EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, the eight priorities that we established and we want to pursue through our strategy are something that both Minister Quassa and I are quite proud of. It’s something that we can work on some base work and actually start getting Inuit trained up for the employment that exists out there.
The Premier responded to part of the question I was going to ask.
Earlier this year it was announced that an advisory council would be established.
I’m not sure what the Inuktitut term is for “advisory.”
It would be established to provide advice to the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation on the “effective use of the training fund.”
Can the Premier confirm who has been appointed to sit on the advisory council?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the member.
The advisory council is going to be assisting the board, both the Government of Canada and NTI of course, in evaluating and assessing proposals that come in.
The proposals are going to be coming in from all levels of government, including industry and anybody else out there that may be interested in submitting proposals, including our Inuit organizations.
Mr. Speaker, I do have the names in front of me here of the advisory council. There are seven: Aluki Kotierk of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; Michelle Buchan of Kitikmeot Inuit Association; Annie Tattuinee, Kivalliq Inuit Association; Eva Groves, Qikiqtani Inuit Association; Virginia Mearns, Government of Nunavut; Richard Paton, Government of Nunavut; Joanna Laskey, Government of Canada.
Hon. Member for Uqqummiut, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak.
Question 521 – 4(3): Conservation Officer Boat in Qikiqtarjuaq (Keyootak)
Mr. Speaker, for many years in my community the conservation officers, who are sometimes called renewable resource officers, have had a boat.
It hasn’t been launched for many years and I imagine that other communities experience the same situation.
Mr. Speaker, with that being the circumstances in our communities, the boats serve no purpose and deteriorate due to weather conditions.
Mr. Speaker, is one of the reasons for the lack of usage of the boats that the conservation officers aren’t taught the basics of marine boating safety or trained to operate the local boat?
Is this part of the reason?
With respect to his question, I can respond that his renewable resource officers, who are my conservation officers, do receive training to operate boats in marine waters, but it depends on numbers of trainees. Once a threshold is reached, the marine training and boat operation modules are taught.
As a matter of fact when I used to be in that position, I was trained to operate our marine vessels, as well as cold water survival training.
I can’t respond as to why the boat is not being launched in his community. However, the purpose overall is to have trained conservation officers capable of operating the boat in all communities.
The boats can provide many benefits to our communities, especially to local search and rescue personnel.
They don’t have access to a boat in our community. During the summer many hunters are out and about and searches are required sometimes on multiple occasions.
Further, the local SAR groups conduct these searches using their own boats.
These larger vessels would provide immediate benefits to these groups.
The boat is simply sitting and in the case of our community, it has been sitting for many years now.
Can these matters be reviewed by the Minister of Environment to see how to better utilize the boats we have available so that communities can benefit?
Yes, I will direct my officials to look at that. However, if searches are required during the summer and the conservation officers have a boat and are willing to support the group, then they can assist, but I will consider this situation.
I can also tell the member that the boat can’t just be used by anyone and we can’t agree to its usage for search and rescue.
If the conservation officers feel like assisting, they can use the boat to assist.
However, I will look at this matter further.
Question 522 – 4(3): Funding Increase Request (Okalik)
It will pertain largely to the Hunter Support Program in our communities.
The policy states that each community is eligible to receive $30,000 from the program per year.
As we all know, smaller, non-decentralized communities lack employment opportunities and obviously hunting contributes largely to people not involved in the workforce.
I would like to ask the minister if she can revisit this, as the $30,000 today isn’t tied to the cost of living and it rarely gets spent due to the limitation of the fund for one community.
As a hunter, even just purchasing fuel, gasoline, bullets, and supplies is very expensive, especially as an unemployed hunter.
Can the minister revisit this program funding issue and consider increasing the funds to the smaller communities by adding to the $30,000 for them?
At this time the hamlet councils in the communities have a limit of $30,000 to make applications. Looking at this, perhaps for the past two years of this program, these funds haven’t really been accessed.
We now have full staff that can negotiate with the communities.
We just finally filled a position that can start communicating with the communities and we have noticed that there’s more uptake of this program.
Perhaps you can commit to looking into this, especially for the smaller communities because this can be very beneficial to them.
They have to fill out applications just for the $30,000 to be used for a whole year.
I believe that the department has to look into this further because the cost of fuel has to be paid for by the hunters.
Perhaps the minister can commit to looking into this for the smaller communities especially to see if they can increase this line item.
This is a program and we review the programs annually.
Yes, we will review it. I don’t mind reviewing this because it’s done annually.
