EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Bill 54 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011 – Assent
Commissioner Edna Elias (interpretation): Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, I am pleased to be here today.
As Commissioner of Nunavut, I am honoured to give assent to the following bills: (interpretation ends)
Bill 47, International Interests in Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act;
Bill 48, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010, No. 3;
Bill 49, Agricultural Products Marketing Act, Repeal;
Bill 50, Nunavut Outfitter Liability Protection Fund Act, Repeal;
Bill 52, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2009-2010;
Bill 53, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2010-2011; and
I hereby prorogue the Second Session of the Third Legislative Assembly of Nunavut and summon all members to meet in this Chamber at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2011, for the opening of the Third Session of the Third Legislative Assembly. (interpretation) Thank you.
If you would please read out the Orders of the Day for Monday, Mr. Clerk.
Orders of the Day for February 28, for the Third Session:
This House stands adjourned until Monday, February 28, at 1:30 p.m. Have a great weekend.
>>House adjourned at 11:02
Monday, February 28, 2011
Pages 1 – 40
Members’ Statements 9
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 17
Oral Questions 17
Written Questions 36
Tabling of Documents 38
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 39
Orders of the Day 40
Monday, February 28, 2011 1
001 – 3(3): Nunavut-Greenland Relations (Aariak) 6
002 – 3(3): Notice of Budget Address (Peterson) 7
003 – 3(3): Inuit Identity Today Conference (Arreak) 7
004 – 3(3): 2011 Canada’s North Marketing Campaign (Taptuna) 8
005 – 3(3): Financial Support for Nursing Students (Curley) 9
001 – 3(3): Reflections on Opening of New Session (Schell) 9
002 – 3(3): Tribute to Rynie Audla (Rumbolt) 11
003 – 3(3): Suicide Prevention Workshops (Komoartok) 12
004 – 3(3): Young Mother Mourns Infant in Igloolik (Tapardjuk) 13
005 – 3(3): Appreciation to HTO in Rankin Inlet (Curley) 13
006 – 3(3): Appreciation to Peter Kattegatsiak Junior and Senior (Ningeongan) 14
007 – 3(3): Tribute to Dora Pudluk (Elliott) 15
008 – 3(3): Reflections on Opening of New Session (Ugyuk) 16
009 – 3(3): Apology to the Minister of CGS (Ningark) 17
001 – 3(3): Public Consultations on Uranium Mining in Nunavut (Aupaluktuq) 17
002 – 3(3): Status of New Igloolik Community Hall (Tapardjuk) 20
003 – 3(3): New School in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) 22
004 – 3(3): McClintock Channel Polar Bear Population (Ugyuk) 24
005 – 3(3): Devolution Update (Elliott) 26
006 – 3(3): Overdue Land Lease Payments to Pangnirtung by NHC (Komoartok) 27
007 – 3(3): Airport Shelter for Chesterfield Inlet (Ningeongan) 29
008 – 3(3): Repulse Bay Social Worker Position (Ningark) 29
009 – 3(3): Transformers on Apex Road (Schell) 31
010 – 3(3): Upcoming Inuit Identity Today Conference (Tapardjuk) 31
011 – 3(3): Insurance Requirements for Outfitters (Elliott) 33
012 – 3(3): Elders Helpline (Ugyuk) 34
013 – 3(3): Update on Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (Elliott) 35
001 – 3(3): Suicide Prevention Training (Komoartok) 36
001 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut’s Response to the 2009-2010 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and Response to the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2009-2010 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Aariak) 38
002 – 3(3): Article by Nunatsiaq News - Nunavut MLAs to hold Confab on Nutrition North (Elliott) 38
003 – 3(3): Article by Canadian Press Regarding the Nutrition North Canada Program (Elliott) 38
004 – 3(3): Nanisivik Naval Facility Stakeholder Update (Elliott) 38
005 – 3(3): Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay’s INAC Water Use Inspection Reports (Elliott) 38
006 – 3(3): Speaker’s Correspondence to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Chairperson of the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board (Speaker) 39
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Notice 39
Bill 02 – An Act to Amend the Scientists Act – Notice 39
Bill 03 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Notice 39
Bill 04 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011 – Notice 39
Bill 05 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 2 – Notice 39
Speaker (Hon. Paul Okalik) (interpretation): Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms.
On this special day, we would like Reverend Mike Gardener to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Reverend.
Following our orders of the day, we can now go to the next item on the list and I would like our Commissioner to enter the Chambers to make her statements.
Clerk, if you could go and get the Commissioner, I will be grateful.
Commissioner Edna Elias (interpretation): Please be seated.
Welcome everyone.
This comprises my very first Opening Address in the Commissioner’s Chair. For this speech, I will be speaking in my dialect since we rarely hear Inuinnaqtun in these proceedings.
