EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
These included the establishment of a Canadian Forces Arctic Training Centre in Resolute Bay, the expansion and re-equipping of the Canadian Rangers, and the establishment of a Deep Water Arctic Docking and Refuelling Facility at Nanisivik.
Mr. Speaker, these announcements will have a significant impact on the communities that I represent in the Legislative Assembly.
As their MLA, I have supported initiatives to strengthen Canadian sovereignty in the High Arctic and provide benefits to Nunavut communities and residents.
Last year, I wrote to the Minister of National Defence on the issue of establishing a new training centre in the High Arctic, and publicly tabled my correspondence in the Legislative Assembly.
Following the Prime Minister’s visit, I wrote to him on behalf of my constituents.
In my letter, I indicated that it is essential for all levels of government be fully involved in discussions surrounding such matters as infrastructure use, Canadian Rangers recruitment initiatives, and local employment and contracting opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I expressed my support for the establishment of mechanisms and forums to provide for ongoing communication at senior levels between federal, territorial, and municipal leaders and officials.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will table a copy of my correspondence for the public record.
Member’s Statement 178 – 2(4): Support Needed for Nursing Program (Arvaluk)
I rise today in regard to the nurses as the Minister of Finance stated that we’re going to be $7.2 million in deficit, although there are many various reasons but we all know that, I think one of the main reasons, it’s because of agency nurses.
I have been speaking to many nurses, not just in Pond Inlet.
The agency nurses make $5 to $50 more than the head nurse and those are her subordinates.
And also, elders, especially those who are unilingual, when they have to go to the health centre they see a new nurse, and the nurse that was previously there has to tell the whole story again to the new nurse every time a new nurse arrives.
For the past two years now, I have been making statements in regard to providing support to the Nunavut Nursing Program that is comparable to the Nunavut Akitsiraq Law School because this is an urgent matter now.
We need properly trained nurses that will be residing in our communities and that will take training programs at the local level rather than hiring agency nurses, which is very expensive.
I was told that agency nurses literally make $700 a day.
They are very expensive today and they stay for very short periods in our community. The length of time that they stay in our community is not sufficient enough to find out what the problems are of their patients.
Due to the fact that many people have died off without being diagnosed properly, therefore, I am urging the government to please provide more support to the Nunavut Nursing Program so that we can get Nunavut Inuit nurses.
Member’s Statement 179 – 2(4): Scientific Research on Polar Bears Not Using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Curley)
I rise today to speak about the elders in the Keewatin region.
We are extremely proud of our elders and we are proud of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values.
At times, the government sets up a system that does not conform to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Usually, the government doesn’t take the time to instill Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We have been told that there is a decrease in the polar bear population in the Hudson Bay area but in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, this is not true at all.
The reason why I am making these statements is that the federal government and the Government of Nunavut count the population.
You shoot the polar bear, tag it, and take a tooth out for diagnoses. If you catch that polar bear in about 10 years, then they would know where the polar bear had gone.
Mr. Speaker, (interpretation ends) this study is not shared nor agreed upon by Inuit elders.
So what I am saying is that Inuit Qaujimanituqangit and scientific studies (interpretation) don’t agree.
As that’s the case, Mr. Speaker, when the Canadian Wildlife Service does a study on polar bears and Government of Nunavut makes statements that there’s a decrease in the polar bear population... what I’m trying to say is that the people will have to consult with the people of Nunavut because that’s their job.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): What I am saying is that the scientific studies are taken extremely seriously by these agencies, but this is not being utilized by the elders and they are not being consulted.
I can say that in the Keewatin region there’s going to be a cut of 38, but Mr. Speaker, if you camp out in the Keewatin in any location, (interpretation ends) polar bears are going to attack you. There are more bears than ever before.
So, Mr. Speaker, what I’m asking the government to do is that scientific studies that are normally done and relied upon by agencies, including the Canadian Wildlife Service and the safety polar bear groups out there, they are flawed; they’re not good enough.
We need a new method. This new partnership should begin with the minister and it should be carried out by this government, which would include Inuit and not just organizational representatives, the wildlife groups, and that.
These all have limitations, so I am asking the government and the Members of the House that we will work towards a new partnership arrangement to include Inuit Qaujimanituqangit, and best technical advisors we can get so we have a proper record of our wildlife resources.
Member for Rankin South/Whale Cove, Ms. Brown.
Member’s Statement 180 – 2(4): Kivalliq Arts and Crafts Event September 8 to 12, 2007 (Brown)
I am very glad that you are able to make it to the session.
I would first like to make a comment regarding the elders and the elder who was found in Igloolik, Inooki Kunnuk.
His daughter is a very good friend of mine and I would like to thank the people for making sure that he returned safely to the community.
