood exactly what happens up here in regards to the polar bears.
If we were not going to be polar bear hunting, we wouldn’t be making any money.
I’m very pleased that he wrote this letter on behalf of the people of Nunavut, and especially the hunters. I wanted to make this comment in the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I apologize again, Mr. Alagalak.
Member’s Statement 269 – 2(3): Cambridge Bay Grade 12 Graduates (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about the five Grade 12 students in Cambridge Bay who are graduating this school year.
Mr. Speaker, this week and next, the grade 12 students will be writing their Alberta Departmental exams. They have been preparing for several months for these final exams.
In a sense, however, they have really been preparing for these final exams for the last 13 years.
Mr. Speaker, all of these grade 12 students have applied to and been accepted to attend post-secondary institutions in southern Canada in the fall.
The names of the five grade 12 students and the institutions they plan to attend in the upcoming year are: Sarah Janke; Nunavut Sivuniksavut, David Ohokannoak; University of Alberta, Kamele Panaktak; Lethbridge University, Tanis Peterson; University of Alberta or Red Deer College, Brendan Peterson; University of Alberta, or University of British Columbia.
Mr. Speaker, my community and I are very proud of each of these grade 12 students for all of their accomplishments.
As a parent and an uncle, I am particularly proud of my son Brendan and my niece, Tanis.
Mr. Speaker, all of these young adults are a credit to their community and their families. They are also role models and trail blazers for their friends and fellow students.
I would also like to recognize all the dedicated and committed educators in Cambridge Bay who taught these students and many others over the years.
If we stop to think about it for a moment, our children are in the care of teachers for six hours a day, five days a week, for nine months a year, for 13 years. They have a tremendous influence on our children.
The graduation ceremonies for the grade 12 students are scheduled for late August, a few days after the next school year begins.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating the grade 12 students and to wish them all the best in their future studies.
Member’s Statement 270 – 2(3): Flight Incident from Resolute Bay to Arctic Bay (Barnabas)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the incident that happened in my constituency today. Earlier today the flight that was scheduled from Resolute Bay to Iqaluit via Nanisivik Arctic Bay was not able to land at the airport in Nanisivik.
The Hawker-Sidley aircraft flew only on one engine for more than an hour. This is the second incident that has happened over this winter.
Mr. Speaker, when First Air stopped providing jet service to Arctic Bay and Resolute, my constituents were very concerned that the level of service being offered to them would be negatively affected.
Community members had an opportunity to meet with representatives of First Air and expressed their concern with respect to the safety of the Hawker-Siddley. They were told that the Hawker-Siddley is a very safe aircraft
This is not the first time that Hawker-Siddley, this kind of plane, was supposed to fly on only one engine.
Mr. Speaker, in 2005 the Canadian Military’s Operation Killaqvik planned a search and rescue exercise that included a mock plane crash. That exercise was meant to test the ability to respond to a disaster in the Arctic. It was cancelled due to the weather.
Given the extreme conditions that are common in Nunavut, the lack of travel options available to Nunavummiut, I believe that the equipment flying here should be the highest quality and reliability.
Mr. Speaker, it is time for the government to take an action to ensure that airline services to all communities are safe and reliable.
No one in this house wants to imagine the terror and tragedy of a plane crash (interpretation) and also my constituents have the same idea.
Member’s Statement 271 – 2(3): Acknowledgement of Two Pages (Mapsalak)
I rise today to acknowledge the two pages from Repulse Bay. They were very committed to work here and I know that they enjoyed their stay while in Iqaluit.
I believe that we hire the best students in the schools and these two individuals are award-winning students. So I encourage them to stay in school and to complete their education, even though after they graduate from high school I urge them to get their higher education.
Since today might be our last day of session I wish all my colleagues a very safe trip home and a safe vacation, and all the cabinet members across from me, I wish them a safe summer and if you need to travel, I wish you a safe travel.
