EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would also like to thank the pathfinder leaders, Amy Porteous, Sara Holzman, Jane Sponagle, and the third guide leader was Lynette Thomas.
Member’s Statement 106 – 4(2): 2014 Graduates of Clyde River (Enook)
Good morning to the people of Pond Inlet and our fellow Nunavummiut. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I am very proud, along with the people of Pond Inlet, of the woman who is 100 years old. I think her name is June Okalik and we are proud of her as people of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate the graduates who are graduating this year. Our young people are taking their education seriously and this very good to see. I would also encourage all the parents and the grandparents that we should be encouraging the children to go back to school because education is very important for our future, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the graduates from Clyde River and they are:
Kimberly Hainnu
Reepa Tigullaraq
Rose Palluq
Nashook Palituq
Stephanie Tigullaraq
Nysana Jr. Qillaq
Caitlyn Joanas
Hailey Kalluk
Dina Atagootak
Tapia Arreak
Angel Tassugat
Damien Kuniliusie
I congratulate the graduates and I encourage them to further their education.
Member for Aggu, Minister Quassa.
Member’s Statement 107 – 4(2): Annual Spring Seal Hunt (Quassa)
I think it’s morning still, I mean it is morning, so I rise, but not awake…
I rise today to talk about the people of the High Arctic. They usually do baby seal hunting in Igloolik. Usually what happens in June is we do seal hunting back home.
The seal is very good for our health and it is used for clothing.
That is our tradition that we have up there.  As well as going out on the land and being with family, to be together, being on the ice, because there are seal breathing holes on the ice, we can go hunting baby seals.
It is being practised by many people in the High Arctic.
I am happy to announce that and they always say, “Tauva.” That’s what I wanted to talk about in my Member’s Statement this morning.
Return to Oral Question 122 – 4(2): Staff Housing (Kuksuk)
I say “good morning” to my fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak, asked an oral question on June 4 with respect to staff housing.
I will read her question, Mr. Speaker.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the question was:
“The Government of Nunavut’s Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy indicates that one of the problems with the government’s current approach to staff housing is that, and I quote, ‘Another challenge arises from the discrepancy between staff housing tenants and those in private homes or apartments.
This is about $14,000 less than the value of the staff housing subsidy.’
Can the minister indicate what actions the government is taking to address inequality?
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide my response today. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide my response to the member’s question regarding the framework for the Government of Nunavut’s Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
Government support for staff housing is provided in two primary ways through two departments.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation operates the Staff Housing Program and the Department of Finance manages a household allowance.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation and the Department of Finance have recently had preliminary discussions on the discrepancy between the support provided for staff housing tenants and those in private homes or apartments and are establishing a process for review.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is currently working on the development of a blueprint for action and we will continue to work with other departments to address these serious housing issues and challenges.
Returns to Oral Questions. Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Mike.
Return to Oral Question 134 – 4(2): Monitoring Air Quality in Nunavut (Mike)
I have a return to Oral Question No. 134 – 4(2), asked by the Member of Iqaluit-Tasiluk on June 5, 2014 concerning the monitoring of air quality in Nunavut.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, this return is quite detailed, so I ask that it be entered into the record as read and distributed to all members.
“Who is responsible for air quality monitoring in Nunavut?”
There is no single agency that is responsible for long-term air quality monitoring in Nunavut.
The Department of Environment maintains and operates, in partnership with Environment Canada, two air monitoring stations at Iqaluit.
These stations measure “urban” pollution levels, which include dust (particulate) levels, ground-level ozone (associated with motor vehicles), and NOX (a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen associated with fossil fuel emissions).
There is no long-term air quality monitoring in any other community.
With respect to the current situation, the departments of Environment, Health, and Community and Government "Services are working in cooperation with the City of Iqaluit and the federal Department of Health and Environment Canada to bring the appropriate monitoring equipment to Iqaluit.
“Why is the existing air quality monitoring equipment unable to measure toxins from the dump fire?”
The Department of Environment, in partnership with Environment Canada’s National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS) has been engaged in long-term urban air pollution monitoring since 1990 using equipment provided to us by NAPS.
This is done on a part-time basis by my staff; however, my department does not have dedicated air quality monitoring staff.
The sole purpose of the monitoring equipment that we have is to measure ambient (day-to-day) air conditions and not situations where there is a dump fire or any other unusual event that can negatively impact air quality.
The equipment we have is not mobile nor is it designed to detect the kind of contaminants of concern likely to come from a dump fire. Our equipment measures dust levels, ozone, and nitrogen oxides.
