EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I know that I have spoken at different meetings and talked to individuals to ask them if they are interested, to express their interest.
I believe the latest information I have is that there have been some potential operators contacting the department expressing their interest.
So there is work underway and we know of the value of outpost camps.
Now, with regard to incarceration, it had become a very high profile, especially when it went on the news daily, and now it seems to have subsided.
So could the minister present an update on whether there have been improvements on people incarcerated in the correctional centres?
It’s becoming more of a noteworthy item.
I thank Mr. Okalik again for that question.
I’m not too sure why there is no news about incarceration rates in I guess he is referring to the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Since the women’s facility opened last June, the ladies have had their own facility and that has opened up a few more beds at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
If there was even one lady, that tied up six beds in a pod. So by the ladies having their own facility, it has freed up more beds.
There is probably a little bit of a better movement of inmates between facilities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario, so there are a lot of logistics involved in that.
But why the media is not reporting on any activity out there, I can’t answer that question.
This is very good news because it has become mostly a pressing issue at this point, but that is the end of my questions.
It’s quite obvious that my colleagues will have many questions to ask on various issues.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates starting with page C-3. (interpretation) Do you have any other general comments? (interpretation ends) Give me a chance to see it. Justice.
Directorate. Capital Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $400,000.
According to the substantiation sheet from the department and the Nunavut Housing Corporation indicated that there is approximately 12 million dollars for staff housing in Rankin Inlet.
You indicated that there are 44 PYs at the Rankin Inlet Correctional Centre. Will there be enough housing for all of the staff in Rankin Inlet when the correctional centre opens next year?
I believe there will be enough housing.
A lot of the people who will be working at the facility will come from Rankin Inlet and I expect that they will have their own homes.
Once again I have no more names.
Justice on page C-3. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Capital Expenditures. $400,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) We will go page to page C-5.
Capital Expenditures. $3,050,000.
I did want to ask in regard to the correctional facility in Rankin Inlet.
The current substantiation sheet for your department indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has a total budget of approximately 12 million dollars for staff housing.
Your department indicates that there will be 44 PYs at the Rankin Inlet Correctional Centre. Will there be enough housing for all staff in Rankin Inlet when the correctional centre opens next year?
For the record, I wanted to ask.
It was just in reference and I wanted to verify. With the 44 PYs, is there going to be enough housing for all staff?
An Hon. Member: Fred just asked the question.
Mr. Aupaluktuq: I know that, but I wanted to ask in relation, my apologies for that. I know for a fact that my colleague had just corrected me.
The question I did want to ask as well is if the figures were correct for 46 beds last year, but the minimum beds showing is that the facility will have a minimum of 48 beds, so my correction for that, Mr. Chairman.
I believe the correct figure would be 48; 36 in the facility and then the rest in the minimum security.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. (interpretation ends) Are you done, Mr. Aupaluktuq?
I don’t have any other names on my list. (interpretation ends) Justice. Branch Summary.
Corrections. Total Capital Expenditures. $3,050,000.
Chairman: We will go back to C-2.
Capital Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $3,450,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Is the committee agreed that the Department of Justice is concluded?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I would now like to ask Minister Peterson if he has closing remarks.
I would like to thank the members for their questions.
I look forward to inviting members to Rankin Inlet next year for the opening of the facility.
It’s a long overdue facility that we need. I am very glad it is one of those facilities that can be expanded. So we will certainly be looking at expansion opportunities.
I would like to thank my officials who worked on bringing the capital estimates to the Legislative Assembly and working on these projects.
Also, before I go, I would like to mention that our Intern Trainee of Corporate Services is in the Gallery, Wendy Bens… Christine Bens; Wendy Bens has gone to Ottawa. So I would like to welcome her to the Gallery.
Also, Janet Slaughter is my new deputy minister. This is her first time in the House, so she is kind of learning as well.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank everybody and I appreciate your time. Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Peterson. Thank you. (interpretation) I thank your staff.
Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the witnesses out.
I think my colleagues are tired, so I would like move to report progress for today and we will start again tomorrow.
You can stay, Mr. Shewchuk. The motion is carried.
Going back to our orders of the day. Item 20.
Your committee has been considering Bill 38 and the capital estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
I would like to seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5 on the Orders of the Day.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Rumbolt would like unanimous consent to return to Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
We have returned to Item 5. (interpretation ends) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues for returning to Item 5.
I would just like to rise and recognize two people that I did not have a chance to recognize in this House in a couple of years and apparently the last time I forgot to say their names, so I would like to correct it today.
Today, I have my wife, Mina and my son, Gary, here with me in the House.
There being none. (interpretation ends) Item 21.
Just a reminder that there is a meeting of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts tomorrow at nine o’clock.
