EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In the Canadian Arctic we hear that polar bears are being proposed to be put on the endangered list.
I don’t know who is making that decision but I know that they are somewhere across the ocean.
Those individuals should not concern themselves because they don’t have any idea how we live and how we harvest our animals up here.
As I was saying earlier there were no polar bears around the Sanikiluaq area.
If they are concerned about the species up here, they should come up here and meet with the people and see the environment.
At that time, when we were dealing with the dam site around Northern Quebec, we went down to New York to meet with the individuals. We wanted to see how the dams work, and what kind of impact it would have on the environment.
The individuals who were proposing that dam didn’t know what kinds of effects it would have on the species in the Hudson Bay area or on the lands that we harvest from.
If those individuals want to get true facts, they should come up here to Nunavut, talk to the people who live up here, and they should also talk to the hunters.
We are doing very well up here by ourselves.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 039 – 2(4): Diamonds in the Ruff (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about a worthy cause that is underway in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, a small group of dedicated volunteers has created an organization called Diamonds in the Ruff that is helping homeless dogs to find homes and access to veterinary care. When the media covers dogs in Nunavut, the stories usually report that they are either rabid, running loose, or causing trouble in packs.
There are many reasons why these situations develop, and in most cases, it is not the dog’s fault.
Through the efforts of this volunteer organization, they have thus far found adoptive homes for 19 dogs. The dogs are appreciated for their hardiness, loyalty and loving natures.
Mr. Speaker, from June 16 to 28 of this year, veterinarians are coming to Cambridge Bay from the University of Prince Edward Island to provide free vet services to dog owners.
Their initiative is called the Chinook Project.  The Chinook Project is in the second year of a two-year initiative funded by a grant from the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College.
The Cambridge Bay District Education Authority has given approval for the vets to establish a temporary clinic at the Killinik High School to permit students to be involved. The clinic will likely provide a range of services, including physical examinations, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and advice to dog owners.
I hope that this important initiative will inspire some students to pursue a veterinary doctor degree after high school.
Mr. Speaker, there is much work to be done in all our Nunavut communities to help our dogs.
I first raised this issue in May 2005 and was pleased to hear that the Government of Nunavut is working on a vaccination strategy.
This was an issue that my colleague from the High Arctic raised last week, and I fully support action on the part of the government to support people in being responsible dog-owners.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in recognizing the Diamonds in the Ruff organization for their volunteer work to help dogs in Cambridge Bay. I would also like to thank the Chinook Project for bringing their clinic to Cambridge Bay this summer.
Member’s Statement 040 – 2(4): Elders’ Traditional Knowledge (Alagalak)
I rise today to voice my concern about the elders.
We have been requesting elders to assist us and usually we don’t pay them. They don’t get paid for the services that they provide.
Sometimes they are sent to another community by the government so that they can tell us about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, about traditional midwifery, and so on, because they are the only ones who know about traditional midwifery.
This happened this year. The elders were invited to a community by the government and were there for over a week without receiving any per diem or getting paid for any of the services they provided.
Just last week, they were invited again and were told that they were going to be paid this time around.
They were invited to a community to teach about traditional midwifery.
When they went to that meeting and started working, they were told there was no money to pay them.
This is elder abuse in Nunavut. We have to rectify this problem.
They are now here in Iqaluit the second time around. This is the second time they have been invited to a community.
Maybe our minister doesn’t know what’s happening with these elders. That’s the reason why I am bringing it up in the House.
If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be teaching traditional midwifery. They hold a lot of knowledge that the younger generation doesn’t know anymore.
They were there as the doctors a long time ago.
To me this is very important. When we go to Oral Questions, I will be directing some questions to the minister responsible.
Member’s Statement 041 – 2(3): Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal (Curley)
I rise today to express concerns about Nunavut’s new Human Rights Tribunal.
A young constituent of mine recently approached me for assistance in resolving a situation.
The constituent indicated to me that she had been fired from their job with a private company. According to my constituent, this was not a result of their job performance, but because of her living arrangements in the staff housing that the company provided.
In reviewing the public information materials that the Human Rights Tribunal has published, one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination includes marital status.
In my view, this constituent had a clear case for proceeding with a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal.
I was disappointed to be told by my constituent that the only and final advice the Human Rights Tribunal office provided was over the telephone. My constituent was simply advised to hire a lawyer.
I am aware that the Tribunal has very detailed forms for people to fill out when they want to make a formal complaint.
However, there are many Nunavummiut who simply are not comfortable in dealing with complex paperwork.
