EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I just want say that I love them.
My father is hard of hearing.
I just want to let them know that I love them.
I would also like to thank my panika, my uncle, who calls me frequently.
I would also like to thank the people who are in the garage and who listen to us in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove.
I would like to thank the people for listening into the proceedings, for the people that I know, especially my father and my mother for they frequently call me during the session to find out how we are doing.
We are doing very well.
I just wanted to let them know that we are doing very well and I thank them for all their support and for their understanding.
Member's Statement 044 – 1(4): Joamie School Family Fun Night
Mr. Speaker, as Friday is traditionally a more humorous day in the Assembly for members' statements, I would like to stand here today and inform members of some very alarming news that I discovered last night.
Last night our colleague from Iqaluit East, the Honourable Minister of Health & Social Services ended up in the clink.
>>Applause, catcalls
A Member: Finally.
Mr. Tootoo: I am speaking of course Mr. Speaker, of the jail that was set up for the Joamie School fun fair night last night. It is my understanding Mr. Speaker, and I am very surprised that the charge that was laid against him and of which he was convicted was of talking too much.
I am sure that all members share my surprise at this turn of events.
Mr. Speaker, Joamie School fun fair night raised just under 4 thousand dollars last night for the students of the school.
It was a packed and joyful event, it was full, I am glad the Fire Marshall wasn't there.
Mr. Speaker, all three Iqaluit MLAs were there and I would like to thank everyone for coming out, I think I am losing my voice from talking too much.
I would like to thank and congratulate the organizers of the event, I know how much work goes into it.
So I wish members to join me in thanking them for putting on a successful event last night.
Speaker: Members' statements. Mr. Picco.
Member's Statement 045 – 1(4): Legislature’s Batman Characters
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by putting away my prepared statement and just very quickly thank Mr. Tootoo for his comments and my wife was one of the people working last night at Joamie School.
It was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Mr. Speaker, a tradition has arisen from back before the new millennium that Legislative Assemblies bring forward humorous yet appropriate statements on Fridays.
Mr. Speaker, DC Comics introduced us to the world of Batman.
This nocturnal hybrid of man and beast strove to fight the powers of evil and despair.
Mr. Speaker, Batman was aided by his ever present side man, Robin.
Mr. Speaker, Batman had to deal with the likes of the Riddler, the Joker, the Cat Woman, and yes, Mr. Speaker, the Penguin.
A local print media spread being currently done, will feature the debonair and nattily attired members of this Assembly, and Mr. Speaker, I am sure you will be prominently featured.
Now Mr. Speaker, this brings me to Batman.
A well appointed sidekick is needed. A Boy Wonder, a Robin.
Mr. Speaker, your partner in fighting evil in all its guises is no other than that stocky, portly, Robin McLean.
Mr. Speaker, with the portly Robin , and the politically and follicly challenged in this chamber running from the wrath of Mr. Edward Scissorhands, something had to be done Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, to do battle with the likes of the Riddler, the Scissorhands, the Joker and your mirror image, Mr. Speaker, the tuxedoed Penguin within these hallowed halls, you Mr. Speaker, prefer brain over brawn, and that Mr. Speaker, is welcomed by all members in this House.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on a belated 57th birthday Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to comment Mr. Speaker, that at this time, please Mr. Speaker, don't take any wooden nickels.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Picco, just to remind you that former members have been thrown out of the House for much less serious comments.
Mr. McLean, member's statement.
Member's Statement 046 – 1(4): Returning to Assembly
Uqaqti, I didn’t know you were 57 but I wish you had a birthday every week, because when you have a birthday, the next day three ministers come out with very, very well done Ministers' Statements on programs and services that are being implemented.
So I want to compliment the three ministers responsible today for bringing out these statements that are very good for the citizens of Nunavut, right after your birthday.
But we don’t want to have a birthday in every month for you.
Mr. Speaker, Halloween is just around the corner and as the Speaker has inspired us to dress up today, I must commend him for his penguin costume he has been wearing all week, along with the staff.
I haven't had time to buy my costume yet, but I wish pretty boy Picco would lend me his brown Halloween shoes.
To my other surprise, my colleague and friend Doctor Davidee keeps shaving his whiskers off and throwing them away.
I could have added them to my costume.
Mr. Speaker, most of us are headed home this weekend to our families and we are all happy, and I hope to return Monday.
But Mr. Speaker, if I don’t show up, it’s because of that thing that we call the time zone.
I’m sure the airlines all know about it, but again I want to apologize to my colleagues if I don’t show up, it’s because I don't know what zone we’re in.
As you are all aware, in 2002 in March, there will be Arctic Winter Games here and in Nuuk, which occur every two years.
I am pleased to say that on Saturday and Sunday, the Nunavut Sports Association met here and I want to recognize them.
