EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The second point of his question concerning the comment on the auditorium and the audio systems. When we design school gyms specifically and those types of spaces in the school, we don’t design them to be audiophonic in the case of where the audio ambience in the room is conducive to a theatrical production and so on.
We did do that in the media centre in Arviat when we were building that school.
So, that’s something extra that we would put into that school, but that is something we’re taking note of now and we’re putting in some of our schools to see exactly what that multipurpose facility will be used for.
Again, we want our schools to be more than just K-12. We want it to be multipurpose, multifaceted piece of infrastructure or an asset for the community.
I understand the financial situation in which the Department of Education finds itself.
The acoustics we can probably live with. The basketball backboards we can deal with. They’re not major issues, but when you’re running on a hard floor, you’ve got athletes, you start incurring serious injury at a young age: ankles, joints, the knees.
It something we have to be concerned with.
I’d urge the minister to look very closely at the problem and give his commitment that it will be an issue that will be seriously considered by his department in trying to find the funds over the next year or two to replace that floor.
When the Cambridge Bay school was built, it was probably the most expensive facility ever built up until that time for an educational facility. It was quite large.
As the member has commented, it was not only a school but it was a piece of community infrastructure and it was also designed to hold regional meetings for all the Kitikmeot.
The Terraflex sports floor that I’ve talked about and that the member would like to have installed, I believe that’s the model he would like, again, it’s expensive, but it’s something again we can look at. Our people will be over there in the spring.
I need to be able to position our dollars for a new Community Learning Center in Pond Inlet, to move forward in Qikiqtarjuaq and Sanikiluaq and that would be my priorities.
There is nothing wrong with the hardwood floor that is in there. I know it’s tougher for the students and so on, but that’s what we’ve had in place for many years across not only in Nunavut, but across Canada.
So all of our new schools we try to put the Terraflex sports floor in there and in any major renovations we’re doing to schools where the gymnasium is involved, we put the floor in.
Maybe, realistically that’s something the school would probably have to wait for. But again, our officials will be over to look not just at that, but some of the other issues with our educational facilities in Cambridge Bay, and I’ve asked them to review that status too.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. I thank you for that answer.
The elementary school in Cambridge Bay has like a cushion floor and it was built before the high school.
So I think people compared the high school to the elementary school. I don’t know what happened to the cushion floor.
When we were working towards replacing the high school, we fund raised $80,000 to contribute to the new gym or expand to a territorial sized gym so we can hold regional and territorial events.
There might be something that and I don’t want to commit the community to anything; I think this would be their own decision. Perhaps if the Government of Nunavut is in there next year, talk to them about cost sharing, fund raising to help replace the floor.
I don’t know what kind of cost here you talk about when you mentioned the Terraflex but it surely to me seems like something we need in our high school.
I think the flooring that is in the elementary school in Cambridge is Mundo flooring if I recall correctly. It’s soft flooring, the Mundo flooring, which was done before the high school flooring was put in.
The reason for the high school flooring again, one the reasons was because of the way the facility was to be accessed to be used for regional meetings and so on, and the extra Terraflex board floor would not be conducive for that type of arrangement. That was my original understanding of it.
I’ll ask my people when the staff members are in Cambridge in the spring if they can address some of those issues on if there is an opportunity from the community, if the community wanted to put forward some fund raising activity, we’ll have you to cost share replacement or something.
That is something again we could look at.
I’ll let that discussion take place amongst the officials when they’re in Cambridge. Maybe the member could raise it with his community when he’s back.
We’re now on education. (interpretation ends) Total Headquarters. $6,185,000.
I’ll agree to that part and I’ll have questions further on the same page. That deals with high school renovations that the Minister was talking about earlier.
I was going to say good morning but it’s too late now, somebody’s gone.
When I talked yesterday about the, I hate to use the term fiasco that went on up at the middle school, and I know as a result of that and at the public meetings that were held at the middle school there was some concerns raised that they certainly don’t want to see something like that happen at the high school with the major renovations that are going to be going on up there over the next few years.
So I just want to ask the minister what kind of assurances we can get from him and the department officials that we won’t run into any of those problems and delays and things like that, at the high school when they do that.
Mr. Chairman, the member is correct, the major renovation plans for the Inuksuk high school, I can’t guarantee that there won’t be logistical or administrative issues or delays once the construction schedule starts.
What I can say is that we have currently a review underway with what has occurred at the Aqsarniit School with Department of Community and Government Services and I’ll make that information known to committee members, to the Standing Committee on Education at the appropriate time when I receive it and I would hope that the experience that we have from that school will help us with the other projects, including the Inuksuk High School project.
Also, at this time, if you would bear with me just for one second, the President of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention has just joined us in the Gallery.
