EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
One has since passed away, Lucassi Inuktaluk, is still alive and has really fought on the jurisdiction issue for the islands to belong to the Northwest Territories.
The other person, Joe Imiqqutailak, who has since passed away.
I’d like to recognise them in the house.
Mr. Speaker, what I’m trying to say here is that the residents of Sanikiluaq are now a part of Nunavut and we’re very proud of that.
Member’s Statement 460 – 1(6): Helicopter Pilots’ Exercise Near Pangnirtung
I’m kind of impatient for the evening because we’re going to go get our hair cut this evening with the Nunavut Arctic College students.
Mr. Speaker, you’ve probably heard on the radio that close to Pangnirtung, there are four helicopters, and they will also be going to Qikiqtarjuaq.
They’ll be in Qikiqtarjuaq today and tomorrow before they return to Quebec City.
The helicopter pilots are training in Arctic conditions with the help of local Canadian Rangers.
Captain Brian Martin was leading this exercise from the Armed Forces.
As well, it was an exercise for the army to be tested in Arctic conditions and if they were needed for future search and rescue purposes, they wanted to be comfortable in Arctic conditions.
I’d also like to state that this training exercise has nothing to do with the Iraqi conflict, just in case people were worried about that.
But I’d like to recognise the Canadian Forces and the participation of the local Canadian Rangers in these training exercises.
Member’s Statement 461 – 1(6): Post Secondary Students – High Cost of Transportation
I rise today to talk about the issue of post secondary education and having to move to elsewhere to gain this education.
A few complete their courses, while others fail.
Many of the parents of these successful students desire to attend their graduation, but are unable, due to the prohibitive cost of transportation.
Mr. Speaker, education, as we said, is very important.
Parents want to see our young people complete this education, and many of these students work hard to do so.
I will raise further questions at the appropriate time regarding education.
Member’s Statement 462 – 1(6): Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate – Leonard Sweetland Commendation
We’re on the lazy days of the Assembly I’d call it.
We’re half way through.
It’s been getting into what I call the drag part of the Assembly where some of us have been away from our families for over two weeks and we don’t have the luxury of having our families here in the capital with us all the time.
I speak for the ones of us that are away from our families.
And when we get quiet moments among ourselves, we discuss how much we miss them.
Sometimes we don’t appreciate them.
But when you’re away from somebody, you really start to appreciate them.
My colleagues around here, that are away from your families, for up to two to three to four weeks at a time, cheer up. We may get out of here one of these days.
But what brings me to my Member’s Statement today is that I had a young gentleman in my community by the name of Leonard Sweetland.
And here is the letter.
Dear Leonard,
Congratulations on your success in your Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians Level 4 and Inter-Provincial Examination on December 11 and 12, 2002 at Aurora College with a mark of 87% in your level 4 and 73 % in your Inter-Provincial examination.
Your certificate of qualification 00000-7-06 with red seal and -0600003 and completion of apprenticeship 000004-06 with your wallet card will be mailed to you in the near future.
And that speaks for itself.
We’re making a little headway on getting journeyman heavy equipment operators in Nunavut.
That brings up to date three in my home community that are Inuit.
But on that part, I have to commend Leonard because he was a young man with a young family.
He spent anywhere from between 3 to 4 months every year for the last 4 years away from his family.
Like I said, he has small children and I used to pass his wife on the street and how much he really missed him and how much he really missed her.
I might complain about being in the capital, away from my family for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
But I have to seriously commend Leonard for being away for 3 for 4 months at a time away from his family in Fort Smith.
So today, I’d like everybody to join me in congratulating Leonard Sweetland for being one of the first Inuit Journeyman Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 463 – 1(6): Rankin Inlet Comments and Concerns
My riding of Rankin Inlet had a misunderstanding regarding the statements of Ministers and the restrictions put on Ministers regarding voicing the concerns of our constituents.
But I’d like to say it is not so, they’re concerns in Rankin Inlet that I am dealing with as their member, on the radio this morning in Rankin Inlet there were concerns regarding the transportation of medical patients.
I am aware of the concerns and brought them to my colleague, Minister Picco and made him aware of the situation.
As well, Mr. Speaker, there were also comments made in Rankin Inlet about arts and crafts.
We’re all having problems marketing Ivalu.
Emma Tatti made comments regarding those wall hangings that I had also brought them up with Olayuk Akesuk and met with him regarding the concerns of my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, there were also comments regarding the Canadian Rangers and the Kivalliq region had some problems during a blizzard and as a Minister Nunavut Emergency I have looked into the matter.
In Whale Cove, Sam Agualaak became lay readers in the community and I’d like to congratulate him.
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to bring these up, that we as Ministers are still able to deal with constituency concerns even though we are within Cabinet.