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 26, at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pages 2723 – 2792
Opening Prayer 2723
Ministers’ Statements 2723
Members’ Statements 2727
Returns to Oral Questions 2732
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2732
Oral Questions 2734
Tabling of Documents 2753
Notices of Motions 2755
Motions 2755
Second Reading of Bills 2755
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2758
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2759
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2791
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 2723
204 – 3(2): Development of the Language Comprehensive Plan: Update (Tapardjuk) 2723
205 – 3(2): Tamapta Champions (Aariak) 2724
206 – 3(2): Support for Nunavut’s Fishery (Taptuna) 2725
207 – 3(2): Confederation Centre of the Arts Essay Contest (Tootoo) 2726
208 – 3(2): New Human Patient Simulators for the Nursing Program (Shewchuk) 2726
322 – 3(2): Equality in Sport (Elliott) 2727
323 – 3(2): Renovations to the Peter Pitseolak School (Schell) 2728
324 – 3(2): Repairs to Water Pump House (Ningark) 2729
325 – 3(2): Visit of Various Ships to Gjoa Haven (Ugyuk) 2729
326 – 3(2): Appreciation for Pangnirtung’s Fundraising Committee (Komoartok) 2730
327 – 3(2): Baker Lake Youth (Aupaluktuq) 2731
Return to Oral Question 470 – 3(2): Review of the Nunavut Housing Trust (Curley) 2732
Return to Oral Question 457 – 3(2): Northern Economic and Sovereignty Infrastructure Conference (Aariak) 2732
471 – 3(2): Repairs to Kugaaruk Water Pump House (Ningark) 2734
472 – 3(2): Birthing Issues (Okalik) 2736
473 – 3(2): Public Agencies Council Oversight of Crown Corporations (Elliott) 2738
474 – 3(2): Communicable Disease Rates (Ugyuk) 2740
475 – 3(2): Prevention of Home Invasions (Okalik) 2742
476 – 3(2): Equality in Sport (Elliott) 2743
477 – 3(2): Status of the GN-NTI Ten-Year Inuit Housing Action Plan (Ugyuk) 2744
478 – 3(2): Update on Projects (Schell) 2747
479 – 3(2): Update on Trigram Building Lease (Okalik) 2747
480 – 3(2): Poverty Strategy between GN and NTI (Elliott) 2749
481 – 3(2): Devolution Negotiations (Elliott) 2751
224 – 3(2): Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy, September 17, 2010 (Curley) 2753
225 – 3(2): Nunavut Arts and Crafts Final Report, June 2010 (Taptuna) 2754
226 – 3(2): Nunavut Development Corporation’s Annual Report for 2009-2010 (Taptuna) 2754
227 – 3(2): Refined Direction from Cabinet Retreat 2010 (Aariak) 2754
228 – 3(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Ninth Annual Report 2009-2010 (Kusugak) 2754
229 – 3(2): Nunavut Public Library Service 2009-2010 Annual Report (Tapardjuk) 2754
230 – 3(2): Grants and Contributions 2009-2010 (Peterson) 2754
231 – 3(2): Interim Financial Report (unaudited) March 31, 2010 (Peterson) 2754
029 – 3(2): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Ningeongan) 2755
029 – 3(2): Extended Adjournment (Ningeongan) 2755
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Second Reading 2755
Bill 45 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) – Second Reading 2756
Bill 46 – An Act to Amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act – Second Reading 2756
Bill 47 – International Interests in Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act – Second Reading 2756
Bill 48 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010, No. 3 – Second Reading 2757
Bill 49 – Agricultural Products Marketing Act, Repeal – Second Reading 2757
Bill 50 – Nunavut Outfitters Liability Protection Fund Act, Repeal – Second Reading 2757
Bill 38 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2011-2012 – Nunavut Arctic College – Consideration in Committee 2759
Bill 38 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2011-2012 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 2772
Bill 38 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee 2774
Bill 39 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2009-2010 – Consideration in Committee 2775
Bill 40 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee 2786
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Paul Okalik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk.
I would like to ask Mr. Ningark to say the opening prayer.
A very good afternoon, my colleagues, Ministers, Nunavummiut, and the people of Qikiqtarjuaq.
Minister’s Statement 204 – 3(2): Development of the Language Comprehensive Plan: Update (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my constituents, especially in Igloolik, where I was notified that they are now able to follow the proceedings on television.
Apparently, they had an issue whereby they were unable to get the transmissions originating from our legislature.
Therefore, I wish all residents of Igloolik a very good day, as well as my constituents in Hall Beach.
Mr. Speaker, at our last sitting, I committed to tabling Government of Nunavut’s language implementation plan.
However, Mr. Speaker, due to the complexity of developing the comprehensive language implementation plan, I am informing the Members of this House on the recent progress in developing our plan for the implementation of Nunavut’s Official Languages Act and Inuit Language Protection Act.
