EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
They have also made a commitment to the youth of the region, as they want to see every young person have a dream and know that these dreams with hard work, and passionate determination can be realized.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to recognize the selfless efforts of the Kitikmeot Employment & Training Partners organization.
They have set out on a noble and courageous path to help Kitikmeot residents who are in need of help.
For this the 32 organizations that comprise the Kitikmeot Employment & Training Partners should be commended.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Members' Statements.
Member's Statement 208 – 1(5): Salluit Bible Study Conference – April 2001
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to thank and state my appreciation to the people of Cambridge Bay for being very able and gracious hosts to us.
The warm sunshine has made everything all the better also.
Mr. Speaker, during the Easter weekend in April, I went to Salluit in Northern Quebec where they had a bible study conference and I would like to send my appreciation to the people of Northern Quebec.
The conference held in Salluit was organized by Qaittuq Nangituk.
There were a lot of people that attended the conference from Nunavik and Nunavut.
There were also people from Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet, Arviat, Whale Cove, Baker Lake, Repulse Bay as well as Baffin and Nunavik communities.
We had a very successful conference.
They had the bible study and blessed many of the participants.
Many people went through a healing process including entire families.
It was very interesting and was helpful for me personally to be there.
I would like to thank the people of Salluit, Nunavik for making us feel welcome.
We were billeted even though the host households did not get paid.
There was about 20 thousand dollars donated by the local Co-op to the conference for meals.
I would like to send my appreciation to the people that I stayed with Mark and Maggie, and to Ida and Ituvik.
I also pass on my thanks to organizer Charlie Saveakjuk.
I would like to send my appreciation to them all.
Member's Statement 209 – 1(5): First Caribou for Markoosie Joamie
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to congratulate member Nutarak and his wife Joanna on their 23rd wedding anniversary and also mention that it was a very informative statement earlier from member Kattuk on global warming.
Mr. Speaker, getting your first caribou, seal or other animal here in Nunavut is very important.
Two years ago my son Wally who was ten years old at the time, got his first caribou and we were very proud of him.
My neighbours Philip Joamie and his wife Ida Kownirk, are justifiably proud of their son Markoosie, who got his first two caribou this week.
Mr. Speaker, as you know Philip has been here with us these past two weeks.
He came here one week before we did to help set up the equipment.
So Philip wasn't able to be home in Iqaluit for this happy occasion for his son Markoosie.
On behalf of Philip who is very proud of Markoosie, congratulations to this very fine 10-year-old hunter.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask Philip now to help me by asking him to save me some of the meat that Markoosie got. I would also like to congratulate Markoosie on his successful hunt.
Speaker: Members' Statement.
Speaker: Just before we proceed I want to take the opportunity to welcome the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for Nunavut, the Honourable Robert Stanbury, PC and QC. Welcome to the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, if members may bear with me.
Today we have several pages that are leaving us from Cambridge Bay that have been serving us over the past week and also the Sergeant-At-Arms who is finishing her duties today as well.
I would like to first of all recognize them. To your left Mr. Speaker, is John Paul Tologanak.
To your right is Kevin Komaksiut.
Behind me is Crystal Kamauyak.
In the corner down here is Jason Akuluk.
Across behind Mr. Nutarak is Clarissa Kologina. Behind Mr. McLean is Tricia Ogana.
Those have been our six pages since we started and of course we have Mrs. Mary Avalak who has been our Sergeant-At-Arms.
I would like to recognize them and thank them for their past week of service.
Mr. Speaker, in the gallery we have several visitors and constituents.
I will try to be brief.
We have once again, Mayor Keith Peterson that is with us.
We have Harry and Mary Rose Maksagak, we have Denise Rideout from Nunatsiaq News, we have Steve Anaktak, we have Alex Baldwin from Iqaluit, Director of Research that everybody is familiar with from the Legislative Assembly.
We have a young I believe, journalism student who has an interest.
I know he covered me one time during one of our golf tournaments.
It was miserable rain and he was still plodding along with all the golfers to complete his story, that's Mathew Illalewiscz.
We have of course, David Pelly, a well-known writer back there.
We have Abe and Winnie Eyegetok, a couple of long term constituents and friends.
We have Ralph Armstrong with the legal division of the Department of Justice with our government.
Of course our Law Clerk as we know is Sue Cooper.
Behind her is a former long term resident Helen Blewitt and her sister-in-law Eileen Bolt, I think she goes by, are you married.
Oh sorry, sometimes I get mixed up, people have been together so long whether they are married legally or not.