I want to thank them for the hard work they put into setting up the Arctic Winter Games here and in Nuuk.
From the Yukon, President Richard Cherry, from the Yukon as well, Mr. Peter Miller.
From Alaska Mr. John Rahdah.
I’m sorry if I mispronounce your name.
From Alberta, Mr. Peter Moore, and Mr. Lloyd Bent.
From the Northwest Territories Mr. Ian Legaree Mr. Don Sian.
From Nunavut Marilyn Neily and very newly appointed Mr. Jimmy Onalik, and of course escorting them around is Brenda Clake.
Mr. Speaker, this gentlemen has been to the gallery many times and I’ve never introduced him.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a person in Iqaluit, we have Polar Man, but we also have Killiniq Boy, a constituent, and a good friend of many people in this House, Mr. Jimmy Onalik.
Also Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce a couple of more constituents, Miss Marilyn Neily, as Mr. Anawak was nice enough to introduce earlier and last but not least a person who is involved in Minor Hockey.
Last year she was involved in trying to coach my 4 year old son, and I haven’t been able to get him to go out onto the rink enough times, but hopefully this year we’ll get him out, a very good person and volunteer Brenda Clake.
I’d like to welcome them to the Assembly.
Question 041 - 1(4): Tabling of Time Zone Survey Results
The other day last week he mentioned a survey on the time zone issue.
He was going to table the results.
I was wondering if he is going to table it today so we can review it.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I am sorry Mr. Speaker, I was going to bring it here but it was not translated yet so I will check to see if it is done yet.
Sorry but he just seems to forget.
I want to know what is happening with this.
He should be tabling it.
I will continue to talk about the time zone.
In Kugluktuk they do not like the time zone.
Is the Nunavut Government not worried about that.
It seems that way. We are not happy about it in Kugluktuk.
You are not listening to Kugluktuk and I will be asking a question concerning that item.
We should review the time zone from 6 months to a year from now.
This should be a right for the people.
I would like to hear from the minister when he will review this issue for our community and also the Kitikmeot region.
The Nunavut Implementation Commission proposed a decentralized government and proposed that everybody should all work at the same time.
Communities such as Pangnirtung, Cape Dorset, Pond Inlet, are going to be a decentralized communities.
If Nunavut will be operating successfully, we have to look for ways to progress successfully.
If we could at least make a difference by one hour, unless we do something about this time zone we will lose four hours of working time.
We did not only consider the Baffin region; we considered all the regions of Nunavut.
We did not set the time as just an experiment, we did not go only according to one region's desire for a time zone.
We wanted to fix the time zone so all people of Nunavut are served.
If the member who is raising this issue, if he would look back at the land claim agreements, he will agree that there was a need for a single time zone for all communities so they could be served equally.
If we are going to set our clocks by Montreal or Ottawa, Alberta, those all have different time zones, we are only thinking of Nunavut.
We wanted to think only of Nunavut.
Mr. Havioyak: Koannaqutit Uqaqti.
This is not only one region's desire. (interpretation) I have heard the Baffin is not in agreement with this either.
It does not seem the damage is corrected for the Baffin.
We in Kitikmeot also, you have heard that we do not agree with this.
It is not working for us.
He talks about people in Nunavut, it has been reviewed so that the Baffin can get it corrected.
I do not agree with the responses that I have received, and I have not heard him agreeing.
He should agree because he has heard many people from Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay.
It seems like he does not want to hear.
I heard this a minute ago.
It seems he does not want to hear the people in Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay.
I seem to be hearing that the ones that are not working and the government staff should have two different clocks, two different time zones, for people that work in the government and those that do not.
I would like a response.
Will you be reviewing this.
Not all the people in Kugluktuk or in Cambridge are working.
There are people that are hunters, people that are not working in our communities also use clocks and they do not go to the government offices.
I do not agree with the response and I would very much like it reviewed.
Will you be reviewing the problems that we are experiencing in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk.
I keep mentioning this survey.
We did not just survey the Baffin region.
We surveyed all of Nunavut.
As we stated before we said that we would do a review on this after the time zone was set.
We did not just ask the people of the Baffin region.
We wanted to set the time zone so that it accommodates all the people of Nunavut, all the communities of Nunavut.
We are looking at only a unified Nunavut, this is what our people are saying.
We did not create the Kitikmeot, we did not create Kivalliq, and we did not create the Baffin region.
We wanted a Nunavut that was going to be a unified Nunavut.
We as a government have to recognize these issues.
I am sorry we do not have a report on this because there have been consultations.
It is still not translated into Inuinnaqtun.
We are still trying to see how much more we can further progress as a unified Nunavut instead of going by regional time zones.
It seems to me he is not trying hard for the people.
We have heard about government staff.
We also work with people in Edmonton, Yellowknife and businesses.