Most of the members are aware of the good work that the President of Canadian Suicide Prevention has done. He’s here visiting our own well known person: Sheila Levy. Sheila has worked for years with the Embrace Life Council, and the Crisis Line.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Mr. Adrian Hill to the Assembly.
And with that is my answer to Mr. Tootoo.
I would like to welcome the visitors to the Gallery.
I would like to welcome Mr. Hill to the Gallery.
Thank you for being here and as usual, I thank the minister for his response and in pointing out our visitor to us.
I guess on the work schedule and that they have planned for the High School, has the department gone over those plans with the local District Education Authorities so that they know what to expect with the construction or the renovations over the next few years as well.
We have met on one occasion with the District Education Authority and the staff to go over the preliminary plans and some of the designs. My understanding is they have been pleased to date with what has been planned and with the progress that has been made.
I think we all know, and if you look at the incident that happened here over the past summer with the middle school, and I’m sure that everyone else knows in their community, is that the District Education Authorities are the front line when it comes to people in the communities having concerns about things going on in the school.
I guess in this case, given that they are the first people that the public and the parents are going to go and complain to if something does go wrong, for whatever reason, but, given that, would the minister commit to, prior to any work being done, sit down with the District Education Authority and go through it step by step so that they know exactly what to expect so that if any parents or staff come to them with any concerns or questions that they are able to provide them with the appropriate answers?
The next planned meeting with the District Education Authority on the capital planning process for the Inuksuk High School is December 5 and 6. What Mr. Tootoo is commenting on is actually taking place right now.
The District Education Authority actually leads the planning team for the school, for the renovations. The District Education Authority also leads the planning team for any major renovations, or construction projects that we bring forward in our communities.
We are on Page G-6. (interpretation ends) Education.
Total Headquarters Region. $6,185,000.
Chairman: Qikiqtaaluk Region.
Total Qikiqtaaluk Region. $1,126,000.
G-7.
Total Kivalliq Region. $3,850,000.
On here again, it shows Nunavut Arctic College student accommodation and I would assume that deals with the trade school that is going down there. I was wondering if the minister can update the members as to where that is in the works.
That is the Nunavut Arctic College accommodations. A lot of work has been done and we have actually met with the hamlet. A lot has been selected and the final design work has to be accomplished.
I’d like to ask the minister what type of accommodations, other than student accommodations, are being built.
Is the design going to look at accommodations strictly for single students like a dormitory type place or are they going to look at a combination of single and married accommodations? I was wondering if you could give us an update on what they are looking at there.
Mr. Chairman, we would hopefully be in a position to tender for construction in April of 2007.
It is a combination of single and married quarters from one and two bedroom units. A total of three buildings will be on site with a total of 27 bedrooms.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation ends) We are on G-7.
Education. Detail of Capital.
Chairman: Total Kitikmeot Region. $9,234,000.
This question shouldn’t take long because I already know the minister has a good answer for this. I just want to have it for the record.
I know last year, that project showed as one school and this year it shows as two schools. I know he has a very good explanation for it but if you could explain that for the record where someone were to come back and look at the capital plans over the last two years would see something that you would scratch your head at. If he could give us something so that those people wouldn’t be scratching their heads once they read his comments.
This project in Gjoa Haven is actually two schools joined together.
It’s called co-joined schools and that is why you see them listed as both schools. There is no real change.
It is an addition of the walkway between the two schools.
Kitikmeot Region. Total Kitikmeot Region. $9,234,000.
Chairman: Total Tangible Assets. $23,395,000.
Chairman: Agreed. We will go back to G-4.
Education Department.
Total Capital Expenditures. $23,395,000.
Chairman: Are you agreed that the Department of Education is concluded?
Chairman: Agreed. Thank you, Minister, and your staff.
Do you have any closing comments Mr. Minister?
I would just like to thank the committee for their excellent questions over the last couple of days. I just want to add that myself, and the department, and the Cabinet are aware educational facilities have to be a priority.
Again, I have committed that we would revisit the budget sometime this spring to see if there is an opportunity to move some of those projects forward depending on the fiscal situation. That’s the only reason why we weren’t able to complete the committee motion in the House.
I know the members are all aware of that now since Mr. Simailak updated us this week on that fiscal situation.
You can go back to your seat.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please assist the minister and his officials.
Ms. Aglukkaq?
Chairman: We have to have a motion to report progress.
Are you making a motion Ms. Aglukkaq?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Yes, I am, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: We have a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable.
Can we have some order please?
Your committee has been considering Bill 26, and the capital estimates and would like to report progress. Also Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak.
A reminder of the meeting at 2:30 in the Tuktu Room; the meeting of the Standing Committee on Rules.
