EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The QEC continually looks for ways to optimize its energy use through energy-efficient technologies and practices.
Its partnership with the Nunavut Housing Corporation and Climate Change Secretariat to promote energy awareness supports the QEC’s vision to provide a sustainable energy supply to Nunavummiut and the Government of Nunavut’s goal in the prudent use of our resources.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I invite Nunavummiut to visit the Energy Wise Nunavut Facebook page or our website to read about ways to save energy, save money, and help protect our environment.
Remember to power down, head outside and enjoy our territory. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Minister for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Keith Peterson.
Minister’s Statement 338 – 4(3): 60th Annual Mine Rescue Competition (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, this marks the 60th anniversary for the Northwest and Nunavut Territories Annual Mine Rescue Competition held in Yellowknife.
This annual event allows mines to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and quality of their mine rescue training programs.
Teams participate in the spirit of competition and collaboration to understand how other teams work while testing their own mine rescue skills. Judges evaluate each event, which range from safety equipment checks to simulated disasters.
There are eight teams competing this year and Nunavut is represented by three teams, Hope Bay Gold Mine (TMAC Resources Inc.), Meadow Bank Gold Mine, and Meliadine Gold Project (Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.).
The skills competitions this year include a written test, firefighting, surface practical bench, underground bench, surface and underground smoke and obstacle, rope rescue (surface and underground), First Aid (surface and underground), and surface rescue.
As Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission in Nunavut, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing all competitors, especially those representing Nunavut, good luck in their events.
Member’s Statement 593 – 4(3): Petition Concerning Creation of North Baffin Inuit Organization (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Good afternoon to the people of Pond Inlet and our fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a brief statement.
Mr. Speaker, later today at the appropriate time I will be tabling a copy of the petition that has been signed by a significant number of Inuit residents of Nunavut communities, including many of my own constituents in Pond Inlet, calling for the establishment of a new North Baffin Inuit organization.
Mr. Speaker, although this petition is not directed towards the government itself, I believe that it is important for all Members of the Legislative Assembly to be aware of the concerns and frustrations that have been expressed by a significant number of Inuit in North Baffin communities.
Mr. Speaker, when you and other members review the petition with care, you will note that the petitioners have expressed concerns regarding such matters as the management of Inuit-owned lands and the sharing of benefits from major development projects with those communities most affected by them.
Mr. Speaker, these issues will ultimately be resolved by the Inuit of this region.
However, I believe that it is important for all of us to be clearly aware of these issues and I am glad to have had the opportunity to draw the attention of the House to them.
Member’s Statement 594 – 4(3): Canada Day 2017 (Mikkungwak)
I rise today to talk about this year’s plans for Canada Day in Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, as this House is very much aware, Baker Lake is the geographical centre of Canada, in our country.
In my view, it is also the centre of the universe!
Mr. Speaker, this year’s Canada Day marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
In addition to the community’s normal range of family activities, we are very much looking forward to a special event that is planned for the day.
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour 2017 is currently taking place. Dozens of communities across the north are enjoying visits during the months of June and July as part of the initiative.
I encourage you and my colleagues to visit the website for this initiative at www.caat2017.com.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that the organizers of this tour have decided that Baker Lake, the heart of our nation, will be the community that is visited on Canada Day, our national holiday.
Mr. Speaker, I am very much looking forward to spending this year’s Canada Day with my family and constituents in Baker Lake, and I wish a very…
…happy national holiday as well as a very happy Nunavut Day to you and every Member of this House.
Member’s Statement 595 – 4(3): Importance of Volunteers (Akoak)
Good afternoon, colleagues, Nunavummiut, community of Gjoa Haven, and my friends and family watching.
I rise today to speak about the importance of volunteers to our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke this week about the excellent work that a number of my constituents in Gjoa Haven are doing to improve housing in the community.
In my community many individuals volunteer on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis to make Gjoa Haven a better place for all of its residents.