“Are there guidelines established on air quality in consideration of toxic chemicals in the air?”
The Department of Environment has four air quality-related guidelines:
Asphalt Paving Industry Emissions Regulations
Guideline for Ozone-Depleting Substances
Guideline for Ambient Air Quality
Guideline for Dust Suppression
None of these guidelines address emissions from dump fires.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you (interpretation ends) Item 4.
It is with the utmost respect that I would like to name three of the guides that I mentioned in my Member’s Statement that travelled with the young future leaders in Iqaluit. Here in the Gallery we have Amy Porteous and Sara Holzman, and hiding in the media booth up there is Jane Sponagle.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Gallery. (interpretation ends) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik.
As I make my statement, they are preparing for the National Aboriginal Law Conference.
I would like to acknowledge the volunteer who helped to set up the meeting, our staff from the Department of Justice. I would like to thank Cindy Kieu for preparing for the upcoming meeting. Welcome.
Today, I also would like to recognize my wife, Eva Mikkungwak, and my small son, Theo Haumitnaaq Mikkungwak. They were here few days ago at the Legislative Assembly.
My son heard the proceedings for the first time. When we got back home and I was not even thinking, he was making me smile. It turns out he was really listening to the proceedings; even the children listen to the proceedings.
During the afternoon, he was mentioning members’ names like Mr. Enook, Mr. Akoak; he mentioned all of the members’ names.
I was very proud and happy about the fact that they came to Iqaluit.
Question 158 – 4(2): Support for Search and Rescue (Enook)
I want to revisit the issue of equipment for local search and rescue committees.
Earlier this year, I asked the Minister of Transportation about sharing equipment between the hamlet and the airport.
The minister informed me that, and I quote, “both parties share their equipment with mutual consent when the need arises.”
Mr. Speaker, this is a common sense approach to meeting the needs of the hamlet and the airport.
I would like to ask the hon. minister: will the Minister of CGS commit to working with other GN departments to have the same approach to sharing such equipment as snow machines for use by local search and rescue organizations during searches?
The member’s question is a very good question.
Yes, as I said before, we have initiated other organizations how we can improve the search and rescue equipment.
Once we complete the consultation with the departments, we will have a better idea and have the results.
The Minister of Community and Government Services is responsible for the government’s Surplus Disposal Policy for non-fixed assets, including mobile equipment.
The current policy expires in a little over three months from now.
Will the minister commit to having his department’s new Surplus Disposal Policy include provisions that will make it easier for the government to turn over surplus government equipment to local search and rescue organizations?
The government has a surplus disposal policy whereby they can put it out to the public in a tender and anyone can apply, but we would be able to support the member’s question.
The Minister of Community and Government Services is also responsible for the government’s Community Search and Rescue Organization Support Policy.
This policy expired over four years ago.
Will the minister commit to having his department’s new policy specifically address the issue of providing mobile equipment to local search and rescue organizations?
When I became the minister for this department, I spoke with my officials on how we can provide more support to other organizations, such as NTI, NAM, and NAMA. In consultation with wildlife management, we discussed how we could provide more support by working together during the drafting of the policy.
We are now starting to discuss these matters with these organizations.
Question 159 – 4(2): Calculating School Attendance (Rumbolt)
I want to direct my questions to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, in April, when the Standing Committee on Oversight and Government Operations and Public Accounts reviewed the Auditor General’s report on education in Nunavut, we heard that the department will be implementing a new student information system which will track high school students’ attendance by subject instead of by day.
Can the minister indicate whether the new system of tracking student attendance has shown a big difference in attendance rates across Nunavut high schools?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Education, Minister Quassa.
I would also like to thank my colleague for asking that question because education is very important in Nunavut and we are always looking for ways on how to improve education in Nunavut.
We made a report on the issue of assessment within the schools. It’s a new tool that we’re using to assess the students. The teachers will do the assessment of the students and they will be taught how to assess the students.
It will be used for the new school calendar year. That’s what we have stated, to find out where the students are so that the students can be assessed with their education.
I hope I responded to my colleague’s question.
It has come to my attention that the department’s new method of calculating school attendance may have an impact on determining school budgets.
Can the minister confirm whether or not this is, in fact, the case?
The teachers will have to be taught how to use the assessment tool.
We have already identified the funds to be used for this assessment.
The teachers will have to be taught how to do the assessments and there’s a budget for it already.
Can the minister clarify how school registration numbers and attendance rates are used to determine staffing and resource allocations for schools and whether or not the new method of calculating attendance will result in some schools receiving less resources for the upcoming school year than it received in past years?
