EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Members’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Member for Baffin South, Mr. Schell.
Member’s Statement 073 – 3(2): Support our Northern Airlines (Schell)
I rise today to express my firm support for our northern airlines.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of air travel to and from the north is of great importance to my constituents and communities.
The recent news that Air Canada Jazz has announced plans to enter our territory has caused us to look closely at this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I believe there’s an old joke in the airline industry which goes like this, “What’s the easiest way to make a small fortune in the airline business?”
The answer, Mr. Speaker, is, “To start with a large fortune.”
Mr. Speaker, Canada’s challenging geography and scattered population has always made it difficult for airlines to survive and thrive.
Smaller companies have often failed when they are trying to compete head to head against large, established carriers.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that Air Canada is not a fair competitor.
It’s a dangerous and unwelcome predator.
We need only to look at what’s happening to our neighbour to the west to take a glimpse of the dark future that threatens us all.
In the NWT, the predator tactics of Air Canada Jazz and WestJet has driven down fares on the lucrative Edmonton-Yellowknife route, but have they started new services to the smaller communities?
Have they distinguished themselves by providing generous support to the communities’ sports teams, youth activities, and charities?
Have our aboriginal owned northern carriers that have been serving the north for many years been forced to cut routes and throw people out of work?
Mr. Speaker, the arrival of Air Canada Jazz to the capital city of Iqaluit might help overpaid bureaucrats to enjoy cheaper tickets to Ottawa as they head out to conferences or all-inclusive vacations to the Caribbean, but our smaller communities and their residents will not benefit at all.
Mr. Speaker, we need to take a firm stance against companies that use predatory tactics to drive their competition into the grave.
That always has been Air Canada’s strategy and we should be under no illusion that it cares at all about the north.
Mr. Speaker, I call on our government to immediately implement a policy to ensure that not a single penny of public money goes to supporting the unwelcome entity. I call on our government to ensure that there is not a single GN civil servant using public dollars to buy a seat on Air Canada Jazz.
I call on our Member of Parliament and Senator to lobby the federal government to adopt a similar approach for their travel procedures.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking a clear commitment from our government that it will stand up for the northern owned air carriers.
Member’s Statement 074 – 3(2): Traditional Food Airfreight Rate (Arvaluk)
I am very pleased that Mr. Curley, the Minister of Health and Social Services, made a Minister’s Statement on November being Diabetes Month, as this will allow people to be checked.
I would like to say that the federal government helps with nutritious healthy foods through the Food Mail Program, especially through NorthMart and the Co-ops, and many people use it.
There are also people who can write in English who utilize this program.
However, although it states in here and on the posters in our health centres that caribou, polar bear, walrus, seals, and fish are nutritious, healthy foods, the federal government hasn’t given us any financial support when we order food from the other communities. Despite the fact that country food is good for our health and blood, there is no subsidy for these foods.
We would like it to be known that we believe country food deserves to be included in the food subsidies, particularly in light of the fact that some communities experience shortage of country food, such as caribou that migrate and are sometimes unavailable.
We believe there should be inter-community trade in country food through the HTOs.
I would like to urge the Government of Nunavut to examine this issue. I also urge the federal government to conduct a study to determine how inter-community trade in country food can be included in their Food Mail Program.
Member’s Statement 075 – 3(2): Support for Nunavut’s Remote Communities (Rumbolt)
I rise today to once again urge the government to ensure that residents of Nunavut’s more remote communities have the support they need to participate in territorial events.
Mr. Speaker, in March, I rose in the House to congratulate the students from Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq on attending the trade show in Igloolik.
Following the trade show, those students travelled to Kelowna, BC, where they again displayed their business plan and products with great success.
That trip would not have been possible without funding from the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Kakivak Association.
Mr. Speaker, I have learned that there will be no participation from Sanikiluaq in trade shows this year.
Representatives from the Nuiyak School have informed me that they are not receiving any funding this year because the cost of sending students from Sanikiluaq to these types of events is too high.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday my colleague from Quttiktuq raised the issue of athletes from his constituency having difficulties to raise enough funds to attend territorial sporting events due to the high cost of travel from their geographic locations.
As I have noted in the past, the same barriers face athletes from Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, once again, we have a situation where community residents are left out of events because of where they live.
Mr. Speaker, this government and other organizations which exist to support the people of Nunavut need to make a better effort to ensure that all Nunavut communities and all Nunavut residents have equal opportunities to participate in events throughout Nunavut.
The high cost of living is a fact of life that we face every day throughout the north.
