EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I think we should not be one-sided with our problems with society just because they are ignorant. I think we have to be very careful that we treat everybody the same when it comes to the law of the land.
Mr. Chairman, the second question I have is when you have a group home, is that similar to day care centre type of facility for smaller children?
I guess what I’m interested in is if we’re going to have professionals working with these children maybe up to the age of, I don’t know, six, that if they would be placed in a day care centre type of facility after they have been taken away from their parents, in some central place in the community, even in a school, on a 24-hour service by three or four people, wouldn’t that be more cost effective and better for the child that’s been taken away from the parent?
The group homes that we referred to are the homes of these children that are apprehended and are in care, for example, the children that cannot be cared at home because they’re severely disabled.
One example is the Naja Isabella Home in Chesterfield Inlet. That would be one example but it’s normally in those circumstances, if it relates some form of physical or mental disability of a child, where we have them in our care full-time, 24/7.
So there is no such facility similar to that of daycare centres that are apparently very successful in some communities and that the children feel that they are with their peers and then learning a more normal child play with their peers.
I ask her: would she consider reviewing for the purpose of finding out if that would be more acceptable if and when she is drafting her homemade legislation for Nunavut?
We will certainly review his suggestion and recommendation when we get to that process.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk.
We are on (interpretation ends) page H-5.
Health and Social Services. Social Services.
Page H-6. Health and Social Services.
I know members have another function to attend, so I would like to recognize the clock and report progress.
There is a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion, raise your hand, please.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell and Ms. Downe.
Going back to the Orders of the Day. Item 22... I’m sorry.
My numbers must have an extra item.
A reminder for tomorrow morning, a meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Education at nine o’clock in the morning in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Before we leave the House, I would like to remind you to attend your invitation tonight.
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 18:00
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pages 2988 – 3047
Opening Prayer 2988
Ministers’ Statements 2988
Members’ Statements 2991
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2998
Oral Questions 2998
Tabling of Documents 3017
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3018
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3046
Orders of the Day 3046
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2988
142 – 2(4): Park Development on Kekerten Island (Akesuk) 2988
143 – 2(4): Coordination of the Delivery of Benefits to Nunavut’s Low-Income Seniors (Picco) 2989
144 – 2(4): Development of Socio-Economic Monitoring Committees (Netser) 2989
145 – 2(4): Federal Budget 2008 (Tapardjuk) 2990
330 – 2(4): Baker Lake Hospice Society’s Operations (Simailak) 2992
331 – 2(4): Cape Dorset Artist’s Artwork on NorthwesTel’s Phonebook (Akesuk) 2992
332 – 2(4): Kugaaruk Students Travel South for School Exchange (Mapsalak) 2993
333 – 2(4): 28th Wedding Anniversary (Netser) 2993
334 – 2(4): Affordable Storefront Office Space (Peterson) 2994
335 – 2(4): Reaction to Federal Budget (Tootoo) 2994
336 – 2(4): Gjoa Haven Hockey Tournament Champions and Athletes from Nattilik to AWG (Aglukkaq) 2996
337 – 2(4): Canadian Sovereignty, Devolution and Federal Budget (Curley) 2997
338 – 2(4): 2008 Federal Budget (Barnabas) 2998
417 – 2(4): Awarding of Medical Travel Contract (Tootoo) 2998
418 – 2(4): Marine Service Fees (Barnabas) 3000
419 – 2(4): 2008 Federal Budget (Curley) 3002
420 – 2(4): Airline Service to Remote Nunavut Communities (Arvaluk) 3003
421 – 2(4): Small Community Initiatives Program Policy (Alagalak) 3004
422 – 2(4): 2008 Federal Budget – Gas Tax Fund (Peterson) 3006
423 – 2(4): Baker Lake Dock (Simailak) 3008
424 – 2(4): Update on Air Quality at Sanikiluaq School (Kattuk) 3010
425 – 2(4): Renovation of Older Housing Units (Mapsalak) 3012
426 – 2(4): Status of Disaster Assistance Policy for the Government of Nunavut (Curley) 3013
427 – 2(4): $89.1 Million Contingency Fund (Tootoo) 3015
184 – 2(4): Foster Parent Handbook (Aglukkaq) 3018
Committee Motion 012 – 2(4): Deferral of Consideration of the 2008-2009 Main Estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services (Tootoo) 3038
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Health & Social Services 3018
Minister’s Statement 142 – 2(4): Park Development on Kekerten Island (Akesuk)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform members that staff from my Nunavut Parks and Special Places Division will be proceeding this summer with the reconstruction of the Scottish whaling station on Kekerten Island in Cumberland Sound.
The community of Pangnirtung initiated this project in the hopes of increasing the interpretive potential of this significant historical site for both residents and visitors.