Member’s Statement 464 – 1(6): Medical Patients Travelling South for Treatment
I am just coming back from the Kivalliq region, and I would like to make a statement regarding especially medical patients who have to travel to Churchill and Winnipeg. I will just make a statement from what I have seen with my own eyes.
There are definitely problems.
What I have seen in Naujaat, a patient going to Winnipeg for an examination, an older lady who was over eighty when she left from Naujaat to go to Coral Harbour, from Coral Harbour to Rankin Inlet, Rankin Inlet to Arviat, Arviat to Churchill, and from Churchill to Winnipeg, in a small airplane, with no washroom in this aircraft.
I received a letter from her regarding this issue to ensure that this problem is dealt with, and whether they will be using Skyward for medivacs, or use a scheduled route for these patients.
This is quite a long trip and every time they would go into a community, she had to step out if she needs to go to the washroom.
This lady was over eighty years old.
These are very real situations.
They do not speak in English, and they will not voice their disappointments on the system.
They are very patient people.
I will ask questions at the appropriate time.
Member’s Statement 465 – 1(6): Power Corporation Payment Centres
Mr. Speaker, it seems today is Inuktitut day, everyone is speaking it.
I would encourage my riding from Igloolik and Hall Beach to call me, and I say hello.
I had a concern that I raised and I had some questions on this, concerning the Nunavut Power Corporation.
The payment centres are not run properly, we talk about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit being implemented in the workforce, and how it is going to be easier for unilingual Inuit.
Although that is the case, some people do not know the 1-800 numbers to get information about their accounts.
All the receptionists who answer the phone at the 1-800 numbers are English speaking people.
They are the ones who are dealing with the consumers who have to pay for their electricity bills.
I believe the electricity bill payment centres should have people answering the phone in Inuktitut.
Member’s Statement 466 – 1(6): Standardized Testing
Mr. Speaker, there has been considerable debate in this Assembly, around the issue of standardized testing.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, the issue around standardized testing is not new.
The first question that I asked in the Assembly in Yellowknife, almost eight years ago, was what was the GNWTs position on standardized testing.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, testing occurs in a regular basis in each class, at each grade, at any given time, in Nunavut Schools, each semester.
Standardized tests that have been suggested would be used to compare grade equivalency in Nunavut with equivalent grades, whether they would be in Alberta, or another jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, this type of testing serves no purpose.
It does not take into account, issues surrounding ESL instruction, social and economic factors or indeed, Mr. Speaker, median scores for our number of students being tested.
Mr. Speaker, a standardized test to see if a child is performing at or near the median given for a grade 7 student in math for example, based at the first, second or third quarter of the school year, occurs today Mr. Speaker, in individual classrooms across Nunavut.
This may consist of oral and written tests.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with many parents, teachers, educators and the Department of Education when they maintain that any type of test given first has to reflect the cultural, language and the reality of Nunavut.
That’s the test, it must be realistic, and it should not be, Mr. Speaker, an artificial yard stick of some predetermine outcome.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to take into account, the curriculum currently being used here in Nunavut.
Parents want to know and be assured that their children are receiving the best possible education Mr. Speaker, an education that will give them the tools to be successful in life.
One tool, instrument or an evaluation is a standardized test based on active curriculum, school and public home work, and most importantly, testing what has been taught, and Mr. Speaker, most importantly, what has been learned in unison with the social, cultural and language aspects of our children.
Mr. Speaker, without this, the test would be redundant.
Mr. Speaker, I support the Department of Education’s positions on testing and agree with many parents, teachers and education officials that say that arbitrary testing would serve little purpose for, most importantly, our children.
I believe I heard a nay.
Please proceed Minister Picco.
Hon. Ed Picco: I thought you said you heard a nay Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as a parent with children in high school, in the middle school and in the elementary school level, I have had an opportunity to be involved with teachers, faculty and other parents and agree with them that the test arbitrarily would serve no purpose unless it tests what has been taught in conjunction with our schools and based on our curriculum in place.
Mr. Speaker, our teachers, counsellors and program support staff work hard every day for and on behalf of our students and, Mr. Speaker, on behalf and for our children.
They should be commended for that and involved directly, Mr. Speaker, in any debate on standardized or other testing.
Are there any further member’s statements.
Member’s Statement 467 – 1(6): Pond Inlet Athletes
I wasn’t feeling well yesterday and in my dialect and Mr. Iqaqrialu’s dialect, I was ill.
I’m still not up to par but I have to be here so, my comment is there were some athletes from Pond Inlet who went to Cambridge Bay for some games.
I don’t have their names at the present time and they won one of the competitions and I would like to say how proud I am of them and those were the younger children who went to the competitions.
Speaker: Are there any further Members' Statements.