It should not be used as an excuse to deprive individuals of opportunities that are made available to other residents.
Member’s Statement 076 – 3(2): Happy Birthday Rachel Uyarasuk (Tapardjuk)
I rise today for a different reason, but I would first like to say “good afternoon” to the communities of Igloolik and Hall Beach.
I wish to acknowledge the oldest individual currently living in Igloolik. She chose me as the namesake for her late spouse and calls me husband, so I have called her Nuliaq, or wife, ever since I was first introduced to her as a child.
On November 17, she celebrated her birthday and her relatives gathered to celebrate her birthday on November 20.
According to government documents, it states that she was born on January 1, 1914.
However, she herself knows that she was born in the fall.
If government documents are true, she would be 95 years old presently, but many people know that she’s a lot older than 95.
She has also stated that Noah Piugattuk, her late brother, was about four years younger than her and according to the records, he was born in 1900.
If that was the case, then she would be 105 years old this year.
Due to the possibility of mistaken government records muddling the issue, I am not going to argue with the age, but rather celebrate the fact that she is the eldest person in the Baffin region, at least in my estimation.
I want my colleagues to join me in congratulating Rachel on her birthday and to wish her good health so that we can celebrate her next birthday.
Member’s Statement 077 – 3(2): Conservation Officer’s Actions and Consequences (Ningeongan)
I rise today to raise a concern brought forward by my constituents and which continues to be a public issue, even though our government seems to consider the case closed.
Mr. Speaker, news reports have indicated that in mid-September, a newly hired Government of Nunavut conservation officer shot two muskoxen in the region between Chesterfield Inlet and Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, although it is not uncommon for conservation officers to hunt while they are out on patrol, it is certainly unusual that they would break the very laws that they have been hired to enforce by hunting animals out of season and in an area closed to hunting.
Mr. Speaker, any individual hired to perform a job related to the enforcement of laws and regulations should be held as accountable under those same laws and regulations as every other individual in the same jurisdiction, if not so, more.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding, in the case I am referring to, a supervisor within the Department of Environment indirectly granted this conservation officer permission to do what he did by providing incorrect information.
Surely, any senior official within the department should be fully aware of the rules and regulations relating to their work, especially in the field relating to law enforcement.
Mr. Speaker, there is a saying that ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.
This is often applied to the average citizen who has to pay consequences of their actions, even though they may have been unaware that they were breaking the law.
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that there is a public perception that employees of the Government of Nunavut can act as though they are above the law and face no consequences for breaking it.
How can the public have confidence in the actions of individuals who try to enforce the law when it is well known that he is not held accountable under that same law?
Mr. Speaker, how can the public have confidence in an organization that investigates itself and determines that there is no wrongdoing?
There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Ningeongan.
A number of my constituents feel that it is time for the government to stop sweeping its mistakes under the carpet.
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough for the government to say that it will provide better orientation or better training in the future.
Now is the time to be accountable.
Mr. Speaker, section 148 of Nunavut’s Wildlife Act states that the minister shall be responsible for administering this Act.
I urge the minister to act accordingly.
At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I shall have questions on this issue.
Member’s Statement 078 – 3(2): Steps Towards Social Advocacy (Elliott)
I would like to start by thanking Minister Taptuna for his Minister’s Statement.
Sovereignty is definitely an issue near and dear to our hearts up in the High Arctic.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Premier for her commitment to have the ministers travelling.
To date, we’ve had six ministers come to the High Arctic, which I know residents are very happy and thankful for.
They have made comments that in the past, they rarely saw their elected officials and they are greatly appreciating the fact that they have come up.
We’ve had, as the minister pointed out, Minister Taptuna and Minister Shewchuk come up during the High Arctic transportation meetings.
Minister Kusugak came up with his representatives.
Back in the spring, Minister Peterson spent a week in Resolute Bay.
As well, Minister Tapardjuk and the Premier came up during the Nunavut Quest.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge an important step forward in addressing the needs and issues of one of the most vulnerable groups in our society: children and youth.
Mr. Speaker, following our October review of the GN report card, it was agreed that an independent position to represent and articulate the needs of children and youth will be established during the life of this Legislative Assembly.
I am very pleased that my colleagues in the House have agreed to support this initiative.
Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that the government has also committed to opening a social advocacy office within the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs that will seek to assist disadvantaged and vulnerable groups within our society.
Mr. Speaker, while I am in full support of all efforts to address the social issues and challenges that face our territory, I am concerned that having an overlying, broad mandate will weaken the ability of the Social Advocacy Office to realistically address distinct areas of concern.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the government to make every effort to focus its efforts and resources on specific and tangible goals.
