EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I rise today to congratulate one of my young constituents for having achieved national recognition.
Mr. Speaker, Carla Oyukuluk is a senior high school student at Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay.
Carla was recently awarded first place in the Prince Edward Island Confederation Centre of the Arts Essay Competition.
Mr. Speaker, students from Prince Edward Island and Nunavut were invited to write essays related to the 2009 Symons Lecture that was given by Mary Simon, President of ITK.
Carla’s essay was entitled Our Past and Present.
Mr. Speaker, in reading her essay, it became clear to me that this thoughtful young woman is truly an example of what we mean when we say that the youth are our future. I am going to share some of her thoughts with the House today.
Mr. Speaker, Carla’s essay touches on a number of important themes: the value of education, the need to bridge the gap between generations, and the challenges facing our territory in the future. What she writes in her essay would fit in well with the issues that we consider in this House.
Consider what she has to say about education: “If I want to go to college or university, I am worried that I may not be prepared enough.
One good advantage of living in Nunavut is that the Government of Nunavut financially supports students who attend college.
The Inuit need this benefit in order to train and be educated for positions that people from the south now fill.”
Mr. Speaker, Carla is clearly well aware of how decisions made in the international sphere affect us here at home. She notes that “One of the basic Inuit values is to have a respect for wildlife and it matters that the animals do not suffer when we hunt them.
Like Mary Simon, I think people in Canada and abroad need to understand more about the Arctic and the Inuit.
It’s difficult for me to understand why people feel it is wrong to hunt seals.”
Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the human dimension of arctic sovereignty earlier this week.
As a young resident of the territory, Carla knows that the decisions that we make today will impact her life and the lives of her generation tomorrow.
She notes that “The weather in the Arctic has changed so much over the past few years. I can see it happening myself and not just through my grandparents’ eyes. Sometime soon, the Northwest Passage will be open.
Oil spills and exploration of the Arctic environment will likely threaten the wildlife and habitat we depend on.”
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I wish to request unanimous consent to continue with my Member’s Statement.
At the appropriate time, I will be tabling a copy of Carla’s essay and I encourage all members to read it with care.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to her teacher, Paulette Campbell.
I ask all members to join me in congratulating Carla for making us proud.
Member’s Statement 312 – 3(2): Climate Change – Inuit Perspective on Isuma TV (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good morning.
I would like to say “good morning” to my constituents in Igloolik. They are apparently not watching the proceedings on TV, but it is working in Hall Beach, so I extend good morning wishes to all Hall Beach residents.
The reason why I rise this morning is to share my pleasure on a video that was just released.
We are often notified about climate change impacting the globe and that a lot of researchers state that climate change is causing global warming.
I believe a couple of years ago, Al Gore, the former Vice-President of the United States, made a video speaking about climate change and global warming.
Mr. Speaker, the reason why I rise today is because we, as Inuit, use our elders as a foundation and they are asked about their observations regarding climate change.
The elders have presented their knowledge, and we worked with Zacharias Kunuk, who partnered with Ian Mauro. They filmed elders from Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, Resolute Bay, and Igloolik about their observations of the effects of climate change.
Though starting tomorrow, the video will be available on Isuma TV’s website and will be available for viewing.
The video is in Inuktitut, and Zack Kunuk is a very good and well-renowned filmmaker. There will be another video outlining the Inuit perspective on how climate change is impacting the Arctic. The video outlines the most notable observations that elders have noted and their recommendations to meet the challenges for the future.
I am very proud of Isuma TV and Zach Kunuk and Ian Mauro, so please join me in congratulating them.
Member’s Statement 313 – 3(2): Rankin Inlet Graduates of Maani Ulujuk School (Kusugak)
My sister is in Igloolik and I would have said hello, but unfortunately they are not hearing the proceedings.
I would like to say “good morning” to the residents of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet.
Tomorrow during Saturday, I know for a fact that they will be out hunting in Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet.
I envy them so.
In Rankin Inlet this summer, I was invited to attend a graduation ceremony and it was very gratifying.
There were a lot of graduates at the Maani Ulujuk High School.
The parents were very happy and proud of their graduating children.
A lot of our students are very skilled and capable, and I want to acknowledge them today.
In Rankin Inlet, they celebrate the graduation in August.
There are 22 graduates and they are: Sinead Anderson, Hilary Angidlik, Leroy Bruce, Joseph Qajaaqjuaq Curley, who is the son of my colleague from Rankin Inlet, Lisa Dunkerley, Tyler Gatehouse, Tracy Ford, Amelia Ipkornerk, Hilary Irwin, Simeonie Makpah, Jacob McLeod, Harry Niakrok Jr., Kyra Nokkitok, Crystal Nukapiak “Pataa,” and my beloved grandson’s dad, Mike Nukapiak, Kimberly Okalik, Andrew Uuyukuluk Pilakapsi, Robbie Sateana, Kalai Pilakapsi, Nellie Pissuk, Robert Simik, and Tyler Tattuinee.
