EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was $75,000 from that to help fund the Masters Program that we have talking about; we have 25 students from across Nunavut doing the Masters Program.
There was a $10,000 increase which is “adjust the salary for the actual benefit calculation.” There’s $114,000 allocation for a CSS and for the student assessment. There was also $20,000 for specialized assessments.
Under the priorities for 2008-09 in this area, they indicate that they want to “Develop a new protocol with Heritage Canada, through a consulting process involving our partners in the communities.”
I’m just wondering if I could get a little bit of detail on that as to exactly what they plan on doing there.
Heritage Canada is a federal department that works very closely and funds very closely the Francophone School Association and we have linkages with them.
Under that line item that the member spoke about, some of the plans are to continue to foster that working relationship that we have.
It may result in extra funds possibly coming from Heritage Canada. However, we want to continue our good working relationship with them.
It also says they want to “Implement the grade seven language assessment tool.” Can I get some explanation as to what exactly that is?
That was a question we answered earlier on improving the student assessment in Nunavut schools in our criterion standard testing.
What exactly are you looking at?
I know they didn’t like the ones the DEA here wanted to bring in before. Can he give a little bit of a more detailed explanation on exactly what they’re going to use?
We have a working group for grade seven assessments for all four languages and we bring that group together to look at some of the standards and criteria.
I would like to save my 16 seconds until next week and given the fact that we’re already over half an hour later than what we had agreed to finish at today, I would like to move to report progress.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation ends) Sufficient time has been passed since the motion to report progress was defeated at approximately 4:25 p.m. The motion to report progress is in order and the motion is not debatable.
(interpretation) I’m sorry.
At this time, Sergeant-at-Arms, you can escort the witnesses out of the witness table. (interpretation ends) Do you have any closing comments? Minister Picco.
(interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort Minister Picco and his officials from the witness table.
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak)(interpretation): Thank you.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Your committee has been considering Bill 23 and the Main Estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
There are none. Item 22. Orders of the Day.
A reminder that on Monday, a meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Education at nine o’clock in the morning in the Tuktu Boardroom.
This House stands adjourned until Monday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Pages 3564 – 3665
Opening Prayer 3564
Ministers’ Statements 3564
Members’ Statements 3567
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3573
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3574
Oral Questions 3575
Written Questions 3594
Tabled Documents 3594
First Reading of Bills 3595
Second Reading of Bills 3596
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3597
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3663
Orders of the Day 3664
Monday, March 10, 2008 3564
167 – 2(4): Minister Tapardjuk Absent from the House (Picco) 3564
168 – 2(4): Update on the Language of Instruction (Picco) 3564
169 – 2(4): A Day of Sealing Celebration (Netser) 3565
170 – 2(4): Sivuliqtiksat Program Graduates (Okalik) 3566
395 – 2(4): First Time Ever: Iqaluit to Host National Curling Championship (Tootoo) 3567
396 – 2(4): Repulse Bay Athletes at the Arctic Winter Games (Mapsalak) 3568
397 – 2(4): Wise Woman of the Year Awards (Peterson) 3568
398 – 2(4): Protection of Inuit Intellectual Property (Curley) 3569
399 – 2(4): Saqijuq (Arvaluk) 3571
400 – 2(4): Support “A Day of Sealing Celebration” (Kattuk) 3572
401– 2(4): Wise Woman Awards Recipients (Brown) 3573
402 – 2(4): Arctic Winter Games Athletes (Barnabas) 3573
494 – 2(4): Devolution Negotiations Letter (Curley) 3575
495 – 2(4): Issue of Violence in Schools (Peterson) 3575
496 – 2(4): Hiring Local Staff (Simailak) 3577
497 – 2(4): Number of Ships Travelling in Nunavut (Barnabas) 3579
498 – 2(4): Community Priority Changes (Arvaluk) 3580
499 – 2(4): Number of International Nurses (Alagalak) 3583
500 – 2(4): Status of Materials for Housing Projects (Barnabas) 3584
501 – 2(4): Cost of Swimming Pools (Mapsalak) 3585
502 – 2(4): Recycling of Beverage Containers (Peterson) 3588
503 – 2(4): Refund of Rental Payments for Older Units (Simailak) 3590
504 – 2(4): Independent Review: Update on Rankin Inlet Power Incident (Curley) 3591
010 – 2(4): Status of Decentralization (Peterson) 3594
204 – 2(4): Photographs of Caribou at the Baker Lake Sewage Lagoon (Simailak) 3594
205 – 2(4): F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management Meeting, January 9, 2008 (Brown) 3595
206 – 2(4): F/P/T Ministers of Housing Meeting in Vancouver February 6, 2008 (Netser) 3595
207 – 2(4): Illamar Marshalling Minister’s Participation at Chesterville, ON Event February 8, 2008 (Netser) 3595
208 – 2(4): NDC Business Plan 2008-2009 (Netser) 3595
209 – 2(4): NBCC Annual Report for the Year Ending March 31, 2006 (Netser) 3595
210 – 2(4): Nunavut Development Corporation Annual Report 2006/07 (Netser) 3595
Bill 26 – Securities Act – First Reading 3595
Bill 26 – Securities Act – Second Reading 3596
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Education 3598
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Environment 3625
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Community and Government Services 3661
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. David Simailak, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Good afternoon, Mr. Premier, Ministers, Members, and also Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Item 2. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 167 – 2(4): Minister Tapardjuk Absent from the House (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House and the members that Minister Tapardjuk will be absent from the House today.
