EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I am not trying to be evasive, I am trying to answer the questions the best that I can and as I said in the onset, our job is to try and weigh the benefits of particular projects and it is felt that in this instance, going with a local business outweigh the benefits of providing additional benefits to Southern shareholders.
So, that is the premise of this issue and we will continue to monitor the two other projects that are in place.
We feel that we have to do our job in making sure that local businesses benefit from major contracts from our Government.
And as I said, as well, we are reviewing the NNI Policy to ensure that we do not have to intervene in these contract awards because we would rather have Public Works do it, but I think we need to enforce the Policy to ensure that local businesses get priority for any contracts.
Question 606 – 1(6): Contract for Supply Ships and Erect Housing
I am pleased to hear the Premier talking about making sure that local businesses get the benefit.
So, my question is very simple and straightforward.
Right now, they give out contracts based on supply ship and erect for social housing in Nunavut.
Would the Premier be willing to direct the Government to cut the contract to supply and ship and allow local companies to erect?
Minister Ng would like to take it.
As it deals specifically with the Housing Corporation contract, Mr. Speaker, yes, in fact in the Kitikmeot, there was a two-phase project where for one construction year, there was a supply contract and in the subsequent year, separate tenders for construction.
So, that was a pilot project.
It has been done in the past with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and again, we will certainly consider any avenues to maximize opportunities for local businesses in Nunavut.
My question is not for the head of the NNI Policy, my question is to the Premier to see if he would direct this Government to look at housing, he is the Premier in charge of the Cabinet, whether he would be willing to look at directing this Government to cut the contracts to supply and ship and erect.
Speaker: Given the fact that the Premier has the right to redirect questions, any question to any Minister, it appears that that is his desire, so, Minister Ng, if you will carry on.
Mr. Speaker, as indicated earlier, in the Premier’s response, there is a major review going on with Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti and how to make sure that we maximize the involvement with aboriginal individuals and companies.
We will continue to look at that as one of the factors.
I can say, I think we all know here that there will be a new government coming into place in Nunavut early in the new calendar year, the construction will start, after that, the tender process will be underway.
Certainly, it will be one of the issues that new government, new legislature will have to address as one of the priority areas.
Given some of the comments around this Legislature today.
The Government could do a lot of meeting if they would put this forward before the new government directing the government to divide the contract.
I only asked the question to the Premier because of what is going on about local, local, local.
Is he prepared to direct this government to cut those contracts to supply and ship and erect.
All throughout the questioning by the Member from Iqaluit Centre, he kept saying we would like local companies to get the contract.
This is one way that we are creating better economic develop in Nunavut, if the local contractors in each of the communities get the contracts and supply the labour from within rather than from the outside.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier in response to the Member’s question as well, there is under Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti local involvement component in all the contracts for the government, including the Housing Corporation Tenders for Public Housing.
Those are the provisions that we are using right now to try to maximize that involvement, and we will continue to do so.
We will look at all options, really where it will maximize opportunities for local companies and local individuals.
Mr. Anawak: It is nice to hear that the Minister is saying all this.
I do not mean to single out any one company, but let us say Ninety North or Sanajiit is building houses in Repulse Bay, I do not think Sanajiit or Ninety North have any shareholders in Repulse Bay, that is my point.
It is nice to know that these companies are from the North, from Nunavut, but most times they do not have that Inuit component.
They do not have that component of having shareholders from each of the communities.
We are interested about Inuit ownership or utilizing the companies in each of the communities that have shareholders in the contractors.
Would not this be the way to ensure that the community benefits by ensuring that the community builds the houses for that community?
Mr. Speaker, in a situation of a smaller community where there may be a select number, or maybe only one local contractor available to do that work, we have, Mr. Speaker, we have at the Housing Corporation negotiated, there is a situation in Sanikiluaq, where we negotiated the construction component for Public Housing to a local contractor.
We are receptive to that.
The Cabinet has the authority to enter into solely negotiated contracts if those circumstances allow for that.
Having said that, like what the Premier said earlier, we have to weigh the pros and cons and the costs benefits, etc.
But if those provisions are there to allow that and if it is supported by the community, supported by the MLA, then we will continue to do so.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. Members will note that Question Period is now over.
Bear with me for the next few minutes, we will go through the Orders of the Day up to Committee of the Whole, and then we will take a short break.
Written Question 020 – 1(6): Request for Proposals
This is to the Minster responsible for Housing Corporation I would like (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this is for the Minister responsible for Housing.