Mr. Speaker, like most communities, Gjoa Haven’s firefighters are mostly volunteers, as are the people who also risk their lives when a search and rescue operation becomes necessary.
Mr. Speaker, other residents volunteer their time in schools, at sporting events, and in a thousand other ways that do not necessarily attract recognition.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that our government can and should support volunteerism in Nunavut wherever possible.
I ask all members to join me today in paying tribute to the volunteers of Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 596 – 4(3): Happy 21st Birthday to Daughter (Mapsalak)
I rise today since this is our last sitting day of the spring session, and tomorrow our daughter who is in Ontario will be celebrating her 21st birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I am also doubly grateful as she has also completed her studies and will graduate on June 29, when my wife and I will travel down for her graduation ceremony.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention that when we first brought her down for her courses, we were under stress due to our concerns about whether she could complete her studies and whether proper care would be provided.
However, I can state now that she feels at home in the south and she enjoys her studies where she is learning a great deal.
She has commenced her plans to continue on to college.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating and wishing a happy birthday tomorrow to our daughter, Lucy Mapsalak.
Member’s Statement 597 – 4(3): Support for Sports (Qirngnuq)
For his antics, I thank my colleague from Baker Lake as I had no choice but to smile, thereby uplifting me. I thank him for that.
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Yesterday several colleagues spoke to the athletic tournament or competition that I also support, so I would like to speak to that matter in my statement.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address an issue that is faced by many of my constituents as well as many young athletes from across Nunavut: the lack of funds and the lack of support for training.
Mr. Speaker, we say that we want our youth to be healthy. This is also important for our family members and all of our community. Promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle ensures that our youth will be in the best shape to become our future leaders.
Mr. Speaker, I believe more could be done to help our youth to stay fit and healthy and to improve their fitness by training for sports and being involved in sporting activities.
Mr. Speaker, being able to travel and compete in sporting events with other youth in this world helps to motivate our young athletes.
Mr. Speaker, we need to support our youth in their efforts to stay healthy in body, mind, and soul.
It is important that our government ensures that adequate support is provided to encourage our youth in their sport activities.
Member’s Statement 598 – 4(3): The Importance of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Shooyook)
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents of my community and the people watching the televised proceedings, welcome to the House, as well as our Premier and my colleagues.
The reason I rise today is due to my initial feelings of despondency, but my heart seems to be filling with happiness because Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is under discussion, as it is fundamental.
It’s also a very serious issue here in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, nowadays the common refrain we hear is that our youth require support.
Let’s put words into action by providing a better foundation.
This issue that I keep reiterating has love as its basis.
This is based on true love.
With that being the case, I want my colleagues to understand the reason for my enthusiasm on this subject.
It is only with the commitment of all residents and people of Nunavut and all MLAs here that challenges, especially with petty criminality issues, will be resolved by providing a very strong foundation based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. Only by using this foundation will corrections be made to our social ills.
Following the grandfathered legislation from the NWT has resulted in cultural degradation today and it is not geared towards Inuit homelands.
This is why I am trying with all I must to work towards seeing this realized where the promises under the Nunavut Agreement are implemented, both through government and the incorporation of Inuit traditions.
We must also stop belittling our own culture and we must take pride in it.
Progress is possible. Since this is the case, I have spoken on many occasions about incorporating the strengths of Inuit culture into our territorial legislation.
Let it be taught since, as an elder and having practised the traditional lifestyle… .
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate my colleagues for providing this opportunity to complete my statement.
As I was saying, because of the importance of this issue, it is critical to begin this today.
If we keep putting it aside, we will be too late.
When Nunavut was created, we were informed, much like those watching us today, and what we believed was that eventually things would evolve towards Inuit culture.
Inuit were told to take pride in their lands and that eventually Inuit culture would dominate the territory.
To date, with many original witnesses no longer with us today, they passed on still having expectations of this.