Minister’s Statement 168 – 2(4): Update on the Language of Instruction (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to update the house on the progress of the Department of Education’s Language of Instruction initiative.
Mr. Speaker, instruction of Inuit languages in our schools is important to attain the government’s goal of having Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun as our working languages.
To facilitate the proper methods, communities and schools must plan appropriate language programs for their students.
Mr. Speaker, these plans are based on the use of both languages in the community and the availability of staff and learning resources to deliver the programs effectively.
Mr. Speaker, the department has been delivering Language of Instruction information workshops in communities throughout Nunavut. To date, workshops have been held in Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake, Pond Inlet, Resolute Bay, Iqaluit, Cape Dorset, Arctic Bay, Igloolik, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Sanikiluaq, Kimmirut, and all the communities in the Kitikmeot. Workshops in the remaining communities are scheduled to be completed by April of 2008.
Mr. Speaker, discussions in these workshops have been very productive on how to improve language instruction. For example, many communities have indicated that they would like to ensure that early childhood and adult programs are available in the child’s first language.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education is eager to look forward to Nunavut’s goal of strengthening and working in its own language and the language of instruction is an important part of this. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 169 – 2(4): A Day of Sealing Celebration (Netser)
I would like to take this opportunity to announce new initiatives that the department is doing to promote sustainable sealing in Nunavut, and I would like to thank everybody for wearing sealskin vests yesterday.
On March 11, 2008, with the support of my department, the Fur Institute of Canada will be holding a Sealing Workshop in Iqaluit, immediately before the Nunavut Fisheries Symposium.
This event will be followed, Mr. Speaker, on March 15, 2008, by a Day of Sealing Celebration, which will also take place in Iqaluit and will include community events and cultural celebrations to recognize the importance of the seal to our economy, our culture, and our way of life.
I am also announcing today that the department is sponsoring a new web site to promote sustainable sealing in Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I hope Paul McCartney is listening to this.
This new web site promotes the truth about sealing in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, through the use of streaming video and new media, we hope to make more people aware of this sustainable resource, and its role in our territory, it is important for Nunavummiut to work with individuals and organizations in Canada to fight the myths and misconceptions about our traditional, sustainable seal harvest. We need to promote the seal and its contribution to Nunavut.
The Government of Nunavut supports both animal welfare and the sustainable use of wildlife. Inuit have survived for thousands of years by responsibly harvesting renewable resources including seals, and this practice continues today.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Mr. Speaker, as we all know, animal rights groups continue to try to ban the importation of all seal products into European Union countries. Yet, the seal hunt contributes to the livelihoods of hundreds of Inuit families.
I encourage all members to visit www.sealingnunavut.ca and share this educational and entertaining web site. And, I encourage everyone to join us for a Day of Sealing Celebration.
Hon. Premier, Premier Okalik.
Minister’s Statement 170 – 2(4): Sivuliqtiksat Program Graduates (Okalik)
I feel like I went seal hunting.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Justice and Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to congratulate three of my staff who have recently graduated from the Sivuliqtiksat Internship Program.
The three graduates are:
Lucy Wilson, Manager of Business Planning & Support for Court Services in the Department of Justice;
Napatchie Kolola, Director of Communications with the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs; and
Tanya Tungilik, Cabinet Registrar in the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, these individuals committed to advancing their skills and abilities and successfully completed their internship.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the dedicated supervisors, trainers and mentors who worked with our three graduates throughout their internships.
Mr. Speaker, Sivuliqtiksat provides valuable, on-the-job learning experience, and is an effective means of increasing Inuit employment in management and specialized positions in our public service.
This program is coordinated through the Department of Human Resources and demonstrates our commitment to developing a workforce that is representative of the people it serves.