I would like to thank my colleague for that question because it’s a very good question.
As I stated earlier, they will be using the new assessment tool in the new school calendar year for 2014-15 and the teachers will be taught how to use the assessment tool within schools in Nunavut. This is for all of Nunavut.
We have already identified how much it will cost, so we’re not too overly concerned about the budget for that.
Question 160 – 4(2): Food Security (Akoak)
My question this morning is to the Minister of Family Services.
Earlier this week, I was pleased that the minister committed to having her officials to attend Tuesday’s scheduled public meeting in Rankin Inlet with the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board.
Can the minister confirm if the Government of Nunavut was represented at the scheduled meeting on Tuesday night in Rankin Inlet?
I would like to thank the Member for Gjoa Haven for asking that question.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know the response for his question.
As the minister is aware, members of the “Feeding My Family” group are holding an event this weekend to express concerns about sale of expired food in Nunavut stores. The Nunavut-based group is calling for actions to “reduce the high cost of food and forbid the sale of expired food products.”
Can the minister indicate if the government supports Feeding My Family’s position regarding the sale of expired food in Nunavut stores?
In relation to the first question, I was trying to say that I am (interpretation ends) taking it as notice. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will move to the next member. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 161 – 4(2): Employment Status of Group Home Staff (Sammurtok)
I would like to direct my question to the (interpretation ends) Minister for Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, I have ongoing concerns about the closure of the children’s group home in Rankin Inlet.
Not only does the closing of group home mean that there is no longer a place in the community, in the region, or in the territory for these young children, but there are also no jobs for the staff that were employed there.
Can the minister indicate what other employment options were made available to the staff at the Rankin Inlet Children’s Group Home when it was closed?
Minister for Family Services, Ms. Ugyuk.
I thank the member from Rankin Inlet for asking a question about the closure of the children’s group home.
While this was still the responsibility of the Department of Health, it was closed by my predecessor and now the building will be put to a different use.
If I understand the use for it, there will be more jobs opening for that building.
The Minister of Family Services is also responsible for the Income Assistance Program.
During our recent discussion in Committee of the Whole, the minister indicated that one of the common reasons for individuals seeking income assistance was unemployment.
Would the minister agree that keeping the children’s group home open would also help to provide jobs within the community?
I thank the member from Rankin Inlet for that question.
In relation to unemployment, it is obvious that people who don’t work require income support.
The building is going to be administered by the Department of Health for another purpose and there will be jobs opening in order to staff the new building.
Mr. Sammurtok: I thank the minister for her response.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister reconsider her decision to close the Rankin Inlet Children’s Group Home and find a way to open it again to provide a place for children who need extra support and assistance with their daily living and to provide employment opportunities in the community of Rankin Inlet?
I thank the member from Rankin Inlet for that question, who is requesting that I reconsider the decision.
The community’s decision must come from the residents of Rankin Inlet. We would welcome their opinion about that building.
Question 162 – 4(2): Activities of the Office of the Chief Coroner (Joanasie)
My questions are for the Minister of Justice, whose department supports the operations of the Office of the Chief Coroner.
Earlier this year, the Office of the Chief Coroner announced that a formal inquest would be held into three suicides.
It is my understanding that section 21 of the Coroners Act allows for inquests to be held in order to “facilitate the making of recommendations to avoid preventable deaths.”
I understand that the Office of the Coroner is an independent body and I am not asking for the government to interfere in its work.
However, I would like to ask the minister to update the House today on the status of this inquest.
Yes, of course, it is an independent body. However, we have discussions with them and support it and we can have discussions with them.
The coroner’s office and the coroner have indicated that it had an agreement with the families and once the decision has been made, we can talk about it.
At this time, I do not have the answer, but I will look into it.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my constituents who have served as coroners in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.
This is an essential but very challenging responsibility.
In reviewing the Nunavut Gazette, I note that the appointments of the coroners in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut have recently expired.
Can the minister confirm if these appointments will be renewed?
We made those appointments from the names that were suggested and brought to my attention.
That is how the selection process works.
If the appointments have expired, we will naturally be reviewing them.
Earlier this year, the minister tabled the 2011 Annual Report of the Office of the Chief Coroner. I thank the minister for making this important information available to the public and I look forward to the timely tabling of the 2012 and 2013 annual reports.
Can the minister indicate what training his department or the Office of the Chief Coroner provides to encourage Nunavummiut to serve as local coroners in our smaller communities?
We thank the coroner’s office for the difficult work that they do.
