EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to acknowledge and recognize these athletes from Igloolik who will be participating in the Arctic Winter Games. We are quite proud whenever we have participants involved in sporting events. They do compete very vigorously, but in terms of competition for the wrestlers, it’s quite hard.
For wrestling, I would like to acknowledge Uliipika Irngaut, Morgan Taqqaugaq, and David Haulli Jr.; for table tennis, Edmund Qaunaq; for girls’ hockey, Monica Qattalik; for boys’ soccer, Jesse Tulugarjuk.
Mr. Speaker, the high school principal in Igloolik, Vincent Pickett, will be participating as a coach for the 18 and under girls’ volleyball.
I am very proud of these athletes and I wish them the best.
I hope they are able to compete and if they win a medal, that’s icing on the cake.
So let’s enjoy the sports during the Arctic Winter Games.
Member’s Statement 177 – 3(3): Best Wishes to Iqaluit Athletes at the Arctic Winter Games (Ell)
Good afternoon to my constituents in Iqaluit West. Have a good day.
As per my colleague’s statement about the Arctic Winter Games, I also want to make a statement regarding the athletes who will be participating.
Team Nunavut will be heading to Whitehorse very shortly.
Iqaluit is a fairly large community and there will be over 60 participants.
The diversity of Iqaluit’s contribution to Team Nunavut is a reflection of the diversity of the community itself. I wish them luck and I hope they represent Nunavut well. I am proud of every one of these individuals.
I will try and state their names, but I may mispronounce some of them as there are quite a number of them. Some of the athletes who will be forming the team come from other constituencies.
I used to play badminton. In the 1970s, I have competed in the badminton trials.
Mr. Speaker, our badminton players are:
Brittany Masson
Jonah Oolayou
Faith Twerdin
Asini Wijesooriya; and
Louis Lebel-Wong
Our basketball players are Emmanuel Omole and Mary Omole.
Our curlers are:
Katie Chislett Manning
Emily Matthews
Christianne West; and
Sadie Pinksen
Our many hockey players are:
Lee Cloutier
Daniel Kolola
Jonathan Kingwatsiak
Austin Bruce
Michael Uniuqsaraq
Jordan Macmunn
Patrick Macmunn
Mathew Gardner
Max Shoo
Alex Suvega
Saimanaaq Pitseolak
The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays?
There being none. Please proceed, Ms. Ell.
I would like to return to:
Alex Suvega,
Ryleigh McPherson; and
Naja Lea Machmer
These are the hockey players representing Nunavut.
Our soccer players are:
Sarah-Anne Shaimaiyuk
Tina Qaunirq
Annie Nowdlak
Natashia Allakariallak
Natasha Wisintainer
Jazmyn Perkins
Dayna Cox
Christopher Freda
Wesley Siutinuar
Daniel Kigutikakjuk
Gabe Choquette
Herbert Eaton; and
Daniel Kootoo
Our speed skaters are:
Mitchell Courtney
Mitchell Tilley
Zachery Roberts
Emilia Nevin
Kara Ashley
Papatsi Rojas
Taya Tootoo
Hayden Hickey
Mathew Cooper
Tyler Kirk
Alashua Crowley
Alexia Alainga
Annie Neevee; and
Mary Dunphy
Furthermore, our table tennis player is Beetanie Eeseemailie. I wish you luck and have a good time.
Our volleyball players are:
Cassandra Coman
Marlene Idlout
Crystal Mullin
Emily Kenneally-Sloan
Brandon Oolayou
David Kullualik
Ipellie Ootoova; and
Saumik Darehshoripour
Our wrestler is Morgan Taqqaugaq.
Those are the participants for the Arctic Winter Games and our cultural participants are:
Terrie Kusugak
Nicole Panipakoocho
Marley Dunkers
Alianai Nivisatsiak
Alexie Baillargeon; and
Christine Tootoo.