Let’s be proud of these graduates and we hope that they are successful in their chosen careers.
I support them as Nunavummiut since they are our future.
Member’s Statement 314 – 3(2): Letter from Young Constituent (Curley)
I rise today to continue on some of the perspectives that the youth have because they have valuable insight which can help us in our deliberations today.
Our grandchild will be arriving and I want everybody to know that I’m busy this weekend.
Apparently my grandchild went to Baker Lake to visit my wife’s relatives and they were looking after our grandchild, and this was due to bad weather.
Now, the youth in the high schools write essays and letters to the members and throughout the year and I tend to read these letters.
(interpretation ends) “Dear Tagak Curley, my name is Marie Tiriaq Qasalluaq.
I am 15 years old in grade 10.
I am a resident of your riding, Rankin Inlet North.”
That’s a good place to live.
I can tell you that.
“I am writing you this letter to tell you that Rankin needs a better place to live.”
I’m going to shorten it.
“It is also expensive to go down south to watch a movie.
We need a better hangout place and a bigger one due to the population raise in Rankin Inlet that has a snack bar and a part to relax with iPods and finish the sleep we needed the night before.
I also wanted to see a hip hop crew to train us how to dance because, at the teenage dances, there are a few dancing and to make it more interesting to have a dance-off after a busy day.
Rankin Inlet residents will be happy to see a better community grow because, if this ever happens, people from other communities will hear about this and might want to move here.
They might want to see their relatives whom they miss dearly.”
This is one I want everyone to mark. Note it.
“Bigger communities equal better communities. More jobs equal happier people.”
At this time I thank you for your time and reading this letter.
I hope to hear from you in the future. (interpretation) I will be responding to the author via correspondence.
Member’s Statement 315 – 3(2): Dialectal Differences of Inuit (Okalik)
Today being Friday, I would like to use part of our usual practice in the past.
In the past when I was a young adult, I had to go the hospital in Montreal. At that time, we used to combine Nunavut and Nunavik Inuit in the same boarding home in Montreal.
I was there and there was an elderly Nunavik resident who was unilingual, who asked me to come to the store with him.
His dialect was new to me, so I was trying to emulate and say “yes” in the Northern Quebec dialect.
I said “Auka,” which I found out retroactively means no.
The elder just sat down and although I was trying to get ready, he just sat down and I supposed he didn’t want to go, so I just sat there.
We had sat for about an hour and he came back to me, “Let’s go to the corner store, shall we?”
Again I said “Auka.”
I would get ready because I thought I was saying yes, but he would just sit down.
The next day, I asked another Nunavik resident that I was wondering why that elder would ask me to go to a store and I would say “Auka” when I was trying to say “yes.”
He then told me that that means no and that I kept saying no to the elder. When I finally realized that, I asked how they say “yes.”
He said, “Aa.” That’s how we say “yes.”
I was so regretful of turning down that elder who kept requesting me to go to the store with him.
When I finally went out with that elder, I told him about it.
Even though we’re all Inuit, we have slightly different dialects and slightly different customs, so we have to be open to other clans.
This was one that really showed me the difference. I am very happy to relate that story to you now.
Question 455 – 3(2): The Use of Plastic Bags in Nunavut (Okalik)
I will be raising a question on an issue that is not new. I know, Mr. Speaker, that this is relevant to you since you used to raise questions in regard to this matter.
The issue that I would like to raise is the stores’ use of plastic bags.
We are learning about the effects of these plastic bags and that they have a long life when they are on the land. Some of these materials take between 100 to 1,000 years to degrade.
When plastic bags are broken into smaller pieces, they can be ingested by animals, such as fish and birds. The animals mistakenly assume that these bits are food, so they ingest them.
Due to these materials in their systems, it then causes illnesses in these animals. Again, these are the animals on which we depend.
I know that we have not reached that stage yet, but we will eventually reach it, as we have seen the impacts in the southern environment.
I would like to raise this question to the minister with regard to some of the stores because they are now using materials that are more biodegradable and that can disappear.
Although they are a low number, there are some stores that are still using plastic bags. How can the Minister of Environment encourage these stores to stop utilizing these plastic bags?
The member brings up a very good point that we have talked about in the past.
As we all know, all of our communities have this problem that he outlines, and we have all seen that about these bags in the dumps being blown all over and onto the land and into our oceans.
It’s a very important thing that we look at and we are looking at it.
In 2008, Mr. Speaker, the department initiated an anti-litter project to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags.
