EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Do you have any tourism numbers on you now that could say, maybe over the last few years, how has tourism grown? Do you have that kind of information with you now today?
Thank you, Mr. Tourism…uh, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Tourism.”
Currently, Nunavut Tourism has tried in the past to tally tourism numbers throughout Nunavut. It has been a challenge.
The $1,285,000 increase to Nunavut Tourism will be utilized to undertake the priorities identified in the Tourism Strategy to build capacity and also strengthen the industry, which has potential for growth.
Part of the tourism funds would go toward hiring a training coordinator to work with operators and communities to identify training needs and major gaps in the training available, as well as hiring a conference and meeting recruiter to attract meeting conferences and retreats to communities throughout Nunavut, and undertake enhanced development activities, including a broad-based awareness campaign focusing on Nunavut.
This would also provide assistance to Nunavut operators to develop their tourism product line and packages and develop attractive tourism destinations that would provide excellent tourist services through a well-trained workforce.
The additional funding will help smaller operators properly develop tourism packages and part of this would also allow for Nunavut Tourism to have key partners in advancing the tourism industry in Nunavut.
I have tourism on my mind.
How much work does Nunavut Tourism do right at the community level?
I mean not really the marketing, but kind of building up the foundation.
If we’re going to spend money on marketing and asking people from outside of Nunavut to come to Nunavut, they need to be able to come to something.
I think that the communities require a lot of support and help.
I’m wondering how much of Nunavut Tourism’s time and effort is actually in the community at the community level.
Nunavut Tourism has a very broad-based membership across Nunavut.
If we take this 2015 tourism conference as an example, only a few of them have been able to make it to Iqaluit.
Currently, 110 are participating at this week’s conference.
That is just probably a very small number of people who actually participate with part of Nunavut Tourism.
I think it’s great that they can get together and talk about tourism, but I think what I’m really trying to get is at the community level, working with outfitters, helping bed and breakfasts grow, expanding their services, even maybe teaching some cooking courses so that when tourists come to a community, the hotel can offer good or healthy meals, or if you’re out camping, if you are at a cabin site.
Like those kinds of things right at the community level, building up capacity from that stance.
Part of what Nunavut Tourism does is training outfitters and hotel operators and such that have to do with tourism in Nunavut.
They also have outfitters and others provide them support to attend trade shows, and they provide visitor information and services.
Part of that, as I said, is the training for the industry and the industry can be those that I mentioned; hotel owners, outfitters, and carvers, those sorts of things that have to do with tourism.
I’m going to talk a little bit about tourism in the communities but from a different angle.
Over the years, we have seen more and more cruise ships coming into Nunavut.
Often on even some of the radio shows that I have heard and talking with some people, cruise ships is not always the type of tourism that communities desire and that is because they don’t use the bed and breakfasts or the hotels there because they sleep on the ships.
They eat on the ships, so they don’t go and spend money in any of the small coffee shops or something that could provide sandwiches or coffee.
Typically, they spend very little in terms of art like carvings and things like that.
In addition, there have been concerns voiced over the safety of passengers and the difficulties associated with rescue, should that cruise ship need to have one.
I think we have discussed even in the House here whether or not we have the capabilities to address that if the need arises.
I’m wondering: why are we encouraging this type of tourism?
Hon. Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, member, for those questions.
Cruise ships are new to the territory.
We still have to continue to engage in the interests of them visiting Nunavut. It does hold potential for strengthening the tourism economy.
As part of Tunngasaiji, the Nunavut Tourism Strategy, the department is working on a marine tourism management plan. Communities and stakeholders have been consulted.
Their input will help map out strategies and how cruise ships and yachts can bring maximum economic benefits to communities where they stop.
We are also working with the communities so that they can be better prepared and ready for cruise ships when they come in, so that they can also benefit from such visits.
Chairman: Mr. Angnakak
I wondered how cruise ships offer maximum benefits when they are not spending very much money in the community.
The interest for cruise ships coming into Nunavut is there.
I don’t think we can say, “Don’t come,” when they want to.
Although the benefit might look small at this time, with proper training and realizing what potential they might be able offer, I think that as the government, we should be open to more tourism for Nunavut.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the minister.
I think we should be trying to promote tourism in Nunavut, but maybe not so much the cruise ship kind.
Maybe we should be trying to support more tourism type of other options where people go in the community, they spend money in the hotels, they buy the food, and they can afford to buy artwork in the community.
Usually these cruise ship trips here to the Arctic are very expensive and often the passengers don’t have a lot of money to spend in the community.