We are very proud that these athletes from Iqaluit will be representing Nunavut. Please join me in wishing all of the Iqaluit athletes a safe journey to Whitehorse and tremendous games. We look forward to watching their performance as they represent Nunavut.
I’m sure we all wish all members of Team Nunavut to have lots of fun and success in Whitehorse, especially my daughter Taya, who is going for speed skating.
She has accomplished something that I was never able to do, which was to be good enough to go to Arctic Winter Games.
Member’s Statement 178 – 3(3): Visit to Baffin Correctional Centre (Ningeongan)
I rise today to express my appreciation to the Minister of Justice and the staff of the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Last Friday, a number of my colleagues and I visited the Baffin Correctional Centre.
This was an excellent opportunity for all of us to learn more about the challenges facing the institution.
As a Member of the Legislative Assembly who represents two communities in the Kivalliq, I would like to take this opportunity to suggest to the minister that a similar visit to the new correctional facility in Rankin Inlet later this year would also be much appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, during our visit last Friday to BCC, I was very impressed by the dedication of the staff. They work under challenging circumstances and have a very difficult mandate to fulfill.
I was especially impressed with the willingness of staff to go above and beyond the call of duty with respect to the effort that they make to contribute to the rehabilitation and healing of inmates.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the government’s capital budget is extremely limited and I recognize that building a brand-new prison, which would likely cost between $100 million and $200 million, may not be feasible at this time. However, I encourage the department to bring forward other measures in its next capital estimates to address the issue of overcrowding at the Baffin Correctional Centre that we saw with our own eyes last week.
Member’s Statement 179 – 3(3): NIRB Approval of Access Road (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Good afternoon, residents of Rankin Inlet and our listeners.
I rise today totally delighted to speak to an initiative I am in full support of and I thank the Nunavut Impact Review Board for approving the access road to Meliadine, consisting of an all-weather road from Rankin Inlet to the Meliadine exploration site and future gold mine about 24 kilometres away.
Many residents are happy to see this development.
The President of Agnico-Eagle, who also happens to be the CEO, Shawn Boyd, stated that this decision is a very important matter that will enable the company to advance the Meliadine gold mine project to the next level.
Additionally, once the road has been converted to an all-weather road, they will be able to operate all winter long.
We have been informed that they will start working on the road in March.
We thank the decision-makers for that again.
The reason for our gratitude is primarily because our young people who don’t have employment opportunities and who are looking for work will at least have some hope of opportunities to fill positions that may open.
With the development of this access road, the project will be able to progress faster to the next level as material can be delivered without delays.
We appreciate this development, especially our business community and those businesses involved in the goods and services field. The hotels, airlines, and truck rental companies will benefit from this development as it proceeds further along.
There is still a lot of work required, but it will benefit all of the Kivalliq, not just Rankin Inlet, and I wanted to speak to this exciting development. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I have no more names on my list, but I would just like to make mention to congratulate.
This weekend, the Iqaluit Curling Club had its playdown for the Dominion men’s nationals being held in southern Ontario next November.
I would like to congratulate Team MacDonald, consisting of Ed MacDonald, Kyle Nowlan, Glenn House, and Darryl McGrath, for successfully winning this weekend and will be representing Nunavut at the Dominion next November in Ontario.
Return to Oral Question 227 – 3(3): Security at Nunavut Airports (Taptuna)
I want to take this opportunity to respond to the questions directed to me at the House on February 21, 2012, Question No. 227 – 3(3). The question was asked by the Hon. Member of Tununiq.
Mr. Speaker, the only real vandalism incident in Pond Inlet in recent years occurred in April of 2011, when a Canadian North Dash 8 was parked on the ramp overnight.
Someone attempted to open the door of the cargo bay of the aircraft.
Mr. Speaker, in response to this incident, the department increased lighting on the ramps and locked the gate that allows access to the ramp overnight and after hours.
The department also met with the hamlet council that increased surveillance on the airport with their by-law officers.