Member’s Statement 272 – 2(3): Senior and Disabled Homeowners (Curley)
First of all, I would like to thank the Minister of Housing Corporation for his Ministerial Statement in regards to the elders who have their own home and who face difficulties.
We now, in my region, especially in my community we now have elders who are home owners and they have to pay for the insurance and also they have to pay for local taxes even though they are at minimum. I was told that the community services should be lowered for the elders.
They were requesting if they could have exemptions for the senior citizens.
I would like the minister to further consider senior and disabled individuals who are no longer in the workforce; there are some individuals like that who have mortgages.
I had given that mortgage, and this mortgage was held by the bank, and this senior or disabled individuals’ mortgage, how much will you be able to buy back the mortgage?
So, this is the interest of Nunavummiut.
I would like the minister to make a statement on that to make sure that if this senior or disabled homeowner had gotten their housing through access, and loans, and some part of it they went through the homeownership program.
So, I’m going to be asking those questions at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 273 – 2(3): Weather Station Re-opens (Picco)
I would like to update this House on the re-staffing and opening of the Northern Canada Environment and Weather Services here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, members may remember that previously I had raised this issue with the federal Liberal Government, and during the recent federal election, the Prime Minister Harper has kept his election promise and has re-opened the weather station in Gander, Newfoundland citing the distance from the manned station in Halifax, and the lifestyle of Newfoundlanders as the reason for the opening.
Our forecasting centre is 2000 kilometers away in Edmonton, and our Nunavut lifestyle; severe weather conditions and we also need the same staffed, local, and accurate forecasting centre.
Since our last session, I have received correspondence from the Prime Minister on the issue, and I also had an opportunity to meet with and speak to Minister Rona Ambrose, the Minister for the Department of Environment with regard to the subject.
Mr. Speaker, Minister Ambrose was aware of the issue and her department is now reviewing the concerns that have been raised.
I will be following up on our meeting of two weeks ago with a letter and I’m hopeful that we will hear some positive news on this front from Minister Ambrose after the federal department’s review of our request to staff and reinstitute our Arctic Weather Forecasting Centre, a forecast made in the arctic and not in Edmonton.
Member’s Statement 274 – 2(3): Acknowledgement of Search and Rescue Volunteers (Evyagotailak)
Today I would like to think of those people who lost their family.
The Kugluktuk Search and Rescue Society Directors are: Jack Himiak; President, Roger Hitkolo; Vice-President, Alex Buchan; Treasurer, Peter Taptuna; Search Coordinator/Manager, Joanne Klengenburg; Director, Ryan Nivingalok, Grant Newman, Clarence Bolt, Peter Taktogon, Isaac Klengenburg, Collin Adjun, Allen Niptanatiak, local volunteer assistant, the search and rescue team, Larry Adjun, Jerry Atatahak, George Egotak, David Enogaloak, George Haniliak, Stanley Klengenburg, Dettrich Hala, Tony Akolok, Joe Novoligak, Baba Peterson, Ronald Angohiatok, Aaron Tiapana.
And also the volunteer cooks that helped out during the search.
The cooks are Susie Atatahak, Helen Enogoloak, Margaret Takotogon, Monica Angohiatok, Helen Enogoloak, Laurie Avakana, Lena Niptanatiak, Anissa Ayalik, Wendy Bolt, Millie Kuliktana, Mona Tiktalik.
Also, the hamlet foreman who helped out during the search, Phillip Kalik, the foreman, hamlet mechanic, Bobby Etotok
And also, the volunteer fire fighters. And also there is the RCMP that helped out during the search, Corporal Denis Keatley.
I would like to ask my fellow members to finish my statement.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. The member is seeking unanimous consent to finish his statement. Are there any nays?
There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Evyagotailak.
I also thank my fellow members.
The RCMP who helped out were Corporal Denis Keatley, Constable Kristin Dewuls and Constable James Tite.
For the Ilavut Centre, these are the people who helped there, Robert Havioyak, George Kavana, Johnny Kasoni and David Avakana.
