EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We work with them in pretty much every community wherever there is a co-op we have a program with them. Pop cans are always great in number, so we have Arctic Cooperatives Limited that we work with.
We had a two-year pilot project.
We have extended the project to five years, for a further three years.
We will be recycling pop cans.
This is one of the programs that we work with.
ACL also has an Inuktitut name, Ilagiisat, that’s what they’re called in Inuktitut and that’s the group we work with.
I would like to ask, what about the plastics and other hazardous waste that we have. Just go boating out on the water and you see lots of plastic bags floating around.
What are you going to do about that? I mean, if it’s bad now and we are not addressing that problem, as an example, and then how is it going to be ten years from now?
My acting deputy minister can answer this.
We certainly recognize that solid waste management is a challenge for every single community in Nunavut.
We are working within the Government of Nunavut and with municipalities to look for long-term solutions. The Department of Community and Government Services, I’ll refer to it now, they are playing a lead role in developing a long term plan for solid waste management.
We do recognize that it’s of substantial concern to communities about the amount of waste and litter that is entering the ecosystem and ending up in the water and stuff. It is a concern and long-term solutions are needed.
I wonder if you could elaborate on exactly the role that the Department of Environment has and what the role is of Community and Government Services versus the role of Environment when it comes to recycling? Is this something that you are jointly working on together and coming up with a plan?
I just want to get clarification.
My acting deputy can answer this.
The Department of Environment is taking a new look at recycling. In 2009-11 we ran a pilot project that operated in three communities to see what it would cost to run a program. It cost us a little over a million dollars to run that pilot project and we projected it out across Nunavut.
It came in at many millions more. That is what we did at that time. This current year the minister has made a commitment to taking a new look at recycling and whether or not there may be a more economical model that we can follow.
Lastly, the minister did mention it, we’ve already partnered with Community and Government Services to make a financial contribution towards the program that the Arctic Cooperatives is running. They are putting in a lot of their own resources and we gave them a small financial contribution to help them keep it going for a few more years.
That is our current involvement.
It’s encouraging to hear but I think there is a long way to go yet. I think it’s great to start to start with all of the pop cans and that.
I’m not sure if Mr. Pinksen has read the letter from Adam Malcolm who explains what they did in Gjoa Haven and that it cost $5,000.00 to do what they have done.
Just as a start. I feel that if this government doesn’t do something about the toxic waste products that we have in our communities, it’s going to cost a lot more than a few millions in terms of health care and other kinds of negative implications that that will have.
I look forward to hearing more from the department about their work in the area of recycling and of course I shall be asking the Minister of Community and Government Services over the next few years of our mandate with their involvement as well.
Just to go on a little bit now, when you talk about enforcement, compliance and pollution prevention has the department used enforcement action in the past and, if so, in what areas?
I would like my acting deputy minister to answer this subject.
Enforcement measures in the past have included spill clean up orders. If a party has an oil spill and they don’t deal with it or any kind of hazardous spill and don’t deal with it they can be issued a legal order requiring them to do so.
That has been the most common tool in terms of enforcement measures.
What happens when you issue them legal requirement to clean up and then they still don’t comply? What kind of rights does your department have in a circumstance like that?
I will have my acting deputy minister answer the question.
If a party is issued a cleanup order and does not comply, they can be charged with failure to cleanup a spill. That’s one thing that can happen. The government also has the authority, under the legislation, to conduct the clean-up and bill the individual for the cost.
Recognizing that everyone is tired, it has been a long day.
My last question has to deal with the Nunavut Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, it’s a very long title.
The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs also told us that they were also involved with climate change adaptation.
Is this a file that you work on together with?
What does the plan entail?
I will have my acting deputy minister respond to that question.
Mr. Pinksen: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan involves quite a number of GN departments. There is actually an interdepartmental committee that’s developing it together.
It has implications for various departments. Some of it is education based, the actual actions. Much of it goes towards planning for infrastructure impacts from changing climate.
A number of ranges in between. So it’s quite a comprehensive document that’s been drafted. Thank you.