If not, we’ll move onto item 4, Returns to Oral Questions.
Return to Question 365 – 1(6): Small Business Grants for Construction
In response to Mr. Arvaluk’s question posed on , March 5, 2003, the Department of Public Works and Services does not provide finds to business that are not working on Public Works and Services contracts.
For large contracts with Public Works and Services, the contractor may receive staggered payments.
For example, a contractor may invoice for materials when they are received in the community and then may invoice for work completed each month.
However Public Works and Services does not pre-pay for materials before they are received or for work before it is completed.
It is the responsibility of the general contractor to determine what materials are needed and providing them as part of the construction contract.
For some small projects, Public Works and Services purchases materials directly and contracts fort labour only.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (Floor): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to recognize Ajauna Mablik.
Now that Ajauna is in the Kivalliq now she is now called Ajauni.
Ajauni now resides in Rankin Inlet with her husband and Mr. Speaker, her husband is doing good work with that program that was mentioned regarding spousal abuse counselling.
(NO INTERPRETATION TO THIS POINT)
I would like to recognize someone right behind me who is from Greenland and who has been living in Repulse Bay for quite some time now.
Beverly Beverage and I taught her in grade one and kindergarten quite awhile ago.
Neverana Beverage.
I would like to recognize her in the gallery and Ajauna Mablik.
I am please to recognize some people from Kugluktuk, as I don’t often get the opportunity.
First of all I want to recognize someone for Health and Social Services. Erni Berndheart, could you stand up please.
As well as my EA from my constituency of Kugluktuk. Nancy Evaluk.
She was already recognized but I too would like to recognize her.
I would like to recognize Neverana Beverage who I worked with previous and she is a very competent employee and please feel welcome to work with her and I welcome you the Legislative Assembly.
From my riding of Toonoonik, I would like to recognise Charlie Inuaraq who is right behind me.
He’s on the Water Board so if you need a license, you’ll have to go to him.
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to take this opportunity to welcome some people to the gallery.
First of all, I would like to recognise the community liaison representative for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ernie Bernhart, and the member for Kugluktuk just welcomed him.
Ernie works out of our Kugluktuk office and is involved heavily with the committee to counsel for the Department of Health.
Mr. Speaker, I also would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the gallery, a good friend of mine who’s spent a lot of time at my house, and actually did some baby sitting for on several occasions, Mr. Israel Mablick.
Isreal has moved around a little bit and I understand he’s taking up a new residence and I would like to wish him the very best.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to welcome back to the booth behind me, Ms. Salome Awa, from CBC.
Salome is joining us again and Mr. Speaker, some where in the bowels of the building I would like to welcome Ms. Blandina Tulugarjuk and Mary Nashook, two constituents of mine who mentioned that I did not recognise them, so I would like to take this opportunity to recognise them.
And Mr. Speaker, a well known individual in the assembly.
I was in Montreal and then went to Quebec, and at the art gallery in Quebec City, there was a piece worth $7 thousand 580 dollars.
I said, this is a really nice carving and when I looked at it, the name was Uriash Puqiqnak.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome this very well known carver in Nunavut, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak to this assembly.
Today, I would like to recognise Charlie Inuaraq although, I know him, he’s originally from Arctic Bay but he now belongs to Pond Inlet and he works on the water board and he’s really involved in the church services.
Speaker: Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Members, there is always an opportunity to go back to an item.
You don’t hold up the House waiting for people to enter the building.
Would you like to return to Item 5. Mr. McLean.
As always, you’re very patient with me and I really appreciate that.
I’d like to take this opportunity to take the time out that not very often, I get to recognize constituents from my community because Baker Lake is so far away.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take the time to introduce a close personal friend for the last 20 years, Mr. Frank Tootoo from Baker Lake.
He’s also the new director of Sports Nunavut.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery. Mr. Tootoo.
It’s nice to see you again.
Any further Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Question 454 – 1(6): Plans for Equal Opportunity in Non-decentralized Communities
My question I raised in my Members' Statements around decentralization.
The decentralization issue will be questioned for the Minister of Decentralization, the Premier.
The communities that are non-decentralized, do you have any plans to develop jobs in those communities?
The Bathurst Mandate indicates that by 2020, Nunavut is a place where equal opportunities will exist.
I am wondering when you are going to start working on the non-decentralized communities so that we can have equal opportunities in the year 2020.
Some of the non-decentralized communities have started working on their own plans, and we have been helping them in looking at ways of developing the economy in their communities.
Maybe, perhaps in Taloyoak, they started doing their own development in their community.
We do not have any actual plans to date on the issue of non-decentralized communities.
We are prioritizing the decentralization first before we start working on the non-decentralized communities.
The department has said that this would be their final year, and I would also like to ask, Mr. Speaker, that the decentralized communities have over four hundred jobs, which is really good for them, and I support them.