Furthermore, if my father happens to be viewing this on television, he will be grateful to hear his dialect in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, elders, Premier, and honoured guests, I am very pleased today to welcome you to the Third Session of the Third Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
On April 1, 2009, our entire territory celebrated the 10 years since Nunavut came into existence.
The last Commissioner’s Address was delivered on that day and this government joined by this Assembly is and has been dedicated to the commitments made in that speech to:
continue to focus on existing priorities,
conduct the report card review,
reinforce the use of Inuit societal values as guiding principles of the government, and
implement new initiatives to strive for the vision under Tamapta: Building Our Future Together.
At the same time, the Government of Nunavut developed the Tamapta vision for 2030.
That vision was based on who we are, what we have accomplished, and our dedication to do what it takes during the next 20 years to achieve that vision; a dedication we hope will be shared by future governments.
In a month from now, we will have completed two of those 20 years.
Progress has been made, challenges have been met head on, and the Government of Nunavut, led by its Premier, has a clear roadmap for the next two years.
The government’s commitment to Tamapta’s vision remains as strong today as it was two years ago. Guided by Inuit values and culture, along with dedication, focus, and hard work, by the year 2030, Nunavummiut will have a much better standard of living, especially for those most in need.
Individuals and families will be active, healthy, and happy.
Communities will be self-reliant, with less dependence on government.
It is through the achievement of this vision that Nunavut will be recognized for our unique culture, our ability to help one another, and our contributions to Canada and the world.
Nunavut is truly “our land” and our land is part of Canada.
We are committed to the Canadian federation.
It is important that Nunavummiut and this territorial government work side by side with the Canadian government on sovereignty issues to maintain our proud place as Canada’s most northern territory.
The government, with input from all Members of this Assembly, used the feedback from Nunavummiut in the Qanukkanniq Report Card to develop the Tamapta Action Plan in December 2009.
The action plan outlines the steps to be taken to move towards achieving our vision.
Since then, progress has been made in many areas.
Nunavummiut earning minimum wage saw an increase in their paycheques starting January 1, 2011, when minimum wage jumped 10 percent from $10 to $11 an hour, the highest in Canada; a first step towards poverty reduction.
More than 100 elders have had someone to talk to when they faced challenges, threats, or problems since the launch of the elders support phone line in 2009.
230 Nunavummiut have taken part in suicide intervention training delivered by Nunavummiut through Uqaqatigiilluk, an important first step on the road to providing in-territory mental health services.
The launch of the social services review last fall was truly an exercise in effecting change starting at the community level.
Partnering with elders, Inuit organizations, and professionals, this government engaged a broad sector of Nunavummiut in the review of the Child and Family Services Act.
We will see the outcome of that review at the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
During the past two years, we have witnessed 21 Nunavummiut receiving their Master of Education degree and 10 graduating from the Inuit Maternity Care Program.
The Nunavut Trade School and the Piqqusilirivvik Cultural Learning Facility will provide amazing opportunities not previously available in our territory.
We have seen substantial increases to the number of turbot that commercial fishing boats can fish, successfully fought an attempt to put polar bears on the endangered species list, and are continuing to actively support the sealing industry which is so important to Nunavut.
The Inuit Language Standardization Symposium hosted by the Minister of Languages through Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit has provided the foundation for the ongoing work of individuals, government, Inuit organizations, and businesses to implement our legislation to protect the Inuit language.
Remaining dedicated to completing the previous government’s projects and maintaining a focus on care closer to home, this government has witnessed the opening of Nunavut’s first women’s corrections facility, providing in-territory services, a new medical boarding home in Iqaluit, continuing care centres in Gjoa Haven and Igloolik, and operational health centres in Rankin Inlet and Pangnirtung.
Nunavut has joined the Climate Change Registry and is working on detailed action plans to implement a climate change adaptation plan.
We have RCMP members posted to our communities for four years at a time, not two, a new Arctic Bay Airport, integrated community sustainability plans, and a Nunavut arts and crafts brand that is gaining recognition worldwide.
The Government of Nunavut cannot and did not make this progress alone.
Nunavummiut in all of our communities, in all sectors, of every gender, and of every age were instrumental in making these successes achievable within our limited financial resources.
Our people are our biggest strength and our most important asset.
All of this government’s priorities have been deliberately chosen to build a foundation for the future of Nunavut, a future that is built on solid ground.
What is the source of this solid ground?
Our people; it is the 33,000 resilient Nunavummiut who hold our shared future in their hands.
Our land is rich in natural resources, particularly in minerals and petroleum.
Currently it is estimated that the undiscovered resources in Nunavut equal 25 percent of Canada’s crude oil resources and 34 percent of Canada’s natural gas resources.
Currently the federal government controls the revenue generated from developed Crown lands in Nunavut.