The transportation of the materials for this project along with the reconstruction will be lead through local invitational tenders in hopes of securing local labour in the community of Pangnirtung.
Through this and other projects, we are highlighting Nunavut’s territorial parks and special places to the increasing numbers of territorial, national and international visitors; and to strengthen parks-based tourism in local communities.
Nunavut’s territorial parks and special places are more than simply destinations - they are part our identity and need to be experienced.
Minister’s Statement 143 – 2(4): Coordination of the Delivery of Benefits to Nunavut’s Low-Income Seniors (Picco)
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to announce that on January 7, 2008, the Government of Nunavut took over the responsibility for the merged payments of the Senior Citizens Supplementary Benefit.
Now, for the first time, the Department of Education and the Government of Canada were able to coordinate the delivery of benefits to Nunavut’s low-income seniors.
Mr. Speaker, this was a joint effort between the Department of Education’s Income Support Division and the federal government’s Department of Public Works and Government Services.
Previous, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories was contracted to deliver this service on our behalf.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government, our partner, provides support to low-income seniors through various initiatives, including its Old Age Security Program as well as government income supplements and allowances.
The Government of Nunavut provides an income-tested benefit known as the Senior Citizens Supplementary Benefit. Nunavut’s seniors will continue to receive one full payment that combines these benefits.
Mr. Speaker, this new method of delivery is easier for both the seniors receiving the supplementary benefit and for those who implement and monitor its effectiveness.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Education, Culture and Employment for their cooperation and support over the past nine years in delivering this service on our behalf.
I would also like to thank and extend a thank you to the staff working in the Informatics Planning and Services Division at the Department of Community and Government Services.
Their role was critical in making this project a success.
Minister’s Statement 144 – 2(4): Development of Socio-Economic Monitoring Committees (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to inform the Members of this House of the progress being made on the establishment of monitoring committees within Nunavut.
These committees are being established to monitor and report on socio-economic effects of major development projects, such as mines in the territory.
Mr. Speaker, each mines approved for development in Nunavut is required by the Nunavut Impact Review Board to create a socio-economic monitoring program and to participate in a regional socio-economic monitoring committee.
Mr. Speaker, the monitoring committees will track and report on the level of local involvement in these mining projects.
These committees will assist both the mining companies and communities to assess the impact of the mine and to identify what must be done to increase local jobs and business opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, my department, with the assistance of other Government of Nunavut departments, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada and the Nunavut Impact Review Board, is working to ensure that each committee includes representatives from the territorial an federal governments, regional Inuit associations, communities, and the mining companies.
Mr. Speaker, in the coming weeks, my department will meet with these parties to consult with them and agree on a common approach to monitoring social and economic impacts in the regions.
Mr. Speaker, the monitoring committees will be an important step in ensuring that the territory and its people attain the full benefits of mines and other major development projects in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 145 – 2(4): Federal Budget 2008 (Tapardjuk)
We paid close attention during the 2008 Federal Budget Speech yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, there was good news in the budget for Nunavummiut.
There are several changes to personal taxes, including the announcement of a 10 percent increase in the Northern Residents Deduction effective January 1, 2008.
This is a good start on increasing our competitiveness in attracting and retaining skilled workers.
This is also evidence of making our voices heard by standing together to unanimously pass the motion in November asking the federal government to increase the deduction.
I want to congratulate all Members of this House on this outcome, as well as thanking our partners, like the Nunavut Economic Forum and our sister territories - the Northwest Territories and the Yukon - in making this happen.
Mr. Speaker, while the announcement of $8 million over two years to construct a commercial harbour in Pangnirtung is a start in implementing the Small Craft Harbours Report; Mr. Speaker, Nunavut has six other communities that could benefit from having commercial harbours.
I am sure that the communities of Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Repulse Bay, Chesterfield Inlet, and Kugaaruk would agree that an additional investment of at least $37 million by a federal partner would also benefit their communities economically.
Nunavut would like to see the report fully implemented and extended to all of our communities in the future.
The new tax-free saving account will allow Nunavummiut to save the money, and then access it penalty-free, with no restrictions on what they can save for.
With more and more Nunavummiut entering the wage economy, Mr. Speaker, Nunavut needs initiatives such as this to support the health of financial management of our households.
I was also pleased, Mr. Speaker, by the announcement of a new polar class icebreaker to replace the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.
More importantly, I understand that the new icebreaker will double the amount of time it is in use per year compared to the Louis St-Laurent from 135 days to 270 days, or nine months.
Mr. Speaker, a new aboriginal economic development framework was also announced. This initiative will have to be closely monitored to ensure that Nunavummiut benefit from the framework.
In addition, $147 million over two years has been committed to stabilize current First Nations and Inuit health programs and promote closer integration with provincial systems in order to achieve better health outcomes.
I look forward to a federal announcement providing more details on this program soon.
