EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
With the wildlife that exists in Nunavut, the different environments and natural resources, Inuit are being involved in all of these management issues today and in the world we live in. However, this means that there are still many legislative pieces that we will run into as obstacles, utilize, and deal with in the future.
I wanted to speak to those issues and thank you for giving me an opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Alagalak. (interpretation ends) To the motion. (interpretation) If there’s no more, does the mover of the motion, Mr. Tootoo, have any last reply?
Like I said in my opening comments, as elected officials, our constituents elect us to do a job and as Mr. Picco pointed out in his comments, it’s not always fun.
If it was always fun, it would be a lot easier, but it’s not always fun.
There are things you have to do and have a responsibility to do. I believe we have to do it whether we like it or not.
I appreciate the comments that my colleagues have made and respect them. Like Ed said, we don’t always agree on everything, but we have to respect everyone’s right to be able to say and do what they want here in this Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I want to echo the Premier’s comments in regard to Mr. Simailak’s conduct since this unfortunate event came about and in the fact that as he has joined the good side, the Regular Members of the House, Mr. Simailak has done his job very well.
He has represented his constituents, he has been involved in and a contributing member on the committees that he is involved in.
I’ve had this discussion with him and I point out that this is not something that is between me personally and Mr. Simailak.
I was elected to do a job and my constituents expect me to do my job and I am doing my job.
That’s the one thing I want to echo and it’s not about thinking you’re bigger or better than anyone else, it’s just that we all have a responsibility to do our jobs.
As I stated earlier in my opening comments about when our Integrity Act was developed, it was leading edge legislation in that area and one of the things in there that a lot of thought went into was how to incorporate IQ into the process.
And there are a number of unique things in our legislation to allow and have to have IQ incorporated.
But at the end of the day, like I said, it’s the legislation that’s there and that’s what guides us, as with all laws, and I again ask members to support this motion.
The debate is now closed and a recorded vote has been requested. (interpretation ends) So the process that this will go under, all those in favour will stand and sit when I call your name, and all those opposed, at the appropriate time, will also stand and sit when I have called your name.
All those in favour, please stand and sit when I call your name.
And all those opposed, please stand and sit when I call your name.
All those abstained, please stand and sit when I call your name.
The results of the vote are as follows: for the motion, 14; against, 1; abstentions, none.
I’m sorry, Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simailak.
I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, if we can go back to Item 3.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Item 3.
Member’s Statement 548 – 2(4): Formal Apology Following the Report of the Acting Integrity Commissioner (Simailak)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak directly to you, my colleagues, my constituents and all Nunavummiut on the matter of the Report of the Acting Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut to the Legislative Assembly, which was formally tabled in the House last week.
I listened carefully to the comments that were offered earlier in this House during consideration of the motion.
I wish to acknowledge with appreciation the respectful way in which the House has addressed this matter.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Report of the Acting Integrity Commissioner contained a number of recommendations.
I want to assure you, Mr. Speaker, the Members of this House and all Nunavummiut that I have reviewed the report with care.
Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that I take this opportunity to acknowledge my wrongful conduct and formally apologize to you, my colleagues, the people of Baker Lake and indeed all Nunavummiut.
I also wish to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to reflect on the lessons learned in this experience and give you my solemn promise that I will faithfully fulfill my commitments under the Integrity Act in the future, in addition to undertaking the necessary actions that have been recommended in the report.
Mr. Speaker, I want to close by expressing my deep gratitude to my family and the people of Baker Lake for their support to me in recent months.
Their strength is my foundation. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am thankful for your apology which I accept. We understand your apology clearly and accept the entirety of your apology.
Second of Bills.
Bills 7, 20, 21, 40, 41, and 43 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
Also, in accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 4 – 2(4), the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out.
I would like to ask members to remain in their seats and proceed directly into Committee of the Whole.
>>House recessed at 16:50 and Committee resumed at16:53
Chairman (Mr. Arreak)(interpretation): We are back once again.
I would like to ask the minister if he would like bring his officials to the witness table.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, I would very much like to have my officials with me at the witness table, Mr. Chairman.
Does the committee agree that the minister bring his officials to the witness table?
On my left is Stéphane Cloutier from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Director of Official Languages and Services, and he has been working on the Language Bills. On my right is Susan Hardy from the Department of Justice. She has been supporting and helping us on the drafting of this bill.
So that’s who we are, Mr. Chairman.
