EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT
1st Assembly
HANSARD
Official Report
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1999
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark
(Akulliq)
Mr. Enoki Irqittuq
(Amittuq)
Mr. Kevin O'Brien
(Arviat)
Mr. Glenn McLean
(Baker Lake)
Mr. Kelvin Ng
(Cambridge Bay)
Mr. Peter Kattuk
(Hudson Bay)
Mr. Hunter Tootoo
(Iqaluit Centre)
Mr. Ed Picco
(Iqaluit East)
Mr. Paul Okalik
(Iqaluit West)
Mr. Donald Havioyak
(Kugluktuk)
Mr. James Arvaluk
(Nanulik)
Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak
(Nattilik)
Mr. Peter Kilabuk
(Pangnirtung)
Mr. Levi Barnabas
(Quttiktuq)
Mr. Jack Anawak
(Rankin Inlet North)
Ms. Manitok Thompson
(Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove)
Mr. Olayuk Akesuk
(South Baffin)
Mr. Jobie Nutarak
(Tunnuniq)
Mr. David Iqaqrialu
(Uqqummiut)
John Quirke
Deputy Clerk  Rhoda Perkison
Clerk of Committees
Nancy Tupik  Law Clerk
Sergeant at Arms  Simon Nattaq
Editors of Hansard
Innirvik Support Services  Box 1200
Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0
Tel (867) 979-6770 Fax (867) 979-6811 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Table of Contents
Adoption of Rules of the Legislative Assembly 1
Election of Speaker 2
Remarks by Speaker 2
Presentation of Mace 4
Commissioner's Address 5
Presentation by the Hon. Jane Stewart, MP, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development 6
Appointment of Premier and Executive Council of Nunavut 8
Premier's Address 9  Address by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, P.C., MP, Prime Minister of Canada 11
Business of the House 13  Swearing In of Members of the Executive Council 17
Assent to Bill 1 and Prorogation of the First Session 25
A.  Bills
Bill 1, Flag of Nunavut Act  First Reading 14
Second Reading 24
Third Reading 25
Assent 25
B.  Motions
1 - 1 (1): Rules of the Legislative Assembly (Alakannuark) 1
2 - 1 (1): Election of Speaker (Anawak) 2
3 - 1 (1): Appointment of Premier and Executive Council (Tootoo) 8
4 - 1 (1): Appointment of the Management and Services Board (Irqittuq) 12
5 - 1 (1): Appointment of Striking Committee (Nutarak) 13
6 - 1 (1): Appointment of Clerk (McLean) 19
7 - 1 (1): Appointment of Deputy Speaker (Iqaqrialu) 20
8 - 1 (1): Appointment of Deputy Chairpersons of Committee of the Whole (Puqiqnak) 20
9 - 1 (1): Appointments to the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges (Okalik) 21
10 - 1 (1): Appointments to the Standing Committee on Ajauqtiit (Irqittuq) 21
11 - 1 (1): Appointments to the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development (Iqaqrialu) 22
12 - 1 (1): Appointments to the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health (Tootoo) 22
13 - 1 (1): Appointments to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services (Nutarak) 23
14 - 1 (1): Adoption of Terms of Reference For Standing Committees (O'Brien) 24
15 - 1 (1): Application for Membership in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Okalik) 24  C.
Tabled Documents
1 - 1 (1): Terms of Reference for the Standing Committees (O'Brien) 14
2 - 1 (1): Returns to the Writ of the General Election, February 15, 1999 (Clerk). 17  Thursday, April 1, 1999
Nunavut Hansard
Thursday April 1, 1999  Nunavut Hansard
IQALUIT, NUNAVUT  THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1999
> The Legislative Assembly convened at 3.30 pm.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Mr. Akesuk, Mr. Alakannuark, Mr. Anawak, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Barnabas, Mr. Havioyak, Mr. Iqaqrialu, Mr. Irqittuq, Mr. Kattuk, Mr. Kilabuk, Mr. McLean, Mr. Ng, Mr. Nutarak, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Okalik, Mr. Picco, Mr. Puqiqnak, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Tootoo.
>> Singing of O'Canada
Mr. Quirke (Clerk-Designate): Thank you.
I would like to ask Bishop Idlout and John Homann to perform the opening prayer.
>>Prayer
Ms. Perkison (Deputy-Clerk Designate) (interpretation): Thank you.