Mr. Speaker, a new Police Officers Recruitment Fund will benefit our territory. Nunavut will be receiving $800,000 over five years towards recruiting and increasing the number of RCMP officers in our communities.
I am sure that all members will agree that this will build healthier communities.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my federal counterparts in the development of programs and funding parameters for the newly announced funding to ensure that Nunavut receives its fair share and will update Members of the House as that work progresses.
Member’s Statement 330 – 2(4): Baker Lake Hospice Society’s Operations (Simailak)
This is my first time from this side.
There is something very exciting going on at the Baker Lake Hospice Society.
This society has their own committee and it’s a voluntary committee.
The society mainly deals with the Martha Talerook Centre, which is an elders’ facility and it started in 2002 in Baker Lake.
There are now nine elders that are being looked after and only eight are getting paid because the centre is too small.
There are 20 people who work there either part-time or full-time.
I believe there are about seven homecare workers that are working there, they also run the shelters for women and men, and they are also responsible for the Hospice Society.
For three days a week, they feed the elders during lunchtime and this is very beneficial to the community of Baker Lake.
The Martha Talerook Centre used to be a children’s group home.
The building is getting old and renovations are required for the windows, there’s also not enough room because of the increasing number of elders in the community.
We expect that it will be renovated in the near future.
Member’s Statement 331 – 2(4): Cape Dorset Artist’s Artwork on NorthwesTel’s Phonebook (Akesuk)
I rise today to recognize the NorthwesTel phonebook cover is done by an artist from Cape Dorset with a man at the seal hole and it will be on the cover of the phonebook.
Qummuaqtuq Ashoona grew up in Cape Dorset and he attended the Jewellery Metalwork course at the Arctic College here in Iqaluit.
The phonebook will be released soon and the artwork that that person is being circulated around Canada.
It will be at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum on March 8.
So we’re very excited that he made that carving.
Member’s Statement 332 – 2(4): Kugaaruk Students Travel South for School Exchange (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to wish a number of Kugaaruk students a great trip. Mr. Speaker, 12 young people from grade seven, eight, and nine have been chosen to go on a WMCA school exchange with the Ontario school.
Mr. Speaker, as part of the exchange, our community will hosts students from Ontario Hillside Public School from April 10 to 18, 2008.
I am sure they have plans to make this a memorable trip to Nunavut, and we look forward to introducing them to our way of life.
Mr. Speaker, our school from Kugaaruk will then travel to Southern Ontario where they will visit Toronto.
I am sure that it will be an eye-opening experience to go from our small community to Canada’s biggest city.
Mr. Speaker, during the exchange, both groups of students will research global warming issues and record their findings.
Mr. Speaker, the youth who were chosen were selected because they had excellent school attendance and because they worked hard for it.
Their hard work has now paid off, but the work continues through fundraising efforts and I applaud their initiative.
Mr. Speaker, I am certain they will have a great experience and many stories to tell when they return.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing the students a great exchange trip.
We wish them a great trip.
Member’s Statement 333 – 2(4): 28th Wedding Anniversary (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to take this moment to wish my dear wife a happy belated anniversary. Yesterday we celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary.
(interpretation) She wasn’t able to be here, Mr. Speaker, but I have been with my wife for 28 years, and just recently, when my mother passed away, if it wasn’t for my wife, I would have given up. So I would like to say that I love her very much.
Member’s Statement 334 – 2(4): Affordable Storefront Office Space (Peterson)
We often speak in the House about the economic opportunities that abound in our Nunavut communities.
We must give tremendous credit to Nunavut entrepreneurs for having ideas, taking risks and starting businesses that employ people and contribute to our economic growth.
Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to start a business in Nunavut.
In most communities, entrepreneurs do not have the business support services that businesses in the south take for granted.
For example, many of our entrepreneurs do not have direct or easy access to accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, bankers, and employment centres.
They must become instant experts in all of these services in order to survive.
Mr. Speaker, another huge challenge that our entrepreneurs face is the availability of affordable storefront office space. In Cambridge Bay, our economic development potential is restricted because we don’t have any office space.
Mr. Speaker, many years ago when we enjoyed an Economic Development Agreement, there was a program that assisted communities to construct business service centres.
The business service centre concept is widely used across Canada in communities to assist businesses to start up without incurring enormous costs to construct their own building.
Mr. Speaker, another advantage of a business service centre is that it allows businesses access to support services that are critical to the success of new businesses. It is well-known that 80 percent of new businesses in Canada fail within five years; imagine how tough it is in Nunavut to start up and survive for five years.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to explore ways to help provide affordable storefront office space for entrepreneurs who want to open businesses in communities.
Member’s Statement 335 – 2(4): Reaction to Federal Budget (Tootoo)
I rise today, like the Minister of Finance, to react to this year’s federal budget, which was unveiled yesterday in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, all members recognize that you have been a tireless advocate for Pangnirtung’s needs, and I would like to begin by noting that yesterday’s announcement for a new commercial harbour for Pangnirtung was probably the best thing about this budget.
