EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And as my colleague recently came back from the United States, you could say maybe that was the method you should be passing on to our neighbours south of the border that maybe they should do that as well, things like signing on the Kyoto Accord, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that they put out that are affecting the habitat of the polar bears instead of having to do what we have to do to save the bears and put them on the endangered list but they’re still going to keep damaging their environment.
By putting a lot of effort into their projects these young people are showing us that we can all make a difference for our communities and our world.
I think another thing that I found very interesting in that my colleague could have took with him...
I would like to ask for consent to conclude my statement Mr. Speaker.
One of the video clips that they showed at this celebration was ‘The Effect of Global Warming on Polar Bears.’ At first on the screen nothing came on. I wondered if that was it: there’s no more bears left.
But then it clicked in and what it showed was a polar bear with a pair of clippers shaving all of his fur off. So we had a hairless polar bear and that was the effect that global warming was having on them. I think that, too, is something that my colleague could have shared with his friends at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service folks down there.
So at this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask all members to join me in congratulating Aqsarniit School and all of the students, teachers, volunteers, and the sponsors that participated in allowing them to reach their Earth School status and I congratulate them on their achievement.
Member’s Statement 020 – 2(4): International Women’s Day (Arreak)
I would like to stand today and recognize the International Women’s Day.
I have seven daughters as well and two of them just recently had their birthdays and I would like to say, “I love you” to them and my wife.
This day being the International Women’s Day, I would also like to recognize my mother. She was born around 1920s.
At this time she is now an elder and she always says that she’s no longer strong enough to do things but I feel that she’s always been very strong to do things she has done for years. She has done many things to help clothe, feed, and care for the children.
I feel that she has done a huge workload and she has never been recognized before; she has been a midwife to many women.
She has numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I would like to say that there’s all kinds of great-great-grandchild, too, as well that she has, although she has not seen them all yet.
I would like to congratulate my mother, and I feel she is very strong in my community. I also feel that I should tell the Members that they should go and see their elders as often as they can.
Member’s Statement 021 – 2(4): International Women’s Day (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Just a short one, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to also acknowledge the International Women’s Day, especially the women in Nunavut.
For International Women’s Day I would like to congratulate Meeka Alivaktuk for being recognized as a wise woman. She is from Pangnirtung.
I would like to say that if I was the Minister for Status of Women I would say in this House that...I would also like to recognize...even if we have a wise woman for every year that is recognized, there should be a woman that is recognized for counselling.
Perhaps each community should recognize a woman that has been doing counselling for many, many years.
Perhaps if we did that we would have a better community.
I wanted to say this today because the only way that you have good family ties is if you have a mother and a family. It’s good that we are able to go and see them as we grow older.
I would like to thank the Member for Arviat and I have a great-grandmother.
She was a very wise woman.
She used to counsel younger people and she was able to counsel us in ways of having a very good life.
I would like to support the Minister for the Status of Women to be able to recognize women that are counselling as well, and women that are elders that help the people in the communities.
Members’ Statements. There are no more Members’ Statements.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery today a well known Nunavummiut, a person from Cambridge Bay, Ms. Helen Tologanak sitting behind me.
She goes by the name of Navalik. She is a columnist for News North.
If a person reads News North, you will find out what’s going on in Cambridge Bay, and sometimes find out what’s going on with me.
Helen is also a Board Member for Aboriginal Healing Foundation, which does a lot of good work for Nunavummiut.
So welcome Helen to the Gallery.
I didn’t want to be the first one to recognize a person in the Gallery.
I would also like to recognize, and she was recognized today for Wise Woman of the Year from Pangnirtung.
I am sure her family and her husband and all the family will be very proud of her.
She was just recognized by the Status of Women this afternoon. I would like to congratulate this individual.
She is with her sister; Sheila Ulayuk and the children.
I would like to recognize them all and to welcome them to the Gallery.
Also, a well known person: Rebecca Veevee.
Please welcome to the Gallery.
As this is International Women’s Day, I would like to welcome those people.
Question 015 – 2(4): Status of Proposal to List Polar Bears as a Threatened Species (Curley)
I would like to thank the Minister of Environment for making a statement and I will ask him a question in Inuktitut to see whether he could give us an outline of the information that he gave out when he was in the United States.
And, did they acknowledge information that was given to them?
We were in Washington, dealing with the Endangered Species Act with regard to polar bears.
They would like to put the polar bear on the endangered species list and we went down to talk with them and told them that they should not be put on the list.