This still hasn’t been implemented fully.
Mr. Speaker, where can we start to begin creating solutions and to whom do we direct our concerns to, to incorporate Inuit traditional knowledge? Where will we start?
When I asked this government, I received hollow words from the ministers voicing full support for my statements.
Initially I believed them, but in looking back over these four years, I see nothing tangible.
This is very regrettable and when I have the opportunity, I will enquire about this matter.
Member’s Statement 599 – 4(3): 2017 High School Graduates of Clyde River (Keyootak)
I rise today to express my happiness, to extend my congratulations, and to share in celebration.
As you all know, the school year comes to an end every spring and graduations commence throughout the territory, becoming one of our spring rituals.
Mr. Speaker, in my community there are quite a few graduates as well as in my other constituency community, comprising one of the larger graduating classes, as per the Minister of Education’s announcement.
Clyde River will celebrate 16 graduates.
I will mention their names and I apologize firstly if I mispronounce any of them. They are:
Daniel Arreak
Larissa Arreak
Sakiasie Keyootak
Gregory Joanas
Elaine Jaypoody
Logan Kalluk
Maureen Illauq
Melanie Illauq
Corinna Iqalukjuak
Domonic Iqalukjuak
Morty Iqalukjuak
Leah Nuqinga Palituq
Joseph Tigullaraq
Pauloosie Sivugat
Simealaa Tassugat, and
Amanda Tigullaraq
They have completed their secondary studies and this is a joyful occasion to see this many graduates. I want to advise them that they will now be able to choose the type of further education they prefer since they have completed high school.
We take great pride in our graduates and some of us are envious of their accomplishments as they now have choices as to what further studies they may want to pursue.
Grade 12 isn’t the ending but rather the start of one’s life choices and further education.
I share in celebrating the joy of the students and their parents who supported them to complete high school. I share in their sense of pride and joy during this time.
Member’s Statement 600 – 4(3): Canada 150 Commemorative $10 Bank Note (Joanasie)
Good afternoon, my colleagues. I wish a good spring for all the people of South Baffin and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House that in April of this year I had the great privilege to accompany members of the late Kenojuak Ashevak’s family on the occasion of the ceremony to mark the Bank of Canada’s unveiling of Canada’s new $10 bank note.
Mr. Speaker, later today at the appropriate time I will be tabling an image of the new $10 bill, which has been released as part of the national celebrations to mark 150 years of Confederation.
The new bank note incorporates an image of one of Kenojuak Ashevak’s most beautiful works, Owl’s Bouquet.
Mr. Speaker, it gladdens my heart and makes us proud that a piece of her legacy will be literally in the hands of millions of Canadians on a daily basis.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, Inuit have inhabited this land for untold generations. The respect and recognition given by the nation to one of our people’s greatest artists is well-deserved.
Mr. Speaker, as you and my colleagues will recall, Kenojuak Ashevak was a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Nunavut, and the new Kenojuak Cultural Centre that is being built in Cape Dorset is named for her.
Mr. Speaker, please join me celebrating this recognition. If you ever put the new $10 bill in your pocket, let’s remember Kenojuak and her people.
Member’s Statement 601 – 4(3): In Support of Our Hunters (Angnakak)
I was hoping that my colleague here would perhaps be handing out $10 bills for us all to look at. That would be a great thing.
I rise today to acknowledge and express my appreciation for those hunting families who share their catch with others on a regular basis.
Mr. Speaker, recently constituents of mine shared some precious seal meat with my family.
I don’t know how this worked out, but she actually walked in the house and I had no idea that she was coming in today and I was going to do this member’s statement. I would like to thank Micheline Kilabuk Côte. I also understand it’s her birthday today, so happy birthday, Micheline.
My family in Pangnirtung also sent us some seal meat and I just want to take this opportunity to thank people for their kind gestures. It was greatly appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, the sharing of food happens all across Nunavut on a daily basis.