The government remains committed to fully implement both Acts and the implementation process requires careful planning.
As a result, more time is required to complete the implementation plan.
This will allow us to undertake some immediate and necessary steps to complete our work and table the implementation plan in the Legislative Assembly at he next winter sitting.
Firstly, it has become evident that the GN requires more sufficient data about the linguistic capacity of our public service.
This information is essential to implementation, and I have instructed my departmental officials to prepare, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources, a full and complete language capacity assessment of the GN.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, it is important to reiterate that the language implementation process is not solely a CLEY initiative; it is a GN-wide mandate.
Successful implementation will be achieved only with the full cooperation and active involvement of all departments and public agencies.
That is why I will be consulting my colleagues in the coming weeks to develop a language governance structure that will better support the coordination, management, and monitoring of the implementation process.
Lastly, implementation will require adequate and sustained funding by the Government of Canada.
It will therefore be vital for this government and its stakeholders to take a united stand to ensure that the Government of Canada lives up to its funding obligations.
CLEY will collaborate and cooperate with our key territorial institutions and stakeholders to develop a common negotiation strategy to secure appropriate funding for implementation.
It is by working together that we can fully implement the language rights of Nunavummiut and strengthen what makes Nunavut so distinct within Canada.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Hon. Eva Aariak.
Minister’s Statement 205 – 3(2): Tamapta Champions (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Progress toward our shared vision for Nunavut will only happen through our combined effort.
Earlier this year, in order to ensure that our commitments to Nunavummiut are implemented, I asked all ministers to take additional roles as “Tamapta Champions.”
This was in addition to their roles of managing their departments and ensuring legislation is administered effectively.
As part of that Tamapta Champions role, last month, the Executive Council convened a Cabinet Strategy Week. It was during that week that we received a detailed and thorough update on the implementation of Tamapta by all areas of our government.
I thank our staff for embracing this new process – the level of detail and analysis that went into it over the summer was truly extraordinary.
I am pleased to announce that much progress is being made on the direction that we have been given.
For many projects, departments are working actively together with others to reduce barriers and find efficient ways of accomplishing our goals during these tight fiscal times.
Despite many challenges, our plans in the Tamapta Action Plan are largely being implemented and I am confident that it will show great outcomes over the coming months and years.
It is clear that we can never accomplish everything overnight, but Nunavut is on a good path towards our vision of 2030 and to completing our commitments for 2013.
However, there are areas that require more attention than others.
Following much deliberation, we have given further direction to the staff of the government.
Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will table that direction in the Legislative Assembly so that all regular members and all Nunavummiut will know our plans for the coming years.
Our focus over the remaining three years of this mandate will be on the following top priorities:
Funding to support community self-reliance
Poverty reduction through partnerships
Investment in people, with focus on children and youth
None of these are new directions, Mr. Speaker, but rather serve to refine our efforts at implementing the Tamapta Action Plan.
Mr. Speaker, we believe in Nunavut. We have hope for its vibrant future, built by our people pursuing their dreams. (interpretation) Through this refined focus, we hope that we will be able to reduce poverty and support Nunavummiut as they pursue their personal dreams of self-reliance.
Minister’s Statement 206 – 3(2): Support for Nunavut’s Fishery (Taptuna)
Good afternoon colleagues, Kuglukturmiut, and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update the House on the support of the development of Nunavut’s fishery provided under my department’s Strategic Investments Program.
Mr. Speaker, the turbot quota for Nunavut has increased in 2010 and is now valued at over $37 million.
It is anticipated that Nunavut’s total turbot quota for 2010 will be harvested.
In order to realize the economic potential of our fishery, we must invest in Nunavut’s fishing fleet, and I am pleased to report that my department has been working to build fishing capacity in 2010.
In March, the department contributed $575,000 to the Arctic Fisheries Alliance for the purchase of the vessel Genny and Doug.
The alliance is a partnership between the hunters and trappers associations of Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, and Qikiqtarjuaq.
The first phase of this project is predicted to add 20 offshore jobs, with a potential to grow to 70 in the following year.
In April of this year, the department approved funding of $650,000 for Niqitaq Fisheries, the for-profit arm of Baffin Fisheries Coalition, and two of its hunter and trapper association members towards the purchase of the fishing vessel Vinlander.
In August, the department approved further funding of $300,000 to Niqitaq Fisheries to consolidate the ownership of the vessel Sikuvut.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to acknowledge the cooperation, collaboration, and advice of the Department of Environment in making these investments.
These investments support key objectives of the Nunavut Fisheries Strategy, such as increased access to adjacent resources, infrastructure, and increased participation by beneficiaries, and we are pleased to work with our partners to advance the strategy.
