EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, Donald Kogvik is the kind of volunteer who will spend all night without sleep by his HF radio while a search goes on, and he is a mentor to our younger volunteers.
However, I am concerned that not enough people are volunteering to serve in local search and rescue.
Mr. Speaker, as a search and rescue volunteer myself, I know how important and rewarding this work is.
I also want to point out that while volunteers should not expect to receive a paycheque for their time, we need to ensure that adequate resources are provided to search and rescue organizations to cover unavoidable expenses such as fuel and insurance.
Mr. Speaker, one of the specific concerns that I have heard from constituents is the need to review the chain of command with respect to tasking local members of the Canadian Rangers.
Mr. Speaker, we have a number of Rangers in Gjoa Haven. They are well-trained and they are ready to go.
However, it is my understanding that in order for local Rangers to undertake an official search… .
Are there any nays? (interpretation) I don’t hear any nays. Mr. Akoak, please proceed.
Mr. Akoak (interpretation): Thank you, my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) However, it is my understanding that in order for local Rangers to undertake an official search, they need to wait for the green light from Yellowknife.
This is an area where more delegation of decision-making authority to the local level would be desirable.
Mr. Speaker, we have recently learned that there will be an expansion of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary’s presence in Nunavut and the north.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this would be an excellent time for the Minister of Community and Government Services to convene a search and rescue summit in Nunavut.
This would be an opportunity for federal, territorial, and local representatives to address issues of concern and to identify new initiatives that will help to make our communities safer.
It would also be an excellent opportunity to share ideas on how to recruit and train the next generation of search and rescue volunteers.
Mr. Speaker, I will conclude today by asking all members to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Donald Kogvik and all of Nunavut’s search and rescue volunteers.
Members’ Statements. Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Member’s Statement 166 – 4(3): Team Nunavut Heading to Arctic Winter Games (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues and Nunavummiut who are listening or watching the proceedings.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my pride to Team Nunavut that is going to be going to Greenland for the Arctic Winter Games. I am very happy that they are going to take part in the Arctic Winter Games.
Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents will be going to Greenland along with Team Nunavut. There are 186 athletes coming out of Nunavut, but only one athlete represents my constituency.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and express my pride in Jutai Padluq. He is partaking in the volleyball tournament in Greenland.
To my “maternal auntie,” I just want to extend my thanks for your success.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in celebrating the athletes going to the Arctic Winter Games in various sports, their coaches, chaperones, managers, staff, as well as our representatives of Nunavut.
Let’s extend our congratulations, pride, and farewells as they leave for Greenland, and I expect them to bring back many golden ulus.
Member’s Statement 167 – 4(3): Arviat Participants at Arctic Winter Games (Savikataaq)
I, too, would like to congratulate some people going over to Greenland for sports.
I have 14 participants from Arviat and I’m proud of them all.
I hope they do well and come back with some gold ulus, not ulu but ulus, a few of them.
I would just like to name them off. From six sports, we have participants in the arctic sports, basketball, hockey, futsal, which is soccer, volleyball, and wrestling.
Just for the record, I would like to name them and I’m glad their going.
Andrew Bell,
Benjamin Manik,
Mahasi Nateela,
Ryan O’Connor,
Connor Fudge,
Tapisa Tattuinee,
Kadin Copland (Pihukti No. 2),
Michael Illnik,
William Campbell,
Andrew Porteous,
Lakeisha Flynn,
Jillian Kaviok,
Shelby Angalik, and
Sylvia Kablutsiaq
Congratulations on being picked and work hard, do well, have fun.
Member’s Statement 168 – 4(3): Angel Street Project (Ell-Kanayuk)
I say “hello” to the people of Iqaluit-Manirajak.
Further, I take pride in the athletes attending the Arctic Winter Games and I, too, have expectations that many of them will receive their gold ulus.
I participated in the Arctic Winter Games in 1970, so it’s obvious based on my experience that they will have an awesome time and I urge them to use their utmost capabilities to compete for the medals.
I will not be stating their names as they are too numerous to mention with multiple athletes coming from Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the reason I rise today is to express my pleasure in one of my constituents. The person I wish to recognize is Elisapee Sheutiapik, a past mayor of Iqaluit from October 2003 up to December 2010.
Prior to becoming the mayor, she was the deputy mayor in her first successful campaign to run for city council in October 2002 to 2003.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, while Ms. Sheutiapik was mayor, she developed a zero tolerance for violence against people, which the city passed at that time.
When she heard the Lucie Idlout song called “Lovely Irene,” it came to her to start an Angel Street project and she also sells t-shirts for $20, $10 of which goes to proceeds for the shelter and the other half to continue that project.