Mr. Speaker, the department is initiating camera security at the Pond Inlet Airport this year that will provide coverage of that air terminal building and ramp area.
Mr. Speaker, across Nunavut, the incidence of aircraft vandalism is very low. However, the department initiated the procurement and installation of more airport fencing and will be installing camera security systems in more airports in the upcoming fiscal year.
I would like to recognize two visitors from Norway.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Canada, Her Excellency Else Berit Eikeland, is here in the Gallery along with Jan-Terje Studsvik Storaas, Cultural Affairs Officer.
They are both based in Ottawa at the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
We welcome you to Nunavut.
The ambassador will be giving a public lecture tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Unikkaarvik Visitors Centre on Norway’s High North Strategy in connection with the photo exhibit that is currently on display at the museum and all are welcome to attend.
I would also like to recognize my constituency member, Jack Hickes, who works at Arctic College.
Speaker: Thank you, Madam Premier. Welcome to the Gallery, the three of you.
I am very pleased to rise today and to take this opportunity to recognize our two pages from Pond Inlet: Suzanne Killiktee and Kimberly Angnatsiak.
Mr. Speaker, the pages just started with us yesterday and they will be pages for this week. I am very happy that they are able to provide services here and I look forward to seeing them perform their duties.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming these two pages here.
Welcome, pages. We look forward to you hopefully having an enjoyable educational experience this week.
Question 270 – 3(3): Baker Lake Airport (Aupaluktuq)
Mr. Speaker, on June 8, 2011, I asked the minister questions concerning Baker Lake’s airport.
At that time, the minister informed me that his department had completed a new master plan for the Baker Lake Airport and that he would make it available once it was ready for tabling in the House.
Mr. Speaker, my question is: can the minister update us today when we can expect to see this important document?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that very important question.
Mr. Speaker, the planning and design phases of this project are currently underway.
The Government of Canada, under the Building Canada Fund, has approved 75 percent of the contributions. The project amount is estimated to be around $5 million.
As I mentioned, the project is underway.
Last year, I spoke about the importance of a new airport in Baker Lake.
In his responses to my questions, the minister indicated, and I quote, “the Baker Lake Airport is adequate for the community’s domestic needs but it is really not adequate for jet services.” The minister indicated that it would cost about $5 million, but as well, I want to ask in a sense: can the minister provide an estimate of how much a new airport for the community would cost?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I thank the member for that question.
It isn’t up to the government to influence air carriers to bring in their jet aircrafts into a community.
It’s going to be up to the demand. Of course, Mr. Speaker, the amount of traffic that goes through there is adequate at this time.
The previous estimates that were in one of the proposals that we have see from the community had estimated it at around $22 million.
We believe, within the department, that it’s going to be well over $40 million to build a new airstrip.
I appreciate the response because, with my preamble, I had indicated that the demands in Baker Lake are expanding with the population growth as well as the exploration and enhancement of mining activities and other developments.
When our Member of Parliament recently visited Baker Lake, I spoke to her briefly about the need for federal support for a new airport for the community. Can the minister whether his department has formerly approached the Government of Canada on the issue?
Absolutely and that’s why we’re getting 75 percent of the estimated cost for the critical improvements that are happening at this time.
I’m glad he kept bringing that number amount of 75 percent because the next question I did ask was in relation to the federal government as well as other avenues.
Mr. Speaker, the question I do have is the government has announced that it is using a public-private partnership, or P3, approach to developing a new international airport for Iqaluit.
My question, Mr. Speaker, is with P3s, they’re often used for major infrastructure projects.
Can the minister tell me if he has considered a P3 approach for developing a new airport for Baker Lake?
Mr. Speaker, we’re trying to develop the Iqaluit airport improvements with a P3.
At this time, we have no initial plans to do Baker Lake under a P3.
There are strict criteria that we have to use with the federal government, with P3 Canada. At this time, we have not initiated or we are not looking for a possibility of P3 with Baker Lake.