Behind them is Vivienne Aknavigak, I am sorry I don't know the name of the young lady there, but in the corner there is Phil Barak.
Also in a far off corner there, as you all know a couple of Executive Assistants to a couple of ministers, Mr. Phil Bourdeau and Pat Best there who is talking to Annette Bourgeois our Press Secretary.
That covers it for me today Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a person who is not in the gallery.
First of all, my youngest son's birthday happened when I wasn't there, again I was out of town on mother's day.
Also today is my daughter May's birthday and still I am out of town.
I wish May a very good day and I wish them well.
May, happy birthday.
I want to recognize some people from Kugluktuk.
A young person now working in Cambridge Bay, Steven Anakpak, thank you for your attendance here.
From Kugluktuk as well who has moved here is Eileen Bolt, thank you for being here, it is good to see you.
I also want to recognize, while we were attending school in Fort Smith we didn't know each other but today we are together, Harry and Mary Rose Maksagak.
>>Applause  Speaker: Item 5.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to congratulate Mr. Jobie Nutarak for his wedding anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, I am not very good with names and sometimes I forget names.
I think that I have seen all the people of Nunavut but I forget their names, but I know who they are.
Levi Aknavigak, I would like to recognize you because she let me use her skidoo and I caught a fish.
I enjoyed that very much and I also got to go through some land that I have never seen before.
So I would like to say thank you very much.
The fish was just a little smaller than me and was very enjoyable.
Question 234 – 1(5): Implementation of Income Support Policy Review Recommendations
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education about his earlier Minister's Statement on the Income Support Policy Review.
If you look at the last page of the ministerial statement, there are already some recommendations that have been implemented and some programs already underway.
I would like to ask, since we have not seen the final report yet are you going to be implementing the recommendations without even showing the standing committee a copy of the final report.
Regarding the statement that I made, the Federal Government and the Nunavut Government Department of Education made an agreement and through the review process we were able to get this underway.
These are pilot projects that we have initiated and even before we knew the recommendations we started these programs, even before the final report came out.
I heard that you already initiated courses, one in Sanikiluaq and two in Cape Dorset.
So it's just something that happened to be included in the recommendations that were made.
My question is, what about the recommendations that haven't been implemented yet.
For example, the training courses for welfare recipients and pre-employment courses.
Are they going to be starting this summer or in the fall.
Of course you know that most of the welfare recipients are out on the land.
They are out at the fishing lakes, in the camping areas, they are not in town.
I hope that you don't start these courses in the summer.
With the pre-employment courses I think it might create a problem if you start these courses too early.
What is going to be happening with that, with the Department of Education.
There were 46 recommendations made by the panel and I will be tabling the final report today.
We will be giving a copy to the appropriate standing committee who will review it.
Then we will be taking advice from the standing committee.
I had forgotten to congratulate Mr. Nutarak on his wedding anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, is the minister saying, I think there were approximately 46 recommendations made, some of the courses have already begun.
The minister said that he would be giving a copy to the standing committee or a committee.
From today onwards, are you going to be keeping us up to date on the courses and programs or recommendations that are implemented, as they get implemented.
Yes, the regular members will soon review the final report and the recommendations.
Some of the training courses have begun because the communities requested them.
It so happened that they were included in the recommendations.
I will keep the members up to date as these courses come along.
Already my final supplementary.
About the middle of the first page it says that the review panel as directed by the Department of Education made 46 recommendations in all, to lay the groundwork for changing and making the income support program better for those who need it.
Can the minister tell us approximately what percentage of the recommendations comes directly from the communities and not from the panel.
These 46 recommendations to improve the income support program, will make 100% of the changes to the program.
I believe that these recommendations will have an impact on the communities if they should be implemented.
We will also have to look at other options that we may have.
It is going to have an impact on all.
That was your last supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
Question 235 – 1(5): Income Support Review Panel Consultations
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education about the minister's statement he made on the income support review final report.
You said that the panel went to seven communities.
My question is, did you go to the smaller communities.
Also, did you go to communities where there are large numbers of unemployed people.
What was the basis on which you chose the seven communities.
Well I am very glad that the regular members are very interested in the income support final report.
However, I am already responding to questions even though the final report has not been tabled.
I would like to suggest to the members that we wait for the tabling of the final report before we go into questions.
You made this minister's statement and I think we have every right to ask questions about the final report.
I don't know whether you are going to be tabling this final report or not because of course we have never seen it.
So we are asking questions.
It says here on page two, that the recipients will take training and they will get an incentive allowance of 200 dollars per month.