Again, in Rankin Inlet, this community is represented by both Mr. Curley and myself; the North and the South.
Just last month, I think it was September 8 to 12, they had an arts festival in Rankin Inlet and it was a huge event.
(interpretation ends) The two events highlight the skills of Kivalliq carvers, doll makers, sewers, designers, and printmakers in an amazing display of Inuit skill, tradition, and imagination.
I would like to mention some of the organizers and forgive me if I don’t mention them all. Therese Tunngilik, Robert Connelly, Bernadette Dean, and thanks to all those who have helped put this together. We surely enjoyed the event and showcased the skills of the people from Kivalliq.
The other amazing part was the elders, when they wore their traditional outfits they did their drum dancing and their throat singing.
I was truly amazed with that and everybody who attended and who was there to see, they all had a ball.
I know that my colleague, David Simailak, was there and I saw you there, and many of you were there.
So I would like to mention that to Rankin Inlet and we hope to look forward to the next event for next year.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, I apologize, Ms. Brown.
Member’s Statement 181 – 2(4): Global Warming and Climate Change (Picco)
Over the past several months international focus has been on the Arctic and Nunavut because of global warming and climate change.
Mr. Speaker, this has included nationally broadcast news reports by CBC, on ‘The National’ with Peter Mansbridge, U.S. TV crews; Dan Rather was just in Arctic Bay last week in a cruise travelling throughout Nunavut documenting global warming and climate change.
Mr. Speaker, as well, countless news articles in the International and National Press, newspapers and news magazines have highlighted the issues.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier has been a forceful and passionate advocate for the Inuit and the North on Global Warming and Climate Change. Her recent nomination for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was a win for all of Nunavut and the Arctic.
Thank you, Sheila.
Mr. Speaker, in the same vain tonight on the Discovery Channel at 7 p.m. Eastern time is also focusing on Nunavut and featuring Nunavut’s global warming and climate change and the people that live here.
First up will be the Iqaluit Greenhouse and the dedicated volunteers who are making it work here in Nunavut. Tomorrow night, Mr. Speaker, at 7 p.m. on the Discovery Channel they will feature the Inuksuk High School Robotics Team who have represented Nunavut internationally at the NASA in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Speaker, what does all this have to do with today and in the House here?
Mr. Speaker, all these news stories, programs, and media coverage helps us get the message out about Nunavut, our land, people, and our changing climate.
Mr. Speaker, this is good news for Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 182 – 2(4): Weekend to End Breast Cancer (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about an inspirational constituent in my constituency of Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2006, Angela Phillips was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Fortunately, her cancer was caught early and she underwent a lumpectomy procedure shortly after her diagnosis.
Mr. Speaker, our health facilities in the Kitikmeot do not have the specialized medical equipment and doctors to treat patients who are diagnosed with cancer.
During the year following her cancer diagnosis, she had to make regular trips down south to Yellowknife and Edmonton for cancer treatment.
Mr. Speaker, it was a very trying year for her with all the travel, treatment, and medication that she had to undergo. In addition, there was the emotional turmoil that she, her husband, and family had to deal with.
Mr. Speaker, to raise awareness in Cambridge Bay and to encourage women to be proactive about their health, Ms. Phillips entered to walk in the Third Annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Edmonton. She trained for months by walking daily in Cambridge Bay to get in shape to walk the 60 kilometers.
Our community was inspired to see her walking every day.
Mr. Speaker, during the weekend of August 10 to 12 of this year, she and her friend Jan Peters raised over $13,000 in cash donations to benefit the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Alberta is where many Nunavummiut from the Kitikmeot must regularly travel to receive cancer treatment.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Phillips and Ms. Peters were the fourth largest fund raisers during the weekend. Their many friends in Cambridge Bay and around the North chipped in to show our support for this very important cause.
We all know or have heard of people who are fighting cancer and it is very important that we help and encourage them in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Phillips has shown that with early diagnosis and a good attitude, combined with support from her community and the care of the medical professionals, cancer can be beaten.
She hopes her experience helps women to be a little less afraid if they are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of the House to join me in congratulating Ms. Phillips for her leadership in the fight against breast cancer.
Member’s Statement 183 – 2(4): Congratulations to Sanikiluaq Students (Kattuk)
I rise today to congratulate the students at the Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq for a job well done.
Mr. Speaker, two groups of Nuiyak School students are in the process of building two houses in the Hamlet of Sanikiluaq.
I am very proud to say that one group is made up of all girls, while the other group is made up of all boys.
Mr. Speaker, for each group, ten students spend half of the day on the building site, while another ten students focus on their school learning.
In the afternoon, the two groups switch roles.
Mr. Speaker, the boys are building two units onto a three-plex house to convert it into a five-plex house. The girls are working with a lady instructor and five other female students who are on the building site all day.