Question 271 – 3(3): Community Morgues (Tapardjuk)
We have been kind of misled about a project geared toward Hall Beach.
On May 31, 2011, I asked questions concerning the issue of community morgues.
As the minister is aware, the residents of Hall Beach have been requesting this facility for quite some time. To date, I am quite confused as to who is leading this project.
Also, the community of Hall Beach raised this issue at last year’s annual general meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and they passed a resolution.
Mr. Speaker, when I asked my questions last year, the Premier told me, and I quote, “We now realize that we have to make this a priority.”
My question for the Minister of Health is this: what has his department done to address this issue, Mr. Speaker?
I thank Mr. Tapardjuk for the very good question.
I always respect and appreciate the hard work of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. They bring up a lot of important issues for the community. We had similar issues in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I’ll have to tell Mr. Tapardjuk that I’ll get back to him on it as soon as I can.
It has been some time, I realize and apologize, but I can’t give him an answer.
I also thank the minister for at least saying that he will be responding to me later.
I would like the minister to understand that it has been a number of years, perhaps six or seven years, since this request was first presented to the Nunavut government. That is why I wanted to get clarification on the matter, Mr. Speaker.
Furthermore, I expect, Mr. Speaker, that there was confusion between whether this project falls into EIA or the Department of Health and Social Services.
It seems to me that this is a project that would be led by the Department of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I shall patiently await the response from the Minister of Health and Social Services.
This is just a comment, not a question, Mr. Speaker.
We will move on. Oral Questions.
Question 272 – 3(3): Narwhal Consultations (Elliott)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Environment and are based around narwhals and narwhal populations.
A number of our hunters were hit hard this past summer with the inability to sell their narwhal tusks.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure some people in the south see the sale of the narwhal tusk as a luxury.
For the individual purchasing the tusk, yes, it is a luxury, but for our hunters in the communities, it is a vital part of their livelihood. It is part of food security.
With the federal government’s ban on the sale of narwhal tusks outside of Canada, a number of our hunters have lost a part of their annual income.
I’m sure the minister is as frustrated as I when it comes to the fact that we are not able to change federal policies. Could the minister give the House and the listening public an update as to what his department is doing to influence the federal government to lift the ban?
The Department of Environment in Nunavut does not deal with marine mammals because they’re not part of our mandate. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Ottawa is responsible for that.
However, we collaborate with them, especially when a hearing or public meeting is required, and we are involved with these processes as well as sending correspondence on these matters.
I am very happy that the freeze on the sale of tusks has temporarily been lifted and it has been removed from the following communities: Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, and Iqaluit.
There used to be 17 communities that were banned from exporting tusks, especially to points outside of Canada. There are still some communities that are in that same boat.
The following communities are still banned from exporting tusks: Kimmirut, Cape Dorset, Repulse Bay, Whale Cove, Coral Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet. I don’t think this community has any narwhals, but Baker Lake is included on that list.
Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Sanikiluaq, and Grise Fiord are still banned from exporting narwhal tusks.
We continue to work collaboratively with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. When there is another hearing for this matter, the Department of Environment will also be included in that process.
Further to my Member’s Statement, in the news release that was put out by NTI, it mentions that the Government of Nunavut will also participate in the community consultations.
I was wondering if the minister could explain how his department will participate. Will they be acting as observers or will they be doing presentations?
From December 13 to 16, 2011, the Department of Environment held a meeting with the representatives of NTI, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, the regional wildlife organizations, the Nunavut government, and DFO to deal with marine species, including narwhal.
Prior to the narwhal consultation tour, these organizations held a fact-finding meeting and they will continue to have representatives attending the tour.
These bodies will be included while these matters are under negotiation and will be able to voice their positions.
As to whether they will be able to vote on matters, I don’t think that would be the case since they are primarily staff and I cannot answer that aspect at this time.
Locally, when speaking to the hunters and trappers organizations from across the territory about this issue, what concerns is the minister hearing?