At that time, we distributed four reusable shopping bags to each household in Nunavut; 9,200 bags were distributed across the territory.
This was a very successful campaign, and we do see some of these bags being used in the community and I encourage to people to use them more. If we need to get more bags out there and people request for them, we will.
We recognize that there are businesses that have the use and are initiating the use of reusable bags and we encourage that to continue.
I say “yes” to the member requesting that I encourage and write letters to businesses that aren’t using reusable bags. I will do that.
I think it’s a very important campaign.
I think all of us have a responsibility here though, including hamlets and individual people, to use reusable bags and to encourage their stores and businesses to switch to reusable bags too.
Again, this issue and this problem will be part of waste management strategy plan that we are working of with Community and Government Services.
Those of us who are bilingual and those who can utilize the Internet were learning a lot about these materials. In talking about plastic bags, they will continue to degrade the environment, and they have drastic impact issues, but it’s the unilingual people who do not know the impact of plastic bags. They’re really impacting our environment and polluting it.
I would like to further encourage the Department of Environment that, if they could do a public education system or information system on plastic bags, they could talk about the impact of plastic bags on the environment.
I know that Inuit are concerned about oil spills, but these plastic bags come from oil.
They are made from the by-products of oil, so we our littering our environment.
Our unilingual Inuit have to be taught about the impacts of plastic bags on the environment, so I’m wondering whether they have a public education campaign ready.
This has been done through the anti-littering campaign and through distribution of our shopping bags to all households in Nunavut.
Information did go out in both English and Inuktitut.
However, if there is a need and demand for any communication that we do send out there, we can do that in both languages, Mr. Speaker.
As I related earlier, there are more and more stores that are using biodegradable bags here in Iqaluit.
This is very meaningful to me because it’s visible.
I keep trying to remind the stores, “Keep it up.
Let’s try to make your care for the environment visible and reducing or reusing materials.”
Although these materials cost a bit more and the cost to them have an impact, their concern about the environment is more important to them.
Therefore, my question to the minister is: perhaps we should make that mandatory to take out the plastic bags so that the cost of the grocery bags will be equal.
It seems like we’re rewarding the people who buy these cheaper plastic bags with this effort.
This is a very important issue and if we can reduce the use of plastic bags and switch to biodegradable, reusable bags, that’s what we strive to do. I will tell the member that I will make an effort to contact all businesses in Nunavut and encourage them to do that.
Again I refer back to the stores that I’m very proud of because, although this is not a very big issue, these small business owners who are working hard to make a profit have included biodegradable plastic bags, even though it’s costing them.
I think it’s important that we acknowledge small business owners who have a very big concern about the environment and are doing something about it. We should offer them recognition maybe by achievement certificates or offer awards of those sorts.
I would like to further encourage the Minister of Environment to, perhaps, publicly recognize private businesses that are showcasing their efforts to protect the environment.
So I would like to urge the minister to do such an initiative.
I absolutely will take the member’s comments into consideration and recognize the proper people.
However, at this opportunity, I would like to encourage all Nunavummiut to use the bags that were supplied to them in their households and to specifically talk to each individual business in their communities and voice their concerns about these plastic bags and how they are blowing all over the land and how detrimental they could be to the environment.
Question 456 – 3(2): Uranium Development in Nunavut (Aupaluktuq)
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I say “good morning” to you.
I also wish to extend good morning wishes to the residents of Baker Lake and I hope they have a wonderful day.
Prior to my raising this question, I wanted to note that the person that our hon. colleague, Tagak Curley, referred to, Marie Tiriaq Qasalluaq, shares the same Inuk name as I do. It was very pleasing to hear what she requested from the minister.
According to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, our namesake forecast that the Inuit named after him would be fluent in English. My fellow namesake is already smarter than I am, as she showcased with her letter.
I would like to follow up on some of the questions that I asked earlier this week concerning the government’s response to the petition that I presented in June of this year concerning uranium mining in Nunavut.
I’m looking forward to getting some clear answers on behalf of my constituents.
As I noted earlier this week, the government plans to hire consultants to study the issue of uranium mining and hold a public forum on the issue.
In which communities will the public forums be held and on what dates will they take place?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): I also say “good morning” to the people in Iqaluit East as well as Nunavut residents.
I thank you for raising that question, my hon. colleague.
With regard to the operations of the research, it has been outlined.
At this point in time, we’re not sure whether they are going to be feasible, but we have conducted a feasibility study.
At the start of the 2011 calendar year, they will be conducting that study.
They will be in these communities in the Baffin, the Kivalliq, as well in the Kitikmeot.
They will be conduction studies in all the communities of the regions.
I would recommend the Premier identify which communities in those three regions would be visited or entertained as well.
