EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The standing committee noted that the department has established Taiguusiliuqtiit, a new branch to implement the new Inuit Language Authority created under section 15 of the Inuit Language Protection Act.
This new Inuit Language Authority will be called Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit.
The standing committee was pleased to be advised that the minister and his department officials are making progress with selecting the members of the authority.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is pleased to note that the minister is aware of the ongoing issue of the repatriation of Nunavut heritage artefacts stored in facilities outside of Nunavut.
While recognizing that the issue of heritage infrastructure falls under the department’s capital budget, members expressed concern that young Nunavummiut continue to lack access to an important component of their heritage.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee is pleased to note that the minister is planning to work with Inuit Heritage Trust to develop education material on place names in Nunavut.
Members noted that young Nunavummiut should have access to the knowledge that elders have with respect to traditional place names and geography of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, members are pleased to note that the development of the new Inuit Cultural School in Clyde River, Piqqusilirivvik, is progressing as planned.
Given the general lack of structured access to elders’ knowledge, members were pleased to be advised that there are a number of elders who will be designated to share traditional knowledge as part of the education program for the new school.
The standing committee looks forward to reviewing progress in curriculum development and the establishment of a governance framework for Piqqusilirivvik.
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee are aware that youth comprise a large percentage of the population of Nunavut.
The standing committee was therefore pleased to note that the department has reorganized its grants and contributions funding to introduce a new program of funding for elder and youth facilities.
Members were advised that once progress has been made with these new elder and youth programs, the minister and his officials expect to either establish more programs or expand on existing programs.
The standing committee notes that the minister had tabled an Elders Strategy in November 2005 which contained a number of recommendations, a number of which have been met.
The minister advised the standing committee of the development of a new Elders Strategy.
Members look forward to further information on this new strategy and particularly, how it will address the need to pass on traditional knowledge to the younger generations.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee was pleased to note that the department is working on a report that will provide information about sport and recreation programs for Nunavummiut. Members look forward to the tabling of this report.
Members were also pleased to note that a number of Nunavut volunteers are being recruited for participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.
Members were advised that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is working with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to organize the display of Inuit games and Inuit culture at the 2010 Winter Games.
Other members may have their own comments and concerns as we proceed. (interpretation) Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Aupaluktuq. Before we proceed, I would like to remind members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
I would like to thank the minister for giving us very clear speaking notes and I’m sure that he is supported by the people of Nunavut.
He was saying that there will be ongoing consultations with Inuit, French, and English language communities within Nunavut.
Before the creation of Nunavut, I travelled to Copenhagen. We have to look at the big picture and think about the future. That’s the only way we can progress.
I’m sure that we have a long time to go yet as the world is not going to be ending anytime soon, not this month and the rest of 2009 and beyond.
We have to look at the big picture.
Like I said, I was in Copenhagen and they’re trilingual. They have their original mother tongue, they speak English and their aboriginal population also has their own language.
In the future, I’m sure that our young people will have an opportunity to learn the French language and become trilingual like in Copenhagen.
Possibly the education boards or committees can start these types of discussions pretty soon. We will have to look at the big picture and possibly aim for a trilingual population.
I also like the idea of gathering up terminologies. If we refer to the Senate Committee in Inuktitut, we call them the old men’s committee. If I was part of the Senate, I wouldn’t want to be known as belonging to the old men’s committee.
So I’m very much for gathering up terminology. We will have to look at how we can name the Senate Committee appropriately and not just call it a place where the old men go or something.
When I look at the Senate Committee, some of them are not that old.
The elevator needs to go up a little bit faster.
Willie Adams invited me to the Senate House and we went to his office. We went upstairs and I asked him, “Is it because the old building is so old that the elevator is slow?”
He just stated that it was made specifically for elders.
So we have to look at terminology workshops pretty soon and work together to compile some terms and find appropriate ones for the Senate Committee and the Senate House.
We don’t even have names for some contemporary items.
We have different dialects.
Using Kugaaruk, Taloyoak, and Gjoa Haven as examples, they’re very close together and they are in the Nattilik riding, but they have different dialects that are distinctly different from the Kitikmeot and the Inuvialuit dialects, as well as Inuktitut.