It is going to create a problem to train people for jobs that are not there.
I think my colleague from Nattilik, if I am correct, following his comments I am sure that we would like to have more opportunities to review the final report before we have a debate on it.
Are you going to give us enough time so that we can review the final report.
You will have every opportunity to question the final report after the tabling of the document.
The member said that it might create a problem if we give out this 200 dollars a month incentive allowance.
The income support clients will appreciate this because of course they are looking for work and this is going to be an opportunity for them to train.
Question 236 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force Radio Show
My question will be directed to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and their programs.
There have been people holding conferences and getting together and that's good to hear.
My question is, at one time they had a radio show, April 27. Which communities were able to receive this broadcast.
The minister's statement that I made mentioned that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force had a radio phone-in show on April 27.
At this time I don't have any documents in front of me or the questions that were posed during the phone in show, so I can't really respond to your question.
Just to follow up my question.
I wanted to know which communities it was broadcast to, as the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Iqaluit and in Kugluktuk are different.
I just want to know which communities the radio call in show was broadcast to.
If it was not broadcast to everyone, I just wondered if this type of program could be done in the Kitikmeot.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force hosted the program.
I can ask them which communities they visited and to which communities they broadcast on the radio.
Once the information is available to you I would like more information as to where these kinds of programs would be available.
Because our people want to know about these things as well in terms of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit issues, so that they are aware in the schools or through government employees or other agencies.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't hear a question but the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force have to reach all of the Nunavut communities and get their input on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit issues.
All of the people of Nunavut should contribute to the gathering of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit information, because Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has to be practiced and it has been very prominent in our lifestyle.
We will take care of it.
My question as I mentioned before was in which communities will these radio talk shows take place about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
All of Nunavut should be able to listen to these kinds of programs over the radio.
Those in the Kitikmeot for sure, as well as Kugluktuk.
We have to concentrate more on the smaller communities than the larger ones, in my opinion.
The smaller communities seem to have retained more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and that's why I am saying we should concentrate on the smaller ones.
I don't think I understand your question.
Perhaps you could re-phrase the question.
I will give the member an opportunity to clarify his question for the minister.
Mr. Havioyak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was asking about the radio phone-in show on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I am just asking in which communities did this take place.
If it was not taking place in the Kitikmeot, and I used Kugluktuk as an example, to say that we have to do the phone-in shows in our region.
Mr. Speaker, on April 27 the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Task Force had a radio phone-in show, I am not sure in which community.
So I would have to find out and if they haven't done it in the other regions, I will make sure that they have a radio show in the Kitikmeot communities.
Question 237 – 1(5): Income Support Clients Training on Sewing Skins
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education regarding his statement today.
I think the members are anxious to look at the report.
The income support policy review includes training for income support clients.
Because there are very few jobs in some communities, in the smaller communities, are they going to be including training on sewing and preparing skins in some communities.
The recommendations that were made by the panel included programs that would be run through Arctic College at the Learning Centres in the communities.
We will be hearing more about the recommendations and programs that are needed in the communities, such as the ones the member just mentioned.
Just to get further clarification.
Will there also be training such as survival skills and business development training for income support clients.
Regarding the recommendations that were made, I would like to talk about it in detail.
But I will be tabling the final report today.
So I can't really speak about it in detail until after the report has been tabled.
When the income support review panel was visiting communities, they discussed the needs of clients in the communities and that is included in the report.
Question 238 – 1(5): Job Opportunities & Training in Diamond Mines
I am a bit slow here today.
Uqaqti, over the last few years there have been some major developments in the NWT and they border on Nunavut, the diamond mines I am talking about.
The Diavik and the Ekati mines.
Earlier today he released his minister's statement on the income support policy review.
Has the minister considered the vast potential of job opportunities in these diamond mines and has anybody in his department even thought about talking to these mining companies in regards to employment opportunities and training.
For mining training there have been programs in the Kitikmeot for individuals that are interested in mining.
We are continuing to work with the mining industry to promote training.
Uqaqti, I have to compliment and commend the Kitikmeot region for their proactive stance on trying to get people trained and into the mining industry.
Because as we all know, our dollars are dwindling, the unemployment rate is rising and people are going to have to look for employment opportunities outside the government.
The government cannot provide everything to everybody.
I have to commend the Kitikmeot for their proactive stance on mining.
But the second part of the question is, has the minister looked at or talked to any people in the diamond industry of Ekati or Diavik and say listen, we are prepared to work with you on creating and training and helping us create employment opportunities for all of Nunavut.