Before we begin, I would like to welcome members of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee sitting in the Gallery. They have come to watch our proceedings.
If you can take a look at Bill 7 in your legislation binders, Reprint, Inuit Language Protection Act, that’s what we will be dealing with.
At this time, we will go directly to clause 24.
Welcome back, everybody.
Mr. Chairman, my question in here is under the Inuit Language Promotion, it says under that clause that “the Minister shall develop policies or programs intended to promote... at the community level,” and it goes on with “initiatives for the use, teaching, development, promotion... and increased community capacity.”
I’m just wondering if any of that work has started yet or when do they anticipate having that, and maybe some specific ideas of what exactly that means and when they anticipate that information rolling out.
Stéphane Cloutier will respond to the question.
I will try to respond but first of all, I would like to say that the Inuit language is very important.
I will respond in English at this time.
(interpretation ends) Just to answer your question, Mr. Tootoo, if work is underway regarding this, there is a short-term plan over the next year.
There is the need, within a year, to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the legislation on how the legislation would be implemented and that will involve consultations to consult with the communities and Nunavut stakeholders to set the priorities for the long-term implementation.
So we are at the planning stage and within the next year, we will consult further with Nunavummiut to identify their priorities for the implementation of this legislation. (interpretation) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Cloutier.
I know in that specific area, it was “policies or programs intended to promote” things “at the community level.” I’m just wondering if they have any idea of what types of things that they’re looking at there that the communities can expect to get from the government.
With respect to these issues, we just started to work on the publicizing of these Inuit language consultations and we are utilizing the local radio stations heavily, including the television media.
We will be looking at ways to incorporate Inuktitut into government operations, whether we can stop the derogation of the Inuit language, and to utilize Inuktitut whenever possible by using the local community radios and other media venues, such as radio and television.
We will use that media, but we will also develop the notices.
However, based on past practices with respect to the Inuit language and teaching beginners Inuktitut, I think that we have tabled Inuktitut flash cards two times within a year. They have pictures on them and the term is already in that flash card in Inuktitut.
We have been providing those flash cards to the schools to strengthen and retain the Inuit language.
We have undertaken these initiatives which are listed in our plan and we have already started the process. As an example, the flash cards with the pictures and Inuktitut terms have already been sent out. Those are the types of activities we are undertaking, Mr. Chairman.
He said that the community is an idea of what kind of things to expect down the road and what’s out there already.
The other question that I have is in regard to clause 24. If we go to (h), it says, “the Minister shall develop policies or programs intended to promote public understanding of this Act and the regulations.”
I know the minister and his officials have indicated that they’re doing a consultation process over the next year with stakeholders to develop an implementation plan for the legislation.
What else are they looking at doing?
I have been involved in this and I’m sure that everyone can appreciate the complexities involved in this type of legislation to make sure that the public truly understands what it’s getting out of this piece of legislation.
Can I get an idea if they have an outline? Are they still working on it as to when to expect that information to get out there so that all Nunavummiut will know what to expect and what their rights are under this legislation?
Once this bill is implemented and upon approval in the House, I am hoping that by tomorrow, it will be approved. Upon approval, we will have to set up a Ministry of Languages. It’s clearly identified in clause 24 and that minister will have the responsibility to ensure that Nunavummiut have an understanding of the rights they now have.
I believe that we know that once this Act is enacted, Nunavummiut will see drastic changes in regard to the Inuit language being recognized. For that reason, the Minister of Languages will have the responsibility of ensuring that the public understands what kind of Act we have enacted and how it will be applied.
We also have plans, perhaps in the year 2009, to hold a conference in Iqaluit with all Nunavut entities and stakeholders whose focus is on language services. We would like to hold the conference on the provisions contained within the Act, how it will be implemented, and how it applies to the people who will be attending. So we will try to find out the issues from the stakeholders at this meeting and this is one way of informing the public if this bill is approved and enacted, Mr. Chairman.
I really encourage the minister and the government to really try to do a very good job of ensuring all Nunavummiut, especially the unilingual Inuktitut-speaking or Inuit language-speaking residents, what this legislation actually means to them.  I know in the past, in other legislation that’s out there, and even with this one, like I said in my opening comments, the concept and the principle behind it, no one is arguing that point.
I think it’s a great idea and it’s overdue, but when you really look into it, there are things there that people should know so they know what their rights are. I think that it’s very important that that be done very thoroughly and clearly, and as much plain language as possible just to ensure that everybody understands what it means.