Orders of the Day for November 27, 2006:
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Our meeting will adjourn until Monday, November 27 at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 14:06
Minister of Health and Social Services; Minister responsible for Status of Women Council
Monday, November 27, 2006
Pages 2408 – 2476
Opening Prayer 2408
Ministers’ Statements 2408
Members’ Statements 2412
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2415
Oral Questions 2415
Petitions 2432
Tabling of Documents 2432
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2434
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2475
Orders of the Day 2475
Monday, November 27, 2006 2408
126 – 2(3): Maternal Care Workers – Students Graduate (Aglukkaq) 2408
127 – 2(3): Municipal Leadership Forums (Brown) 2409
128 – 2(3): “Polar Bears: A Guide to Safety” (Netser) 2410
129 – 2(3): Qalattuq – 10-Year Educator Training Strategy 2006-2016 (Picco) 2411
130 – 2(3): Heavy Equipment Operator Training (Picco) 2411
320 – 2(3): Recognition of CBC Employees from Arviat (Alagalak) 2412
321 – 2(3): Government of Nunavut’s Position on the Edward Horne Case (Kattuk) 2413
322 – 2(3): Kugluktuk Arena Still Not Open (Evyagotailak) 2414
361 – 2(3): Community Funding for Breakwaters (Alagalak) 2415
362 – 2(3): Program Funding (Tootoo) 2417
363 – 2(3): Funding to Build Cabins (Mapsalak) 2419
364 – 2(3): Changes to Fuel Rebate for Hunters (Arreak) 2421
365 – 2(3): Cambridge Bay Health Centre (Peterson) 2421
366 – 2(3): Number of Polar Bears Tranquilized (Barnabas) 2424
367 – 2(3): Fuel Price Increases (Kattuk) 2425
368 – 2(3): Gasoline Fuel Rebate (Arvaluk) 2427
369 – 2(3): Contribution Agreement Provided to Keewatin Business Development Corporation (Tootoo) 2428
370– 2(3): Location for Deep Sea Ports (Peterson) 2430
005 – 2(3): Public Housing Rent Scale (Arreak) 2432
171 – 2(3): Correspondence to the Premier (Kattuk) 2432
172 – 2(3): Pond Inlet Breakwater Feasibility Study (Arvaluk) 2433
173 – 2(3): Qalattuq – 10-Year Educator Training Strategy 2006-2016 (Picco) 2433
174 – 2(3): 2005-06 Report by Nunavut’s Medical Care Act (Aglukkaq) 2433
175 – 2(3): Audited Financial Statements of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2006 (Speaker) 2433
176 – 2(3): Audited Financial Statements of the Retiring Allowances Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2006 (Speaker) 2434
177 – 2(3): Pension Administration Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2006 (Speaker) 2434
Bill 26 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2007-08 – Review in Committee – Environment 2435
Bill 26 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2007-08 – Review in Committee – Community and Government Services 2447
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (interpretation): I would ask that Mr. Picco lead us in prayer.
Mr. Premier, Ministers, especially Minister Brown, welcome back.
Also on my left Mr. Alagalak, welcome.
Minister’s Statement 126 – 2(3): Maternal Care Workers – Students Graduate (Aglukkaq)
It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have two graduates from the first Nunavut Maternity Care Worker Diploma Program: Diane Tiktak and Rachel Jones are the first to complete this innovative pilot project soon to be followed by the six students now enrolled in the one-year long program.
The second year program is being developed in consultation with an Inuit Advisory Committee.
Once the second year of the program is finalized it will be possible to earn a Maternal Care Worker Diploma.
Credits earned in Nunavut can be applied towards a four-year long degree in Midwifery offered by the Manitoba University College of the North.
Mr. Speaker, Rachel Jones and Diane Tiktak are the first in Nunavut to earn the Maternal Care Worker certificates.
They are now formally qualified to provide culturally appropriate pre-natal and post-natal care.
The department is making real progress in turning the dreams of a full-fledged Midwifery Program in Nunavut into reality.
I would like to acknowledge and thank Nunavut Arctic College as a partner in many of the training programs currently being offered to train Nunavummiut to work in the health and social services field.
I commend Diane Tiktak and Rachel Jones for their dedication to their studies and their willingness to take a new path.
Mr. Speaker, I will also ask that the committee that started that Maternal Care Program; the founding mothers be recognized at this time: Rosie Oolooyuk, Rosemary Brown, Levinia Brown, Joyce England, and last, but certainly not least, Naujak Williams.
Speaker (interpretation): Congratulations to the graduates.
Minister’s Statement 127 – 2(3): Municipal Leadership Forums (Brown)
I rise today to update the members of this House on the recent meetings of mayors and senior administrative officers in the three regions.