Following request for proposal what entities were awarded the contract and what was the value for each contract for 2003-2004 N.T.I. retrofit program supply, ship and erect a single family dwelling in Arctic Bay, closing date was July 14.
2003-2004 fire damage replacement program supply, ship and erect single family dwelling in Arctic Bay closing date was July 23. 2002-2003 condominium home ownership program design, supply, ship and erect Rankin Inlet, Igloolik, Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, and Gjoa Haven closing date was May 17, 2003.
2003-2004 construction public housing program materials supply only Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk closing date was May 9, 1903 or 2003, 1903 a little while ago.
2003-2004 for construction, supply, ship and erect Qikiqtarjuaq, Kugluktuk, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Sanikiluaq closing date was May 9, 2003. 2003-2004 construction public housing program, supply, ship and erect Arctic Bay, Iqaluit, Cape Dorset, Kimmirut, Clyde River, Pangnirtung, Grise Fjord, Pond Inlet, Hall Beach/Qikiqtarjuaq, Igloolik and Sanikiluaq closing date was May 9, 2003.
2003-2004 construction retrofit program, retrofit two program, supply, ship and erect Arctic Bay, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet closing date May 9.
Public housing program 2003-2004 construction, supply, ship and erect Arviat, Whale Cove, Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake, Chesterfield and Coral Harbour closing date April 18.
2003-2004 construction in staff condominium ownership program, supply, ship and erect Cambridge Bay closing date March 21. 2003-2004 construction public housing program duplex and triplex construction labour only Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, and Kugluktuk, closing date February 19, 2003.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask for this same information for those communities that received allocation for public housing in 2003-2004 but do not appear in the list as RFPs and I look forward to your reply and would very much appreciate receiving the information prior to the reconvening of the sixth session.
Item 10 petitions.
Tabled Document 129 – 1(6): Interim Financial Report (Un-audited) March 31, 2003
I wish to table the interim financial report for the year ending March 31, 2003.
I have a document to table pursuant to subsection 20-1 tabling of documents procedures.
Tabled Document 130 – 1(6): Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act – Election by Netser
Pursuant to subsection 20.1 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table the election by Nanulik.
Moving onto Item14.
Bill 40 – An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation Act – Notice
Hon. Peter Kattuk: Mr. Speaker I give notice that on Friday, October 24, 2003 that Bill 40, an Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation Act be read for first time.
Bill 42 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act – Notice
I give notice that on Friday, October 24th, 2003, that Bill 42, an Act to amend the Labour Standards Act be read for the first time.
Bill 41 – An Act to Amend the Nursing Act – Notice
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October the 24th, 2003, that Bill 41, an Act to amend the Nursing Act be read for the first time.
Bill 43 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Notice
Bill 44 – Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act No. 1 2003-2004 – Notice
Bill 45 – Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act No. 4 2003-2004 – Notice
Bill 47 – Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act No. 3 2003-2004 – Notice
Bill 48 – Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act No. 4 2003-2004 – Notice
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 24th, I will move that Bill 43, an Act to amend the Income Tax Act, Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act No.1 2003-2004, Bill 45, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act No. 4 2003-2004, Bill 47, Supplementary Appropriation Act Operations and Maintenance No. 3 2002-2003, and Bill 48, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act No. 4 2002-2003, be read for the first time.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to waive the two-day notice requirements to allow for first reading of Bill 46, the Appropriation Capital Act 2004-2005.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. The Minister is seeking to consent to Waive Rule 62 (1) so that Bill 46 can have First Reading today.
There are no nays, please proceed Minister Ng.
Bill 46 – Appropriation (Capital) Act 2004-2005 – First Reading
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members.
Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West that Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act 2004-2005 be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. The Motion is in Order.
All those opposed, the Motion is carried, and Bill 46 has had First Reading.
Bill 46 – Appropriation (Capital) Act 2004-2005 – Second Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South - Whale Cove that Bill 46, Appropriation (Capital) Act 2004-2005 be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this Bill is to seek Legislative approval for the capital requirements of the Government of Nunavut Departments totalling $107 million, 889 thousand dollars to allow for the timely delivery of the capital projects for the 2004-2005 fiscal year and included is that we will be able to see capital estimates.
The Motion is in Order, to the principle of the Bill.
To the principle of the Bill, a question has been called.
The Motion is carried and Bill 46 has had Second Reading and accordingly the Bill stands referred to a Committee.
Minister Statement 167-1 (6).
Bill 46, with Mr. Irqittuq in the Chair and before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:40 and reconvened at 16:08
Item 19: Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
We can now call the Committee to Order.