Devolution of authority for land management from the federal government to the territorial government is essential if Nunavummiut are to be truly self-reliant and the beneficiaries of future economic growth of mining and exploration in Nunavut.
It is important for the government to balance the economic benefits of mining with the health and safety of our people, land, and environment.
With uranium being one area of current mining focus, the government will be developing its position on uranium once it hears what Nunavummiut have to say on the issue during public forums starting next month.
Increased number of consultation is just one of the ways that this government has improved its dialogue with Nunavummiut.
The new Government of Nunavut website was launched last fall and has already been visited over 40,000 times by people looking for current and accurate information about government services and staff.
Another significant step forward in communication is the establishment of the Government Liaison program.
Government liaison officers will be in every community and will be the link for information not only to Nunavummiut but also from Nunavummiut.
The government has a clear roadmap for how we will support efforts of Nunavummiut over the coming years.
This government will put special focus on children and youth, poverty reduction, community self-reliance, housing, and capital projects as its highest priorities from now until 2013.
Nunavummiut are graduating from post-secondary programs in numbers unheard of a few short years ago.
Our children and youth need a good start in life and we must therefore focus on early childhood development and daycare.
We must all continue to encourage students to attend school daily, to engage in learning, to graduate from high school, and to strive for higher education.
Nunavut’s governments, organizations, and private businesses need the skills, knowledge, and commitment of today’s youth to run our territory in the future. Strive to succeed, to become independent from your parents, to be a contributing member of your community, whether that be as an artist, government executive, counsellor, technician, store clerk, doctor, or hunter who regularly fills the community freezer.
Do what you can to make Nunavut strong, and government will ensure that opportunities to train and learn remain available for Nunavummiut of all ages.
More Nunavummiut are better able to support not only their immediate family, but contribute to the wealth of their communities as well.
This government will partner with our communities to reduce poverty for those who have difficulty meeting their basic needs.
The answers to reducing poverty will be found through true public engagement, which involves all stakeholders participating in decisions and actions.
There are many aspects of poverty, but there is one that can be addressed without delay: food insecurity. One-third of Nunavut households face problems with food quantity and quality.
We will help communities to respond to this problem by supporting the distribution of country food, launching a program to help municipalities upgrade, repair, or replace their community freezers and encouraging hunters to fill them for the common good.
Nunavummiut are being empowered to shape the future of Nunavut by being asked for input and participate in many decisions on issues being considered by this government.
This empowerment will lead communities and Nunavummiut in becoming more self-reliant.
This government will invest in communities to increase their self-reliance.
Nunavut will be closer to its vision if its communities are able to rely on their own resources. Through training and increased funding for mobile equipment and other infrastructure, each community will grow stronger.
This in turn makes a stronger Nunavut.
As land and building supplies become available, more Nunavummiut are becoming homeowners, while others are managing to rent housing that is appropriate to their family size.
However, there are many who are working hard to meet other basic needs and will require assistance with housing over the coming years, especially as our young population grows and the pressures on housing threaten to multiply.
The housing survey completed last summer provides a critical planning tool in our pursuit of additional housing resources.
This government is committed to making sure that the Nunavut Housing Corporation is equipped to complete the construction of the public housing units already committed.
Over the long term, we are dedicated to addressing overcrowding and hidden homelessness in Nunavut.
Nunavummiut are contributing to the construction of our infrastructure on a daily basis through construction projects across our territory.
This government will bring clear focus to our large capital projects, such as airports, so that we can select projects that offer the greatest potential to build Nunavut’s economy and finance these projects in cooperation with the federal government and the private sector while taking into consideration our limited resources.
These five objectives centre entirely on the development of Nunavummiut. Our people wish to succeed in our modern world without losing our culture and traditions.
Already, there are many highly successful Nunavummiut. We will focus our finite resources and endless abilities on the challenge of preparing more Nunavummiut to excel as the economy grows.
By focusing on these objectives, we make their attainment ever more possible and our advancement toward our Tamapta vision more significant.
Members of the Third Legislative Assembly, all of you have a role to play in helping Nunavummiut succeed.
Tomorrow you will be invited by the Minister of Finance to consider his budgetary proposals to allocate resources among government departments in support of these objectives and the public agenda.
You will recognize in his budget, despite the fiscal pressures this government faces, that the priorities of this government are reflected in the financial plans and in the detailed work plans of the various departments and agencies.
There is no denying that the current fiscal situation is tight to the point where the Minister of Finance will need to introduce a deficit budget to ensure that programs and services can continue to be delivered.
This will require an even closer look at the government’s structure and processes to ensure that everything is streamlined for best efficiency and effectiveness. By moving forward with necessary changes over the coming year, the government will improve its efficiency and reduce the likelihood of deficit in future years.
Much of the government’s work over the past year has been focused on further refining its policies, process, and plans.
