EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I have to reiterate what my colleague, Mr. Arvaluk, has been talking about.
Over the last six months, there's been a renaissance in the fur industry, in the world right now.
There seems to be the acceptance of people wanting to wear fur again, it's not a dark, deep dirty thing that it has been for the last 15 years.
People in Europe, which is a major market, are starting to see the fur industry as being positive again.
I don't think they have the attitude towards aboriginal people in the way they harvest the fur.
An example, you know, it's different but over in the NWT the diamond mines have got a little polar bear on the diamonds now and that's to show that the diamond aren't coming from South Africa where slave labour and child labour and things like that.
That signifies the diamonds coming out of the NWT and, has your department tried to re-focus or reload on making the fur industry purchase or be more acceptable to our industry.
Have there been any extra efforts or are we just letting the status quo.
I think my colleague from Coral Harbour was saying that the white fox pelts are gone up to levels that make it attractive for the subsistence hunters and trappers to go back out on the land where they like to be and to make a buck again.
I'd like to champion the cause of the little guys like Mr. Arvaluk is, the seal skins, I brought this up last year and I said that you know, if we can sell more then that all falls in together with what we are trying to do up here. For most traditional economies, there still has to be more emphasis, and I have to reiterate this and this is the second time that I have said this in two years, that the sealing industry has taken a large hit but the sealing industry up here is totally different than what it is in southern Canada and other places.
These skins that are coming from Nunavut and if they are being bought, and I think the Premier was telling me that he took some seal skin products over to Japan with him and gave them out as gifts and they were very well received.
I don’t want to sound like I'm constantly harping on the department about the traditional economy but, it's outside dollars.
And you have been involved, your families are involved in the traditional economy, Mr. Minister and the previous minister has been involved in it.
But it just seems that the department is going in the right direction, they are listening, your department is listening but, I just want to go back and say can we sell more products are we going to promote more, where the industry is being sort of revived today.
But the problem here is that these seal skins come from people that have lived off them for thousands and thousands of years and it was their food, clothing and shelter.
It's not like the seal skins down south that are relied on because of monetary gain.
So, I'm hoping I'm not going to beat this one much longer and that you got the message that this time next year if the fur industry keeps where it's going that we could look at this and say yeah, we bought four hundred seal skins this year or we subsidized four hundred.
But next year we are going to subsidize three or four thousand and that will start building capacity in our communities again about hunting if we can only get the permits to buy the bullets.
We are promoting seal skins and the fur industry, there's going to be a fashion show of seal products in Montreal and whoever wants to come and see the fashion show in Montreal is welcome to come down there.
We are going to be promoting the Nunavut people not slaughtering seals but rather hunting them the way we have always done and we will be showing that film called Waiting on the Ice, just to let all the people in the world know that we are not slaughtering our seals.
So, there will be a fashion show in Montreal in May and we will be promoting that as well.
In regards to the comments by the member, if we start buying more seal skins, and fur products, this will be promoted by our department and the money that we will be giving to the harvesters together will be 290 thousand dollars when we bought a bunch of sealskins in Nunavut to sell down south.
You're spending more.
On this fashion show in Montreal, I'm sure all the members would like you to make our reservations and give us all our plane tickets so we can show up to it.
Thank you very much, send my ticket.
But going back to the Montreal fashion show, is there going to be buyers from Europe there.
The places where the market should be.
I know in Montreal, there's probably pressure from Newfoundland and places like that to buy seal products but are we actively pursuing the European market for seal products and fur products.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, that's all I got.
This is the largest fashion show that we're going to be having in Montreal and it will help out the people of Nunavut.
We would like to see in the future, to be able to do some showing in the European countries of our animals, such as seal and fox in European countries to promote the harvesters of Nunavut and to have them purchased by those people that live there.
It's not debatable.
Does the Committee agree.
Thank you, Minister of Sustainable Development and his officials.
We will see you tomorrow.
At this time, we will get the Speaker to come to the chamber.
Speaker: We'll continue with the orders of the day.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your Committee has been considering Bill 1 and would like to report that Bill 1 is still under consideration and would like to report progress and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Who's to be the seconder of the motion.
Ms. Manitok.
Thank you, the motion is in order.
The motion carried.
We'll go on with the Orders of the Day. Item 21. Third Reading of Bills.
Mr. Premier. I'm sorry, Mr. Ng.
Bill 2 - Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 2, 2000/2001 -Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove that Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 2, 2000/2001 be read for the third time.
All those Opposed.
Bill 2 has had third reading.
Back to Orders of the Day. Item 22. Orders of the Day.
Meeting of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment & Sustainable Development, tomorrow morning at 9:00 o’clock in the Natsiq Board Room.
Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 22, 2001:
This House stands adjourned until March 22, 2001 at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday March 22, 2001
Pages 932 - 1017
Replies to Opening Address 4
Thursday March 22, 2001 4
042 – 1(5): Long Service Awards (Ng) 4
043 – 1(5): National Social Work Week in Nunavut (Picco) 4
044 – 1(5): Science Summer Experience Program (Kilabuk) 4
045 – 1(5): Nunavut Sealing Strategy (Akesuk) 4
137 – 1(5): Congratulations to Maggie Gordon (Picco) 4
138 – 1(5): Traditional Life & Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Alakannuark) 4
139 – 1(5): Long Service Award – Maggie Gordon (Iqaqrialu) 4
140 - 1(5): Charles Ward’s Lawsuit Against Federal Government (McLean) 4
141 - 1(5): Language Barrier in Application Forms (Irqittuq) 4
165 – 1(5): Fur Price Assistance for Fox Pelts (Arvaluk) 4
166 – 1(5): Mining Opportunities and Employment (Iqaqrialu) 4
167 - 1(5): Staffing Competitions and Capacity (Tootoo) 4
168 - 1(5): Communities Eligible for Training (Williams) 4
169 - 1(5): Fur Price Subsidy Limit (Nutarak) 4
170 – 1(5): Staff Housing and Decentralization (Irqittuq) 4
171 - 1(5): Court Challenge by David Ward (McLean) 4
172 - 1(5): Elders Societies and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Alakannuark) 4
173 - 1(5): Payroll Division and Turnovers (Tootoo) 4
174 - 1(5): Job Competitions for Decentralization (Irqittuq) 4
175 – 1(5): Delay of Court Cases (Iqaqrialu) 4
176 – 1(5): Income Support Deductions (Nutarak) 4
012 – 1(5): Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (Tootoo) 4
Reply 001 – 1(5): Mr. Alakannuark 4
Thursday March 22, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Acting Speaker (Mr. Havioyak) (interpretation): I would like to ask Mr. Iqaqrialu to say the opening prayer.
Minister’s Statement 042 – 1(5): Long Service Awards
Mr. Speaker, over the last two evenings, the Department of Human Resources hosted a reception and a banquet to recognize and thank numerous government employees in Iqaluit for their long service to public service.
The department is hosting award ceremonies across Nunavut to honour employees who have reached five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five and thirty years of public service.
Recognition ceremonies were held earlier this year in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk.
We are currently planning to hold long service award ceremonies in the rest of Baffin, Kivalliq and Kitikmeot communities during the month of April.
I was pleased to be there along with the Premier and many of my colleagues to recognize the Government of Nunavut’s valued employees.
These individuals have worked continuously over the years to build much of the public service that exists today.
Mr. Speaker, as the Government of Nunavut’s longest serving employees, these award recipients have been part of monumental change in the North – in not just one but two territories.
Many of these employees were part of the building of the public service in the early days of the Northwest Territories.
And now, they are in the early days of building the public service within the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the collected wisdom of these employees, the experiences they have had in their years of service, is not something that can be learned through textbooks – it is something that can only be gained through hard work and experience.
We consider ourselves fortunate, as politicians and leaders, to be able to rely on their advice and experience as our fledging government continues to grow and develop.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Government of Nunavut, I want to thank our employees for the dedication they have shown and for the commitment they have demonstrated in building something that will set the stage for the future of our public service.
Minister’s Statement 043 – 1(5): National Social Work Week in Nunavut
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes today to recognize National Social Work Week in Nunavut.
There are few among us whose lives have not been touched by the contributions of social workers.
While many of us take the work they do for granted, it is during the difficult times we are reminded of the important role they play in our lives.
They are there when children are born or adopted.
They are there in difficult economic times and during times of illness or death.
They can be found helping parents cope with an unwell child, or assisting elders and families through times of transition.
Mr. Speaker, Social Workers provide the government with a hand of compassion with which to reach into communities to provide vital services to people and indeed Mr. Speaker, families in need.
As the Minister of Health & Social Services, I would ask that you join me in this House in recognizing March 19-25, this week 2001 as National Social Work Week in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 044 – 1(5): Science Summer Experience Program
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Nunavut Research Institute and Nunavut Arctic College have initiated a new program entitled Summer Science Experience Program.
The purpose of this program is to facilitate the positive interaction between Nunavut students and the scientific community.
The program, with the student’s permission, will develop an inventory of Nunavut students interested, sorry Mr. Speaker.
Will develop an inventory of Nunavut students interested in employment in summer field projects.
The Research Institute will then “broker” field placements for students with federal and territorial agencies, and with university researchers.
Information on the program is being sent out to campuses of Nunavut Arctic College and to high schools.
It is also being placed on the Institute’s web page.
I encourage all those interested students to contact the Nunavut Research Institute to register.
Mr. Speaker, the scientists and researchers undertaking field and community-based research projects in Nunavut can provide excellent opportunities for students to learn in the field while gaining valuable employment experience.