At this time, I would like to welcome you all to the Committee of the Whole.
We will be dealing with the Minister’s Statement 167-1(6) and Bill 46.
We would like to deal with the Minister’s Statement 167-1(6) and if we have the opportunity, I would like to start with the 2004-2005 Capital Budget, starting with the Department Health and Social Services.
Most Members agreed.
General Comments for the Minister’s Statement 167-1(6).
We are ready to approach the witness table, and deal with the Minister’s Statement.
Chairman (interpretation): Please proceed.
Mr. Kilabuk if you could introduce your officials.
I apologize; I did not have my mike on.
Chairman (interpretation): If you could introduce your officials for the record.
On my left, I have the Deputy Minister, Leona Aglukkaq.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Anawak.
Mr. Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister.
Leona.
I'm sure that we’ll be seeing the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit working group, but the question that we usually have is how effective this working group is going to be, and what kind of recommendations they are going to be coming up with.
While we are on the issue of language, when are we going to be seeing draft legislation that will be used as documents?
Sometimes I’m very proud to the Northerner and an Inuk, the signage and everything in Inuktitut because there are lot of people here who do not even bother to put Inuktitut signage in the place of business.
So this is an issue I had brought up by quite a while back and a person from Iqaluit, Qallunaaq said that not very many people speak in Inuktitut, which is not true.
If we can have elders go into any setting, I want them to be able to read things in Inuktitut, in their own language and usually there are places, there are some things we cannot do and I'm glad to see that they are recommending changes to the Act.
One thing I wanted to focus on was what would be the responsibilities of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit task force and what would be a really effective tool, as I said earlier when are we going to see changes in the legislation so that all signage there will be a requirement for it to be in Inuktitut and the Minister is well aware that his department was created and that one was the main focus of creating our own territory in the NWT they didn’t think about the people of Nunavut or their language.
They went to the parliament using the British model and at that time when Tagak Curley started the negotiations to create a territory, they included self-government.
That is one of the foundations that we base all our decisions on.
I do not have a lot of general comments but my question is in regards to the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit taskforce.
What power would they hold and are we going to be able to implement the recommendation within the Nunavut Government?
Those are my two main questions.
The other one is in regards to the signage that is written in Inuktitut.
Would that be in the Languages Act, or would it be included as part of your responsibilities?
I truly believe that there should be more signage in Inuktitut.
We are on our general comments.
Thank you, Mr. Minister for starting the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I know both of you very well.
I know that you will be working hard in regards to the Inuit languages and the Inuit culture, and promoting the foods and clothing.
This is your responsibility and I thank you for understanding that this is a very important part of this government.
I grew up at the time before there were too many Europeans here; I grew up in the traditional Inuit way starting as a child.
There were times when it was hard to get food.
At times we went through the starvation period when I was a child.
We had a very hard time, but in reference to the GNWT, they did not have that in their heart, and they did not know how important it was for the Inuit to promote their own culture language.
It was not in their heart, but when the Nunavut Government was created, it was the basic foundation, and that was the main reason why we negotiated our Land Claims Agreement and created the Nunavut Government.
We have been a Government for a little over four years.
And there are a lot of times that the general public asks us what we are doing to implement Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the Government system.
They are saying, “Look at our children, they are just speaking in English, and they had forgotten the Inuktitut language.”
Especially in the Kitikmeot area, the children are playing outside and just conversing in English.
When people from outside of Canada come in, it is embarrassing when they go to an Inuit community and the only language that they are conversing is in English.
So where are we going on this issue, and it is time that we realized the importance of preserving our language and promoting it.
It is something that is near and dear to my heart.
It is the way we eat, it is our culture.
It is something that we are very proud of and it’s up to us to promote it.
We don’t want to lose our language and culture.
The Inuit languages have to be taken back so our children can converse in Inuktitut just like we do today.
I’ll use an example; when I was a child I didn’t speak one word of English.
There were four of us including my mother and we had one language, that’s the way I grew up.
Inuktitut was the only language that we spoke, nobody spoke in English and that’s how we grew up as children.
I knew everything, I was brought up in the Inuit culture and I didn’t go to school until 1961 and I didn’t know one word of English.
Yes and no were the only two words that I understood yes and no were the only things that I understood and I heard people when they spoke in English and I wanted to learn but I didn’t realize that today my children would be going to the other extreme.
I realized the importance of using the Inuktitut language in the community and I’m proud today that we have a department, Culture, Language, Elders and Youth that is responsible for the promotion and retention of Inuit language and culture.