In fact, I heard of more than one community where they put on a show, they had people display their artwork, and nobody bought anything.
The hamlet paid for some entertainers to entertain the cruise ship passengers.
The cruise ship came and went away and didn’t leave any money with the community, and the hamlet was left having to pay. They didn’t make any money out of it.
That is where I am coming from.
I think we should have more of a focus on other types of tourism and not cruise ships because I don’t think it’s proven to be economical for Nunavut.
Also, I know that there has been some concern raised over the fact that there is really no way of monitoring the ships as they go, even along the Northwest Passage, and things like that.
I think there are a lot to think about there and we shouldn’t just be going blindly forward, “Oh, let’s support this kind of tourism,” without really looking at it.
Really, what kinds of benefits do we get?
I’ll leave that for now and let me see if I have any more. No, that’s it.
Minister Ell, do you want to comment?
Hon. Monica Ell: Yes, just a comment.
This is part of Tunngasaiji, the Nunavut Tourism Strategy.
It doesn’t cover a large amount and we do need to have more training for the stakeholders as well as for the communities so that we can help them develop a plan so that they can maximize their benefits from such trips.
In the past, it has been difficult to monitor who and where the ships are coming from, but to date, we are better able to have discussions now with cruise ships coming into Nunavut.
As such, last summer, Nunavut received eight cruise ships from seven different companies.
With the weather and other unforeseeable circumstances, sometimes these stops are not made.
Mr. Mikkungwak, go ahead with your 24 minutes to raise questions.
While you’re talking about tourism, the first question I have is, I know it’s obvious that Baker Lake has two Heritage Rivers, the Thelon River and the Kazan River.
In Inuktitut, they’re called Kangirjuap Kuunga and Havvaqtuup Kuunga. They have both been recognized as Heritage Rivers.
In terms of having people come and go see them, what sort of plans has your department made to promote the places near Baker Lake that I just talked about?
I’m not really involved with what the communities are doing, but Mr. Suvega is, so I would like him to explain it.
Some communities outline what they are planning to use or what they want to use in terms of Heritage Rivers or places where people can take other people to.
Some communities explain to us what places they want tourists to go to or what places they don’t want tourists to go to, whichever Heritage River or archaeological site that they feel is too important for tourists to be bothering.
We make sure about those things when we are planning as a government. We have to work with other groups to do the planning, such as Inuit organizations if it’s on Inuit owned lands, or within the community.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much. That’s a very clear answer.
I would like to move to a different question that my colleague, Mr. Keyootak, was asking about in terms of mineral exploration.
Right now, in Baker Lake, there is the Agnico-Eagle mine.
We know that the Agnico-Eagle mine will open.
As the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, once the opportunities open up for businesses and the communities, what exactly is your department going to help us with in planning for this?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for asking that question.
I believe that what you’re referring to is the Meadowbank gold mine.
They believe that 2018 will be the end of construction.
We spoke with them quite recently and met with them to see what else they’re going to be doing.
They’re still going through an exploration near the property and it’s around 50 kilometres northeast of the Meadowbank mine site in a property called Amaruq.
They say that they have found more minerals.
They were planning to open in 2018, but they have found another deposit in the Amaruq site.
I have heard about that. They say they have discovered more minerals there.
What sort of plans have you made for the people of Baker Lake in terms of economic development?
The construction phase is supposed to end in 2018 and if they want to extend that, then NIRB probably would be asked if they wanted to extend the end of the construction site.
In the exploration phase, they are still finding other things at the Amaruq site. NIRB would have to look at that if they wanted to proceed with the development of that site.
We are on Branch Summary. Economic Development and Transportation. Economic Development.
Let me ask a question. Are we trying to finish this tonight?
It is an extremely long document and I have many questions.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): I am very interested in this, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to ask, in your 2014-15 business plan, the Country Food Distribution Program has a budget of $1,868,000.
It was when we were dealing with food security that we really liked the idea of a country food distribution program.
In the business plan for 2014-15 on anti-poverty for the Department of Family Services, the action paper has been completed.
However, country food distribution is mentioned only in the business plan for 2015-18.
I’m just using the work that the Department of Family Services has done as an example.
What kind of options have you been putting together for country food distribution?
The funding for 2015-16, $1,868,000, is not for country food distribution.
It’s to support the food distribution in Nunavut, whether to transport country food across Nunavut or how they can promote support. That’s what this Country Food Distribution Program means.
It’s continuing from the 2014-15 fiscal year. It was in the business plan. It’s just to continue that program in the next fiscal year.
The communities can ask for a community freezer.