I believe that such bodies as the Human Rights Tribunal must do a better job in assisting people who come forward with concerns.
If need be, they should sit down and help people complete the proper paperwork. Their concerns should not simply be dismissed over the telephone.
I recognize that every case is unique, and that not all situations are actually cases of discrimination. However, when someone has the courage to come forward, they are entitled to receive a full, frank and formal explanation concerning their options.
I intend to encourage my constituent to approach the Tribunal again. This time, I expect them to receive the assistance that they need.
Members’ Statements, Ms. Aglukkaq.
Member’s Statement 042 – 2(4): Recognition of Recipients of Long-Term Service Awards (Aglukkaq)
I rise today to congratulate a number of my constituents in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak who recently received long-term service awards in recognition of their years of dedicated service to the public.
Mr. Speaker, over two dozen hard-working Government of Nunavut employees received their awards at ceremonies held in the two communities.
Employees were present from the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Justice, and Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, although time does not permit me to acknowledge each and every employee by name, I would like to pay a special tribute to Selena Tucktoo and Sarah Takolik of Taloyoak, and Rachel Hiqiniq of Gjoa Haven.
Selena received a 30-year award, and both Sarah and Rachel received 25-year awards.
All three of these women work for the Department of Education.
Their many years of dedication to building a positive future for our youth deserve a special acknowledgement.
Mr. Speaker, as MLAs, we often get caught up in the heat of debate and the crisis of the day.
It is important that we remember that the essential services which are delivered to our communities and constituents would not be possible if it were not for the hard work that people like Sarah, Selena and Rachel put in on a daily basis.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the many committed public servants in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak who make Nunavut a better place for all.
Member’s Statement 043 – 2(4): Remembrance of Vince Steen (Picco)
Recently, the north lost one of its great advocates and leaders. Mr. Vince Steen was a no-nonsense politician and leader. He served as a Justice of the Peace and coroner.
He was a founding member and served as Vice President of the ITC. He served as mayor of his hometown of Tuktoyaktuk and he was an MLA and a minister in the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, Vince was also a friend and a colleague during the 13th Assembly of the Government of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife of myself and Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Steen always said what was on his mind.
When he ran for a minister position in 1995, he had one of the best speeches that I’ve ever heard.
Mr. Steen wasn’t successful at that time to become a minister and ended up on a committee which myself and Mr. Barnabas was on and I was the chair of.
Mr. Barnabas and I used to get Vince to tell us about whale hunting and his life as a trapper. He was a very special person.
Mr. Speaker, when our committee held hearings in Tuktoyaktuk, it was very easy to see how well-liked Mr. Steen was in his home community.
On behalf of our Assembly and the people of Nunavut, we express our deep condolences to his wife Betty and his children, and we remember the important role that Mr. Vince Steen played in the formation of our Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Picco. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
I would like to recognize a constituent of mine from Kugluktuk who is originally from Taloyoak, and who is living in Kugluktuk now, Alex Buchan.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my constituents from Cape Dorset who are working at Nunavut Business Credit Corporation: Lucy Adla, Steve Hanna, and Allen McDowell.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Akesuk. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I, too, would like to recognize a constituent of mine from Cambridge Bay, she’s no stranger to the House, and I think she’s as popular across Nunavut as I am.
Her name is Ruth Wilcox, sitting over here.
Over the years, Ruth has served our community in many capacities: as hamlet councillor for a few years, she’s been an active volunteer in Cambridge Bay, she’s been actively involved with the Arctic Winter Games representing Nunavut over the years.
I welcome Ruth to the House. Welcome.
It is always very good to recognize individuals in the House.
I would like to recognize our Mayor from Rankin Inlet. Myself and Tagak Curley, Mayor Lorne Kusugak.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize these pages, on behalf of me and Tagak Curley, from Rankin Inlet.
There is a boy, Joe Kayakjuaq-Curley. He is Tagak and Sally’s son and he is named after Mr. Curley’s father.
When I was very small, my father used to be really good friends with Tagak’s father. He had a lot of daughters as well as sons.
Another page for this week today is Candace Agiaq-Kusugak.
That is the mayor’s eldest daughter. I would like everybody to welcome them.
All of these people have already been recognized in the Assembly, but I would like to formally recognize them as the Board of Directors of the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation: Bob Hanson is the Chair, and Directors Ruth Wilcox, Ike Haulli, and Lorne Kusugak. Also staff members are Steve Hannah, Allen McDowel, and Lucy Adla.
I would like to recognize an individual from Igloolik whose name was called already, my Qallunaaq, Ike Haulli.