It is a deep-rooted activity and one of the many aspects of Inuit culture that is so impressive, so effective in strengthening society, and so demonstrative of great kindness and caring for others.
Mr. Speaker, as you know well, hunting is a great challenge. Many hunters struggle to keep up with the cost of equipment, fuel, and ammunition. In addition, today’s hunters need to keep aware of new dangers that appear in the environment as a result of ongoing changes to our arctic climate.
Our hunters today must constantly learn new ways to gauge the safety of their activities and their surroundings.
Mr. Speaker, hunting will always be a part of Inuit culture. The rewards of the hunt are not just in the bounty that is harvested but in sharing experiences with our families, learning skills from family members, celebrating first catches, preparing skins, sewing garments from those skins, and of course sharing the catch with others.
The Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays?
I don’t hear any nays. Ms. Angnakak, please proceed.
Thank you to my colleagues for allowing me to continue.
Mr. Speaker, these activities bring families and communities closer together, making us strong and resilient by supporting each other.
Mr. Speaker, we need to encourage and support hunting across Nunavut. We need to support our hunters financially and with the tools that will make them safe and successful out on the land and on the water.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that our children continue to learn the ways of hunting, about the changing environment, and about the importance of contributing to our families and our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and applaud the many families who keep up the tradition of hunting and the sharing of their catch.
It is your contribution and your kindness and thoughtfulness which help to create and maintain a strong community.
Member’s Statement 602 – 4(3): Celebrating Kugluktuk’s Tiffany Ayalik (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Nunavut is blessed with many artists, carvers, seamstresses, musicians, dancers, basically all mediums and forms of artistic impressions.
We are internationally acclaimed for our carvings, prints, as well as our cultural wear.
In the field of innovation and invention, Inuit are credited with the development of the qajaq, the toggling harpoon head, as well as the very familiar, iconic iglu or igluvigaq.
Mr. Speaker, recently a daughter of a Kugluktuk family, Tiffany Ayalik, and her group, Quantum Tangle won a prestigious Juno Award for the best indigenous music album.
Mr. Speaker, Tiffany and her bandmate, Grey Gritt from Yellowknife, formed the musical duo, Quantum Tangle.
Their album, Tiny Hands, has been celebrated by music critics and fans alike. They are well known for blending Inuit throat singing, indigenous storytelling, and soulful blues music.
Tiffany says that she hopes her win inspires young artists from the north to dream big.
Mr. Speaker, this was the group’s first Juno Award nomination and they won.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to this opportunity to congratulate Tiffany and all our young people in Nunavut to continue to strive to meet their potential.
We have an Inuk NHL hockey player, Juno award-winning singers, and some day an Inuk Oscar or even an Inuk Grammy Award winner.
This is not out of the question.
Member’s Statement 603 – 4(3): 2017 High School Graduates of Arviat (Savikataaq)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, there have been many members here who have talked about graduations in their communities. I, too, would like to talk about the graduation in Arviat.
I believe this is going to be the largest graduating class. It is the largest graduating class since I have been MLA and it is a graduating class of 39 students. That’s a lot of students, 39.
I would like to thank all of the parents for getting their kids up and making sure they go to school, the teachers for teaching them, their peers for encouraging them to go to school and do well, and mostly for the students that strived hard.
They went to school, completed all of their assignments, and did what they had to do to graduate.
I commend them and they should be very proud of themselves that they graduated.
I have attended many graduation classes in Arviat and what I always say to the graduating class is, “This is not the end.
When you finish your grade 12, it is just another door that opens for the next step.
Go for more training. Go for more education. The more education experience a person has, the better the odds that they will have a better quality of life, whether it’s trades, academics, or work experience.
Use that grade 12. Use it to your benefit.”
I’m going to say all of their names. I hope some day when I’m back here, the names will be even longer and I’ll have to ask for more time. Even this time I’ll probably have to ask for more time.