Question 523 – 4(3): Evaluating Educational Standards (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, it has often been stated that Nunavut students who move to other jurisdictions to continue their schooling find that their level of education is below the expected standard.
On the other hand, there have been many Nunavut students who have graduated from Nunavut high schools and have gone on to be very successful in post-secondary programs.
Can the minister clearly describe what programs his department has in place to prepare students who seek out higher level and more challenging studies as they progress through the high school grades?
I also thank my colleague for requesting information on that. (interpretation ends) As the member is aware, our high school curriculum is based on the Alberta curriculum.
Just to make it very clear that some of the elements of the schoolwork that we have are Nunavut-specific, but in general we utilize and follow the Alberta curriculum, which meets the minimum national standard and is recognized by post-secondary and other institutions nationally.
(interpretation) The education system we are using in Nunavut has the same strength as Alberta’s education system.
That’s why we use the curriculum from the Alberta education system and it could be recognized anywhere in Canada.
I thank my colleague for asking that question because every time our students graduate, they can further their education anywhere in Canada.
There are different reasons why a student has lower education.
We need to inform and consult with the parents through parental engagement.
We have developed various initiatives.
However, I would like to state that from kindergarten to grade 12, we use the Alberta curriculum, which has been recognized nationally.
I did not hear a response, so I will ask it in Inuktitut.
Can the minister clearly describe what programs his department has in place to prepare students who seek out higher level and more challenging studies as they progress through high school?
I’m trying to find out if they have programs in the schools to prepare students to seek out higher education.
Speaker: The Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Paul Quassa.
The current curriculum is designed so that students can learn different things. I can even show him 40 pages of courses for our students.
Every early spring the principal analyzes students to determine what they have or have not completed.
Students have a choice of what they want to take.
They make these choices in early spring. Once they get into the higher grades, they can select which stream they want to use.
That being the case, all the students and their parents know what the students are taking because the teachers keep them informed and provide direction as to which stream might be better.
As I said, students can choose different courses and streams with help from their parents.
This is so that the students make improvements when selecting their courses with their parents involved.
When students feel they’re not being challenged academically enough, they understandably wish to be helped and that is the main focus of my question. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we occasionally hear stories of Nunavut students who have made great academic success, but I have never seen any official figures from the government on this, such as on how many high school graduates apply for and continue with post-secondary studies.
Can the minister clarify whether or not his department keeps track of the number of high school graduates who apply for and continue with post-secondary studies?
We’re very proud of our high school graduates anywhere in Nunavut and they are prepared if they want to go anywhere else.
Once they graduate from grade 12, if they want to take post-secondary studies, we don’t have any such assistance right now.
What I can tell you is that there are programs at Arctic College to assist and track the graduates as they advance through their studies.
We don’t really do that, but we are very proud of people who graduate from grade 12 and go on to post-secondary studies.
I can provide more information to my colleague if we’re going to keep track of high school graduates.
Question 524 – 4(3): Suicide Prevention Initiatives in the Kitikmeot (Qirngnuq)
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) (interpretation ends) My questions are for the Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention.
As the minister will be aware, two of the resolutions that were adopted at the recent annual general meeting of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, which I had the honour of attending, concerned the importance of suicide prevention initiatives.
I want to acknowledge Kitty Taipagak, Shannon Kayaitok, Susie Kemaktun, and Betty Ann Kadlun for moving and seconding these important resolutions.
Can the minister indicate if he has had the opportunity to review these resolutions?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention, Mr. George Hickes.
As these resolutions were tabled fairly recently, I have look at them, but I can’t say with any confidence that I have analyzed them in any great detail.
Work is ongoing and I’m sure we will be collaborating with the Premier’s Office on a formal response to KIA.
That being said, whenever we look at suicide prevention activities and resolutions from organizations such as KIA, I applaud their continued focus on it and as I have said quite often and will continue to say, it’s not just the government that is going to provide a solution to suicide prevention across this territory.
It’s going to come from all levels and partnerships and it’s got to grow from the community to assist in overcoming some of these challenges that lead people to consider these thoughts.
When I do have an opportunity to look at those resolutions in further detail, I will definitely be following up with all members.
He said that he hasn’t completely reviewed the resolutions from KIA.
Now that he’s aware, I have another question for the minister. (interpretation ends) In June of this year the Legislative Assembly approved approximately $4.5 million in new funding for the implementation of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Can the minister describe the extent to which this new funding included region-specific initiatives for the Kitikmeot?
Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention, Minister Hickes.