These people I have mentioned have worked very hard and I would like my fellow colleagues to help in congratulating them.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 275 – 2(3): Grade Five Graduation (Tootoo)
As one of my colleagues said earlier, this is possibly our last day of sitting for the Session until we reconvene again in November.
I’d like to say a couple of things before we leave and one is say hi to my good friend Brian Twerdin, and all his patrons down at the Grind and Brew that religiously watch our Sessions.
Also, I’d like to thank Mr. Picco for changing his tie so that I could dress a little bit like him today. I didn’t have a striped shirt, and striped jacket, and pants to wear. He had a straight tie on earlier too, and I am very happy that he changed to a nice sealskin tie; I believe it’s a Qulliq Energy tie, so I don’t have one exactly like him.
I had the pleasure over lunch today of attending a grade five graduation at Nakasuk School.
It was with great pride I went there because my middle daughter, Taylor, was graduating grade five.
It was a proud moment for all of them. A number of those kids have been together right from Kindergarten right through to grade five. I’m sure that they all looked a little nervous because they will be going up to Aqsarniit School next year.
They’re going up for an orientation tomorrow, so hopefully, it won’t be such a shock for them when they go in the fall.
I’d like to congratulate all of those students that graduated and commend them for their hard work and wish them luck in their new school Aqsarniit. Also I’d like to thank the teachers that put a lot of work into developing these students, especially my daughter’s teachers that she’s been fortunately enough to have over the last two years.
That’s Liz Courtney; who was unfortunately ill today and couldn’t attend the graduation.
I know that my daughter and some of the other students speak quite highly of her as a teacher.
With that I’d like to ask all members to join me in congratulating the Grade 5 Class of ‘06 from Nakasuk School.
They’re probably not as nervous as members in this House seem to be.
Member’s Statement 276 – 2(3): Thanks to Members on Close Working Relations (Okalik)
Since probably this is our last day of the session, I would like to thank all my colleagues.
Even though our session seemed short, we worked very closely and worked hard together and we’ve accomplished a lot.
So, I would like to see us work closely together again because we still have to meet two more times.
As a member of this legislature, it is very good to see, and it’s even unbelievable at times how much of a close working relationship we have. And, I do want to see that again because there are quite a few things that we need to accomplish, and I’m sure we’ll never run out of business things to do. So, I’m sure Nunavummiut will be happier to see our accomplishments.
Since spring is coming I wish you a safe trip back home, and I wish you a safe summer and vacation, and all your family. Go out hunting with your family, and have a very safe summer, and enjoy your summer, and we’ll enjoy our lives.
Before we move ahead, we’ll think of the people who are disabled.
First of all, I would like to recognize our interpreters who are always in the booths. First of all, even though we have different dialects, if it weren’t for the interpreters, the might have been more misunderstandings between us when we are trying to converse with each other.
So, I would like to thank them very much and acknowledge them. They are: Naimie Kilabuk-Bourassa, Blandina Tulugarjuk, Mary Nashook, and another interpreter, Mali Curly.
I would also like to acknowledge and recognize the technician during our session; William Amagoalik, and also as we come into the chamber our Sergeant-at-Arms, I would like to acknowledge him, Simanek Kilabuk.
I would also like to acknowledge the people from Innirvik. Some of the individuals aren’t here in the House. Mr. Speaker, they work very hard until the wee hours of the morning so that as members we can have Blues to read in the morning.
For that reason, I would like to recognize: Jose Arreak, the Inuktitut transcriber. Please stand if you’re here; Jose Arreak, Becky Mike, Mary Arnakak, Silasie Kilabuk, Eileen Kilabuk-Weber, Leetia Janes, Anne Marlene Kilabuk, Saali Peter, Lucie Idlout, Sam Gilhuly, Jeff Hall, Kaittaasi Peter, Ron Petooloosie, Ulaaju Peter, Simon Lono, and Mary Kilabuk.
I would like to thank them very much and also would like to ask the members to acknowledge these individuals for their hard work.