Mr. Speaker, she also helped create that project, Angel Street, which leads to the shelter.
Since she started this project, other cities across the country have done similar things, such as in Fredericton, they named Angel Crescent.
She continues to sell these t-shirts because she wants women or girls to know that there is rescue from an abusive relationship, and she does not want to see any others that could die or otherwise get serious harm from that.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue my statement.
Please proceed, Ms. Ell-Kanayuk.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, my colleagues.
After Ms. Sheutiapik did all that, she was presented with recognition. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, she was provided with the Humanitarian Award from the Economic Club of Canada’s third annual Voice of Hope Gala in October 2014.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of my constituent, Elisapee Sheutiapik.
Member’s Statement 169 – 4(3): Addressing Needs of Youth (Qirngnuq)
First of all, I say “good day” to the people of Taloyoak and Kugaaruk.
I also want to speak to events in Kugaaruk as our student body is impacted by sickness. Although the student body numbers around 300, only about 70 students went to school due to the flu.
I believe we will be speaking about youth issues today, so I want to start off with this statement, Mr. Speaker.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the importance of addressing the needs of our territory’s youth.
Mr. Speaker, we learned last week that the government needs to spend over $2.24 million to improve security at community health centres because of vandalism and other problems.
Mr. Speaker, it is very sad that this kind of action has become necessary in today’s society.
Mr. Speaker, during the recent election campaign in Netsilik, I heard very clearly from my constituents in Taloyoak and Kugaaruk that we need to work harder in providing after-school options and programs for the youth.
Mr. Speaker, I represent two of Nunavut’s smallest communities. Although our communities may be small, the needs are no less great than they are elsewhere.
Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to the educators and volunteers in Kugaaruk and Taloyoak who dedicate their time and energy to mentoring our youth.
At the same time, I want to clearly state that smaller communities also need investments in the physical infrastructure that we will need to support programming for our youth, which, in turn, benefits the community as a whole.
Member’s Statement 170 – 4(3): Mittimatalik Participants at Arctic Winter Games (Enook)
Yesterday, I rose to express my pride in the athletes attending the Arctic Winter Games to represent Nunavut.
Today, I also want to name the athletes by stating their names as athletes will be arriving from Pond Inlet.
The athletes who will be playing men’s basketball are Misha Pewatoalook and Tyson Angnetsiaq. They are staying at the hotel where we are staying. Whenever I see them, they keep reiterating that they are going there to grab gold ulus in Greenland.
I am filled with pride when they actually state that they are there to go pick up gold with extreme conviction. Further, I am proud that they are not cowed by that challenge.
In addition, an athlete representing Pond Inlet in the women’s basketball team is Rose Tagak.
As well, we have three athletes on the men’s volleyball team from Pond Inlet. They are Peter Inootik, Jassie Simonie, and Steven Innuaraq.
We are proud of their accomplishment and of their participation as part of Team Nunavut.
I hope you do your best and we know you will represent Nunavut rather well.
Member’s Statement 171 – 4(3): Resignation as Minister/Member of the Executive Council of Nunavut (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My name is Paul and I’m an alcoholic. The last drink I had was on June 11, 1991.
I had to stop because my children were about to be born and supported my own family.
I was blessed with a strong family who supported me in my decision and reaffirmed my decision.
I recall my late grandmother telling me, “If only your mom was here to see it.”
It came too late, but it gave me the strength.
However, I wouldn’t have been able to continue if I didn’t have the support from other groups when I was living down south.
It is with their support and various facilities that I was able to continue my sobriety to this day.
On that basis, I have been pushing hard for my department to implement the supports needed for our citizens so that we can support them in their fight against addiction.
Our recent budget reflected the commitment where we are laying the foundation for our citizens to get the support within their communities.
However, that is not complete.
There is much more work to be done.
This morning, I informed my cabinet colleagues that I cannot continue as a minister under the current circumstances.
I cannot support an institution of selling beer and wine in my community where we don’t have the facilities to support those who may not be able to combat their addictions.
Accordingly, I am resigning from my ministry today. I will continue to serve as a Member of this Assembly to serve Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Moving on. (interpretation ends) At my discretion, we will have a 10-minute break.
>>House recessed at 14:03 and resumed at 14:22
I want to take this opportunity today to recognize an Arviat resident, Eric Anoee Jr., who is in Iqaluit.
It is always joyous to see people from Arviat here, so I hope Eric feels welcome here and to watch the proceedings at his leisure. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
No? I’m sorry.
Member for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, Mr. George Hickes.
It gives me great pleasure today to rise and welcome Mr. Terry Audla, the President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, into the Assembly.