Mr. Speaker, this wonderful project to provide students with hands-on experience in the construction world would not be possible without the partnership and support of several organizations.
Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation supplied all of the building material for this project and I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the corporation for helping these students to get their training.
Mr. Speaker, since 1998, students in the community of Sanikiluaq have worked on six house building projects such as this.
By the end of this school year, 110 students will have benefitted from this very worthwhile training in the construction trade.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the students of Sanikiluaq on their efforts and their contributions to the community.
I apologize. Item 3.
Member’s Statement 184 – 2(4): A Hole-in-One for Habitat for Humanity (Tootoo)
I thought you saw me with my hand up earlier. Before I do my Member’s Statement, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to thank my cousin Brad Hicks.
He is responsible for this nice Italian tie he brought back from his honeymoon. It almost looks like Mr. Picco’s but his is not quite authentic. This is an authentic Italian tie from Italy that he brought back from his honeymoon and I would like to congratulate my cousin Brad Hicks and his wife Catherine, and thank them for the tie.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the Legislative Assembly about a very successful event – the 2007 Annual Invitational Golf Classic that the Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit held this summer.
Mr. Speaker, all Members of this House are well aware of the housing crisis facing Nunavut.
Shortages, overcrowding, and the aging housing stock contribute to a growing number of other social problems in our territory.
Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are many people who are working hard to make a difference for us all.
The Habitat for Humanity program is about home ownership and providing a long-term solution designed to break the poverty cycle.
Here in Iqaluit, we are looking forward to the upcoming dedication on November 17 of the first Habitat for Humanity home in the community. This will be the most northerly Habitat Home in the world.
Mr. Speaker, I was honoured to have been able to be joined by a number of my colleagues in supporting this year’s Golf Classic.
This event raises much needed funds for Habitat, and I am pleased to say that approximately $60,000 was raised this year.
Mr. Speaker, I could go into great detail about which Members of this House shot par, and who ended up in the rough, or who shot double bogeys. However, I certainly don’t want to embarrass anyone here today, including myself.
Mr. Speaker, this year’s event was truly a hole-in-one for Habitat for Humanity. I like to take this opportunity to thank and recognize the committee, all of the sponsors that made the event happen, and especially the board of directors, including the task chair, Ms. Pam Hine, who has moved on to different opportunities in the west.
I would like to thank her, particularly, for the effort that she has put in over the years, and also know that the new Chair, Mr. Glen Cousins, who’s here, as well as Mr. Don Sinclair-Chenier, who is the Chair of the Fundraising and Partners Committee, will continue doing a great job in making this thing work.
So with that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask all members to join me in applauding the organization for their excellent work.
Member’s Statement 185 – 2(4): Governor General of Canada and Throne Speech (Arreak)
We heard some time this year that the UN sent a representative from the federal government representing the territorial government who didn’t want to recognize the aboriginal rights, and we were refused that right by the federal government; the same thing with the Americans.
This is not acceptable for us aboriginal people.
Just recently, when the Governor General presented her Throne Speech, she stated repeatedly that the North is very important and said that it will be part of the history.
She also stated that the North is developing and we face many challenges in regard to social and housing issues.
Those are the things that we have to deal with.
It has been mentioned that they wish to bring, I believe, about eight ships up with the cost of $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion to operate it for 25 years.
And here we are, struggling to accommodate our people with housing, especially when we are in need of 3,000 houses.
Now, they’re willing to offer to those ships, which we are not asking for. We have to be recognized and be provided with housing.
You can proceed, Mr. Arreak.
At the Throne Speech, the Governor General also mentioned about the arctic waters that they wish to do mapping of. That would be very costly and what we are requesting doesn’t cost as much.
Member’s Statement 186 – 2(4): Golf Tournament for Habitat for Humanity (Okalik)
Welcome, my colleagues.
Welcome to my riding.
I also wish to thank those who came out to help with the golf tournament, we were playing well as a team, me and the Speaker, but I’m sorry that we did not win, and hopefully next year we will do better.
I wish to invite all of my colleagues because it’s very enjoyable and a very good cause, not just for Iqaluit but it’s also for the other communities because we have a dire shortage of houses.
When we can, we will be building houses.
So I encourage the members to participate next year and I am very thankful that we were able to help out with the building of the house, and we were given instructions. It was very enjoyable.
I wish to see this kind of thing going on every year and I wish to thank everybody on behalf of Nunavummiut.
As the Iqaluit Centre Member mentioned about his blue tie, I have a red tie on which I’m very proud of because we won again last night.
So that’s why I’m wearing a red tie and it was made in Nunavut, which I’m very proud of. I thank them and I thank the Montreal Canadiens.
I’m pretty sure the next time they play I’ll have to wear something red again.
Member for Quttituk, Mr. Barnabas.