Not just the Kitikmeot region.
I guess our concentration in the Nunavut Territory has been more directed towards mining companies that are going to be located and have interests within our own territory in Nunavut.
But because of the unique working relationships that they have in this region, between the nearby communities that are sitting in the NWT, the opportunities have not existed here.
We are more than willing to work with the mines with interests in Nunavut, to proceed with the training of potential miners and workers.
Mr. McLean: Koana, Uqaqti. Uqaqti, that's reassuring to hear the minister say that, but the fact of the matter is that I come from a region that probably has an unemployment rate of 40 or 50% and I am talking about the whole region.
I am not sure about the Baffin region, either.
But as history will show, if we don't start bringing people from these smaller communities that don't have employment opportunities or making it easier for them to move to another part to find employment opportunities then we are still going to be caught in this income support rut that a lot of the people in our communities are caught in.
I think if we give people in Nunavut a chance to find employment opportunities they will probably work.
I know that, I will ask this question again.
Will the minister guarantee to me that he will open discussions with the diamond industry people and keep all the members in this House involved.
Because far too often, when bureaucrats get hold of things and they are left in charge to deal with issues like this, we never hear about it again.
So can the minister guarantee to me that he is going to make a concerted effort himself and maybe invite a few of us MLAs along with him to talk to the diamond industry about employment opportunities for our constituents.
I want to assure the member that I have personally had discussions with individuals from different mining companies.
I will also assure the member that at every opportunity that we have to discuss these issues with members at appropriate times I will certainly do so.
Question 239 – 1(5): Naphtha Shortage in Pond Inlet
My question is directed the Minister for Petroleum Products.
I am wondering if she is aware of the naphtha shortage in Pond Inlet.
Is she aware of this.
I am not aware of Pond Inlet running out of naphtha.
But I could look into this for the member.
When she looks into this matter, and the community is short of naphtha, what is she going to do.
In the springtime the hunters use a lot of naphtha for their stoves, and if the community is short of naphtha I could look into having some brought into the community by plane.
Just a caution to members not to ask hypothetical questions that the minister may not have access to the information, and therefore cannot make a decision on it.
Question 240 – 1(5): Increases in Petroleum and Heating Fuel
Uqaqti, my colleague Jobie brought up a point that over the past few weeks it has been no secret that, my question today is for the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Over the last couple of weeks it has been no secret about the energy crunch and the high cost of gasoline and petroleum products in Canada over the last few months.
It had a devastating effect on Nunavut the last go around on fuel price increases.
The minister, taking direction from the MLAs gave the homeowners a subsidy for fuel oil and worked at giving the hunters and trappers a fuel subsidy for gasoline.
Does the minister at this time know if there is going to be an increase in gasoline products and home heating fuel this year.
I am aware of the fuel prices rising in the world market.
We have been monitoring that for a while.
However, I think as the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products, I can say that we may be able to keep it at the same price.
I don't think at this time we are looking at an increase in the future because of the way that my budget is set.
I had made a commitment that we would be able to keep it at the same price or lower it, if the world prices were to go lower.
But I am aware of the situation in the world markets right now with the fuel price increases.
Uqaqti, that's very reassuring that the minister has looked into that and given me that answer.
I know that we probably have the lowest gasoline prices in the arctic.
I know Nunavik is higher, I have looked at some other places.
Holman Island is higher in the western arctic.
I know there was much debate over trying to keep the price of fuel and gasoline down.
So it is very reassuring that the minister has told me that today and I think the House is going to breathe a sigh of relief.
When will she know exactly when this will happen.
Will it be within the next month, two months, or in the fall.
We should know when the tanks are full after the barges have come in and filled up all the tanks in Nunavut.
That should be in the fall when we will know how we are going to price the fuel.
But I am not anticipating any increases in our fuel.
Question 241 – 1(5): Purchased Fuel for All of Nunavut
My question is to the Minister responsible for Petroleum Products.
Has the minister already purchased all the petroleum products necessary for Nunavut.
We are just in the process of doing that, buying the fuel for Nunavut.
Are the purchases, or the suppliers from the same company throughout Nunavut.
I believe that the Kitikmeot region gets their fuel from a different supplier and Mr. Speaker, the eastern part of the territory gets their fuel from a different supplier.
But I can certainly get more information on this.
But I do know that in the Kitikmeot they are supplied by Hay River from the southern routes and for the eastern part of the Territory we supply through the eastern part of Canada.
But I can certainly find out where the fuel is being bought this year.
I can't tell you that right now because we are in the process of buying the fuel.