When I first shook Ike Haulli’s hand I asked him if he was a qallunaaq. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome two of my constituents who will be pages throughout the week. Her name is Dianna Ell, (interpretation) and Raymond Ningeocheak’s son who is over there.
On this special day today I would like to take this opportunity to rise and acknowledge and recognize someone that is almost in the Gallery. She is sitting just behind the glass over there, and that is Mikle Langenhan. I just wanted to recognize her, and ask all members to join me in wishing her a very happy birthday today.
It gives me great pleasure introduce to the Gallery a very intrepid person from the fifth estate, that being Nunatsiaq News … it may be the fourth estate …Ms. Jane George.
Our House rules don’t allow us to welcome people who have been here more than once, so I don’t want to welcome people twice, but I would say a special hello to Mr. Haulli, and Mr. Bob Hanson.
I thank Bob for visiting me in the hospital when I was in Ottawa.
I would like to welcome the visitors in the Gallery.
Question 039 – 2(4): Enforcement of the Wildlife Act and Regulations (Curley)
My questions are in regard to my Members’ Statement I made earlier on about the grizzly bear that was tired out and was kept in a mining camp.
I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Environment and again it concerns the enforcement of the Wildlife Act and its regulations.
Respect for our wildlife is a core value of our culture. That is why it is illegal for everyone to deliberately harass wildlife for their own amusement.
Can the minister advise the House what action he is taking with respect to an alleged incident that recently took place in the Kivalliq where a grizzly bear was deliberately chased and harassed by mining camp workers using a helicopter.
Does the minister know about this incident and what is the minister going to do about that?
Minister for Nanulik, Mr. Netser.
This is the first time I have heard about the harassment of the grizzly bear in a mining camp.
We would like to get as much information as possible. My staff will deal with that and respond to the member.
This was an incident that happened by the mining company and I am sure this was discussed by the Inuit organizations.
There was a young person that was working at the mining camp. They did not want him to work there any more because he told about the incident.
I know that the mining company broke the law, the Wildlife Act.
Just recently in Rankin Inlet, there was a bear killed that had cubs.
He was charged right away.
How come they charged the guy that shot a bear that was harassing people, and not the mining company?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): That is the first time we have heard about the harassment of the grizzly bear by the mining company.
Whoever sees or hears about an incident of that sort should report it. The individual that shot a bear without knowing they had a cub, I have no knowledge of that at this time. I will get my staff to look into this and report back to the House.
I know that we talked about the Wildlife Act in regard to polar bear harassment as well.
I know that the wildlife officers are supposed to go and look or review the incident right away as soon as they hear about people breaking the Wildlife Act.
I know that this individual that shot a polar bear with cubs did not know that it had cubs.
Why did they charge him right away?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t respond to that at this time.
We all know that we are not to kill polar bears with cubs.
If they do, they are charged. This is dealt with by the wildlife officers in the communities because it’s in the Act that they’re not supposed to kill polar bears with cubs.
That person was a young man but knew how to hunt.
In the Wildlife Act, Section 160 of the Act requires the minister to appoint an Advisory Committee of elders to review methods and technologies of harvesting wildlife because they couldn’t see the cubs.
Can the minister tell the House who has been appointed to the committee?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): I can’t respond to his question at this time because every hunter tells different stories and telling them that they didn’t know the polar bear had cubs.
Those incidences are usually investigated and after the investigation they are charged.
Question 040 – 2(4): Traditional Knowledge Workshop – Elders Honoraria (Alagalak)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Health.
First of all, during my Member’s Statement I said that I was going to pose questions.
The elders that were here from February 15 to 28, they were here to teach without getting paid.
I wonder if the minister is aware that they were here and today as we speak, they are presently teaching.
They were just told today that they weren’t going to make any money and just before they left their community they were told they would be making some money.
Is the minister aware of that?
I would like the member to clarify which conference he’s referring to.
There have been a number of conferences with the Midwifery Association, which is outside the department. I also know this week Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is also hosting a conference on the subject.
I can speak to the workshops that we’ve held in Rankin Inlet in developing the Midwifery Training Program in partnership with the University of Winnipeg.
Those individuals and elders that participated in the development of that curriculum were compensated according to the policy that we have in place to compensate elders that we use for consultations.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Alagalak.  Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Can you tell us which workshop you are talking about?
I don’t think you even know. I thought you would know more about this.
I’m just told that it was sponsored by the Department of Health. I don’t know any other Department of Health, so that’s why I’m referring to the Department of Health.
I’m pretty sure you might know more about the people that were here from February 18 and they went back home on February 25.