We’re on page I-5. Branch Summary.
Environment. Program Management.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $19,586,000.
Chairman: Back to I-3. Department Summary. Environment.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $23,994,000. Agreed?
Minister Mike, do you have any closing comments?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the members for the opportunity to answer your excellent questions. We will provide answers to the questions that we couldn’t answer to the members at a later date.
I would also like to thank the local HTOs. Without them some of them operations would be weaker.
I also thank the conservation officers in the communities. I also thank the staff for the Department of Environment in Iqaluit and also in other communities. I also thank the members for your questions.
I can go on, but you guys seem to want to go.
Sergeant-at-Arms, can you please the minister and his officials from the witness table.
The motion is carried 9 to 8.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. (interpretation) Member for Gjoa Haven, Mr. Akoak.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 3 – 4(2), this House stands adjourned until Thursday, June 12, at 10:00 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 20:40
Pages 938 – 994
Opening Prayer 938
Ministers’ Statements 938
Members’ Statements 940
Returns to Oral Questions 945
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 947
Oral Questions 948
Point of Order 962
Point of Order 963
Tabling of Documents 970
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 970
Report of the Committee of the Whole 991
Third Reading of Bills 991
Assent to Bills 991
Orders of the Day 992
Thursday, June 12, 2014 938
041 – 4(2): 2014 Canadian Bar Association National Aboriginal Law Conference (Okalik) 938
042 – 4(2): Congratulations, Mr. Kenn Harper (Taptuna) 939
043 – 4(2): Polar Bears – Environment Canada Funding (Mike) 939
099 – 4(2): Congratulations to Kelly Fraser (Rumbolt) 940
100 – 4(2): Happy 100th Birthday, June Okalik (Taptuna) 940
101 – 4(2): Petition in Support of Patricia Sutherland (Joanasie) 941
102 – 4(2): Waste Management in Iqaluit (Angnakak) 942
103 – 4(2): Baker Lake Community Clean-up (Mikkungwak) 943
104 – 4(2): Appreciation of Spring Sitting (Mapsalak) 943
105 – 4(2): Girl Guides of Canada (Hickes) 943
106 – 4(2): 2014 Graduates of Clyde River (Enook) 944
107 – 4(2): Annual Spring Seal Hunt (Quassa) 945
Return to Oral Question 122 – 4(2): Staff Housing (Kuksuk) 945
Return to Oral Question 134 – 4(2): Monitoring Air Quality in Nunavut (Mike) 946
158 – 4(2): Support for Search and Rescue (Enook) 948
159 – 4(2): Calculating School Attendance (Rumbolt) 949
160 – 4(2): Food Security (Akoak) 951
161 – 4(2): Employment Status of Group Home Staff (Sammurtok) 951
162 – 4(2): Activities of the Office of the Chief Coroner (Joanasie) 952
163 – 4(2): Victims of Crime (Angnakak) 954
164 – 4(2): Iqaluit Landfill Fire (Hickes) 955
165 – 4(2): Polar Bear Population Survey (Savikataaq) 957
166 – 4(2): NNI Policy (Mapsalak) 958
167 – 4(2): Child Apprehensions (Mikkungwak) 959
168 – 4(2): Fish Quotas (Shooyook) 960
169 – 4(2): Homelessness (Enook) 961
170 – 4(2): Calculating Student Attendance (Rumbolt) 963
171 – 4(2): Long-term Viability of Smaller Communities (Angnakak) 964
172 – 4(2): Support for “Feeding My Family” (Hickes) 967
173 – 4(2): Government Contracting Practices (Rumbolt) 967
174 – 4(2): Homelessness (Enook) 968
175 – 4(2): Public Housing for Baker Lake (Mikkungwak) 969
031 – 4(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation Corporate Plan 2014-2018 (Okalik) 970
032 – 4(2): 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 Annual Reports Pursuant to the Inuit Language Protection Act (Okalik) 970
Extension of Question Period (Enook) 962
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 971
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2014-2015 – Consideration in Committee 977
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2014-2015 – Third Reading 991
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2014-2015 – Third Reading 991
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, Nunavummiut, Members, and Ministers. Good morning.