I sincerely hope to be able to rise in this House next year and applaud the announcement of a new deep water port for Iqaluit that was promised by the Prime Minister during the last campaign.
Mr. Speaker, I rose in the House last week to raise concerns regarding quota allocations in the Nunavut fishery.
I am hopeful that this new federal investment in harbour infrastructure will encourage Ottawa to rethink its recent and outrageous decision on quota allocations.
Mr. Speaker, I view yesterday’s announcement of a 10 percent enhancement to the Northern Residents Deduction as a half step forward. It’s good to see some movement on this issue after years of federal inaction.
I believe that this movement is due in no small part to the tireless efforts of the Members of this House and Northern Parliamentarians who have pushed for change.
Last fall, this House unanimously passed a motion on the issue of a Northern Residents Deduction.
While there is still much distance to cover before benefits catch up to the realities of today’s cost of living, yesterday’s announcement does show that when we rise as one and speak with a single voice, we can achieve results.
Mr. Speaker, that change is the first one in 22 years and I look forward to further increases that take these realities into account, as well as some type of regular indexing mechanism to keep up with the ever increasing cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed with a number of elements in yesterday’s federal budget.
Most critically, we did not see any new funding to fully address Nunavut’s ongoing housing crisis. I have been saying for many years that the housing crisis is at the root of many of the social problems facing our communities.
The $200 million that we received under the Northern Housing Trust was a good start but that’s all it was.
Like I was saying, it was a good start but that’s all it was, a start.
We have to continue to face, as a government and as a territory, the challenges of keeping up with the O&M costs and other pressures related to housing.
I think if the federal government can find $7.4 billion for military hardware and facilities related to Arctic sovereignty, surely it can find adequate resources to better address housing needs and the human dimension of sovereignty.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to contribute, along with all of us, to our collective efforts to achieve progress in meeting the needs of Nunavut and Nunavummiut.
Member’s Statement 336 – 2(4): Gjoa Haven Hockey Tournament Champions and Athletes from Nattilik to AWG (Aglukkaq)
I am pleased to report that for the third year Gjoa Haven continues their winning tradition as the champions of the Kitikmeot Hockey Tournament. This year the tournament was held in Kugluktuk from February 22 to 25 and includes teams from every Kitikmeot community.
Mr. Speaker, the team from Gjoa Haven went undefeated throughout the tournament.
This is quite a feat when you consider all the talent we have in the Kitikmeot hockey circles.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the following Gjoa Haven players; Darryl Kogvik - Dennis Qirqqut - Brandan Okpik - Warren Rudolph - Geordie Pauloosie - Corey Aglukkaq - Craig Aglukkaq - Gary K. Takkiruq - Brian Qirqqut - Levi Otokiak - Palla Porter and Chester Arqviq.
I would also like to thank the community of Kugluktuk on behalf of the Nattilikmeot for their hospitality that they showed to all the visiting hockey players.
As well, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to also recognize the athletes from the Nattilikmeot Riding who have been selected to participate in the Arctic Winter Games: Craig Aglukkaq, for being chosen as one of the players on Midget Hockey, representing Nunavut; and, Mr. Speaker, I’m especially proud of that fact that Gjoa Haven will also be sending four female hockey players to the Arctic Winter Games and I would like to congratulate: Valerie Puqiqnak, Sharon Takkiruq, Sheila Konana and Pamela Aglukkaq for being selected as part of Team Nunavut.
I wish them all the best during Arctic Winter Games.
Member’s Statement 337 – 2(4): Canadian Sovereignty, Devolution and Federal Budget (Curley)
I wanted to make a comment in regard to the federal budget that was announced yesterday, and I would like to say thank you to the Member for Iqaluit Centre.
The 10 percent deduction is very beneficial but it’s still way too small. If we look at 23 years, the cost of living has gone up a lot more than 10 percent.
We would like to urge the ministers to lobby the federal government because we are limited in our infrastructure and the increasing cost of fuel and everything else are also contributing to the high cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make a comment on Canadian sovereignty.
We hear that they’re going to be building a new icebreaker and I don’t think it has anything to do with sovereignty.
It helps to have Grise Fiord up there; that’s part of sovereignty; there is Resolute Bay and other communities. Those communities are the ones that make up sovereignty and it has nothing to do with icebreakers.
They said the St-Laurent is too old, so they’re going to be building a new one but it’s not going to make any major impact on Canadian sovereignty.
In the federal budget, we didn’t any devolution or resource development which would boost the Nunavut economy. We have one dock and one ship, so I would like to tell all of the Members in this House that we’re being put on the backburner by the federal government.
Of course, I would like to see more money for public housing.