The second part of that question in that is just dealing with regulations and I doubt any regulations have been drafted yet, but I’m just wondering when you anticipate the regulations being drafted.
When we first started to draft the bill, I really believed that it would be enacted.
Once it is enacted in Nunavut, then all of the communities and the stakeholders who will be impacted will have to be consulted.
We will conduct further reviews during the implementation of this Act and the regulations appended to the bill will also be considered as there are none developed.
I think that the regulations will be drafted once the process has started.
I believe that in this current year, they will start planning the development of the regulations and policies after the enactment of this bill. That’s how we envision this process as being assumed, Mr. Chairman.
I just want to again get a question out there for the record.
This legislation has impacts on everybody across Nunavut, whether it’s the private sector, the hamlets and municipalities across Nunavut, and the federal government as far as their boards, or agencies, or departments that are here in Nunavut.
When the Minister of Languages is developing the regulations, is there a mechanism to allow for feedback and input in the development of those regulations by all those bodies?
I also wish to thank the member for asking those questions.
I can tell him unequivocally that section 44 states that once the regulations or policies are drafted, we will consult with the public out there on their perspectives on the legislation.
In accordance with section 44, we will consult with the public on how the regulations can be utilized once they’re drafted. Therefore, Inuit will not be left out of this consultation process once we are drafting regulations. We will see whether the regulations would be adhered to by Inuit when we are undertaking the consultation process for the development of the regulations, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the minister for putting that on the record.
I think this is all important information for people to hear.
Another question I have in that clause, it’s a word that’s used a number of times, it talks about all kinds of media, including print, film, television, radio, digital, video interactive or other media.
I guess my question and I don’t know if it’s specifically related to that but it seems to tie in good here, I know that the film industry is growing here in Nunavut and the minister’s own home community is a good example of that.
I’m wondering if there have been any discussions with the only territorial broadcaster that we have in Nunavut, that’s the CBC, to look at them and encourage them to open up some type of TV production facility here in Nunavut, rather than having those services come out of the Northwest Territories, out of Yellowknife that they currently do.
Yes, it’s very true.
It’s a very good idea to consider and I think that your suggestion would be beneficial.
As well, CBC would not be the only one considered as we would also look at the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, although I’m not sure how we could utilize them, and other means of communication.
When we are ready to commence the consultation process, the Minister of Languages will be able to deliberate on issues, take the issues into consideration, and work with the communication agencies on how best to disseminate the information to the public, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 27.1.
This is a under Duty of Languages Commissioner. I know I raised this issue in standing committee and I also forewarned everyone in my opening comments that this was something that I would bring up.
And I know where it outlines the duties of the Languages Commissioner here, it says, “… shall take all actions and measures within the authority of the Languages Commissioner to ensure that the rights, status and privileges established by this Act with respect to the Inuit Language are recognized and performed.”
Mr. Chairman, I know it’s further along in the bill, in clause 31, where it talks about an application for investigation.
It indicates that someone could apply for an investigation to the Languages Commissioner if the spirit and intent of the Act is not being fulfilled.
If that wording is in there, I’m just wondering why that similar type of wording doesn’t fall under the duties of the Languages Commissioner to ensure that legislation is being recognized and followed on the spirit and intent that it’s intended to be.
I will have Susan Hardy respond to that question. She is from the Department of Justice, Mr. Chairman.
The first thing I would have to say is that all of the provisions of the Act apply together, so the spirit and intent is part of the Languages Commissioner’s duty.
This is a broad statement of what the Languages Commissioner has to do in a very general sense without getting into whether we’re at assistance stage, non-investigative dispute resolution stage, a form of alternative dispute resolution that does involve some investigation or a full-on investigation that starts having adversarial qualities to it. There’s a variety of things provided for here.
In this particular section, we’re not getting into those details, we’re making a general statement that mirrors the wording in Bill 6, and I don’t know if that was noticed.
And when we’re talking about all actions and measures within the authority of the Languages Commissioner, what more particular sections go on to do is to go on to explain what is within her authority.
So one of the things within her authority is to receive a complaint, for example, there was technical compliance but other difficulties that a person wants the commissioner’s assistance with, and this broad statement can encompass that or other kinds of complaints that we then specify later.
I thank Ms. Hardy for that.