I believe that by moving forward step by step, we will be more effective and successful in reaching each milestone.
By jumping in with both feet first, we risk losing sight of the path we are on.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. (interpretation) Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 079 – 3(2): Need for a Swimming Pool in Repulse Bay (Ningark)
I rise today to bring attention to a letter that I received from one of my younger constituents in Repulse Bay.
Jenny is nine years old and she wrote a letter to me as her MLA explaining how she would like to be able to learn how to swim. She would like to have a swimming pool in Repulse Bay.
Later today, at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling her letter.
I am very proud that my young constituent has the initiative and courage to write a letter to me.
The lack of a swimming pool in Repulse Bay is an issue that is not unlike the issue of equal opportunity for young Nunavummiut that was brought up yesterday by my colleague from the High Arctic.
My colleague spoke about the importance of the physical and mental health of young Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, he spoke about the importance of ensuring equal access to sporting events for all youth Nunavummiut.
Today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise both his message with an actual letter from a young constituent who seemed to know just as well as anyone the significance of having access to recreational infrastructure.
Member’s Statement 080 – 3(2): Long Gun Registry Questionnaire (Tootoo)
I rise today to talk about an issue that is something that I have been raising for the last ten years.
I remember our very first leadership forum here in Iqaluit back in 1999. It was a question I raised and it has been an issue for Nunavummiut since before that and that is Nunavummiuts’ frustration in dealing with the federal government’s gun control legislation.
Mr. Speaker, we all know and governments have always been accused that the wheels of government move very slow.
This is something that has been going on for over ten years now.
I was very happy to see in town here when I picked up a mail-in thing with free postage to send back, it is a little pamphlet or questionnaire and it says, “Should the long gun registry be scrapped?”
Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t cost you anything to fill it out and it doesn’t cost you anything to mail it back.
Mr. Speaker, I am filling it out. I will show you right now. I’m clicking yes, the long gun registry should be scrapped by the federal government and I will be sending it in to them.
I encourage all of my colleagues and their constituents that have been raising this issue for over ten years now to do the same thing.
Members’ Statements. (interpretation) If there are no more, (interpretation ends) Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions.
I am very delighted to introduce this person who many Nunavutmiut call a friend. Reverend Roger Armbruster of the Canada Awakening Ministries near Winnipeg has arrived into Iqaluit and I would like you to join me in welcoming him.
Speaker: Thank you. Welcome to the Gallery.
Question 103 – 3(2): 2010 Year of the Inuit (Arvaluk)
With respect to this question, we heard yesterday at 5:30 p.m., November 25, 2009, that the President of ITK, Mary Simon, stated that the upcoming year 2010 would be the Year of the Inuit. She spoke to many issues facing Inuit, including the fact that Inuit pay income taxes, our continuing shortage of adequate housing, as well as the high cost of living in the north, even though Inuit have some of the smallest incomes in Canada.
As a matter of fact, some make far less than the average.
I would like to ask the Premier if the Nunavut government will be involved in substantiating Ms. Mary Simon’s statements with respect to the issues facing Inuit and especially in orientating the federal government about the challenges we face, in particular the fact that Inuit are not equitably treated as it relates to the extremely high cost of living as well as the shortage of adequate housing.
We have faced these challenges ever since the Nunavut government was created and even prior to that.
Like my colleague, as he made his statement about this announcement yesterday, that was the first I have heard of it, but it is a news item that is of interest, especially the statements Ms. Simon made about our challenges.
Last month, I had an opportunity to speak with Mary Simon in Charlottetown when she was there to make a presentation.
We also spoke to the issues facing northern peoples and governments, although Mary spoke more to the issues facing the northerners who she represents and I spoke to the challenges that Nunavut faces, including our needs as a territory. We were able to present our views on these issues.
As a government, we have also wanted to communicate this since we have also orated that in our Tamapta document. It states that we need to inform people outside of Nunavut about these facts and this is interrelated to this principle.
I appreciate the member’s question with respect to whether the Nunavut government will be involved in this area because it’s a very good initiative to consider. I will also discuss this matter with my colleagues at the cabinet level.
Has a position been drafted or has the government prepared a mechanism that will be used to deal with this initiative?
As it relates to orientating the federal government about the situation Inuit are in, there are many issues we can include, such as the High Arctic exiles and Henry Larsen of the RCMP, who traversed the Northwest Passage with his Eskimo friends, with no reference to their names.