That’s just an example, but it’s not used for the construction of the freezers in the communities.
I’m just using that as an example as to how this funding is used.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you. I’m just following the Inuktitut version under the Country Food Distribution Program and I believe it’s for the transporting of country food.
Is that what it’s for?
Perhaps I’ll have my deputy minister respond on the use of this program.
This program is for organizations, whether it be the HTO or the hamlet.
They can utilize this program for country food distribution.
If there is going to be a community hunt and if they have to send the meat out to another community, they could use the funding from this program or if a community wanted a community freezer, it could be used at the local level to store the meat for the community.
However, we have to review as to who would be paid for the operations and maintenance of the community freezers.
Thank you very much for responding adequately.
I know that it’s going to be very useful.
I’ll be asking about the details under that.
Under the regional program, I’m wondering if you can make allocations to communities specific to country food distribution.
I know that the policy expired on June 30, 2013.
Is your department going to be renewing that policy?
I’ll use an example. In Iqaluit, last fall, the hunters requested for funding to go out hunting. If they want to go bowhead hunting and if it’s going to be a community hunt, the funding could be used and they have to apply for funding or submit a proposal.
Each community can apply for up to $5,000 for a hunt program.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you for responding adequately to my question.
I believe that policy expired on June 30, 2013.
Are you working to renew the policy?
Has this policy expired or is it still being used?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): There are many pieces of legislation or policies.
We are updating them and we want to extend the expiry date.
Closing comments from Minister Ell.
Oh, it’s not closing. Escort the… .
Must be late; must be a long night.  Iqsuktii, please escort the guests.
Mr. Sammurtok. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order.
Just a reminder that there’s a meeting of the Full Caucus tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Boardroom.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Pages 2346 – 2421
Opening Prayer 2346
Ministers’ Statements 2346
Members’ Statements 2350
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2351
Oral Questions 2352
Tabling of Documents 2368
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 2368
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2368
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2420
Orders of the Day 2421
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 2346
122 – 4(2): Explore Bursary Program (Quassa) 2346
123 – 4(2): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Mike) 2347
124 – 4(2): A University in Nunavut (Quassa) 2348
125 – 4(2): Accountability and Transparency (Taptuna) 2348
126 – 4(2): Status of Corrections in Nunavut (Okalik) 2349
259 – 4(2): Employment Readiness Program (Ugyuk) 2350
260 – 4(2): Exhibit Featuring Carvings by Jayko Ishulutak (Mike) 2351
261 – 4(2): Happy Birthday to Daughter, Nina (Keyootak) 2351
431 – 4(2): Activities of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Hickes) 2352
432 – 4(2): Kimmirut Airport Relocation (Joanasie) 2353
433 – 4(2): Support for Apprentices (Sammurtok) 2355
434 – 4(2): Addressing Mental Health across Nunavut (Angnakak) 2357
435 – 4(2): Review of Harvester Support Programs (Savikataaq) 2358
436 – 4(2): Medical Travel Contracts (Mapsalak) 2360
437 – 4(2): Office of the Fire Marshal (Enook) 2361
438 – 4(2): Coral Harbour’s Municipal Garages (Mapsalak) 2362
439 – 4(2): Building Canada Fund Committee Membership (Hickes) 2364
440 – 4(2): Visitation of Children in Care (Shooyook) 2365
441 – 4(2): Building Canada Fund Priorities (Hickes) 2366
116 – 4(2): Public Service Code of Values and Ethics (Peterson) 2368
Committee Motion 002 – 4(2): Invitation to Nunavut Tourism to Appear Before the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts (Angnakak) 2383
Bill 21 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – Notice 2368
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee 2369
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Nunavut Arctic College – Consideration in Committee 2402
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, Nunavummiut, members, ministers, (interpretation ends) Premier, (interpretation) and visitors. Good afternoon.
I would like to welcome all the students from Nakasuk School and their teachers.
Minister’s Statement 122 – 4(2): Explore Bursary Program (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues and the people of Nunavut. I say “good day” to them.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my colleagues of the ongoing success of the Explore Bursary Program in Nunavut.
Explore is a five-week intensive French language immersion program offered in the spring or summer throughout Canada.
Full-time grade 11, 12, and post-secondary students can apply for this $2,200 bursary.
Mr. Speaker, the bursary covers tuition fees for the program, instructional materials, meals and accommodation, workshops, and other mandatory activities.
Participants from Nunavut can have their travel fees reimbursed and can be granted five high school credits for their participation in the program.
Bursaries are awarded to eligible students by random selection.