Many of those students who have participated in these summer field projects have gone on to post-secondary education in the sciences, and are now returning to related employment positions in Nunavut.
Ministers’ Statements. Minister Akesuk.
Minister’s Statement 045 – 1(5): Nunavut Sealing Strategy
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past two years we have made great strides in revitalizing the sealing economy in Nunavut. This is a program where, with relatively modest investments from our government over the past two years, we have seen a significant resurgence in support for the Nunavut sealing industry.
At the national and international level, our main challenge has been raising the public’s awareness of the new Territory of Nunavut, our lifestyle, our history in sealing, and the principles that govern our seal hunt - sustainable use, humane harvesting, and use of the whole animal.
Mr. Speaker, last year the Department of Sustainable Development released the booklet “Seals & Nunavut: Our Tradition, Our Future.”
More than 5,000 copies have been sent to schools in southern Canada and to other selected addresses in the United States and Europe.
The department also produced the video “Waiting at the Edge” which documented the proud tradition of sealing in Nunavut.
This also was distributed to southern schools and many comments have been received about its effectiveness in changing attitudes about sealing in Nunavut.
I am pleased to advise members today that the “Waiting at the Edge” video will be airing on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network on April 11 to a national audience.
I am also pleased to report that the demand for sealskins and sealskin products continues to grow in the north and in the south.
At the December fur auction in North Bay, Nunavut ring sealskins sold for an average price of 45 dollars.
This reflects a better quality of skins than a few years ago and, even more so, a dramatic increase in world demand.
It is too early to tell if this new demand will prevail over the longer-term, but we are optimistic.
The Department of Sustainable Development has also worked on developing capacity in Nunavut on the production and design of sealskin clothing.
An advanced furrier and design workshop is scheduled for Iqaluit in April, with participants from Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions.
This workshop will produce the 2001 Nunavut Inuit Collection.
Exchange trips have also been arranged for seamstress/designers from across Nunavut to work with New Vogue Furriers in Newfoundland who are major producers of sealskin garments in Atlantic Canada.
In May I will be travelling to the North American Fur and Fashion Exposition in Montreal, where I will be honoured to see the unveiling of the 2001 Nunavut Inuit Collection of fashion sealskin garments.
I share with Nunavummiut the excitement of seeing more and more visible signs that we are making steady progress with the Nunavut Sealing Strategy.
Going back to the Orders of the Day. Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 137 – 1(5): Congratulations to Maggie Gordon
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to thank the Minister of Human Resources for giving me the opportunity to personally express our good wishes and congratulate our long term award winners last night.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for one of the long service award winners last night. Ms. Maggie Gordon was the only recipient last night Mr. Speaker, the only recipient of the 30-year award for continuous service with ours and previous governments.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, Maggie has been continuously employed for more than 30 years. Maggie has worked at Joamie School Mr. Speaker, since its opening in 1989. She is an integral worker and staff member of Joamie School and is well recognized Mr. Speaker, by her warm smile and her interest in the students.
Mr. Speaker, she plays an important part in running the school on a daily basis and that’s why Joamie School has the shiniest floors in Iqaluit.
She often volunteers as a mother, makes snacks for special events and participates in all Joamie School functions.
She makes everyone feel at home at Joamie School and the staff and students admire and respect her.
Mr. Speaker, for residents of Tundra Valley, no matter what the weather, Maggie can be seen walking to and from work.
She is a devoted mom, a role model, a model employee and I am proud to say, Mr. Speaker, a constituent of ours.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of her colleagues, the staff at Joamie School, her family and indeed Mr. Speaker, the people of Iqaluit, we wish to offer our sincere congratulations to Ms. Maggie Gordon on reaching this milestone.
Member’s Statement 138 – 1(5): Traditional Life & Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say how pleased I am to be able to live comfortably and to have fast and reliable modes of transportation.
Looking back it seems to be so easy now, although we still have to work extremely hard to create a better future for our children.
Mr. Speaker, our ancestors had no choice but to use animal bones for hunting and use things like antlers for bows and arrows or for snow knives to build igloos.
They also made them into spearheads to hunt sea animals.
They carved soapstone for qulliit to light their homes and to cook their food and heat water.
These things were a very important part of Inuit lives.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to see today the items that we have here, the soapstone qulliq being displayed in the chambers as symbols of our ancestors.
That’s what we call Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and I appreciate what they represent.
Member’s Statement 139 – 1(5): Long Service Award – Maggie Gordon
Mr. Speaker, as an ordinary MLA I experienced the awards ceremony last night for long-term employees.
I saw Maggie Gordon being awarded her 30-year service medal.
I know that she has been employed for many years, even though she has no formal education.
But seeing her, I was very proud, and perhaps looking at what we have lived through all of our lives and the efforts that she made to accomplish what she has done.