Mr. Speaker, in one her replies to my questions that I asked on Wednesday, the Premier informed the House that the Minister of Health and Social Services “is also seeking public input” on this issue.
I want to take a moment to pay tribute to the Minister of Health’s exceptionally distinguished record on this issue, including his past service with the Northern Anti-Uranium Coalition.
Can the Premier tell me how the Department of Health’s review will be coordinated with the upcoming public forums?
To provide more detail about the communities in these three regions, in Iqaluit, Baker Lake, and Cambridge Bay, they will be conducting these studies. These three communities will be where they conduct the study.
However, with regard to the question you just phrased now, I just used that as an example. If he misunderstood it, I was just trying to state that this research will be used through different avenues.
The data will be used by different research, for example, through telephone calls, email surveys and/or personal visits.
With regard to the computer survey, I was just referring to that as another option.
In that same medium, the Department of Health and Social Services is conducting a survey and they will be trying to incorporate more people through the telehealth initiative.
Now, with regard to the policies and when they’re trying to develop rules and procedures on issues related to uranium mining, it doesn’t really deal with that particular issue. The health issues are not really related to that, but the questions for the survey regarding uranium mining have just been developed now.
No doubt that the departments of Health and Social Services and Environment will be contributing as well.
Public health and well-being is a priority foremost for all Nunavummiut, and it’s something that we all based on as a culture, that we have been here for thousands of years, and public health and well-being has always been the mandate of our people in order to survive amongst various skills and abilities.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask as well… .
The Premier told us on Wednesday that the government is going to be hiring consultants to “tell us exactly what uranium development entails.”  As we all know, different consultants bring different perspectives to an issue.
Some people are pro environment while others are pro mining.
Can the Premier tell us exactly who will make the final decision concerning the consultants that will be hired; the Department of EIA, the Department of Economic Development, or the Department of Health?
The researcher who will be checking on a number of topics in this survey will be utilizing experts in the field of uranium mining. We will also include representatives of the mining industry.
As well, in particular, we will try to deal with groups that are extremely concerned about uranium mining and advocacy groups.
We will also be looking at Canada-wide groups. I am not sure how to pronounce it properly in Inuktitut, but they are also requesting for information from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
There are different avenues and different parties that we will be requesting for information from, both those who are pro mining and pro environment.
Also, as a government, we don’t want to unilaterally deal with this issue.
If we did that, people would state that we are either pro mining or pro environment.
That’s why we’re trying to use an outside agency that has no connections to anyone in Nunavut to conduct the study because it would be a more objective finding.
So once the questionnaires have been completed, we will be reviewing the findings resulting from this survey.
The findings will be presented to the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Aupaluktuq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps, at a later date, the Premier will be able to advise this House on who will make the final decision on this process.
For my final supplementary, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the Premier that she told us on Wednesday that the government is now moving towards developing a formal policy on uranium development. Who will actually be writing the policy, consultants or public servants?
It’s quite obvious that the findings of the study will showcase the perspective of Nunavut residents as it relates to uranium mining.
With regard to the policy and the preparation of this mining strategy, this is called a plan. It states that we should be providing guidelines or regulations for Nunavummiut.
It is obvious that the department dealing with this will be the Department of Economic Development and Transportation. They deal mainly with strategic direction papers.
Again it rests on getting the information from that survey because it will highlight the direction that we need to go.
At that time, I will be happy to report on the findings of the survey and convey it to you.
Question 457 – 3(2): Northern Economic and Sovereignty Infrastructure Conference (Elliott)
My questions are for the Premier and they concern the recent Northern Economic and Sovereignty Infrastructure Conference that was held earlier this month.
I noted that the GN was listed as a platinum sponsor on their list of sponsors.
Can the Premier tell us today how much the government’s contribution was to receive this status?
Hon. Eva Aariak. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will take this question as notice and get back to the member.
Mr. Elliott, your question has been taken as notice. Oral Questions.
Question 458 – 3(2): Nunavut Schools’ Attendance Policies (Ugyuk)
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the reply to my written question regarding school attendance rates in Nunavut.
However, the response has raised more questions about what is being down right now to address attendance issues in Nunavut’s schools.
I am greatly concerned that, in the time it takes to transition from old policies to new ones, as required under the new Education Act, we are going backwards instead of forwards.
The response to my written question indicates there may be further delays in the requirements to have attendance policies in place.
Can the minister advise this House on what steps are being taken in the short term to address this very serious issue?
Minister of Education, Hon. Hunter Tootoo.
Hon. Hunter Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for the question.
Mr. Speaker, I know that’s a very important issue.
It’s something that was echoed to me by all of the chairs of the DEAs when I met with them twice earlier this week.
Mr. Speaker, the department is developing a new student records system and that’s something that we are using to hopefully keep better track of what the rates are.