There were five of us that were against the States wanting to add them to the endangered species list.
There were a lot of people that were against what we were trying to do down in Washington.
They don’t seem to understand what we’re trying to say, and they didn’t seem to want to pay any attention.
For those people who didn’t even want to bother listening, are they representing the government or from agencies? Who exactly were those people who didn’t seem to care about your presentation?
Does the minister have an idea as to how long it will take the American scientists to come up with an answer? When should we expect an answer?
The people that we gave our presentation to said they would study the contents and they were going to study this further.
We should know by January as to exactly how they will treat this.
Another question: will the minister commit to me today that he will be open to providing compensation to outfitters in communities?
Have they considered this at all?
Minister responsible for Environment, Minister Netser.
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you. If those hunters were to be compensated, then the Cabinet will definitely have to consider compensating but that’s all I can give you at this time.
Question 016 – 2(4): Involving Standing Committees in Supplementary Appropriations/Payroll Tax (Tootoo)
I want to follow-up again today with the Minister of Finance on some questioning on the budget address that he gave yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, I think my last supplementary question to the minister yesterday I had asked him if he would commit to allowing the standing committees to be involved in reviewing supplementary appropriations if they received a windfall or a bunch of money from the federal government after this budget.
He had indicated yesterday that once the department has finalized the details, then the standing committees can be involved.
I guess, Mr. Speaker, we all know supplementary appropriations traditionally refer to over-expenditures, projects, things go over.
The process that we’re going through right now with the main estimates is dealing with spending of new dollars for the next year. That’s where the standing committees, where the members have an opportunity to have some input to that. We see it in draft form prior to it coming forth to the House, and then it comes into the House after that, and we further debate it here.
What I’m looking for from the minister is a commitment that if they’re planning on bringing over a supplementary appropriation to get some excess funding out of the next federal budget later this month. And bringing and trying, and bringing in the supplementary appropriation to deal with how the government wants to spend that money and probably I would guess this June, the spring session.
So would he commit to, maybe at the end of April, having the standing committees for a shorter time to review what the government has and present it in a draft form to allow all Members of this House to have an opportunity to have input on how the government plans on spending any additional funds that it gets from Ottawa.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Minister responsible for Finance, Minister Simailak.
Yes, we will know for sure by March 19.
After we hear what the budget will be, will there be some for Nunavut, or for the Arctic, or for the north to the different departments from the federal government.
Once they have identified the funding, then we will know from there as to what procedure we will take.
I guess what I’m looking for is a commitment from the ministers if they are planning on bringing forward a supplementary appropriation if they get additional revenues from Ottawa.
Will he commit to following the due process that we follow through with budgets and everything else where the standing committees would have an opportunity to see it in a draft form prior to it coming into the House, like the same format that we’re doing right now with the main estimates?
So would the minister commit to if they find out in the middle of this month, by the end of April they should have an idea of how much money we have, if any, and how they figure it should be spent?
Would he commit to sharing that with the appropriate standing committees, say at the end of April, to allow members of the standing committees to have some input into how that funding is going to be allocated prior to it coming into this spring session?
At this time we don’t know what they will give us but once I get that budget…will they pass the budget, or will there be an election?
Will the PCs be kicked out?
We have to wait, but if they’re going to go a step ahead, and if there’s going to be funding identified, yes I can commit to his question that we will provide that.
I would like to thank the minister for that commitment.
I know that we don’t know and I guess, in his words, we want to be optimistic and hopeful that there is something for us to look at in April, and will look forward to coming forward in the spring sitting.
Another thing that he mentioned in his budget address yesterday was the legislation dealing with tax relief for single parents and that stems from the amendment made to the Payroll Tax; increasing it to two percent. One of the things that was mentioned then that I raised as an issue was the fact that Payroll Tax is that – a Payroll Tax; the only people that are on payroll pay that tax. This government spends millions of dollars on contract employees and consultants.
That’s what the Payroll Tax is supposed to be targeting: that money that is just going out of the Territory. They fall through the loop; they’re not addressed here.
I am just wondering if he had made a commitment to look at that. I am just wondering if he could indicate if they are also looking at bringing something to capture that was missing in the Payroll Tax.
We are currently reviewing this especially to the people that the government contracts out.
We are currently reviewing it and after giving this consideration then we will come up with recommendations as to look at the contractors, the consultants, as to how we can use this better.
This is currently being reviewed at this time.