Prior to the consultation tour, I haven’t even been informed as to which communities have been consulted, so I can’t state which communities have been visited.
When I have been provided an update as to the communities being toured, I will be able to provide the update to the members.
In the past, the federal government has been criticized for its efforts to effectively consult with the communities. Currently, NTI and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans are engaging stakeholders on developing a management plan for narwhal.
Is the minister happy with the manner in which the federal government is doing the consultation and does his department consider it to be meaningful?
Whenever we are involved in wildlife matters with potential impacts on our animals, we are generally quite pleased about it.
So I am quite ecstatic that our government will be involved, especially on a tour that is consulting with the public at large, and I am thankful for this process being undertaken.
I should say I am thankful for the fact that we can negotiate the proposed changes.
In the past, we would just have been notified of the changes, as was the case with the 17 communities where an export ban was implemented without any consultation or negotiations. That made us quite perturbed.
Question 273 – 3(3): Community Health Committees (Ningark)
When I was first elected, I had requested that the community health committee under the hamlet be empowered.
As we know, if a person goes to the health centre, they’re just told they’re fine.
Not all patients are treated that way, but some people are. Although they complain about an issue, it’s too late by the time a proper diagnosis is made.
There are some people who escort a patient or who wish to escort a patient, but they are denied that right.
Mr. Speaker, some of the patients who have almost the exact same circumstances are allowed an escort. There should be a consistent method.
So that is why I want to ask the minister this question.
We’re not allowed to speak about issues due to confidentiality about health matters and I understand that confidentiality restraint.
However, can the minister inform the House that they are working with the community health committees to try to empower them to resolve any complaints and concerns in their communities, especially where the patients are misdiagnosed?
Is it possible that the minister can empower the community health committees via the Hamlet Act to ensure that they are able to act on these issues immediately?
It’s quite a detailed question that touched on a couple of issues; the Client Travel Policy, the Medical Travel Policy, and the community health committees.
Mr. Speaker, the department is working with community health committees in all communities where they exist and trying to configurate them where they don’t exist to take a stronger role in public health in the communities.
I will assure Mr. Ningark that we will continue to work with the Kugaaruk Community Health Committee in that regard.
I will simplify my questions.
When we talk about health in our community and people complain to us as their MLAs, we’re not able to talk about specific things and specific cases.
My question is there are many complaints that people go to health centres only to be told at times, not every case, “Well, you’re okay. Take an aspirin or two and call me in the morning.”
In some cases, we hear that well, the person was diagnosed with internal cancer when it’s too late.
So we are not able to talk about that in this case, specific issues, but my question is: are you seriously looking at making sure that the community health committees are given more resources and are able to meet regularly or at least once a month?
Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak to providing more resources. I believe we do provide most, if not all, community health committees, where they exist, $10,000 for their annual operations.
But I do share his concern. Early diagnosis of many illnesses is paramount to helping the individual recover from their illness or their disease.
Absolutely, a community health committee can help in that regard and work in an interagency manner with the community health centre, with the hamlet council, and with other organizations in town to look after the well-being and public health of the community.
Member for Pangnirtung, Mr. Mr. Oshutapik.
Question 274 – 3(3): Dust Control in Communities (Oshutapik)
I say “good afternoon” to my fellow residents in Pangnirtung.
On October 21, 2011, I asked the minister a number of questions concerning the issue of dust control in our communities.
This issue about dust and its harmful impacts on human physiology was also raised last week by my colleague from Baker Lake.
In his responses to my questions, the minister indicated that his department has been reviewing different methods of dust control to identify the best approach to this issue.
Can the minister provide the House with more detail today on what methods are being looked at?
Yes, dust control is a pressing concern for many communities and it’s something that we have been trying to address over a numbers of years and we are trying to work with the communities there.
With regard to dust suppression methods, and I forget the actual terminology, they have been used in some of the communities.
They have stated that it is a good dust suppressant.
Most communities salt the roads.