Mr. Audla will be sitting at the witness table with me within the next few days within the Committee of the Whole.
I have spoken to a number of the staff. Although we miss Ms. Kimball very much at the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Audla’s leadership and his desire to serve Nunavummiut within the housing portfolio has been exceptional and I very much welcome Mr. Audla to the House.
Question 216 – 4(3): New Hunter Education Program (Sammurtok, T)
Before I begin, (interpretation ends) I would just like to express my sincere and deep disappointment in the resignation of the Minister of Health and Justice.
(interpretation) To the people of Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin Inlet, have a good day. My fellow Rankin Inlet residents, you are in my thoughts and I remember your prayers from yesterday.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment.
In his Budget Address last week, the Minister of Finance announced that the Government of Nunavut is, and I quote, “developing a hunter education program to teach harvesting skills and firearm safety.”
Can the Minister of Environment indicate when this new program is scheduled to begin?
I cannot say right now when it will start, but I will return with the answer to the member.
Speaker: The minister has taken this as notice.
I will continue to the next member. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 217 – 4(3): Summer Student Employment Equity Program (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My question is for the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, approximately 45 young people from Rankin Inlet have worked in the government’s Summer Student Employment Equity Program. I support this program and want to see it succeed in helping our students succeed.
Mr. Speaker, the government’s guidelines for the program indicate that one of its goals is to, and I quote, “ensure that all summer students are provided the opportunity to improve their employability skills.”
Can the minister describe the process by which students are placed with departments whose work best matches the students’ field of study?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Alex Sammurtok for the question.
Mr. Speaker, the summer student program has been quite successful over the last several years. Last summer, we had, I believe, over 200 summer students working in government departments and public agencies across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the eligible students would be from grades 10, 11, and 12 and then, of course, university students. We make every effort to work with the Department of Finance’s HR Division to match the students with the types of jobs that would be suitable for them to progress in their studies and hopefully come back and work for the Government of Nunavut or a public agency.
It’s not possible in every case because there may be more students for a particular job than jobs that would pertain to their field of study.
It is said that it’s hard to get a job without experience, but you need experience in order to get a job. Can the minister describe what kinds of additional training are provided to summer student program participants in such areas as preparing for job interviews?
I thank Mr. Alex Sammurtok for that question.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the HR departments in every region make available information and personalized attention to assist students to develop resumés and prepare for interviews. Those services are available.
It is important that all forms of government hiring are done fairly, including summer student hiring.
Directive 206 of the Department of Finance’s Human Resources Manual contains rules and guidelines to prevent favouritism, preferential treatment, and nepotism in the hiring process for GN employees.
Can the minister describe what rules are in place to ensure that the summer student hiring process is also conducted fairly?
I thank Mr. Alex Sammurtok for the question.
Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear in the Public Service Act that nepotism is not condoned in the government.
You get hired on merit and promoted on merit, and that should apply, whether it’s a summer student or more experienced workers in the Government of Nunavut.
Our human resources managers in all departments and our human resources staff in the Department of Finance are very aware of all the rules and processes.
I would expect that they would ensure that the employing department’s managers and supervisors adhere to the transparency and fairness in the hiring of summer students.
Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak.
Question 218 – 4(3): Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (Mikkungwak)
I say “hello” to Baker Lake and all Nunavummiut.
As we learned last week, the Energy Options Working Group that has been established by the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable is working to, and I quote, “access the required federal funding to undertake the next phase of the transmission line project between Manitoba and Nunavut.”
One of the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation’s federal counterparts is the Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Mr. Speaker, CanNor has been identified as a potential source of federal funding for this important project in the Kivalliq.
Has the minister written to her federal counterpart in support of this project?
Mr. Speaker, the round-table meeting in Churchill, Manitoba occurred just last month, February 2016.
The department supports the activities of the Energy Options Working Group, which is leading the work on the proposed power link.
EDT is currently working with QEC and CG&S to analyze the scoping study and recommend next steps.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, who represents the constituency of Mississauga-Brampton South, is also responsible for the Government of Canada’s six regional economic development agencies in the Atlantic, western Canada, northern Ontario, and other places.
Mr. Speaker, I envy his Aeroplan mileage balance.
Can the minister indicate whether or not her federal counterpart responsible for CanNor has visited Nunavut since his appointment?
Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains has not come to Nunavut as yet.
As the minister is well aware, Baker Lake is the home of the Meadowbank gold mine and the Kivalliq is the heartland of Nunavut’s economic engine.
I believe that the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency would very much appreciate the opportunity to see our economic development potential in the Kivalliq, including our gold mines and the projects being undertaken by the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable.