There seem to be two main areas that we need to work hard on these days.
Our lives and our education.
Taking literacy courses and being able to work with the language and doing our paperwork, we have to be able to manage our Nunavut Government.
We know today as we live that we can be in the world that we live in. Knowing that someone like Maggie who has worked for 30 years is now being recognized, I have felt for her and I know I will be able to handle today my responsibilities after hearing what the Minister of Health & Social Services said. We know that we have made long strides to make ourselves independent.
It makes me very proud today that we have come to its realization in Nunavut.
Speaker: Thank you. Members' Statements.
Member's Statement 140 - 1(5): Charles Ward’s Lawsuit Against Federal Government
My member’s statement today is from an article from the National Post, also from an email from a student in Ottawa, going to post secondary school.
Inuk lawyer Charles Ward said people have been denied federal assistance given to other aboriginals.
A 65 year old Inuk lawyer plans to sue the federal government in a bid to secure for Inuit people the same rights and economic benefits enjoyed by First Nations in southern Canada.
Charles Ward, the first Inuk called to the bar in Canada, will argue the Inuit have been denied access to a host of federal programs granted to First Nations, including university education, medical benefits, housing and employment assistance.
It's bad enough that they call one set of aboriginals First Nations.
What are we going to be, Second Nations he asked. Following a 1939 Supreme Court decision to declare the Inuit to be Indians for the purposes of federal jurisdictions, the government changed the Indian Act to specifically exclude the Inuit.
Mr. Ward said as a consequence the Inuit have been unable to enjoy the economic benefits of their aboriginal status, he said.
Mr. Ward intends to ask the Federal Court to declare the government's exclusion of the Inuit from aboriginal programs, discriminatory under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Dale Gibson, a constitutional expert, whom Mr. Ward has hired to handle the charter challenge, said the case is clear-cut because the Supreme Court has already included the Inuit in the constitution as aboriginal people.
However, the federal government continues to focus on land claims settlement such as the deal that led to the creation of Nunavut as a means of avoiding the costly benefits issue he said.
The federal government think that having created Nunavut for the Inuit was all they had to do, forgetting Inuit all over the place, Mr. Gibson said.
The settlement of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement from the federal government includes a transfer of 1.17 billion to more than 22 thousand Nunavummiut in exchange for Crown title to their ancestral land. There are three other similar federal agreements either under negotiations or already settled with Inuit in Northern Quebec, Western Arctic and Northern Labrador.
Mr. Ward said that he would like a larger portion of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 4.8 million budget dedicated to programs and services for the Inuit.
I also would like to include an email I received from a student in Ottawa.
“ I have also met First Nation students who receive 100% of their tuition unlike Nunavut students, 100% of their book costs unlike Nunavut students, 100% of their living expenses unlike Nunavut students and a 40% higher monthly living allowance. What is interesting to me is that the funding for Nunavut students and Indian students apparently both come from the same sources within DIAND.
If it is it true, why is the Government of Nunavut paying their students less than the First Nations students.
This afternoon I'll be asking some questions in question period on this statement.
Member's Statement 141 - 1(5): Language Barrier in Application Forms
Today I'm quite tired, and because of this, I will be talking about specific problems.
I'm going to be talking about problems that we have in dealing with government documents.
The GN and also the Canadian Government have different programs to assist residents that seem to be quite simple to apply to for the general public, but are nearly impossible if it is written in a language you don’t understand.
For example, there are quite a few problems in dealing with documents for heavy equipment operators.
I know many Inuit that are experienced and capable in operating heavy equipment.
They have the capabilities but the paperwork is what stops them from being certified and employed.
Even with our own government, the GN, acquiring fuel subsidies for harvesters, and the fuel subsidy for homeowners.
The assistance is being offered but it very difficult to fill in the forms.
Things like drivers licenses, heavy equipment operator certificate applications and all those other forms that have to be filled out are very difficult for ordinary citizens to fill out, especially when they are only in English which some can’t read well.
These are the roadblocks that people run into.
When I was in Igloolik I was told they had to go fill out a form, then bring it to the RCMP and then they have to fill another form in another department in order to go around to try and acquire, for example, the fuel subsidy program. That is one of the things I want to bring to your attention today.
As I said I wanted to complain as I am tired today.
Today I would like to recognize in the House individuals from various communities who work as paralegals and are here for a workshop.
I would first like to recognize Mary Umingayak from Baker Lake
George Qalliaq from Kugluktuk.
I'm sorry he's not here.
Constance Merkosak from Iqaluit.
Sharon Idlout from Igloolik.
Nicotye Kolola from Kimmirut.
Lizzie Anaviapik from Broughton Island
And also the last person, whom I have worked with previously, Inuk Petaulasie from Cape Dorset.