Some of these Inuit are still alive today, including their descendants.
Based on their recollections, the Inuit had to look after them and to coddle them so that they would not perish and they were therefore able to survive this ordeal.
If the Inuit had not looked after their welfare and survival, they would not have been able to succeed, as previous attempts without Inuit assistance had not been successful.
Has our government started preparations to tell the Inuit story to the federal government or our southern counterparts about the tremendous assistance Inuit have provided, especially in the High Arctic?
This is a very important issue to Nunavummiut, especially as it relates to Inuit, who Inuit are and where they originated from. It is especially important that we communicate this information to other countries outside of Nunavut, particularly overseas countries.
The need to communicate this is vitally important to this government. It is obvious that my colleague shares that view, particularly in representing the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. We continue to discuss this and we also make presentations to our southern counterparts and overseas governments.
We try to incorporate this into everything we do as a government. However, with respect to the details included in this initiative, we still need to finalize what will be included and that is obvious.
I agree with my colleague on its importance, especially as it relates to the definition of Inuit, where they came from, and how interconnected they are with the northern environment.
This is something that people around the world have to realize and I thank the member for raising that issue.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the Premier for responding to my question. I believe they’re going to consider it accordingly.
My supplementary question is… . I think it was on the same day, in the southern news media, it was mentioned that they realized southern Canadians don’t know Inuit at all.
They believe that they know Inuit because during the 2010 Olympics, there will be an Inuksuk there.
We have a perception where the southern people know us, but it’s obvious that they don’t know us.
Lots of Canadians don’t know Inuit, their culture, and the many challenges they face, like the housing shortage.
Will she be making that information available to all Canadians and the federal government? If we don’t do this properly, Inuit of Canada will not be too happy.
My question is: will you be planning to make sure that all of this information about the Inuit and the north is provided to southern Canadians? How will it be planned?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Premier Aariak.
In the Tamapta document, there is a statement in there on how Tamapta will be implemented.
The Nunavut government has been in place for ten years now and the public needs to know all about it. That’s going to be part of our plan.
Question 104 – 3(2): Former Deputy Minister of Justice (Okalik)
I thanked her yesterday for acknowledging the issue that we spoke about and she apologized for her mistake.
I thank her for the apology she made.
In spite of that, we have to be a transparent government, so I’m going to be asking questions on this.
My question is why the position of Deputy Minister of Justice became vacant.
Did the individual resign or was he asked to leave?
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we want to be as transparent and understandable as possible.
As I stated in prior dialogues with my colleague several times, I have reiterated the same statement each time, but it seems that he can’t comprehend my repeated answers.
With respect to the contents, I am not at liberty to discuss them based on the policy we are following in regard to confidentiality.
We can’t speak to the particulars of any dismissal case nor any human resource issues.
With respect to our employees, we are dealing with section 23 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which speaks to any member of the public requesting information.
I apologize for not using the proper term in Inuktitut, but it relates to confidentiality.
We are aware, as are my colleagues, we have to deal with confidential matters, especially when they are personal, and we have to accept this confidentiality policy as it is applied in order to keep that trust. (interpretation ends) We agree that we must respect their privacy.
All of my actions, I believe and practise in transparency. There is no secrecy, as the member stated, and all procedures were followed.
There is nothing more I can say on this issue. (interpretation) Thank you.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Okalik
I don’t wish to pursue this issue incessantly. All I wished for was an adequate response as to what happened and this seems to have been answered indirectly in that the deputy minister didn’t resign.
What I’m trying to get at is that the government should inform our fellow Nunavummiut immediately about these types of senior position dismissals or resignations and introduce any replacements as required.
I would like to see this reincorporated in the near future as a government practice since it seems to have been waylaid. It was not done properly in my opinion.
My question to the Premier is whether she will be returning to this practice from past governments.
When we talk about staff, we have to look at them case by case. As I said before, we have the Senior Personnel Secretariat and we have to go through them if we need to do anything else.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Public Service Act of Nunavut, section 16(1), states that the commissioner in council, “on the recommendation of the Premier, has the exclusive right and authority to appoint persons to the position of Deputy Minister in the public service.”
We have not amended that legislation.
So all I’m asking for is some accountability that if there is going to be a change in the public service at this level, the Premier has to announce those changes, not through some gazette that we have to try and research.
We have to be open with our constituents and the governments that we deal with elsewhere. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We have not violated any legislation or Act.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Okalik.
If we are going to be giving this responsibility to the Senior Personnel Secretariat, they have to abide by the Act.