You said that the concept of the first line of clause 28 was to ensure that the rights, status, and privileges established by the Act are fulfilled. Wouldn’t one think that the wording just makes sure that the spirit and the intent of this Act are being fulfilled? Would that not be considered a pretty broad statement and not a specific thing?
I guess my concern is if the spirit and intent, under an application for investigation, is the only place that it appears, and I know in committee, I wondered if it would be a more appropriate place to put it under the duties of the Languages Commissioner to make sure that the spirit and the intent of the Act is happening and being done because it doesn’t really give them the authority under the duties of the Language Commissioner to say that you’ve got to make sure that the spirit and the intent of the Act are being complied with or followed.
Maybe if I could just get a response to that.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Susan Hardy will respond to that as well, Mr. Chairman.
What I can say in response is that the rights and privileges in this Act include the enforcement not only of the letter but its spirit and intent.
Its intent is to achieve a state of more substantive equality or equity between the different language groups in Nunavut and that part of the intent of this Act is that it is a privilege that we are establishing that that will be enforced. So it’s not an omission necessarily.
There’s a very broad statement here that’s meant to encompass everything that comes after.
And in terms of the application or assistance requesting process, that’s a very small issue in a much wider process. The spirit and intent may sound like a broad statement but in terms of what people are concerned about, it’s quite often going to be the letter, if you follow me.
So this statement speaks to the rights and privileges.
One of those rights and privileges is to be able to have assistance when you feel there has been a wrong or a failure to comply that the Languages Commissioner should consider.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Hardy.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I also have another question on section 28 regarding the duties of the Languages Commissioner.
Ms. Hardy responded to the question about rights, status, and privileges established by this Act.
I don’t think it applies only to Inuit with respect to her comments.
As an example, any individual has a right to complain to the Languages Commissioner in any official language.
Am I correct in assuming that this is what it means? These rights, status, and privileges are not only for Inuit, it also applies to entities and if they have a concern, they can send their complaints to the Languages Commissioner. It also respects their rights.
Further, Inuit language is recognized and performed by organizations that represent and provide services to Nunavummiut. It doesn’t only apply to the government, but it also applies to the commercial entities, private businesses, and the citizens of Nunavut.
Irrespective of whether they are Inuit, Qallunaat, or French, all of their language rights have to be respected and treated equitably in all respects.  For example, a unilingual English speaker has the right to complain to the Languages Commissioner if they’re provided services just in Inuktitut and that his rights to be served in English have to be respected as well.
Based on what I understood, is this the case?
The purpose of Bill 7 is to protect the Inuit language within the territory and/or its usage, and the entire contents of this bill speak to the Inuit language specifically.
Inuit have to be provided services in their language, either in Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun. They have to be provided those services in their aboriginal language.
Under clause 28, we are talking about the duties of the Languages Commissioner and under Bill 7, it outlines the type of duties he/she has as their foundation.
So if an individual feels that they are not being provided services in their language or knows that certain service providers aren’t providing the service that they’re supposed to, whether they’re commercial outlets or other entities, then that person has a right to make a complaint to the Languages Commissioner so that an investigation can be conducted into the complaint.
With respect to your question, this concern has already been addressed in Bill 6, which I believe we agreed to in June, about the three official languages. This bill recognizes English, French, and the Inuit language, and under this legislation, the languages are all treated equally.
Some service provision rights are protected for the English and the French languages, but please remember that the focus of Bill 7 applies to the protection of the Inuit language and to provide legal backing for Inuktitut as it is one of the languages that service providers must offer to the general public, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I understand that particular part. With respect to the Languages Commissioner, the position is given particular authority. Further, the Languages Commissioner will be able to make a ruling on any language issue, especially in relation to the proper usage of the Inuit language and cultural practices.
In regard to the discussion on the Languages Commissioner, I was unable to finish reading the sections pertaining to the Languages Commissioner. However, I believe that the duties of the Languages Commissioner would be to not only deal with the Inuit language but also all issues related to the three official languages.
I would like some clarification from your officials as to whether this is the case, or does my smattering of comprehension have a basis in fact?
When we refer to the Languages Commissioner, that position isn’t only responsible for the Inuit language is it?
What are the roles and duties of the Languages Commissioner?
I would like to get this clarification from you.
The draft Bill 6, which we agreed to in June, applies to the three official languages of Nunavut, their legal recognition, and their equality under the law.
Again, under that same bill, the Languages Commissioner deals with all official languages. The member was indeed correct in that regard. They have to work with the issues stemming from all three languages, such as the provision of French language services.