They also have time zones.
There is going to be a time difference between Yellowknife and Edmonton of two hours.
It will not be right.
Not just the government, it is not just effecting the government.
We also have workers, contractors, the Northern and other stores.
Their work is going to be two hours different and that makes it difficult for them as well.
It is not just the government workers.
We will continue asking about this. (interpretation ends)
Maybe you should review this in our region.
I could hear you.
You did not review it.
Now I got the answer.
Can you do that for our region then.
Koanna, Uqaqti.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the question I think I take exception to the fact that I do not regard Inuinnaqtun as being as important as the others.
I consider Inuinnaqtun just as important as Inuktitut or English.
I suspect the reason that Inuinnaqtun has not been translated for us is because of the shortage of staff on the interpreters side.
(interpretation)Talking about the time zone.
We have to look at the whole of Nunavut and how we can operate more efficiently.
We know that we are all working hard on it in each individual Nunavut community.
Myself I do not like to talk about regions because I see Nunavut as one whole territory.
Like I was saying, there are different dialects and different people in each individual region.
Probably the reason that the regions were created was that it was someone bringing it in from outside the territory.
I have been looking at First Nations in North America.
I hear that there is a reservation that crosses four States and it uses a single time zone.
Because they want to work together and they want the people out there to know there is unity in this particular reservation even though it is in four States.
So I am sure there are going to be problems with the single time zone somewhere out there but we do have to look at how we can operate more efficiently in Nunavut.
Question 042 – 1(4): Responses to Housing Corporation Expression of Interest
Mr. Speaker, on the twenty-fourth I asked the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation how many people have responded to the Expression of Interest that they put out for private homes to be rented as public housing.
I would like to ask the minister if she has any updates on when she might be able to get back to me with an answer on that.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Speaker.
I do apologize that I did not get the final numbers from my staff but I will get them on Tuesday for the member.
If that is fine I will take it as notice.
I did take it as notice but I did not receive them, there have been too many things going on right now.
Question 043 – 1(4): Gjoa Haven Development Corporation Correspondence
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Services.
Mr. Speaker, the minister might be aware of the issue that I am about to raise.
It deals with correspondence that she had during the summer from the Gjoa Haven Development Corporation.
Until July the Gjoa Haven Development Corporation had the contract with Public Works to perform maintenance projects in the community.
As a result of the Empowerment Agreement signed between the government and the hamlet, the work is now being performed by the hamlet and jobs with the Development Corporation are now at risk.
They had contracts on school maintenance and other tasks.
The hamlet is now performing the work.
It has created a problem because the government is taking a course of action that is taking business and job opportunities from the private sector.
There was an agreement between the Nunavut Government so that contracts would be awarded to the private sector.
So the private sector will be given more opportunities.
It seems like this action is taking business and jobs away from the private sector.
Why is the government doing that.
I do not know exactly which letter the member is referring to, but I can recall I did receive a letter from the Development Corporation.
I believe that I responded to that question but I am not quite sure.
I think that in regards to the hamlet council, we do know that there are Public Works programs that were given out to the Hamlet Councils.
I think we all know that some of the public programs are now being taken on by the Hamlet Councils with the empowerment agreements.
We look at all the options to see what would be better for the community, but the member that I responded to I don't know which program it was for.
I do try and respond as soon as I can to the correspondence that I receive.
I do receive quite a few letters.
I will take this question as notice, Mr. Speaker.
Question 044 – 1(4): Health & Social Services Suicide Programs
I am not doing this on purpose, but I am sure focussing on one minister for the last two weeks.
I am not doing it intentionally but as I stated earlier in my member's statement, I am concerned about the issue of suicide.
This question is for the Minister of Health & Social Services.
We are well aware that there were 38 completed suicides since the creation of the Nunavut Government.
I would like to ask the minister what kind of plans he has in his department that will alleviate this problem.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to say that I listened quite intently to the statement given earlier by the member and I appreciate it.
I think Mr. Speaker, there are times when it is a good thing for this House to get involved with debate and bring up issues like suicide.
So I thank the member for his question and it gives me the opportunity to outline some of the things that the Government of Nunavut has done to help alleviate the problem that we have with suicide.
Mr. Speaker, extensive suicide prevention intervention and post intervention training has been delivered in the past several months to the ten communities most effected by suicide.
We delivered those programs at the community level and those are the ten communities most effected by suicide at the present time.
Mr. Speaker, some of the other things we have done, we have trained social workers, RCMP, as well as Nunavut Coroners on suicide and suicide prevention.
Mr. Speaker, two sessions have been delivered to the young offenders facility.
Mr. Speaker, we have also delivered sessions and are in the process of delivering sessions to the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Mr. Speaker, 28 community constables that are in town right now from all over Nunavut have received training on suicide prevention.