The Tatiigiit Group and the Iqaluit Drummers will now perform singing and drumming.
>>Song and Drum Dancing
Ms. Perkison (interpretation): We will now have the throat singers perform.
>> Throat Singing
Ms. Perkison (interpretation): I would like to welcome you all to the first sitting of the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
The floor is open for motions.
Mr. Alakannuark.
ITEM 1: Adoption of Rules of the Legislative Assembly
Motion 1 - 1 (1): Rules of the Legislative Assembly
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin, that the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut be adopted.
Mr. Quirke: Are you agreed?  Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Mr. Quirke: Motion passed.
The floor is now open for nominations for the election of the Speaker. Mr. Anawak.
ITEM 2: Election of Speaker
Motion 2 - 1 (1): Election of Speaker
Mr. Anawak: Mr. Clerk, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hudson Bay, that Levi Barnabas, of the electoral district of Quttiktuq, take the Chair of this House as Speaker.
Ms. Perkison: There is a motion on the floor to nominate Levi Barnabas, the Member for Quttiktuq, as Speaker.
Some Hon. Members: Agreed.  Ms. Perkison: Everybody's agreed, the ayes have it.
On the direction of the Assembly I declare that Levi Barnabas is duly elected as the Speaker of this first Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
--Applause
Mr. Quirke: I would ask that the mover and the seconder of the motion escort the Honourable Speaker to the Speaker's chair.
ITEM 3: Remarks by Speaker
Speaker (Mr. Barnabas): Honourable Members, Mr. Prime Minister, Madame Commissioner, Madame Minister, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.  Welcome.
Please allow me to begin by expressing my deep appreciation for the trust and confidence that you have placed in me by selecting me as your Speaker.
As Speaker, it is my responsibility to serve this Assembly in the spirit of impartiality and fairness.
For this Assembly to truly serve the people of Nunavut, its elected representatives must know in this House, and within its rules, they have the freedoms and privileges that come with the heavy responsibilities placed upon them.
I pledge to you that I am mindful of my duty to ensure that the rights of the House and its members are upheld.
Our work starts today. As we perform our duties in this House, its committees and in our constituencies, we know that the eyes of those who elected us to our positions of trust are upon us.
As the youngest of Canada's legislatures, much is expected of us.
This legislature is only one of two in all of Canada that does not operate on a partisan basis.
As such, we have the opportunity to fulfil the commitment that Nunavut will combine the best of Inuit and contemporary forms of government.
When we come together as an Assembly, we do not do so in the expectation that confrontation will be the order of the day.
Rather, the spirit of consensus guides us.
The best decisions are those that are achieved through dialogue.
Civility and respect are among the qualities that shall characterize this place.
Consensus can build accountability.
This House will succeed when those who make the choices that affect the lives of our families and the communities know that their actions are subject to the scrutiny of the Assembly as a whole.
Together, we will find the path - a path that is lit brightly by the fact that the composition of this Assembly reflects the diversity of Nunavut itself. Some of us come from the Assembly of our new western neighbour, and we are grateful for the support of our former colleagues and constant friends.
We look forward to the benefits of the wisdom and experience that members who served in the west bring with them.
Their contribution will be matched by the ideas and perspectives of new members.
The people of Nunavut expect us to learn, listen and act.
I am confident that the Honourable Members will work to do so – a pledge we all took just hours ago when we took our oaths.
To all assembled, I would like to speak briefly about this historic place.
Although in a few short months this Assembly will sit in its new home, this place has many memories for those of us who have walked a long road to reach this unprecedented day.
On May 25, 1993, in this very room, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was signed.
Many of the people who were there on that day are also with us this afternoon.
We thank the students of Inuksuk High School for once again sharing their place of learning.
We look to the energy of our youth and the wisdom of our elders to inspire us in the years ahead.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the elders and youth that are with us today.
Elders from all of Nunavut's communities are represented at this gathering - we thank them for their years of effort in achieving this day.
The pages that you see come from the 19 constituencies of Nunavut. Many of them are travelling away from home for the first time.
Krista, Eric, Kenny, Nina, Tommy, Genevieve, Gloria, Rachel, Jonathan, Jayne, Solomon, Stacey, Johnny, Itidloi, Jesse, Lorna, Kipanik, Edward, Qujjuk, Teevi, Fauna and Jennifer – We are very proud of you. We are also honoured to have with us in the room today the honourable Premier of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Jim Antoine, and former Premier Nellie Cournoyea.