I urge that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit task force be given the power and not just with the legislation, that the recommendations be taken seriously and implemented by the government that they use as an advisory body to the Government of Nunavut.
I look forward to that and we will give you our full support.
The people of Nunavut believe in this government and we were elected to represent them in this House.
For the Members in the second Assembly, we have to believe that they will do the same thing that we have.
As one of my colleagues stated earlier, they may be given the power but will they have the power to influence the government in anyway.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Havioyak.
Yes I would like to see some signs in our languages so that our elders.
In Kugluktuk we call them IQ in our language, but we call them Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I like to speak my language, Inuinnaqtun, and I like to see Innuinaqtut and Inuktitut continue on in the future but as we stated earlier I am glad that Kitikmeot is improving.
In the Kitikmeot they are starting to use the language and it’s improving though it is picking up slowly.
But today IQ is what we have to use so that we can promote and retain our language and teach it to our younger generation and make it into a working language in our government.
The more we promote our language in our government we will eventually get back out language, but I would like to see that the more we promote our languages in our Government, I think we will eventually get back our language, I would like to see that, how are you going to implement these Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into government. If we continue on trying to improve Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit language, I would like to see that promoted.
But long ago when back in our history, Inuit used traditional knowledge and also, if they want something that they say in this, if we want to get an old tool or if we want to use them, maybe if you find it that you replace it with something from your pocket.
But you keep the traditional tool alive because I was taught when I was seven, if you are going to get something from the land that was used as a tool, you replace it with another tool so that tradition is kept alive, but when Inuit did steal these old tools, they get scared of these old tools. If you touch this tool, you are going to have to see a shaman.
So, but today, I would like to see that we continue on with keeping our traditions alive. If you are going to take a tool from the land that you found, you have to replace it with something else in order to keep our traditional ways alive.
Today, the Government says they want to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and language.
I think if we try to get the language back, it might be scary to some people, but it is not that way.
Today and the Minister also said in June that young people today should be given the opportunity to be trained or the opportunity to continue on with our traditional way, our traditional ways of language and culture.
So, I would like to see that even if we have to use it, if we can continue on to improve our language and culture in our communities, maybe in six communities.
I think that there is going to be a working group implementing these.
I do not know when they will start, but I would like to know when Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit will be implemented.
Chairman (interpretation): Alakannuark.
I apologize, my voice is not all that clear today.
Nevertheless, I would like to welcome the Minister and Leona to the Witness Table.
I do not know a lot about Inuit, even though I am considered an elder and I grew up in the traditional setting.
There is an erosion of the Inuktitut language and its usage and the Inuit culture.
The elders of yesterday and today are different.
We have seen people from Arviat developing the Inuit curriculum based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I would like these courses to have the same wisdom used in the past because, without a doubt, this curriculum will be used in the future and be used to promote our language and culture and it will give them more strength in their identity.
The young people of today have the ability; every child has ability.
If I use Kugaaruk as an example we have young people who are learning to build kayaks.
An elder cannot build a kayak; they know a lot more than I do.
I can use myself as an example, if I don’t know the traditional Inuit culture I look forward to the days where the young people will be taught our language and our traditional system.
As you can see I can write syllabics without the finals, but the young people can write syllabics with all the finals.
I look forward to the days where the Inuit, the young people will enhance their Inuktitut language and I look forward to the IQ task force and your department to work towards that goal.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is not in writing yet, and I’m sure that it will be in the future.
Due to bad weather, Mr. Iqaqrialu could not make it to the session.
I’m sure he would have a lot to say about this but I would first like to welcome the Minister and his official.
Since the Nunavut Government was established the Inuit had high expectations with the Department of Culture and Language, Elders and Youth.
They depended on to make sure that the department would service Inuit.
We know that the Nunavut Government is a public Government but the department itself for Cultural, Language, Elders and Youth, they are responsible for those things but we all know that department has the smallest funding.
This Department should be the most prominent department because it has an impact on our daily lives.
Mr. Chairman I would like to say, although I don’t want to hurt anyone, I’m not trying to hurt anyone or point fingers and blame anyone.
The department should answer to the elders, for example if I’m asked to work and have to bring up the Chinese language than it would be senseless for me to hold that job because I don’t speak Chinese and that’s how it is today.
I just wanted to use that example.
I have few questions in regards to language.
In the past we didn’t baby talk in Inuktitut, we need to have sensible Inuktitut conversations and we also noticed that people who work on the radio speak in Inuktitut and now we are paying more attention to the Inuktitut speaking media out there.
We want our children to speak real Inuktitut.