Minister’s Statement 041 – 4(2): 2014 Canadian Bar Association National Aboriginal Law Conference (Okalik)
For the first time, the Canadian Bar Association will be holding its annual National Aboriginal Law Conference in Iqaluit, with the theme of “Nation-Building under Land Claims Agreements, Treaties and Self-Government Agreements.”
Nunavut was created by an Act of Parliament after decades of negotiation by Inuit.
Those of us who worked for the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement believed that our people would prosper culturally, socially, and economically by respecting our unique culture, giving voice to our citizens, and recognizing our place in the world.
Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 15th anniversary of the creation of our territory. It is very fitting that the Canadian Bar Association should choose to hold this conference in Nunavut.
The conference, June 18 to 20, 2014, will bring over 120 attendees to Iqaluit from across Canada, including prominent presenters such as former Auditor General Sheila Fraser, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Matthew Coon Come, and former Premier of Ontario and Federal Liberal Leader Bob Rae.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Department of Justice is contributing to this important conference and has played a leading role in chairing and organizing the event.
I wish the organizers a successful conference and I welcome the visiting attendees to Nunavut.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Premier, Premier Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 042 – 4(2): Congratulations, Mr. Kenn Harper (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and congratulate Mr. Kenn Harper, also known as Ilisaijikutaaq, on his official appointment as Knight of the Royal Order of Dannebrog in recognition of his valuable service as Nunavut’s Honorary Consul of Denmark.
The Government of Canada formally approved the request by the Government of Denmark.
Mr. Speaker, the Royal Order of Dannebrog had its first written statutes in 1693. At the time, the circle of knights was limited to only Danish royalty and noblemen. That changed in the 1800s.
Today, this recognition allows for citizens to be decorated with this honour.
Mr. Speaker, Kenn Harper is a long-time resident of Nunavut, an entrepreneur, Honorary Consul of Denmark, a writer and historian, and long-time supporter of relations between Nunavut and Greenland.
I would also like to acknowledge his special interest in learning Inuktut, which he speaks very well.
Please join me in congratulating Mr. Kenn Harper on this significant occasion.
Minister for Environment, Minister Mike.
Minister’s Statement 043 – 4(2): Polar Bears – Environment Canada Funding (Mike)
I have some information about polar bears regarding the Environment Canada funding for polar bears.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the ongoing collaboration between my department and Environment Canada to sustainably manage polar bears in Nunavut.
Thanks to the continued support of our co-management partners, polar bears remain an abundant and well-managed species in Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Environment Canada recently confirmed its continued commitment to support Nunavut’s polar bear management system by allocating $1,250,000 over the next five years to fund polar bear research and monitoring throughout Nunavut.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut and Environment Canada will continue to work together to ensure the long-term sustainable management of polar bears in Nunavut. (interpretation ends) This new funding commitment will help strengthen our research and monitoring initiatives, (interpretation) and allow us to build upon our already exemplary co-management system.
Members’ Statements. Mr. Rumbolt.
Member’s Statement 099 – 4(2): Congratulations to Kelly Fraser (Rumbolt)
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize four talented young artists from my community of Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, Sanikiluaq’s rising star, Kelly Fraser, recently released her first CD titled “Isuma.”
For this new CD, Kelly and three bandmates recorded seven original songs.
I am pleased to say that many young Nunavummiut have been recently recognized for their accomplishments in the fields of music, literature, and arts.
Sanikiluaq is known for its rich artistic heritage. Kelly and her fellow musicians are carrying this tradition into the next generation.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating Kelly Fraser and her band.
Member for Kugluktuk, (interpretation ends) Premier Taptuna.
Member’s Statement 100 – 4(2): Happy 100th Birthday, June Okalik (Taptuna)
I rise today to inform the House that on June 1, Elder June Okalik of Kugluktuk turned 100 years old.