The next two years will see the implementation of this work.
For example, we eagerly await the results of the social services review, which will no doubt lead to much improvement in the provision of child protection services and the Child and Family Services Act.
The Government of Nunavut has plans to develop a Public Health Act, a Public Service Act, and legislation to create a child and youth representative over the coming years.
All Members of this Assembly will have a significant role to play in reviewing these legislative initiatives in detail over the coming years to ensure they meet the needs of our territory and our people.
As Commissioner, it is my hope that the next two years will see great activity at every level and by every person in reaching the Tamapta vision.
Neither Nunavut nor the Tamapta Mandate is primarily about government; it is about the collective hopes of Nunavummiut and a vision for our territory and its people in the year 2030.
Government will play a leading role, but our hope for Nunavut’s vibrant future rests with the success that will come when each person has the opportunity and desire to pursue their dreams.
Believe in Nunavut, believe in yourselves.
I now declare open the Third Session of the Third Legislative Assembly.
I invite everyone present today to join me for a reception in the lobby of the Assembly.
I believe we are scheduled to have a short break. We will take a break and return at 2:30 p.m. We will go have refreshments with the Commissioner.
>>House recessed at 14:11 and resumed at 14:44
Minister’s Statement 001 – 3(3): Nunavut-Greenland Relations (Aariak)
On Friday, myself and a small delegation from Nunavut met with the Premier of Greenland and a Greenlandic delegation to discuss the benefits of a scheduled air link between Iqaluit and Nuuk, Greenland.
(interpretation ends) Nunavut has so much in common with Kalaallit, the people of Greenland. We are neighbours geographically, sharing both language and culture.
Uqaqtittijii, as a government, we continue to nurture our relationship with Greenland and recognize the benefits of working with the Greenland government on a range of current issues.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Government of Greenland and the Government of Nunavut was signed back in 2000.
We built on this momentum in 2005 with an agreement to manage our shared polar bear population and in 2006, we added an annex on trade.
The Government of Nunavut continues to build on this Memorandum of Understanding in areas such as language standardization and development, as well as education.
There has been increased domestic and international interest in the Arctic. This increased attention and development in the Arctic means that partnerships among arctic neighbours are very important.
Policy and resulting action in the Arctic must be made by residents of the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, recent activity between Nunavut and Greenland clearly demonstrates the potential between our jurisdictions. I look forward to increased bilateral relations in our areas of mutual interest.
An improved transportation link between our respective Inuit homelands would provide greater opportunities for cultural exchange. It would truly open our “Inuit Cultural Highway” between Greenland and Nunavut.
I focused on the cultural, educational, and government advantages of an air link in my address to Greenland Premier Kleist.
Mr. Speaker, an air link will certainly foster Nunavut-Greenland relationships. I look forward to updating my colleagues on this potential opportunity as it develops. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 002 – 3(3): Notice of Budget Address (Peterson)
On behalf of the Government of Nunavut, I am pleased to notify this House that on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, I will introduce the 2011-12 budget.
This budget will outline our government’s financial priorities for the fiscal year 2011-12.
Minister’s Statement 003 – 3(3): Inuit Identity Today Conference (Arreak)
Before I start, I am very proud and happy that the Commissioner delivered her opening address in Inuinnaqtun, which was the very first time that somebody did that.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will be hosting a conference from March 1 to 3 in Iqaluit.
The theme of the conference is “Inuit Identity Today.”
The Department of CLEY and the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit will bring together elder and youth participants from across the territory.
All communities have been invited and given the opportunity to send representatives to the conference.
In 2003, CLEY held an elders and youth conference with a theme on Inuit identity.
In an effort to keep programming relevant and cultural approaches to identity at the forefront, the 2011 conference aims to find out from elders and youth how they define Inuit identity in the context of such issues as:
Family relations,
Parenting,
Spouse/relationship,
Suicide prevention, and
Traditional laws and rules.
The Department of CLEY hopes to learn from the participants on how they can be better supported through programming.
Minister’s Statement 004 – 3(3): 2011 Canada’s North Marketing Campaign (Taptuna)
Following up on the success of Canada’s Northern House, I am pleased to inform the Members of this House that the territories are launching the 2011 Canada’s North Marketing Campaign, which will highlight the territories to key Canadian markets to ensure that the tourism sector continues to be a strong economic generator today and into the future.
The 2011 Canada’s North Marketing Campaign builds on the success of the 2007 Canada Winter Games and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games marketing campaigns.
The 2011 campaign will focus on television advertisements in our key target markets in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver beginning in late March.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Tourism, with the support of my department, is the lead project manager for the pan-northern Marketing consortium that is supported by representatives from the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Nunavut’s lead role will ensure that there is accurate and equal representation and promotion of Nunavut.