If anyone who has been coroner would like to serve again, there usually needs to be criminal checks done first by the RCMP and then they could be appointed eventually if their names have been suggested. The chief coroner’s office provides annual training workshops for them.
Question 163 – 4(2): Victims of Crime (Angnakak)
As the minister is aware, a concern that has been raised by a number of Members of the Legislative Assembly relates to the funding and services provided by the government to assist victims of crime in Nunavut.
As the minister is also aware, his department’s recently approved budget contains significantly more funding for prisons and correctional operations than it does for community justice programs.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize that programming for inmates is essential to reducing the rate at which inmates reoffend.
However, given that Nunavummiut suffer from violent crime at a rate that is over ten times higher than the national average, it is also essential that we ensure that government services are sufficient to support the needs of victims.
Can the minister indicate what new initiatives his department is taking to ensure that victims of crime are receiving sufficient support?
I thank the member for that excellent question. In this session, I have stated that the Department of Justice sets aside the money and collects them and saves them, and then every year, we request project proposals from the communities as to how they could use the funds.
We know that many victims still need more time than others to heal and recover from those things. We could review projects that could be directed towards the victims.
Mr. Speaker, the federal government recently introduced the proposed Canadian Victims Bill of Rights in the House of Commons for the first time.
The proposed bill is intended to provide “enshrined, enforceable rights that are specific to victims’ treatment, participation and support.”
Last fall, federal, provincial and territorial ministers of justice discussed the proposed legislation at their annual conference.
Can the minister describe how this proposed federal legislation will impact our government’s delivery of programs and services for victims of crime?
We are very happy that the federal government is looking at giving us some more financial help.
Being the victim of a crime is very difficult in Nunavut.
Before this becomes an actual Act, we can’t really see how it will affect anything.
After we see how it is going to affect us, we will be able to do things to accommodate it.
We support it, but it hasn’t been passed yet.
Thank you to the minister for his answer. We look forward to hearing more information about Bill C-32.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will recall, the 2012-13 Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee was tabled in the House on September 12, 2013, and the minister was alluding to this.
As the minister is aware, the committee is responsible for distributing funds to support community-based projects that provide services to victims of crime, such as the excellent YWCA or the Agvvik Nunavut program here in Iqaluit.
These funds are provided through the Victims Assistance Fund, which secures revenue from victim fine surcharges.
Can the minister indicate if his department is looking at identifying other sources of revenue for the Victims Assistance Fund?
We are always looking for other ways of support and we are just happy that the federal government is introducing this to add extra help to victims of violence.
The money that we have received so far has helped us a great deal and we have been able to keep up with the requests for help.
It is good that it’s going to go ahead and hopefully we will be able to keep enough funds in it to accommodate everyone.
Question 164 – 4(2): Iqaluit Landfill Fire (Hickes)
I’ve gone through a number of ministers with this issue of the landfill fire here in Iqaluit. I would like to direct my questions to the Premier today.
Mr. Speaker, through media coverage, I recently learned that there was a press conference from the City of Iqaluit recently.
As we were sitting in the House, I was unable to attend. I’m sure the Premier had some staff attending that conference and I was wondering if he would be able to highlight some of the issues that the representatives from Environment Canada brought forward an update with regard to the air quality monitoring.
Mr. Speaker, I’m quite aware and I would like to inform the House that the City of Iqaluit has passed a motion directing city officials to proceed in developing plans to extinguish the Iqaluit fire, dump fire, and to bring the plan to council for their approval.
Mr. Speaker, fire officials have been in contact with the city officials and they have been working together for the last couple of weeks.
At this time, the City of Iqaluit has asked the Government of Nunavut to assist in developing plans to extinguish the fire.
Mr. Speaker, this morning, the officials from Community and Government Services and city officials are meeting to further develop plans for the city council to approve.
One of the other areas of concern that has been brought to my attention on a fairly frequent basis in the last few weeks is the lack of communication.
I realize that this is a city issue, but with this partnership with the City of Iqaluit, does it include to help or assist in developing a communication plan for this issue?
My staff from my office has been assisting the city communication staff to make sure that proper communication is going out to the folks in the city, including public announcements through the Department of Health.
For my last question, I would like to go back a little bit to the air quality monitoring.
As the media covered, there have been a number of tests and as your colleagues have informed me, there have been a number of tests with more precise air monitoring equipment.
One of the concerns that I noticed out of the media coverage was that there are still spikes as far as one to five kilometres from the source of the dump, although the contaminants are deteriorating quite fast as you get away from the dump.