I would like to take this opportunity to honour her life, her knowledge, and recognize the importance she plays as an elder of our community in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, she has lived through remarkable times in the history of Nunavut. June Okalik has seen changes in our lifestyle and technological development unimaginable at the time of her birth.
In 2012, she was presented with a Commissioner’s Award for a lifetime of passion in dancing and raising children.
Mr. Speaker, she is a traditional seamstress and has contributed, inspired, and created over a thousand traditional parkas and other traditional clothing, and continues to have a passion for dancing.
She is a dedicated mother, grandmother, great-great grandmother.
Many generations have learned from her valuable teaching.
Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, I will be heading home to celebrate her hundredth milestone with her family and the community.
We asked June Okalik to postpone her celebration until this weekend so that my family could be there in person.
I am humbled that she had agreed and I will be presenting her with a plaque to honour the occasion.
Mr. Speaker, our Elder June Okalik is my wife’s aunt and it’s a blessing to be a part of her family.
This is a big occasion and we have family members flying in from Cambridge Bay and Ulukhaktok to celebrate.
Mr. Speaker and members, please join me in wishing Elder June Okalik a happy birthday, honouring her hundredth year.
Member’s Statement 101 – 4(2): Petition in Support of Patricia Sutherland (Joanasie)
Good morning, colleagues and everyone listening.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of the House to efforts that are being made by residents of Kimmirut to support Dr. Patricia Sutherland and her important work that has been of great benefit to the community.
Mr. Speaker, as you may be aware, Dr. Sutherland is a world-renowned archaeologist who has conducted groundbreaking work on early contacts between the Dorset Inuit and Europeans.
Mr. Speaker, in recent years, her work at the Canadian Museum of Civilization focused on the Helluland Archaeology Project, which included fieldwork at Cape Tanfield near Kimmirut.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Sutherland was respected by the residents of Kimmirut for her commitment to working closely with the community.
Dr. Sutherland’s work at Cape Tanfield provided opportunities for local youth to participate in excavations and learn about our rich history.
Dr. Sutherland also worked with the community on the idea of nominating Cape Tanfield as a national historic site.
Mr. Speaker, in 2012, Dr. Sutherland was suddenly terminated from her position with the Canadian Museum of History following the federal government’s decision to “re-brand” the institution.
Are there any nays? (interpretation) There are no nays.
The federal government has also denied Dr. Sutherland access to her research.
Mr. Speaker, this incident has been the subject of an investigative documentary on CBC’s program, The Fifth Estate.
Mr. Speaker, as of today, the online petition site, change.org, has obtained over 3,000 signatures in support of Dr. Sutherland’s reinstatement and to allow her access to her research.
Mr. Speaker, several dozen residents of Kimmirut have also organized a petition on this issue, which I have been proud to sign as the community’s MLA.
Following our sitting, I will be personally sending a copy of this petition to our federal Member of Parliament and Senator.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Sutherland’s important work has been of tremendous benefit to the community and people of Kimmirut.
It must not be allowed to go to waste, and I stand with my constituents and the thousands of other people who are fighting to ensure that it does not.
Member’s Statement 102 – 4(2): Waste Management in Iqaluit (Angnakak)
I rise today to turn up the heat under a smouldering issue: the ongoing concerns over the situation at the Iqaluit landfill.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Iqaluit-Tasiluk has addressed some of the very real health concerns about the quality of our air and the adverse effects of the smoke from our burning dump.
Mr. Speaker, I have received countless letters, emails, and communications from my constituents expressing concern, suggesting solutions, and begging for action.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that efforts were made at the local level, at the territorial level, and with help from federal authorities, but in many people’s opinion, it has been too little, too late.
Mr. Speaker, while the present situation continues to simmer and will eventually burn itself out, there is the very real possibility that it will happen again.
We must be better prepared to address another inferno, not just a blazing pile of garbage, but the very real blaze of concern and worry about the health of our children, our elders, and community residents. For the future of our people, our land, and our environment, we must all make better efforts to manage waste.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage this government to be more proactive in supporting community initiatives towards waste management and in addressing situations that get out of control. Programs to sort and manage waste, recycling, and controlled incineration projects are just a few of the options that have been proposed.