Minister’s Statement 207 – 3(2): Confederation Centre of the Arts Essay Contest (Tootoo)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate two young Nunavummiut who have received the first and third prizes in the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown essay contest.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, we heard from a representative of the High Arctic congratulating his constituent on this.
The contest was open to all grade 11 and 12 students in Nunavut and Prince Edward Island.
This initiative was based on Symons Lecture of Mary Simon in the fall of 2009, and the essay topic was based on the themes of this lecture entitled, “Our Arctic – Our Canada.”
Carla Oyukuluk of Arctic Bay and Teresa Tufts of Iqaluit took home first and third prizes respectively.
Mr. Speaker, Carla wrote an essay titled, “Pijjusituqait (Our Past and Present),” and the judges unanimously decided she should win first place.
A certificate and a cheque for $3,000 will be awarded to Carla in Arctic Bay in the near future.
Teresa’s essay, “The Condition of Inuit Identity,” was awarded third place.
She will be presented with her certificate and a cheque for $1,000 upon her return from Ecuador, where she is currently travelling.
And finally, Mr. Speaker, Angulalik Pederson of Kugluktuk received an honourable mention for his essay, “Nunavut’s Hunting and Fishing Economies Keep Inuit Traditional Values Strong.”
Mr. Speaker, this contest was an incredible opportunity to bring together students from two very different regions in exploring the themes of Nunavut, our people, and our culture.
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the confederation for the creation and realization of this project.
I would like to say “congratulations” to Teresa, Carla, and Angulalik for their great work in presenting Nunavut on a broader stage.
Please join me in praising their efforts.
Minister’s Statement 208 – 3(2): New Human Patient Simulators for the Nursing Program (Shewchuk)
I’ll try and read the right statement today.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to introduce two new assistants who will be working very closely with the staff and students of the Nunavut Arctic College Nursing Program.
I welcome Baby Hal and his mother, Noelle, to Nunatta Campus.
Noelle and Hal play a significant role in assisting Arctic College’s nursing students to learn about maternal care, childbirth, and medical emergencies.
In fact, Noelle has already assisted students to learn about listening to breathing sounds.
Mr. Speaker, Baby Hal and Noelle are human patient simulators. Noelle is a maternal and birthing simulator.
Hal simulates a newborn baby.
Mr. Speaker, these human patient simulators will provide our students with lifelike learning opportunities intended to enhance and augment the learning they experience in a clinical setting.
Developed by Gaumard Scientific, a leading manufacturer of interactive, computer-integrated human patient simulators, these units will engage our students with more realistic clinical situations in a safe and simulated environment.
These unique simulation systems will assist our students in learning about critical, emergency scenarios and situations that do not occur in everyday clinical settings.
They will enable all of our students to experience similar clinical situations they may not otherwise encounter until they are practicing as nurses.
Mr. Speaker, a unique and fascinating technological feature of these simulators is the ability to program them to communicate in the Inuit language.
Each simulator has the ability to record sound and voice clips. Instructors can speak through Noelle using a microphone in real time, which allows our students to experience treating a patient in Inuktitut.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic College nursing [faculty] members are very enthusiastic about using these technologies to strengthen learning of our nursing students.
I would like to extend our thanks to the Department of Health and Social Services, who supported and funded the purchase of these unique human patient simulators. They will make strong and valuable contributions to providing our nursing students with training and experience that will benefit all.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation) If there are no more, (interpretation ends) Item 3.
Member for High Arctic, Quttiktuq, Mr. Elliott.
Member’s Statement 322 – 3(2): Equality in Sport (Elliott)
I rise today to continue to lobby our government to give equal support to all of our athletes to participate in tournaments and meets across Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, last spring I again raised the issue of funding support for our athletes, especially for those who have to travel from the more remote regions of Nunavut to compete.
My colleague from Hudson Bay is well aware of this issue as Sanikiluaq athletes face similar challenges to those in the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, on March 12 of this year the Minister responsible for Sport Nunavut provided some information in this House on the policy for funding athletes to travel to regional or territorial tournaments.
The registration fee is set at an equitable $150 to $175 for each sport.
However, for the travel component, participants are required to pay between 5 percent and 10 percent of the travel cost.
Mr. Speaker, you do not have to be a mathematician to figure out that 10 percent of a $2,000 airplane ticket is significantly greater than 10 percent of a $200 airplane ticket.
The amount that athletes are required to contribute towards their travel to a tournament is not equitable, depending on where they live.
To attend a tournament in Iqaluit, athletes from the High Arctic would have to raise more then $200 towards their travel whereas an athlete from Pangnirtung, for example, would have to raise $20.
Mr. Speaker, as the golfers in our midst will know, in the sporting world, a handicap is often imposed to makes things equal between competitors.