Mr. Speaker, through inter-departmental partnerships with the Department of Health & Social Services and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth, training will be offered, Mr. Speaker, to the people that Mr. Irqittuq talked about, that are mostly in need.
Those are the young people.
That training will be offered to the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and the Baffin regions.
This will include suicide prevention Mr. Speaker, grief and bereavement, trauma, peer support and that's beginning next month.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health, Promotion Specialist, our Mental Health person, who has been involved with suicide program training and counselling, continues to respond to communities who wish to have suicide prevention training in their community.
Mr. Speaker, workshops and training have been delivered and are being formulated for Cambridge Bay, Clyde River, and Mr. Speaker, the member's community of Hall Beach.
Mr. Speaker, after saying all of that, the Government of Nunavut does not have a magic solution to stop suicide.
Mr. Speaker, the suicide prevention has to start at the family level, at the local level, at the community level.
What the Government of Nunavut can do, is doing and will continue to do, is provide support to those people at the community level to provide that type of counselling support and to provide advice.
As the member rightly pointed out, we are in the position of transition.
Mr. Speaker, elders tell us that the incidence of suicide is a recent phenomenon amongst Inuit.
It has only been since the 1970's since we have seen this increase.
Mr. Speaker, those are the issues.
We know what the issues are with suicide and now we need to be able to take that strategically and proactively and put into place these courses that we were just talking about.
I wanted to ask a question about what kind of plans, for example, there was money for smoking cessation.
Is there any money for suicide prevention similar to the money for anti-smoking.
Mr. Speaker, as the members know in the Department of Health & Social Service's budget we don't break out line items and say that "x" number of dollars is spent in this area and so on.
What I can say Mr. Speaker, is under mental health we have money there for suicide prevention, intervention courses, workshops, counselling sessions and training.
Mr. Speaker, I just outlined several instances of training, workshops, counselling as well as planning for workshops in communities.
For example we just held one a couple of months ago in Kugluktuk where we brought people from all over Nunavut in there.
Mr. Speaker, we have talked about some of the other training programs that we have put into place.
So there is money Mr. Speaker, within the Department of Health & Social Services for intervention, post-intervention, as well as training and workshops and that money is being expended through the Department of Health & Social Services in the plans that we just talked about.
We also have Mr. Speaker, at the headquarters level, a mental health specialist whose job is dedicated mostly to working with suicide prevention, intervention.
That person Mr. Speaker, has travelled outside of headquarters to several other regions and communities, delivering workshops and training sessions.
So Mr. Speaker, the money is there, it's being spent.
At the same time, as I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, to prevent suicide we have to be able to deal with our young people and that's why we are doing the training sessions with our youth.
Mr. Speaker, the solution for suicide has to come from that local level and the family level.
What the Nunavut Government can do Mr. Speaker, is give the tools necessary to our people at the community level to be able to deal with suicide.
The Nunavut Government can't do it on its own, it has to be done in co-operation with our community health committees, which again, Mr. Speaker, are another resource that we have been able to access at the community level over the past 12 months.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you and thank the minister for starting these initiatives.
I would like to ask the minister if the communities are taking these training programs.
I have seen a lot of people who have tried to commit suicide but failed.
There are quite a lot of people out there that I do know of.
Are these types of people taking advantage of these training programs that you mentioned.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think after 18 months of the Nunavut Government, I think it’s an excellent opportunity in this House today to be able to address these issues and I appreciate the member asking me the question and giving me some time to explain, not only to the people in the House, the members’ of this House but also the people of Nunavut that are listening to this.
Mr. Speaker, to the member’s direct question yes, the answer is yes.
Mr. Speaker, I think the member has raised a good point.
We always talk about the successful completions of suicide, Mr. Speaker, we don’t have accurate numbers to account for the successful interventions.
Mr. Speaker, we know we have a crisis line that’s set up, Mr. Anawak as an example is a volunteer at that crisis line, who field calls on a nightly basis, from all over Nunavut to help stop suicides.
Mr. Speaker, we’ve been putting into place a train the trainers program, where we will be able to train people throughout the communities. Is that enough, no Mr. Speaker, no it isn’t enough, is the Government of Nunavut doing as much as it can.
I think it is, can we do more.
Yes, again Mr. Speaker, it has to come, as the member has pointed out, from the local level, from the communities.
Mr. Speaker the Department of Health and Social Services is trying to put together a community mobilization plan.
That mobilization plan will be taking a look at all the initiatives and responsibilities from our mental health workers, our social workers, our Nurses, grief counsellors, and Mr. Speaker, people who are at the community level, who do work who aren’t in a profession, and I’m talking about Mr. Speaker, volunteers, church people and so on.
So Mr. Speaker, the question the member asked about intervention and help and the people who aren’t successful in completing the suicide, that support is there.