They work until wee hours of the morning.
Recognition of Visitors on the Gallery.
I would also like to recognize Gwen Angulalik, and Attima Hadlari for being here and I would like to recognize them.
I would also like to recognize my wife and my daughter, Darla, and my constituency assistant, Lucy Nivingaaluk. I would like to welcome them here to the Gallery.
It gives me great pleasure to recognize a couple of young ladies in the Gallery here with us today.
One of them is a constituent of mine and no stranger to anyone in here, Ms. Eva Onalik, from Canadian North.
Sitting next to Ms. Onalik is a daughter of a constituent of mine and her mother just moved into a new house. She sent me an e-mail saying I have to come over for tea and bannock, and that is Christie Brewster sitting next to Eva. I would like to welcome them both from Canadian North here to the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to introduce to the Gallery that well known scribe, and I am waiting right now for the well known scribe’s review of Ann Colter’s new book, which is on the best seller list. Of course everyone is very aware of, Mr. John Thompson.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery and I would be remiss if I welcomed a reporter. I did not note the renown of Mr. Simon Lono, an internationally known writer, author, and journalist from the east coast who is actually helping us now edit the Hansard. It is with the great affection that we welcome Mr. Award Winning Simon Lono to the Gallery.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Picco, and welcome to the Gallery.
(interpretation) Item 6.
Member for Cambridge Bay, Mr. Peterson
Question 318 – 2(3): Update on the Seniors’ Fuel Subsidy (Peterson)
Last week, the Minister of Education made a comment about the seniors’ fuel subsidy. I will just quote his comment here.
“We are also in the process right now and hope to have an announcement in a couple of weeks on the things that members have talked about here, one of those being a review of the senior fuel subsidy across Nunavut and looking at increasing it.”
My question for the minister: can the minister provide an update on the review of the senior fuel subsidy?
Minister responsible for Education and Income Support, Mr. Picco.
The member is correct. After some of the questions and so on in the House over the past several months and when we are looking at the cost of everything internally through the Department of Education, we have had an opportunity to review supports that we have in place, including the senior fuel subsidy.
I can say to the member that we have completed that review and I would hope to be in a position in the very near future to make some announcements on monies through that program.
I thank the minister. Can the minister describe for the House what kinds of issues that are being discussed, or were taken into consideration under view the senior’s fuel subsidy?
I guess the major part of the review is looking at the total household income, which sets the limit of people who would be eligible for the senior fuel subsidy and the amounts that were available. One of the things we wanted to look at was increasing that amount which would give a better uptake on the program, as it were, in Nunavut.
The minister is giving very brief answers today, I was hoping for a longer one.
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the cost of living in Nunavut has risen tremendously in the last five or six years since 1999. I think we inherited that policy from the Government of the Northwest Territories.
A quick question for the minister: did the review take into account increases in the cost of living, and if so, how did the department measure it?
What I just said is that we looked at one of the major issues around the program. One of them is trying to establish the income threshold for a family so looking at a single income threshold for the program as well as increasing the maximum household income threshold for the program were the major features of the review.
Again, I would hopefully be in a position where we would actually be able to state to the New Republic what those amounts are.
It is a good news story for Nunavummiut, it is something that the members and the people at large have asked for and it is something that we have moved on.
I think the threshold under the current policy is $37,500, I have recommended, I think by e-mail, and others have recommended to the minister that they could surely increase it to at least $50,000. Can the minister give any indication that that is the amount that they are looking at as the threshold to be eligible for the senior’s fuel subsidy?
I didn’t know that I was dealing with the Amazing Creskan, and the clairvoyant abilities of the member, and I know that he is not Nostradamus, so what I can say is that the member is certainly in the ballpark. I can also say that I would, the program, implementation program changes would be effective September 1, and again I think it is good news, so if I can say to the clairvoyant-like Mr. Peterson that he is certainly in the ballpark.
Question 319 – 2(3): Update on Additional Rate Increase (Curley)