There is about $4.5 million that was allocated through the Quality of Life Secretariat, of which I’m responsible for.
To get into specifics, those monies were allocated and I’m going to say “finally” from actual actionable funding that we can provide to our action plans on prevention of suicide.
When we’re looking at historical, there was a suicide strategy that was provided to Nunavut that a lot of hard work went into, but at the time there was no money allocated to fund some of the solutions that strategy outlined.
Now with the action plan that we’re working on right now, we actually have some funding developed too. We’ve got more PYs.
I know my Quality of Life Division and my associate deputy minister have been working very hard to staff the positions.
I don’t have that level of detail to see what is exactly funded in the Kitikmeot, but I can say that over half the money, $2.6 million, is planned to be spent on community-led initiatives.
I thank the minister for his partial response. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate how many positions in his department focus on suicide prevention initiatives, and can he clarify how many of these positions are located in the Kitikmeot?
As I had mentioned, my associate deputy minister has been working very hard to staff the positions that are outlined within the Quality of Life Division.
Unfortunately I just don’t have that information at my fingertips right now.
Mr. Speaker, I can endeavour to communicate with the member opposite later on today.
I can get that information to him and specifically whether any of those positions are located in the Kitikmeot.
Question 525 – 4(3): High Arctic Transportation (Shooyook)
I will direct my question to the Minister of Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, in the High Arctic the airline service has been a real problem this fall.
Maybe the weather was the problem. I don’t know.
Medical travellers trying to get home to Resolute Bay wait for long periods of time.
The materials and fresh produce that are ordered are spoiled by the time they reach the people and the people who ordered them have to throw them away, which costs a lot of money.
With that being the case, the medical travellers go through challenging times.
Can the minister consider how the services can be improved?
Mr. Speaker, maybe I didn’t quite understand. I think he’s trying to ask the Department of Health about the services that are provided to people who go on medical travel.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Shooyook, please clarify your question.
I’m talking about transportation.
I’m asking about how there can be improvements in transportation in the High Arctic.
I can consult with the Minister of Health and the member on exactly what the problems are with transportation or airlines and if it was due to weather. I’ll look more closely into that and I can discuss that with the member.
Can the minister consider how airline services in Resolute Bay can be improved?
I know that airstrip conditions are the cause in Grise Fiord.
That becomes a real problem when you travel to the community and even I’ve had problems.
How can the airline services be improved?
This has been an ongoing problem for residents of Grise Fiord throughout the years.
Yes, we can look into that. The only airplanes that can land in Grise Fiord are DHC-6s. They have a small population of 163 people there.
We are presently looking at the document we tabled. It’s not only for airplane traffic, but it’s looking at air terminal buildings for the 20-year plan.
That document describes what we should be doing, but some of them look very far into the future and it hasn’t been defined yet.
I’ll ask my officials about the status of that plan.
I also thank the minister for giving me a very clear answer.
Minister, small twin-engine aircraft are used up there and I believe Kenn Borek operates that aircraft.
It is just totally inconvenient.
It goes there just twice a week.
We should find a way to negotiate changes to the scheduling and routing of the flights so that they go there more often.
I would like to ask the minister because there are problems with the airstrip.
When it gets warmer there and once you have the opportunity, can you go to that airport?
There is another small airstrip near the community that is quite long.
Can you consider the use of that other airstrip to see if it can be used to increase service?
However, it’s at a high altitude.
I would like to know if the minister can have that airstrip checked to see if it’s safe to use.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): I thank my colleague, Mr. Speaker.
A very long time ago I landed in Grise Fiord on the sea ice.
Your airstrip, not the airport terminal, was built in 1992.
We already know that it needs to be upgraded and it needs to have gravel put on to the airstrip. They also need to have a gravel pile available for the airstrip all the time.
The need for upgrading and gravel is already known.
We have been told that it is usable until 2030, but I will check into your concerns to see exactly what they are, but from the information I have, it’s not a critical matter.
Oral Questions. The time for question period has expired.
Member for (interpretation ends) Baker Lake, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak.
Motion 036 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for Naujaat, that the time allotted for oral questions be extended.
Question 526 – 4(3): Need for Swimming Pools in Nunavut (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My questions today are for the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions I have stood up in this House to raise my constituents’ requests for a swimming pool. Residents from both Coral Harbour and Naujaat continue to approach me on a regular basis to discuss the need for swimming pools in their communities.
Mr. Speaker, I continue to emphasize that the smaller communities should have access to swimming facilities, which could help to improve the safety and well-being of Nunavummiut.