I’m glad to hear that it’s being looked at. I was hoping to see something on it in the Budget Address.
As we know we are paying like…I think last year, for example, there was $12 million paid out for Agency Nurses. If they’re contract employees, that’s $12 million with no Payroll Tax collected on it.
I look forward to that. I am just wondering and the minister indicated they’re looking at it, if he can give us an idea of when we can expect to see something come forward by the government, or his department to capture that.
We are reviewing this and we’ve put this as a priority, but at this time I can’t really say exactly when I will be able to provide that information, but we are working on this.
Question 017 – 2(4): Need for New Arena in Pond Inlet (Arvaluk)
My question today is for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
In regards to $130 million that will be used for the next five years.
In my community of Pond Inlet funding has been provided for the new community hall. However, the community’s need for a new arena has not been met.
I note that the department’s information on this project indicates, (interpretation ends) and I quote; “... that this facility, with a new arena in an effort to save on building systems costs, and provide a central recreational complex for this large community. The hall design will allow for future arena additions when funds are identified.”
Can the minister outline to me today how her department will identify the funds for the new Pond Inlet arena?
I thank the member for Pond Inlet.
The budget plan that is going to be used for 100…the recommendations were given to me and I had to give them consideration and I had to approve because there was this committee - two from Nunavut Association of Municipalities and two from the Government of Nunavut.
We would visit the communities and after visiting the communities, they were dealt with in February.
The communities were sent correspondence and if my colleague can wait we will be at the witness table.
If its okay, then I will be able to give a full report once we start dealing with my department. Occasionally some change changes occur. So, that’s where we are at this time.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
I would like to thank the minister for answering my question, but she answered me in two ways.
Are we looking at the number of days, or when it is possible?
As I stated earlier, they were included. With the help of the Hamlet of Pond Inlet, they put it in their plans. In the 2007-08 capital estimates are included funding for arena projects in a number of different communities over the next five years.
Will the minister commit to looking at ways to include funding for Pond Inlet’s arena when the next five-year capital plan is presented later on this year?
There are a lot of people from Nunavut, and there are a lot of buildings that are aging and in need of repair.
They are still being used by the communities even though they are not in good condition, but they are still useable.
With regard to your question, I will not be able answer it prior to the approval of the budget. We can look at this issue in a year or so, and prioritize what is most needed in the communities, and in which communities.
I’m sure that the people of Pond Inlet are looking forward to getting an arena.
I feel for you, but of course, there are a lot of buildings that need renovation. My staff will be here and we will discuss it.
The minister stated that it was in reasonably good condition. We’re talking about the children who know more about the astronomy because they’re looking at the stars through holes in their roofs and they know more about astronomy than skating. You can see the stars through the cracks in the roof.
(interpretation ends) This week’s Commissioner’s Address indicates that Nunavut will continue to work with the other territories to seek the establishment of a Strategic Northern Infrastructure Fund to jointly achieve infrastructure objectives across the north.
Can the minister assure me today that Nunavut will make a strong case to Ottawa that investment in community recreational facilities are an important part of ensuring healthy communities and healthy youth?
Yes, I am sorry about your arena being in bad shape but we will look at it.
If we use Resolute Bay as an example, it does require facilities.
I think we’ll definitely have to look at the communities, the have-not communities. I get briefed by our staff but we can’t visit them all at the same time.
In regard to your question, when we go down to Ottawa we meet with our counterparts from the Canadian provinces and we keep repeatedly trying to make a case to Ottawa that Nunavut is unique and the poorest in the country.
We can also talk to the Premier because he works with the other two territories. I think that he could make a stronger case. But of course we’re not going to see instant results but we will start to see results over the year.
And, we hope to meet the needs of the communities and Nunavut. I would like to thank the member very much for asking those questions.
I would also like to thank the minister for her response. It can’t be helped right now, which I understand.
As the minister, you have to make decisions and the staff usually knows which communities should be placed as a priority, which community is lacking facilities.
Could the minister tell me when the minister herself can come up to Pond Inlet?
We are a very friendly community, but I would like to know from the minister when she herself, not her staff, will be coming up to Pond Inlet. We’re not looking only at an arena. We are looking at a healthy community and a future for our youth, for healthy youth.
The people of Pond Inlet, the hamlet council has placed their needs and they have placed the arena as a top priority.
I would like to invite the minister to visit Pond Inlet as soon as she can.