No prior experience with the French language is required.
Mr. Speaker, the Explore program is one of the official languages programs of the Council of Ministers of Education of Canada funded through Canadian Heritage.
The Explore program has been offered for over ten years in Nunavut and more than 25 students have participated in this program over the years.
Mr. Speaker, once again this year, there are already several applicants from all three regions of Nunavut.
The deadline for applications had been extended to March 6, 2015. The random draw to award bursaries will be done at the end of March.
The Explore program is a great way for our students to learn the French language.
Mr. Speaker, learning our official languages helps strengthen and protect them and provides increased opportunities to our students. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 123 – 4(2): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to the students and teachers attending here, as well to the people of Nunavut and Pangnirtung.
Mr. Speaker, I’m going to be talking about Baffin Island caribou management.
On January 1 of this year, the Nunavut government brought an interim moratorium on hunting caribou on Baffin Island into effect.
The government made this decision because we, along with our co-management on wildlife partners, believe Baffin Island caribou are in crisis. (interpretation ends) As wildlife managers, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions about harvesting for today’s generation of hunters.
This decision is different; it is being done for future generations of hunters
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, both scientists and hunters agree that current numbers for Baffin Island caribou are dangerously low. (interpretation ends) That said, I believe that under the right circumstances, the Baffin caribou population can recover.
This will take some time and during this time, we will need patience.
(interpretation) My department has been working closely with our co-management partners to explore options for managing Baffin caribou.
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board is holding a public hearing this week to consider longer term management measures for Baffin caribou, with input from all co-management partners and interested parties.
(interpretation ends) Everyone has a role in managing the caribou population. This responsibility lies not only with the government and co-management partners, but also with harvesters. (interpretation) In these situations, we must all work together to ensure that future generations of harvesters have the same, if not greater, opportunities than we do today.
Mr. Speaker, putting this interim moratorium in place was a difficult decision, but I believe it was the only decision possible for the short term. (interpretation ends) I know that we will have some difficult times ahead of us, but our goal is to safeguard the sustainability of the Baffin Island caribou population as government and harvesters have done in the past. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 124 – 4(2): A University in Nunavut (Quassa)
I rise today to inform members of progress being made towards a university in Nunavut.
At our fall 2014 cabinet retreat in Whale Cove, direction was provided to my officials to develop a discussion paper regarding the pros and cons and possible options for the establishment of a university in Nunavut.
Attainment of post-secondary education is becoming more of a goal and reality for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the stated mandate and, indeed, the major focus of Sivumut Abluqta is education and employment.
Some possible options that we are currently exploring are a standalone university, a university college, a pan-territorial university, an Inuit Nunangat university, or some combination of those.
In collaboration with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Laval University, and Carleton University, an Inuit Nunangat university workshop will be held here in Iqaluit later on this month.
This follows on the heels of my participation on a panel discussion during the Arctic Change Conference in December.
Other panel members included Mary Simon, past President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and inaugural Chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education; Dr. Keith Chaulk, Director of the Labrador Institute of Memorial University; and Lars Kullerud, President of the University of the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, we will be preparing an options paper for cabinet, and I hope we will be in a position in our spring session to announce the exciting plans and concept for the Nunavut university. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 125 – 4(2): Accountability and Transparency (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues, Kuglukturmiut, Nunavummiut, and of course, our young students who are in the House here with us.
Mr. Speaker, one of the hallmarks of good governance is accountability and transparency in government, especially with respect to the expenditure of public funds.
On an annual basis, we table income and benefits received by ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly in this House.
Last year, at the request of this House, we tabled salary and bonus payments of deputy heads.
Mr. Speaker, we have made it a priority under Sivumut Abluqta to continue to improve the fair and transparent practices of this government.
Within that commitment, I have amended the terms and conditions of deputy head employment contracts, which includes Crown agencies.
Deputy heads are now required to provide full disclosure statements to the Integrity Commissioner.
The disclosure allows the Integrity Commissioner to review the statement and provide another level of accountability by an independent officer.
Mr. Speaker, to ensure more transparency, we added a condition to deputy head contracts to include the annual publication of salaries and bonuses.
I have also directed my department to upload a copy of the general terms and conditions and disclosure forms of deputy head contracts to the Government of Nunavut website.
Mr. Speaker, governments have an obligation to be accountable to the public, and we must continue to strengthen the accountability of public funds on public programs and services.
Mr. Speaker, it is a priority of this government to practice good government through the wise use of our resources, and we are making progress on our commitments as outlined in the government’s mandate Sivumut Abluqta.