Mr. Speaker, please join me again in congratulating Lucy Wilson, Napatchie Kolola and Tanya Tungilik and wishing them continued success in their positions.
We congratulate and honour the graduates.
If there are no more, Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 395 – 2(4): First Time Ever: Iqaluit to Host National Curling Championship (Tootoo)
I rise today to share with you an exciting “First Ever” announcement for Nunavut and the City of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I know that many of my constituents and fellow curlers are tuned in to their televisions these days as the Brier is underway in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
A couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed following the Scott Tournament of Hearts from Regina, Saskatchewan.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that from November 9 to 16, 2008, Iqaluit residents will have the opportunity to watch the Canadian Mixed Curling Championships live right here in our city.
Mr. Speaker, this is the first time ever that a National Sport Championship will be held in Nunavut and the City of Iqaluit is extremely proud to have been chosen to host this event.
For a nice change, curlers in the rest of Canada will be turning and tuning in to Nunavut to hear what’s rocking.
Mr. Speaker, this announcement could not have happened without a lot of work and dedication by members of the Iqaluit Curling Club, members of the Canadian Curling Association, the City of Iqaluit, and also major support from First Air.
Mr. Speaker, as our young Arctic Winter Game curlers get ready for their first match over in Yellowknife, they will know that even greater opportunities are in store for them. Holding a national level tournament in Nunavut not only allows our athletes to compete against the rest of Canada but opens the door for them to participate in future tournaments of this calibre.
Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my fellow members to join me in congratulating the Iqaluit Curling Club, Canadian Curling Association, and the City of Iqaluit for this “First Ever” announcement.
Member’s Statement 396 – 2(4): Repulse Bay Athletes at the Arctic Winter Games (Mapsalak)
My daughter watches us on the live broadcast, whom I love very much, Lucie, so I wish her a good day.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pride to support the Repulse Bay athletes who are in the Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife.
These games got underway yesterday with the Prime Minister in attendance.
Mr. Speaker, we have 12 young athletes from my community of Repulse Bay and I would like to wish them the very best at the games.
The young athletes from my community are competing in three sports categories.
For Badminton: Alexander Tuktudjuk, Garry Tinashlu, and their mission staff and assistant coach, Michael Putulik. In Hockey: Jeff Siusangnark, Jaimisi Siusangnark, and Nelson Kopak.
In Volleyball: Kelly Tuktudjuk, Stephan Angutialuk, Devon Ariugala, Ray Curtis-Tuktudjuk, Trevor James Pingajak, Dino Milortok, and their coach, Joshua Bruce.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games will no doubt give our young athletes a very memorable experience, please join me in wishing them the very best and to enjoy this time to get to know fellow athletes from different places around the world. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 397 – 2(4): Wise Woman of the Year Awards (Peterson)
I rise today to congratulate the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women’s Council for hosting their International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8. As you may be aware, the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Strong Women, Strong World.”
Mr. Speaker, the event raised awareness of the issues affecting women and families across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I attended the event with several of my colleagues and many Iqaluit residents.
It was an entertaining afternoon; they had an arts and crafts fair, a coffee house, music and singing, prizes, and special awards that recognized the work of Nunavut women who helped improve the lives of women and families in their communities.
Mr. Speaker, I was very honoured to accept the 2008 Wise Woman of the Year Award for the Kitikmeot on behalf of Ms. Elizabeth Hadlari.
I have known Ms. Hadlari for many years and I am familiar with her work as an adult educator and a craftsperson; both fields where she has helped women in our community of Cambridge Bay to improve their lives.
I will present her award to her on behalf of the women’s council when I return home.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Hadlari and the Baffin and the Kivalliq recipients of the 2008 Wise Woman of Year Awards for what they have done to help women in Nunavut.
Nunavummiut submitted many worthy nominations which made the selections difficult, attesting to the vital roles that women play in Nunavut. If it were possible, they would have all received an award.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Nunavummiut to support women in their communities as they work to improve the lives other women and our families.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the Iqaluit Music Society for the entertainment that their members provided on Saturday afternoon.
I was delighted by their variety of talented individuals of all ages who entertained us.
Member’s Statement 398 – 2(4): Protection of Inuit Intellectual Property (Curley)
First of all, we send our condolences to the residents of Sanikiluaq and we want them to know that they’re not alone.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of protecting the intellectual property rights of Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my remarks with the interesting illustration of how different cultures borrow from one another.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, many Nunavummiut are enthusiastic players of Scrabble and I understand that Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s Annual Nunavut Day Scrabble Tournament is extremely popular.
I find it very interesting that the Official Scrabble Dictionary formally recognizes a number of Inuktitut words such as Qajaq, Umiaq, and Ulu.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of speakers of our language, I would like to thank the makers of the game for incorporating words from our language.