I hope that they will be given some meaningful consideration in the very near future.
On a final note, Mr. Speaker, the Iqaluit community clean-up will be taking place in the very near future.
I believe this type of event will take place in all communities across the territory.
I hope to see many Iqalummiut out there volunteering because we can all play a role in dealing with our garbage.
Member’s Statement 103 – 4(2): Baker Lake Community Clean-up (Mikkungwak)
I rise today to thank the Minister for Health. I have some announcements to make.
Yesterday, I heard from the people of Baker Lake that this spring, the health committee and the people of Baker Lake have helped a lot with respect to healthy living.
They had a clean-up from the airport to the community. They didn’t use that much money. They used the money to clean the community of Baker Lake and to have a healthy community.
I would like to recognize the health committee and the people of Baker Lake for helping each other.
The companies assisted with respect to the clean-up of the community. I would like to thank all the companies for providing support.
At the end of the session, I will be going back to the community of Baker Lake and it will have nice, clean, fresh air to breathe.
Member’s Statement 104 – 4(2): Appreciation of Spring Sitting (Mapsalak)
First of all, I rise to thank my wife, Elizabeth.
She was able to come to Iqaluit when I asked her.
Mr. Speaker, my wife brought along our daughter. Our daughter just had a birthday on June 9 and she is now 18 years old, but she has a condition whereby we have to look after her.
I would like to thank my wife, Elizabeth, for looking after her, even though she is a handful. She never gets tired of looking after our daughter. Therefore, I thank her, Mr. Speaker.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our interpreter/translators. They are very good at helping us in this House. I would also like to thank the people who produce the Hansard.
We are able to look at the Hansard the next day, and I feel that they are very capable, as well as our interpreters and our table officers.
I would also like to thank the people of Iqaluit for welcoming us each time we come here to meet at the Legislative Assembly.
We will be seeing you again in October during the fall session.
Member’s Statement 105 – 4(2): Girl Guides of Canada (Hickes)
I would first like to thank the Premier for acknowledging Mr. Harper’s appointment as a Knight of the Royal Order for Dannebrog.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay special respect to some current and future leaders in Iqaluit.
Over 90,000 girls and women across Canada and 10 million around the world are members of Girl Guides, an organization that is open to all girls and helps them develop their leadership abilities, outdoor skills, and capacity to change the world.
Mr. Speaker, on May 30, four pathfinders and five guides from Iqaluit with their leaders were flown to Toronto by the Ontario Council of Girl Guides of Canada and stayed at Camp Ma-Kee-Wa near Orangeville for two nights.
Mr. Speaker, on May 31, the girls attended a guiding rally at Canada’s Wonderland.
The theme of the rally was “One Voice,” where the difference that 10 million Girl Guides around the world can make if they speak up together for the things that are important to them.
Mr. Speaker, they joined 8,000 girls and 500 leaders from across Ontario. Nunavut got a special shout-out at the rally and was very popular when it came to trading pins and badges. They had pins and flags donated by Iqaluit MLAs and the pathfinders made sealskin trefoils, which are the guide’s guiding symbol, from sealskin scraps donated by Minister Monica Ell.
Everyone loved them.
The girls, aged 10 through 13, were able to participate in a range of activities at the rally from rock climbing, African drumming, traditional Japanese dance, getting to see reptiles up close and wearing a snake, crafts, computer programming, and science experiments.
Mr. Speaker, on June 1, the girls travelled to downtown Toronto on the subway and ate lunch in a park. One girl even remarked that pigeons looked like ptarmigans. This was a great experience for the girls.
It was the first time most of them had attended a large guiding event like this one.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the pathfinders, Casey Dunn, Laila Angnakak, Kirsten McDonald, Paula Crowley, and the guides, Jessie Apak, Jennifer Ellsworth, Clare Huey, Charlene Umphrey, and Julia Balforth.