I would like to congratulate all of the students that will be graduating on June 24. June 24 is their ceremony and these 39 students are:
Elena Akkamuk-Nipisar
Eva Aliktiluk
Peter Aliktiluk
Jessica Anoee
Maya Autut
Melanie Dawn Curley
Megan Gavin
Jasper Gibbons
Abraham Irkok
Willie Issakiark Malla
Mary Anne Issumatarjuak
Patricia Kablutsiak
George Kadlak
Robyn Koomak
Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to continue.
The member for Arviat is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Thank you to my colleagues for letting me finish.
Like I said, there are 39 and I’m only a third done.
Justin Kuksuk
Jacqueline Malla
Luke Mamgark
Sergei Mamgark
Benjamin Jr. Manik
Alissa Matoo
Eva Muckpah
Mahasi Nateela
Soloman Nungnik
Sandy Okatsiak
J.C. Ollie
Kesha Owingayak
Bertha Pauppa
Malachi Paungalak
Edith Pingushat
Kyle Scaubroeck
Steffie Sinnisiak
Destiny St. John
Justin Suluk
Tyra Suluk
Ethan Tassiuk
Julie [Tutsuituk]
Cindy Ulayok
Manuel Ukutak
Vicky Kablutsiak
I would like to invite all of you to join me in celebrating for the class of 2017 from John Arnalukjuak High School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 604 – 4(3): Economic Development Activity in Pangnirtung (Mike)
Good day to the people of Nunavut and Pangnirtung, as well as my children and grandchildren in Pangnirtung.
Thank you for this opportunity today and I will speak to… . I apologize. Let me start by welcoming the visitors in the gallery to the House.
Today I will speak to the local economic development initiatives in Pangnirtung through the local HTO board and its members.
The Pangnirtung HTO is very active and is also part owner of the fishery alliance in this region, specifically the (interpretation ends) Baffin Fisheries Coalition and Cumberland Sound Fisheries Ltd., (interpretation) where they are one of the instrumental bodies providing opportunities.
When they have been involved, they have created seasonal jobs and support for various community infrastructure projects, as well as food security and provision of country food.
What I will announce today is that the Pangnirtung HTO and board have completed another project. They completed their new office building within Pangnirtung.
It is finished, with two storeys and a total of 16 brand-new offices.
Due to the size of this office building, which is 3,600 square feet, it is quite spacious. It houses a conference room, kitchen, washrooms, and built-in phone jacks and Internet links.
This building also has two entrances.
The total price of the construction project was $1.4 million.
The office building will require tenants. Currently two offices have been identified for some workers for the HTO.
This is a cause for celebration for the residents of Pangnirtung, as local economic development comes from initiatives begun locally.
That is the main purpose of the building. I take immense gratification in the fact that the community is focused on creating self-sufficiency through local initiatives by meeting some of the demand for office space. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 605 – 4(3): Appreciation of Support (Peterson)
I rise to thank all of my constituents, family, and friends across Nunavut for their support and friendship to me over the last year.
I couldn’t do this important work without your encouragement.
A special thanks and shout-out to our friends at Tim Hortons at NorthMart for enjoying coffee with me on a regular basis.
Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my staff in my departments, commissions, and other entities for their dedicated and committed service to Nunavut.
It takes a total team effort to serve Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, a special thanks to my Executive Assistant, Mike Courtney, upstairs, I hope he’s watching, Mike; Executive Secretary Annie Akoak here in Iqaluit; and Irene Amagonalak, my Constituency Assistant in Cambridge Bay, for their advice and support to me on a daily basis. I’m not the easiest guy to work with every day.
If I don’t get my coffee early enough, I could be a little growly.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I wish you and all of my colleagues in the House and all Nunavummiut a very happy and safe summer, and I look forward to seeing you all again in September.
Member’s Statement 606 – 4(3): 2017 Graduation Ceremony in Rankin Inlet (Sammurtok, A)