I believe that you will all agree that the artwork which surrounds us is beautiful. The wall hangings that you see were made by the Quqshuun Ilihakvik Centre in Gjoa Haven; the Tusanik School in Repulse Bay and the Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay.
On behalf of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of Nunavut, I would like to express our deep appreciation for the beautiful painting that you see in front of the stage. It was presented last evening by the Honourable Jonathan Motzfeldt, Premier of Greenland, to the Honourable Paul Okalik.
I am also pleased to tell you that the chair in which the bearer of our mace, Mr. Simon Nattaq, sits today was most generously donated to us by the Speaker of the Upper House of the Parliament of Canada.  These symbols, like the Qamutik that rests on the floor, will find a home in our new Assembly building.
I would finally like to recognize the artists who created the mace. We are honoured that they are with us today.
Inuk Charlie, Joseph Suqslaq, Paul Malliki, Mariano Aupilardjuk, Mathew Nuqingaq and Sam Pitsiulak – thank you. The mace, which will shortly be presented to the House, is itself a reflection of the rights and authority of a democratically elected Assembly. It is a gift from the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and seven other Inuit organizations.
It speaks eloquently for itself in the way it embodies the soul of our land, this Assembly and our people.
ITEM 4: Presentation of Mace
Speaker: Would the pages Kipanik Eejeesiak and Teevi Mackay, please summon the bearer of the mace.  >>The mace is brought in and laid upon the table.
Speaker: We can begin now.
Please all rise and the page Qujjuk Amagoalik will be escorting the Commissioner.
Speaker: Madame Commissioner, the Members of the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut have elected me to be their Speaker.
At this time, so that all members of the Assembly can best carry out their duty to Nunavut and to their country, I would like to claim for them their undoubted rights and privileges, especially freedom of speech in their debates, access to your person when necessary and your favourable consideration of their proceedings.
Commissioner Maksagak: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to declare to you that I believe in the duty of the Assembly and, not doubting that the Assembly's proceedings will be conducted with wisdom and care, I grant and allow the Assembly its constitutional privileges.
I assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to me and that the Assembly's proceedings, words and actions shall receive from me favourable consideration.
>> The Commissioner takes the Chair.
ITEM 5: Commissioner's Address
Commissioner Maksagak: Elders, Mr. Speaker, your Excellencies, honoured guests, Members of the Legislature, I am pleased to welcome you to the opening of the First Session of the First Assembly of Nunavut.
This is a great honour for me to give the first Commissioner's Address on behalf of our new government.
I would like to congratulate you Mr. Speaker, the Premier-elect, the Cabinet and all of the Members of this Assembly on being called to form the first government of Nunavut.
The people of Nunavut have put their trust in this Assembly to work together in the creation of a new government in a new Territory.
They have elected you because they believe and trust in your will and ability to carry this work forward.
Our Elders here today and listening to this speech on radio and on television can tell us how far we have come.
They remember the times, from their own lives and from the histories of their parents, when Inuit were alone in this land.
As Inuit we built our lives from what was around us.
From snow and bone, from the animals of the land and the sea, our Elders fed and cared for their families.
They accomplished everything with little.
They travelled thousands of miles, at home in their environment, and taught the next generations the strength and ingenuity to carry Inuit into the modern world.
The modern world is now here.
As Inuit we share Nunavut with others who have come to join us.
English and French speaking Canadians, people from many lands, have become part of Inuit communities.
New tools have been introduced to Our Land and Inuit have taken those tools and made them our own.
Snow and bone have turned to metal and paper.
Together with our new neighbours we have established towns, built schools and airports, negotiated a Land Claim, and now we see the creation of a new territory.
Nunavut is ours, but ours to share.
There is work to be done everywhere.
Our government plans to develop a budget over the coming months and will introduce it this spring to this Assembly.
Our government will work to deliver services and programs to the people of Nunavut in a sensitive, responsive and responsible manner.
Our government also asks for your patience and your goodwill.
Not everything will work the first time, not every office will be staffed; there will be some delays and false starts.
This is our government, we built it, we own it, we now have the responsibility to make it work.
Tell us when things go astray and we will work with you to make them right.
Our government will develop a legislative agenda for presentation to this Assembly.
This will begin our journey towards creating Nunavut solutions, laws, policies and programs.
In continuing this journey we commit to listening to the people of Nunavut and continuing to be guided by the people's needs.