I believe the Inuvialuit use Roman orthography and they use the syllabics writing system in Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, and Kugaaruk. So we have to think about those very carefully if we’re going to be standardizing the writing system and the language.
I grew up in Repulse Bay and over there, the people of Repulse Bay and Amittuq, the minister’s riding, lived in the same community.
I don’t want to make a long speech, but my question is: have you thought about the different dialects that are being practiced today in the different communities?
Chairman: Merci Monsieur Ningark. (interpretation) That’s a very good question.
I’m sure that the minister mentioned that during committee meetings.
The Inuit Language Protection Act was passed in September.
I think it was in March that we held a meeting with the Association des francophones du Nunavut, who reviewed the Act, Inuit from different regions and different organizations from the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin as Inuit representatives, and us representing the government.
We had a meeting in Arctic Bay to talk about the implementation of the Inuit Language Protection Act.
What we have decided to date is we’re going to do regional visits and the question will be: if we’re going to be using Inuktitut in the workforce, whose language are we going to be using?
The government documents, rules, and Acts will have to be written in standardized Inuktitut and also the usage of Inuktitut in the government.
Yes, you can use your own dialect in your house and in your own community, but we need a standardized language and writing system in the government workforce.
In 2009, I don’t know exactly when but we will be holding a conference of stakeholders and look for answers for these types of questions.
We also had a call for members who are interested in Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. We got 50 submissions of names.
We will have to select who will be sitting on Taiguusiliuqtiit and they will be the ones compiling the terminology. They will be the ones who will decide what language will be used within the government and in the justice system, and what writing system will be used.
For example, if we look at Greenland, the Kalaalliit government and the schools use one standardized language and writing system even though they have different dialects.
The Taiguusiliuqtiit will have to look at all of these questions prior to March 2010. We will put out a discussion paper and table a report of our findings.
After having a few conferences to find answers to these questions, we will have to talk to stakeholders on those issues, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Merci Monsieur le Ministre.
Monsieur Ningark.
For example, in the justice system, a standardized Inuktitut and writing system will have to be used. That would be one of the duties of the Inuit Language Authority. The interpreters for the courts will have to learn those new terminologies that will be used within the systems.
I understand very well that this is a huge responsibility and I thank him very much. I have no question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Ningark.
That’s quite a lot of work to do.
Other countries have gone through that.
There are different dialects but they do have one standardized writing system, which we see in other countries.
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Minister Tapardjuk, and your officials, Phoebe Hainnu and Michael Rudolph. I’m sorry if I mispronounced your name.
In the minister’s opening comments, Minister Tapardjuk talked about the Inuit Language Protection Act and I am very pleased that we have an Act. We will be starting the implementation of this in Nunavut. I thank you very much for having these two Language Acts passed.
In regard to recreation, I’m all for the Sport and Recreation Branch because it’s healthy for youth. For example, in Baker Lake, we got an arena in 1985 and we were very pleased with that because it benefited the youth very much. I played a lot of hockey between 1985 and 1989.
It benefited the people of Baker Lake very much. When the arena opened, it helped some of the kids who were in trouble.
Looking at the future, we have one in the National Hockey League, and I think we also have one in the gymnastics class, or boxers or wrestlers to be in Nunavut today.
So I’m all for the Sports and Recreation Branch.
I just wanted to make those comments. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
That was just a comment. It’s too bad you didn’t mention that there are some excellent golf players around here as well.
No one has their hand up, so we can now move on to the page-by-page review.
F-4. Directorate. Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $4,686,000.
We can now go to Official Languages. Total Operations and Maintenance. $3,512,000.
Mr. Elliott has a question.
To the pages, I just had a question or a couple of questions. Section 38 of the Official Languages Act requires the government to consult with representatives of the French, English, and Inuit language communities in the development of new regulations under the legislation.
The legislation also requires the minister to notify NTI and the representatives of the English and French language communities of any proposed regulations that may be made.
Section 25 of the Inuit Language Protection Act requires the minister to develop an implementation plan for the Act.
This section requires the minister to involve Inuit in the development of the plan as well as English and French language communities.
In the GN’s view, who are the official representatives for the Inuit language community, the English language community, and the French language community?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank the member for asking that question.
The French here in Iqaluit have an association and we consult with them.
They’re called AFN, Association des francophones du Nunavut. French-speaking people are represented by that entity.