There are some people in the Gallery who don’t come here often.
I wish to recognize my constituent, Jayko Tunraq.
He’s a community counsellor and he helps the people of Arctic Bay, whether they’re old or young.
And sitting next to him is the former mayor who now works with the housing association, Niorie Iqalukjuak. He helps me a lot and also helps in the community, especially if it involves the community, and Barry, who is his son.
I would like to recognize those three individuals.
I don’t have anybody else, my apologies. Mr. Okalik.
We have visitors from my constituency, who is my cousin, Michael Evic, and my constituent Sammy Peter, I wish to welcome them.
Sitting next to him is the husband of my cousin, Abraham Arnakak. Mr. Speaker, he is your constituent and I wish to welcome him to the Gallery.
Item 5. (interpretation ends) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. (interpretation) Item 6.
Question 227 – 2(4): CEO of Nunavut Development Corporation (Curley)
I have a question for the Minister of Economic Development.
I raised this question before but I have not received a response and it’s in regard to the Nunavut Development Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, it’s been about a year and a half that they haven’t had a manager, and they have been running since it started in 1999.
The funding that they get has not increased and the projects that they have are very good. The former CEO, since the time it started, was transferred somewhere else and they have been running without a CEO.
The former speaker had good financial management skills.
I wonder why that CEO has not been reappointed.
The contract for the past President for the Nunavut Development Corporation was not renewed, and at this time, we are looking at the whole of Canada, not just in the North.
I knew the past president’s capabilities, but his contract was not renewed.
We were given the go ahead to look for someone else to see if it would go through a different route.
Mr. Curley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s very important. I think it’s quite serious that people who are successful and people who have experience, people who are Inuit, who have good communications skills and proven records for success should remain in either government corporations or payroll.
This former CEO has a good track record.
Why is it that you’re looking around all over the country when the record shows and it will likely be proven, when you table the report on Nunavut Development Corporation, that you’re not willing to hire him back?
Can the minister explain to this House why you’re not willing to put Mr. Hickes back on as the CEO?
As I said when I made my statement, we wanted to look for another CEO position for the NDC.
He has worked on it since it was established in 1999, and yes, we know his experience has contributed a lot to NDC.
We were thinking we might want to go in another direction with NDC and their mandate in hiring a new CEO for NDC so that it may grow larger.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. I understand the minister’s response but he did not answer my question. Why is he not willing to hire Mr. Hickes back as the CEO?
Ignore the Premier’s personality difference between him and that; I believe that plays into effect because I believe there’s some disagreement on that.
As the minister, you have the responsibility to hire CEOs for most of the Crown corporations that deal with economic development; and that is one of them.
So what I’m asking you is; Mr. Hickes has the full support of the NDC Board, and therefore, a good proven track record. I believe the productivity, including the balance sheets, will show that he has a good record, and that record probably could not be matched by any CEO who has a weakness in communication skills if he doesn’t come from Nunavut. So why not cancel the search for a new CEO and hire Mr. Hickes back in?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Curley. Mr. Curley I have to raise a Point of Caution in naming individuals that may not be present, or may not be in the position to defend themselves, or their party. So I caution you and all members to be respective of those individuals.
(interpretation) Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Simailak.
Like I said earlier, we were thinking and rehashing that we would put somebody else as the CEO to the betterment of the organization.
Up to now, we went forward with that, and he has been in that position for seven years.
We are thinking as to how we can better that organization.
For that reason, we were looking for another CEO inside Canada and that will go forward.
Mr. Curley: I appreciate the minister’s response but what I’m saying is that I don’t see any justifiable reason why they are looking for a new CEO. The company has done a good job. The former CEO has done a great job in turning the company around and has not asked for any additional money; the balance sheets are great.
So what I’m asking is that it’s really, critically important that the Keewatin feels as a part of this government.
Why are you looking around when an effective member of the business community’s proven record, and why is it necessary to look around for someone who may not do as an effective job as the former CEO has?
I don’t want to further discuss this in the House. I don’t want to talk about it here in the House.
We were thinking how we could better the organization and that’s why we are looking for another person to replace him for NDC.
Question 228 – 2(4): Federal Announcements Concerning the High Arctic (Barnabas)
My question today is for the Premier.
In my Members’ Statement today I informed the House about the Prime Minister’s recent visit to the High Arctic. (interpretation ends) I expressed the need for the Government of Nunavut to work closely with the federal government and local municipalities to ensure that the communities in the High Arctic, which I represent, are fully involved with the projects that are moving towards to establish a docking facility in Nanisivik and training centre in Resolute Bay.
Mr. Speaker, can the Premier tell me today what discussions have taken place between the Government of Nunavut and the federal officials, with respect to the High Arctic initiatives, that the Prime Minister announced during his visit?