It’s between that time that they were here in Iqaluit and they’re the ones that I’m talking about.
Currently, the group that is here, I believe they came on the 13th and will be returning this coming Friday.
Just hearing those dates, you might have an idea, but if you are not aware of those, I wanted to pose questions because they are very important.
Personally, I don’t know exactly who they are, or which workshop they are attending.
I feel very strongly that they should be compensated fairly.
Until we get more information, maybe we can have further discussion on this.
Like he said, he will pose more questions later, after he gets more information.
Question 041 – 2(4): Income Support Eligibility (Mapsalak)
My question is directed to the Minister for Income Support.
I have raised these questions before and I’ve also told him that I would bring it up again in the House.
People who are on income support, there are criteria that they have to follow in order to qualify.
I want to ask this question because I was approached by a person who was on income support and his or her airfare was paid for by one of their siblings to visit another relative.
This person was penalized for being out of town and because their airfare was paid for he didn’t qualify for income support.
Is this part of the criteria?
On income support there are two major criteria. If a person is eligible for income support, it is a program of the government of last resort meaning that person has no other income, they are not working, and they are not eligible for pensions, and so on.
It brings forward a different type of program, or a number of programs to be filled out, and the person could be eligible for. The issue that the member is raising is about unearned income. When you’re on income support there is an allowable amount of money that you may be eligible to earn while you are on income support, or social assistance.
Unearned income is money that you may have received while you are on income support. As an example, Mr. Speaker, if you won $5,000 on bingo, that is unearned income. You didn’t work for it, but you won it, and it would be subtracted off your income support.
If you receive a ticket, for example, airfare; if I give a person two free tickets and they’re on income support then that is considered unearned income and would be deducted off of their amount of eligible money that they would receive because you would want to place the cash balance.
However, there are exceptions. If a person, for example, is attending a funeral and receives a ticket free of charge, then that would not be subtracted from their income support.
It is not very clear.
His ticket was bought by one of his siblings; it was not his own money.
The way I understand his response is how can he look at it as cash when it’s already used?
I wonder if the minister can answer how this can be deducted from the income support that he applies for.
We’ve been involved with the Income Support Program for many years in Nunavut.
We’ve also had an opportunity to review the amounts that have been paid and we’ve increased the amount under the Income Support Program. However, there have to be rules and regulations under that program.
Income support is meant for people who are not able to receive employment, there are no jobs available. It’s a program of last resort.
If you’re on income support and you win, for example, unearned money like bingo, that’s taken off. If you get a gift of a ticket, if I give someone a couple of tickets and have them go somewhere, then that is also under the program criteria subtracted off. If it’s for a specific cause for example, then it isn’t.
As I said earlier, on a case-by-case basis, if you received a ticket to go to a funeral, then that probably wouldn’t be considered earned or unearned income and that’s why. However, a gift, for example, to go visit someone, then that would be considered unearned income.
The member has raised this before and I’ve had discussions with the member on it, and through the department right now, we are reviewing this because I believe, as the member has stated, that there are instances where unearned income, for example, in a ticket may, at some point, be permissible but we’re not at that point yet.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, very quickly, any person who is on income support also has an opportunity to appeal a decision. We do have a Nunavut Appeals Board for Income Support, and that would be the proper mechanism to take if the person is not pleased with the decision made by the income support worker.
This definitely would have to be changed because it’s not cash.
Because we have relatives in different communities it’s because they’re compassionate that they pay for their tickets.
I wonder if this section can be looked at.
Yes, I’m in full agreement if they win bingo, then I agree, I have no problem with that.
Once they do the review, I wonder if this can be looked at very closely.
Minister of Education, Mr. Ed. Picco.
Again, under Income Support, income support is delivered throughout Canada in our ten provinces and our three territories. The majority of those rules are similar across the board. However, as the member has said there may be some areas where it gets a bit grey under compassion or what have you, there may be a need to exclude those monies as unearned income.
I am prepared as I said to the House, to have the department review it and then see where we can make some adjustments. However, if you open up the program and say that any type of gift, then the program will open itself up to a lot of different logistic as well as financial and administrative issues with the program.
I understand what the member is saying if it’s just a gift from him or me to some family member but where do you decide what a gift is? Is it just an airline ticket, is it a car, is it gas, it could be anything.
So that’s the reason, although the member brings up one area of it and a narrow focus, it’s actually broader than that.
So I commit to the House that we will continue to review it and hopefully get back to the member on where we are with it.
I still don’t understand.
We all know that the income support they get is not adequate and there needs to be changes made to it because it applies to the relatives.