In fact the construction of a swimming pool has been one of the top priorities for Coral Harbour.
According to its integrated community sustainability plan, a swimming pool has been the community’s second priority for new infrastructure since 2010.
Can the minister indicate what specific discussions his department has had with the Municipality of Coral Harbour concerning the possibility of constructing a swimming pool in that community?
Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for, at the very least, being persistent on his concerns.
Coral Harbour and Naujaat both, according to the member, have been asking for that.
When the infrastructure needs are so great in Nunavut here, it’s hard to justify some of the stuff sometimes.
I’ll take for example in Coral Harbour there, it was one of their priorities, but we also had the airport road that washed out and that was quite a substantial cost that had to be incurred.
You have to weigh sometimes what is really needed.
It was deemed that to fix the road to the airport was really needed because people have to be able to get to the airport when the plane comes to leave and to come.
Coral Harbour has been getting funds from the aquatic operations. It’s not there for building a swimming pool or aquatic centre, but it’s for operation of one and they have been getting funds.
As for Naujaat, they have not been applying for any of the aquatic operation funds.
I know the member had brought up some of the concerns before about using existing buildings at times for a swimming pool when they are not being used, such as garages and stuff like that.
I informed the member that due to mould issues, high humidity, and other stuff, it’s not very practical.
As for exactly what talks have been going on between my department and the Municipality of Coral Harbour, I can’t say exactly what they talked about.
Earlier this year the federal and territorial governments jointly announced that Nunavut will be receiving more than $25 million under the federal Small Communities Fund to, and I quote, “provide funding for priority public infrastructure projects that deliver on local needs in communities across the territory.”
According to information provided by the federal and territorial governments, a portion of this funding will be allocated to the City of Iqaluit’s new aquatic centre.
Can the minister indicate if any funding under the Small Communities Fund will be made available for the construction of swimming facilities in smaller communities?
The funds that were announced, yes, Iqaluit is getting their share. As for the remaining funds, none of it is earmarked for aquatic centres to other communities in Nunavut.
The bulk of it will be used for fixing up solid waste facilities and to upgrade arenas.
We don’t have any plans right now to use any of that money for aquatic centres.
This issue is something that is really pushed hard on. During the mayors’ conference in Rankin Inlet, which I attended, a member of the Coral Harbour hamlet council was there and posed a question to me.
I know it’s hard for departmental officials to answer questions, but I have requested it a number of times for both Coral Harbour and Taloyoak.
The minister should take this into consideration because the communities have been pushing for it. Can the minister keep requesting money for this from the federal government?
The Small Communities Fund is all spoken for. The projects are already identified and the monies are spoken for and will be spent.
As for the pushing for swimming pools for everybody, I know the member realizes that we are competing with schools, nursing stations, treatment centres, and elders facilities.
I can go on and on. Our needs are just way more than the amount of money that we have, unless the federal government would come up with a program that says, “This is for aquatic centres.”
I’m not saying it will never happen, but there are a lot of pressing issues that generally get more urgent needs than the aquatic centre.
As for the Small Communities Fund, that fund is completely all spoken for, so there are no funds left there for that, but the door is not completely closed. It’s just about closed on aquatic centres because of so many needs that are deemed to be priority.
Question 527 – 4(3): Devolution (Angnakak)
My questions are for the Premier and they concern the statement that he made on Monday concerning devolution.
As we know, the devolution agreements that were signed with the Yukon and Northwest Territories governments resulted in the transfer of a number of federal public service positions to the two territorial governments.
When I last raised this issue back in March, the Premier estimated that approximately 138 federal positions could be coming over to us as part of a final devolution settlement.
Since the World Series is being played this week, can the Premier indicate today if this estimate is still “in the ballpark”?
I appreciate the question from the member for Niaqunnguu.
Mr. Speaker, we’re always trying to find ways to improve our situation here in Nunavut.
Some of these things that we talk about, of course, are human resources.
Once the transfer of authority is given to Nunavut, we do have to ensure that the requirements through devolution are met. There’s no doubt that there are going to be some transfers of federal personnel into Nunavut.
That was our best guess at the time and it still is at this time.
Thank you to the Premier.
As we know, the shortage of staff housing units in Nunavut has resulted in our government being unable to fill a significant number of its existing positions, so it is important for us to consider our ability to absorb between 100 and 200 new employees overnight.
Can the Premier indicate if the devolution talks are also looking at transferring federal assets to the GN, including federal staff housing units and office space?