We have been working closely with both them and NTI when we are working on language legislation.
On the implementation stage of language legislation, we will work with other entities, private businesses, and Inuit associations. All the stakeholders of the Act will be consulted and we will negotiate and work on the plan that is to be tabled in March.
We will have to come up with an implementation plan for the language legislation. We will be preparing to table that plan and we will have more detail at that time, Mr. Chairman.
You have responded properly but the Association des francophones du Nunavut represents the French-speaking language community.
He was asking a question on which representative you meet with. Minister Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We meet with NTI and we have been working closely with them.
NTI has membership in their board from all regions.
Since that entity is the contact, we work closely with them and we also consult with the regional Inuit organizations.
Mr. Elliott, did he answer your question?
Will you be asking another question, Mr. Elliott?
Yes, I think I got my answer in terms of representation for the French language community. I believe the minister is saying that NTI is the representative for the Inuit language community. For the English language community, I didn’t hear an answer.
Minister Tapardjuk, could you respond, please?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Since the government has been operating in the English language, the government already represents them because the government always operates in the English language and we are getting tired of it.
Mr. Elliott, you probably got the answer you were looking for.
Mr. Elliott: Well, I don’t know if I got the answer I was looking for. I didn’t realize that the government was tired of working in English, but I apologize.
In addition to NTI itself in terms of representing the Inuit language, there are the three Inuit organizations of the Qikiqtani, the Kivalliq, and the Kitikmeot. In the government’s view, does NTI speak for the Inuit language community or will they be consulting with each of the three regional organizations?
The minister had responded that they go through NTI, which represents the three regional Inuit associations. So that question was already answered.
Mr. Elliott, do you have additional questions?
Mr. Elliott: No, I’m good.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Since the Inuktitut language legislation has been approved or concurred with by Parliament, Nunavut staff will now be trained in the Inuktitut language.
Will there be more Inuktitut language training in the future since it has been recognized?
As Inuit people have heard that the government will operate using the Inuktitut language, some Inuit people are unilingual Inuktitut-speaking people and that’s why I’m asking that question to the minister.
That question is geared towards the Department of Education but we are aware that he also holds that portfolio.
Perhaps you can respond to the question, Minister Tapardjuk.
With respect to GN employees specifically, they have gone through Nunavut Arctic College and have received Inuktitut language training.
For those interested in learning the Inuktitut language, we utilize Nunavut Arctic College programs and that will continue.
We have two main goals for people who already speak the Inuit language and who would like to enhance their Inuktitut or further their language.
For those people who would like to learn Inuktitut, we also provide that training program.
In addition, there’s a provision in the Education Act that states that in order to graduate from grade 12, they will have to be fluent in Inuktitut and English. So for that reason, the Inuktitut curriculum is now being developed in Arviat and we already have plans for that.
We think that once this has been implemented, students will be utilizing the Inuktitut language more in the future.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Perhaps put some meaning to it.
I can’t tell everyone to start speaking in Inuktitut all the time because we need to have staff. But in the future, we have to start working on it, not today and not tomorrow but some time in the future. I just wanted to speak to the issue for the future’s sake.
Thank you. I also would like to thank the minister.
That was a very good comment.
I’m sure I’m a bit ahead; our government wants to function or operate using Inuktitut.
Once you start implementing that, local governments... I just want to get clarification so that I can get a clearer picture.
Nowadays, we operate funding only.
Would they be provided funding so that they could adhere to the Act? I know that the municipalities are not funded to meet all of their needs. I asked about that so that I could get a better understanding.
Minister Tapardjuk, do you want to try and answer the question?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, it will be a two-part answer.
First of all, for the Inuit Language Protection Act, we will provide funding to hamlets so that they can hire interpreter/translators for services that they provide and translation of material.
We will provide funding to be used for everything that is run by the hamlet council, but we would go through the Department of Community and Government Services. There’s a provision in the Inuit Language Protection Act that the hamlet councils will have to adhere to the Act.
We know that they need support and that’s already been in the plans, Mr. Chairman.
We’re on Official Languages.
Total Branch. $3,512,000. Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): It has been approved.
The next one deals with languages but it’s more directed to Inuktitut, Taiguusiliuqtiit.
Total Branch. $930,000.