Mr. Speaker, there is also those non-decentralized communities in Nunavut.
For instance, the Department of Education Minister, during Committee of the Whole, said that they would have to have to go to a trade school in the Edmonton area for the students to take more education.
Does your department that deals with decentralization, are you planning on putting in training centres here in Nunavut, in one of the communities?
Has there been any plans in place to have a training facility in one of the non-decentralized communities, rather than sending them to southern centres?
The Minister for the Department of Education, I have spoken to him and he had assured me that he will be reviewing the question.
I would also like to make the Member aware that perhaps he could ask that question to the Department of Education.
Under the Bathurst Mandate this has been one of the plans to do some decentralization to non-decentralized communities.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from the Kitikmeot, I appreciate his concerns too, about decentralization, because we have to be supported in regards to the correctional facility.
When you live in the Kitikmeot region and try to come to the east, for those inmates, it is too far away for them to travel, and to stay away from home for a long time.
It seems like the correctional facility is being planned by the Government and we would like to create some jobs for the non-decentralized communities.
I would like them to be considered.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is how many communities did you receive requests from for a correctional facility building to be built?
Mr. Speaker, I just received a note from the Member.
I have received two names of the communities that would like to have a correctional facility, one of which is from Kugluktuk.
Under the Bathurst Mandate it is are different.
We are giving the decentralized communities more jobs and we have nothing for the non-decentralized communities and that is not equal.
For those communities that are not decentralized and the decentralized communities, you have to try to equal the requests from each one of the communities.
Have you thought about building a facility in a non-decentralized community?
We can review that to try and find out.
As we all know that building a correctional facility is not a very easy thing.
We have to take a good look at each community that has asked to have a facility built in their community, or their region.
We have to look at all sides and make a careful decision before we can commit to putting it in any of the communities of Nunavut.
Question 455 – 1(6): Telephone Communication to IDEA
Mr. Speaker, my questions is for the Minister responsible for Education.
Mr. Speaker, during our opening comments in the Committee of the Whole in the education budget, I mentioned my concern about the attitude that the department has about pointing out the negatives about other groups or organizations, with comments made in the Ministers’ opening comments.
Mr. Speaker, to follow up on that; yesterday the Minister had indicated in replying to a question of mine, again trying to find out why the department did not get a hold of the DEA to inform them that they had contacted Alberta.
He went off onto a different topic altogether saying I do not know why the DEA never called me back, and he said that there was a call that has not been responded to them.
I would like to ask the Minister if he could indicate when that call was made and by whom?
I already told the Member yesterday, I already told Naullaq Arnaquq, who is my Assistant Deputy Minister. If I am not mistaken to date, I think that it was February the 12th that we made those calls.
Mr. Speaker, I didn’t want to read between the lines of the Minister’s response so again I ask who made that call.
Can the Minister indicate what message was left, who his ADM talked to and what message was left with the DEA?
My Deputy Minister spoke with the DEA but I'm not exactly sure who that individual was that he spoke to at the DEA office here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, If the Minister is indicating that the DEA office is in Nakasuk school here, they don’t have an answering machine.
It was either the secretary at the school or the secretary working for the DEA that the ADM must have left a message with.
But if he could find out who that was and also Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister what message was left with that individual and who was the message for.
I can look into the events that happened and give the information to the member.
I cannot exactly say who the person that answered the telephone was.
I will look into the events that happened and let the member know.
Although Mr. Tootoo has one supplementary left the Minister is indicating that he will take the question as notice.
There will be no further questions.
Question 456 – 1(6): Transportation Assistance for Post Secondary Students
I made a member’s statement earlier on and I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Education.
There have been a lot of times that students that have gone to school outside of their community.
Some go to school in Ottawa, and some other southern centres.
When their child is graduating the parents would like to go and see the graduation ceremonies where the individual is going to school.
Is there any way of helping them with travel money to attend their children’s graduation?
To the question that the member is asking, we all know that the money that we use for travel for the communities for the students are limited.
Because of that, we have to give priority to the students travel.
We don’t have very much money, we haven’t had any money for the parents to attend their children’s graduation.
There is no money in place at this time.
Yes, I understand that there is a limited amount of funding and I know that the students work very hard to complete their schooling and the parents also assist in the education of their children.
Is there any way of assisting them to go and attend their children’s graduation ceremonies.
We can consider that, but, although we know there have been a lot of people requesting funding or assistance or support to go and attend their children’s graduation, we can also consider that.
Yes, I appreciate the Minister’s response because we all have limited sources of funding.
I feel that the parents deserve to go to their children’s graduation ceremonies.
If there could be a surplus amount of money from the department’s budget, I just wonder if you could consider that.