Community and Government Services, on behalf of the Government of Nunavut provide financial assistance to communities in order to enable them to take part of in these regional leadership forums on an annual basis.
In addition to financial support Mr. Speaker, Community and Government Services’ staff in each region provide logistical and support services to each forum as well.
Mr. Speaker, these forums provide a venue in which mayors can discuss items of regional and common concerns in order to identify solutions as well as bring these issues to the attention of government.
Over the past six weeks leadership forums have taken place in Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, and Rankin Inlet.
In my capacity as Minister of Community and Government Services I have attended all three leadership forums this year.
My attendance allowed me to have open discussions with community leaders and has given me a bit of insight into the issues and challenges our communities are facing.
The meetings also allowed me to convey to community leaders some of the challenges we as government must also face in our operations.
Mr. Speaker, leadership forums provide an excellent opportunity for Government of Nunavut officials to consult with municipal leaders on new and existing programs and issues.
I thank those departments that sent representatives to these meetings and I strongly encourage all government departments to be represented at future forums and actively participate in the meetings with community leaders.
Minister’s Statement 128 – 2(3): “Polar Bears: A Guide to Safety” (Netser)
Nunavut is experiencing unprecedented levels of community, industrial, and tourism development.
As human presence continues to rise, there is an increasing danger that both people and polar bears are being unnecessarily harmed.
Each year polar bears are shot in defence of life and property.
In addition, although human injury is rare, it does occasionally happen.
You may remember that following an attack by a polar bear in Katannilik Park, my predecessor, Minister Akesuk commissioned an independent review of the department’s response to the incident and made several recommendations to enhance visitor safety.
Mr. Speaker, the recommendations included the development of a polar bear safety video that would be mandatory viewing for all visitors registering for a trip in a park.
Since then, we have been working with the “Safety in Bear Country Society,” Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Parks Canada, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, as well as hunters and industry, to produce a polar bear ‘guide to safety’ video in DVD format.
Mr. Speaker, today I am happy to announce that with our partners we have completed the production of the DVD - the first ever information piece on polar bear and human behaviour. And Mr. Speaker, Mr. Akesuk is the star in this video. No he’s not...
In Inuktitut, English, and French, and later on this week, I will be tabling the DVD.
The DVD has already been integrated into the Nunavut Parks Registration process for Katannilik Park and will be incorporated into registration programs for other territorial parks.
Copies will be made available to communities through our offices throughout Nunavut and visitor centres.
We also encourage outfitters and guides operating in Nunavut to purchase the DVD from the Safety in Bear Country Society.
All proceeds go directly back into awareness and education programs.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 129 – 2(3): Qalattuq – 10-Year Educator Training Strategy 2006-2016 (Picco)
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that later today I will be providing Members the Assembly with the Qalattuq report.
This strategy maps out a 10-Year Educator Training Strategy for Nunavut.
There are six major objectives included for improving the cultural and linguistic foundation of our education system as well as providing and updating direction for a much needed revitalization and enhancements to the educator preparation program.
Mr. Speaker, these objectives which came out of the very hard work of an Expert Panel established this past spring are:
To establish a school of education
To strengthen partnerships
To renew the Nunavut Teacher Education Program
To support graduates and experienced teachers
To enhance other educational training
To revitalize teacher re-certification
We’ll be moving forward developing a full implementation plan to address the recommendations of the strategy.
This strategy will enhance the cultural and linguistic foundation of our education system through the preparation and support of our educators who will work towards a fully realized bilingual education strategy.
I would like to take this opportunity Mr. Speaker, to thank the co-chairs of the working committee Ms. Nellie Kusugak and Jacqui Bishop for their hard work and dedication for the past several months for working on this report.
Mr. Speaker, an update on the progress will be provided during the next session.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 130 – 2(3): Heavy Equipment Operator Training (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform my colleagues about the success of the heavy equipment operator training being provided to Nunavut residents through the Department of Education.
The Operating Engineers Training Institution of Ontario is located in Morrisburg.
The institute has successful, quality training programs with the support and sponsorship of industry, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, the Ontario government, aboriginal and international organizations.
Nunavut residents selected to attend to this school receive training on two pieces of heavy equipment.
All students receive training on the Tractor/Loader/Backhoe and then they are given the option of selecting their second piece of equipment, either on the excavator or the bulldozer.
Training consists of two weeks of theory followed by four weeks of practical training for each piece of equipment. Mr. Speaker, the two of weeks of classroom consists of certification for safety training courses, pre-operational inspections, equipment, maintenance, and transportation of heavy equipment.
These certifications are mandatory on many construction sites.
There are six students assigned to an instructor and students are evaluated on an on-going basis throughout the training program.