Mr. Speaker, we heard last week about the agreement that has been signed to provide Inuksuit for use at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and I am pleased that our artists and carvers will benefit from providing the Inuksuit. I urge the Premier to formally table a copy of this agreement in the Legislative Assembly so that Nunavummiut will know exactly what they agreed to.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it’s important that the intellectual property of Inuit be respected and protected. As you know, a visit to a local souvenir store anywhere in Canada can be a frustrating and disheartening experience. We see cheap imitations of genuine Inuit art; we see evidence of how our cultural designs have been appropriated for the profit of others.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and everyone.
We see cheep imitations of genuine Inuit art; we see evidence of how our cultural designs have been appropriated for the profit of others.
This practice has been extended to clothing.
Note that the multinational corporation, Adidas, is now marketing a so-called Inuit jacket.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that the intellectual property of Inuit is very complex and that the protection of intellectual property rights is a very complex legal area.
I would like to pay tribute to those groups and individuals who have been working to identify ways of enhancing the protection of our intellectual property.
I can say that Pauktuutit has been working for a number of years with such bodies as the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations to protect the Amauti.
I also urge our retailers and galleries in Nunavut to demonstrate their support for Inuit intellectual property by only selling authentic Inuit art.
I do not believe that our stores should be selling plastic Inuksuit or other imitations that are made in other countries when there is so much genuine Inuit art around us.
For that reason, Mr. Speaker, I would like to state in this House that Nunavut Inuit would like us to introduce legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of Inuit in the future.
Member’s Statement 399 – 2(4): Saqijuq (Arvaluk)
I rise today to inform my colleagues about a book called Saqijuq and a play that was performed last weekend in Pond Inlet by a Pond Inlet youth theatre group.
Mr. Speaker, the play was adopted from the book called Saqijuq.
Saqijuq is a story that was written by Nancy Wachowich from British Columbia and it is about three generations of women from Pond Inlet who are: Apphia Agalakti Awa, my mother, Rhoda Kaukjak Katsak, my sister, and Sandra Pikujak Katsak, my niece.
Mr. Speaker, this play was directed by Christopher Morris and was appropriately performed on March 8, 2008, on International Women’s Day.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, each woman tells their own story, starting with my mother, Apphia, about how life used to be out on the land and the Inuit way of life.
It is followed by my sister, Rhoda, her story where she recounts the days when the federal schools were started and progressed with the life of my niece, Sandra, and her perspective of life today and the issues that are currently faced by our youth.
I am told that this play will also be aired some time in the future.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, sadly, my mother, Apphia, passed away in 1996, leaving behind 12 children who are all alive today. My sister, Rhoda, who lives in Pond Inlet today, and my niece, Sandra, is now living in Iqaluit. She recently completed the Akitsiraq Law School Program and she is a lawyer for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, please join me in applauding all of the performers, writers, and crew for the hard work...
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk, your time is up.
Your time was up. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 400 – 2(4): Support “A Day of Sealing Celebration” (Kattuk)
I rise today to support the comments that were made by the Minister of Economic Development on “A Day of Sealing Celebration.”
I think this is the third time that I have made the same comment.
I am very proud to have made those statements as the people out there who are opposed to sealing can be listening.
We utilize the seal entirely. If there were no seals, some of us wouldn’t be making statements in the House today.
When we were living the traditional life, the seal was an all important part of our life; we used it for food, for light and heat, for making Uujuq, for making clothing and, at times, we used it to make harnesses and the tracers for the dogs.
Our mothers used the skins or pelts for different things. After they had cleaned it, they would give it to the children to use for sliding, and at the same time, to clean it. We used the sealskins to go sliding and it was very handy.
Today, we get the seals for our own families and for the entire community. We share it throughout the community. The seal pelt is also used for economic purposes for entire families and the money is used properly.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Kattuk. The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
We see a brighter future for the communities that don’t have jobs available to get an economic boost through the sale of the seal pelts. Due to the fact that the hunters are able to make money off the pelts, it’s better for the entire family and for the community.
There was one time we saw a television program with Paul McCartney who was lying down beside a seal pup.
We don’t do that as Inuit.
We harvest the pups to make sure that we have something to eat and clothes to wear.
For that reason, I disagree with Mr. McCartney and I hope he understands exactly what I’m saying.
Member’s Statement 401– 2(4): Wise Woman Awards Recipients (Brown)
It was International Women’s Day on March 8.
A constituent of mine from Whale Cove was recognized, Martha Teenar, I am very proud of her and she is very resourceful.
She has helped a lot of people and still helps the people of Whale Cove to this day.