Under the Inuit Language Protection Act, where would the office be and how many would be hired?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes. First of all, when they start initiating the operations, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will be responsible for them.
Once they are up and running, they will be at arms length because the government is also liable. It would be too much if the government held that responsibility in order to provide better services to the public.
For the first five years, the department will be responsible for that.
As the years go by, they will gain their independence and the term is three years.
Once that is up and running, the office will be located in Iqaluit and they’re going to have seven PYs. So that’s what we have set out in our main estimates.
I think we have seen nomination forms that includes... have you already appointed people for Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit?
Although the minister had stated that they haven’t screened the submissions for the Inuit Language Authority, there were over 50 submissions.
If you would like to make a supplementary, Minister Tapardjuk, I give you the floor.
We will find out after approximately three weeks. I think we have received about 50 submissions.
According to legislation, the Inuit Language Authority will have to be set up by September and we will have a better idea three weeks from then.
Also to supplement, NTI and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, the Francophone Association of Nunavut, and the government will take part in the committee where they do the screening for nominations.
There will be five members in Taiguusiliuqtiit and it also includes the Languages Commissioner.
Taiguusiliuqtiit.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $930,000.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $4,341,000.
Next is Elders and Youth.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $2,243,000.
I didn’t hear anybody.
Sport and Recreation.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $5,449,000.
We have concluded our review of the main estimates for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $21,161,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Are you in agreement that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is concluded?
We will move on to another department.
Department of Environment… I’m sorry.
Thank you, Minister and your officials, for appearing before the committee. It didn’t take too long to review your department and you have an opportunity to make closing remarks.
I would like to first of all apologize to the Member for Quttiktuq.
I would like to retract what I said in regard to the English language because we always utilize English within government.
We haven’t identified any representative for that and I just wanted to retract what I said. I apologize to Mr. Ron Elliott.
I also would like to thank my officials for their support. We will work hard to implement this after it has been approved.
Mr. Elliott, the minister has apologized for his remark.
We have concluded that department, so we will move on to another department.
Minister of Environment, Minister Shewchuk, you can now make your opening comments.
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2009-2010 – Environment – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Yes, I do.
Chairman: Minister Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to present my first main estimates for the Department of Environment before the Committee of the Whole.
Since being appointed as Minister of Environment last fall, I have had the privilege of working with all the MLAs, my cabinet colleagues, Nunavutmiut, Inuit organizations, federal and territorial governments, and at the international level.
The last few months have been a challenging experience, but also one filled with many tremendous learning opportunities. I look forward to whatever the coming year brings with the assurance that my department will be able to rise to the challenge.
Iksivautaaq, the Department of Environment’s proposed budget for 2009-2010 is $19,998,000. This is a net increase of $570,000 from the 2008-09 fiscal year.
This budget is essential for us to meet our responsibilities and obligations.
My department has a number of specific obligations and areas of responsibility under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement that are directly related to the management of resources, as well as a number of other territorial, national, and international legal obligations and responsibilities.
The list of these responsibilities is a long one, so I will only list a few of them.
There is the co-management of terrestrial wildlife in Nunavut and land use planning. We also have environmental protection responsibilities, including recycling pilot projects, environmental guideline development, pollution prevention inspection, and contaminated site inventory.
My department has the responsibility for implementing the Umbrella Territorial Parks Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement and is also representing the Government of Nunavut’s interests during the ongoing negotiations for an umbrella IIBA for Nunavut’s Canadian Heritage Rivers.
We work closely with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board in managing fisheries and sealing development.
Iksivautaaq, sealing remains an important part of the culture, diet, and economy of Nunavut, and my department continues to work with harvesters and the fur industry to support hunters, develop markets, and aggressively represent Nunavut’s interests in national and international levels.
There are a number of challenges associated with these responsibilities, some of which are beyond our control.
For example, the costs associated with a recycling program, such as acquiring heated facilities for storage in the communities; the European Union ban on sealskins; and the listing of the polar bear as an endangered species by the US. We are exploring new strategies and working diligently with our stakeholders to lessen some of those challenges.
During our budgeting and planning for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, we worked hard to take advantage of partnership opportunities as they are obviously the most cost-effective and efficient way to meet some of our responsibilities and mandate.
By partnering with others in the private and public sectors, the department is able to take advantage of these resources to improve what we are capable of doing.