Will the minister invite her federal counterpart to visit the Kivalliq this summer?
If the opportunity permits, we will be inviting different ministers to come up north.
As the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, I am pleased to say that the ministers of tourism will be here later this year, as an example.
If we could do more of those, that would be great.
Question 219 – 4(3): Development Partnership Agreement (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, in exactly 28 days from now, the Government of Nunavut’s Development Partnership Agreement Policy will expire.
Let me first ask this question, Mr. Speaker. Will the government be renewing its Development Partnership Agreement Policy or will it allow this important policy to quietly expire and die?
This is specific to mining companies, this (interpretation ends) development partnership agreement (interpretation) which I believe the member is referring to.
To date, it remains the same as the last time it was revised in 2012.
I hope you restart my questions because she responded to a matter I wasn’t even asking about.
Mr. Speaker, what I was trying to ask was about this matter and I also stated that the expiration date is within 28 days.
Once these 28 days have passed, does it mean that this policy will just die?
Will it come to a dead end now?
The current partnership agreement is in place. It does not expire with the fiscal year.
We are currently looking at revising it, but at this time, a development partnership agreement is with one mining company and that is still in existence, that being Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine agreement.
I’ll continue.
Last year, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s business plan indicated that it was working with three different mining companies, including Baffinland, on development partnership agreement negotiations.
That’s what we heard last year.
Can the minister clearly explain why her department’s current business plan does not even mention development partnership agreements? Why is that so?
Currently, we have only one development partnership agreement and that is the Agnico Eagle Meadowbank mine agreement. The departments of Economic Development and Transportation and Finance have come to the consensus that the Fuel Tax Rebate Program should be cancelled, at least for operating mines.
The two departments are now working on developing a replacement for the development partnership agreement.
I am having difficulty understanding.
Do I understand correctly that the development partnership agreement is now being reviewed, that it will not expire, that you will be coming up with a new development partnership agreement?
Yes, we are now working on developing a replacement for the development partnership agreement program.
Question 220 – 4(3): Status of Sewage Lagoon in Naujaat (Mapsalak)
I will direct my question to the Minister of CGS.
Mr. Speaker, on May 28, 2015, the minister at that time indicated that the design for a new sewage lagoon in Naujaat was completed and that $6 million had been identified in the capital plan for this project, “with construction anticipated to start in the summer of 2016.”
As the minister is aware, his department issued a construction tender for a sewage lagoon upgrade project in Naujaat on October 23, 2015.
However, the department cancelled this tender on November 11, 2015.
Can the minister clarify why his department cancelled this construction tender?
The sewage lagoon project for Naujaat was cancelled because the government feels at the moment that it was not going to be money well spent on a sewage lagoon.
Our conclusions to that have to do with the Dalhousie University study. We have a contract with Dalhousie University and they are doing wastewater studies in many different communities.
We are finding that regulations that have been in place by the federal government are not, I wouldn’t say not applicable, but not quite right for Nunavut.
We have different conditions here and quite a different environment. This study that the university is doing in many communities over wastewater is stating that in fact.
It’s not to say that Naujaat won’t get a sewage lagoon, but the tender to process it now was cancelled and the reason was the study.
The way the wastewater is being naturally treated right now is working very well and the end product or the end outcome after the wetlands is it’s not that bad for the environment.
It’s good. It’s doing the same thing as a sewage lagoon would do.
The minister already responded to the other question I was going to ask.
However, to add to that remark about this study that needs to be completed for the sewage lagoon, as in future lagoon, as there is nothing at the moment in Naujaat, they are currently spilling the effluent onto the ground because that is the only choice.
When does the minister expect the study to be completed?
The Dalhousie University study I was talking about is going to be done for Naujaat this summer of 2016 and we will have a better idea of what needs to be done in Naujaat once the study is completed.
The situation in Naujaat obviously is that the houses are increasingly requiring service.
Extrapolating the amount of units means that a huge amount of effluent is being poured out into the area where they dump the sewage.
Further, in looking at the ground where they dump the sewage, it is seeping all over the land, as it goes quite far downhill.
Did I understand correctly that this study that was undertaken didn’t show any kind of hazardous contamination or that it won’t result in dangerous contamination since the effluent isn’t spilling into the ocean?
There is no harmful stuff, I guess.
By the time the sewage gets to the water after it’s treated by the wetlands is in good enough condition that there is no environmental or contamination concerns.
Like I stated, this summer, the study will be done in Naujaat and the community council will be part of the process where they consult with them.
Once this study is completed, we will have a better idea of exactly what is needed for Naujaat.