Yes, it’s always exciting to be invited to a community and we hear that the minister should be trying to go to the communities as often as possible, which we’re trying to do.
I’ve been to Pond Inlet two times and it’s a very friendly community and one of the most beautiful especially in the spring when you have twenty four hour daylight.
That’s when I was up there.
I would like to have a meeting with a meeting with the hamlet council and to tour the community and to see the facilities, which of course, are very, very important to the community.
Usually what happens is we prioritize every year and there are some slight changes.
Since you extended an invitation I will make a point of going up there and let the member know when I’ll be able to go up.
I have visited a lot of the communities but when I get an invitation from the communities I usually make a point of going. We have to see for ourselves with our own eyes what those facilities are like and not just communicate by phone. It’s a lot better when you visit the communities physically.
Even though that is the case, I would like to represent the whole of Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, minister. (interpretation ends) Members I wish to remind you that we still have members that we like to try and get to in the time we have left. Try and keep your preambles short and responses to the point.
Question 018 – 2(4): Distemper Vaccinations for Community Dogs (Barnabas)
In my statement earlier I spoke of the ongoing difficulty my constituents are having in getting distemper vaccinations for their dogs.
On November 22, 2005, the Minister indicated that her department was responsible for the vaccination of dogs across Nunavut.
Can the Minister provide an update on what steps have been taken to ensure that distemper and rabies vaccinations have been made available, especially to sled dogs, across Nunavut?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for following up on that.
The update from my conversation with the member in November was: the Department of Health, under the Public Health Act, is the responsibility for rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination, we’re responsible for that because it is a threat to human society. We provide that in every community.
What we’re trying to do right now is come up with a territorial-wide rabies vaccination prevention strategy. We are working in partnership with Community and Government Services and Department of Environment and putting that framework in place.
Last year alone the Department of Health distributed 3,250 doses of animal vaccinations to lay vaccinators in the community.
We provide rabies shots to various volunteers, to wildlife officers, to by-law officers, to dog catchers, and in some, with our own public health officials.
I want to also explain that the Department of Health does not provide vaccines for distemper.
Distemper is not a threat to the human society. Under the Public Health Act we provide the vaccines where it is a threat to the human society. In the case of distemper, it isn’t.
I hope that clarifies the matter.
I think this year is the worst case of losing dogs due to distemper and especially in the three communities that I know of.
I observe for the residents of Gjoa Haven for the loss of their dogs due to distemper. Can the minister tell this House what is being done to prevent this type of outbreak from happening again?
I can only speak on the initiatives of the Department of Health under the prevention of rabies.
The strategy that we have every year through public health is to report any, in the case of a community where a person has been bitten by a dog, the health center officials are notified, wildlife officers are also notified because they have the expertise in sending out samples, and so on, of animals.
So from that, we have a prevention strategy that is in the works along with Community and Government Services and Department of Environment to reduce the risk of rabies in Nunavut.
I cannot speak to veterinarian services, I can’t speak to that.
The Department of Health does not provide treatment of sick dogs.
We provide vaccinations to prevent the spread of rabies to the human communities.
I hope that clarifies the separation of those two vaccination needs of the dogs.
I don’t know how to describe it.
We are aware and we see through the media that the veterinarians arrived to Iqaluit and vaccinate the dogs in Iqaluit.
But in the smaller communities and outside of Iqaluit the veterinarians do not visit the communities.
(interpretation ends) Will the minister commit to ensure that rabies, and distemper recognitions programs are conducted on a yearly basis in all of Nunavut’s communities?
I will commit to providing vaccinations for rabies, because that is what is covered under the Public Health Act.
The rabies vaccination program, we provide the vaccinations to stop the spread of rabies to the human community.
In terms of the other treatments dogs require, I cannot commit to that.
The Department of Health’s Public Health Act, we provide service to the people and the spread of disease to the human communities, so I hope that clarifies the matter.
Question 019 – 2(4): Benefits to Nunavut Communities from International Polar Year Activities (Arreak)
My question today is for the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, International Polar Year was launched last week.
A wave of researchers and scientists will soon be visiting Nunavut and other northern regions to collect data and information.
Can the Premier update this House on what kinds of input our government has had on reviewing and approving research projects that will be conducted in Nunavut?
Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologise.
The Nunavut Research Institute will also be involved because they approve the proposal for research and also I was very pleased that Inuit entities were involved.
It was obvious that Inuit need to be more involved with the International Polar Year.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, I thank the Premier.