As a demonstration of unity in Nunavut for the future, our government intends to take measures to bring all the people of Nunavut into a single time zone, from Qikiqtarjuaq to Kugluktuk, from Davis Strait to the Coronation Gulf, from the Belcher Islands in the south to Ellesmere Island at the top of the globe.
Mr. Speaker, this is a day of ceremony and celebration.
It is appropriate that our government is introducing today the Flag Act, which will designate the official Flag of Nunavut.
I am confident that the people of Nunavut will be proud to see this symbol of our new territory flying in all our communities.
Thanks are due to more people in more ways than words can express.
To the peoples of Canada and their governments, in each province and territory, who have supported Nunavut over the years: we thank you with all our hearts, and we are proud to join you.
To the peoples of the Northwest Territories as we leave them, for having travelled so far with us, and for having been companions on our journey: we thank you and wish you safe journey as our paths part.
To our elders who first dreamed, to our leaders and negotiators who first spoke the dream, to our children who have taken the dream into their hearts and lives: we owe you everything and we will work to earn the trust we have been given.
Today we join hands with you in the birth of Nunavut.
Speaker: Thank you Madame Commissioner.
Now I would like to invite the Hon. Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to address this Assembly.
Ms. Stewart.
ITEM 6: Presentation by the Hon. Jane Stewart, MP, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Hon. Jane Stewart (Min. Indian Affairs and Northern Development): Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour to be present at the first sitting of the new territory of Nunavut.
Respected elders, Commissioner and Prime Minister, I join your voices in congratulating the Premier-elect, the members of cabinet and the members of the Legislature on their achievement to date.
Mr. Speaker I congratulate you as well on your selection and I listened to your advice to your colleagues in your introduction.
You talk about the fact that as an Assembly you will work with civility and build consensus and I am sure that's true, but in my experience it's unlikely that the next sittings of this Legislature will be as sober and as calm as this.
I don't expect that you will have the beautiful voices of the youth here to guide you but certainly it will be the youth and their future that will guide your decisions.
You will be supported by the elders and by the symbols that are in your Legislative Assembly that remind you of who you are, from whence you come and the significance of your responsibilities.
For years the people of the eastern arctic have dreamed of a territory they could call their own.
And while it has not been easy, individuals, organizations and government have long worked side by side with vision and determination to make the dream a reality.
Today we are celebrating the fruits of our labours, Nunavut.
This realization was carried out by the residents of Nunavut for the people of Nunavut.
Recall the Northwest Territories of 1870, a vast expanse of land by any measure, east to west, north to south.
Already home to aboriginal people, it was soon the land of opportunity for newcomers.
A territory diverse in both population and geography.
Responding to this diversity, Canada has redrawn its map over time.
Out of the original Northwest Territories it built first the province of Manitoba in 1870, then the Yukon Territory in 1898 followed by the creation of Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905 and then further additions to Manitoba at the turn of the century.
Today out of the still vast Northwest Territories, Canadians have created yet another territory that reflects our democratic vision.
That territory is Nunavut, our land.
This evolution goes to the heart of what makes the Canadian federation strong; government's ability to grow in lockstep with the aspirations of her people.
As other nations around the world struggle to define themselves, often with great human cost, we count ourselves very lucky.
Ours is not a history of war and conflict, it is one which is inspired by co-operation, by balance.
We have built a strong country in which we are masters of our own destinies.
With Nunavut, Canadians have once again taken the opportunity to make choices about their future.
Those elders gathered here today have never doubted that it was the right choice.
And through their decades of hard work towards this moment they never doubted that if you can dream it, you can do it.
As Nunavut takes its place in the Canadian federation it will be tested.
You know, as do I, that expectations are very, very high.
You must create jobs, improve health, keep youth in school.
The government of Nunavut, you, will be called upon to do all this and much, much more.
But I believe this is a territory and a people that are ready and up to the challenge.
Of course we can't predict exactly what the future will bring, but I am convinced it holds tremendous promise for the people of Nunavut and Canada as a whole.
In fact, across the north, in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon there is exciting economic, social and political change underway.
Change that brings Northerners the tools and control they need to build strong, self-sufficient economies and communities, and an even brighter future.
Just as the path of progress led us west in the twentieth century, so the path of opportunity leads us North in the twenty-first.
The Government of Canada is proud to have been a partner in this important undertaking.
It is a testament to the strength and importance of the partnership that has been forged amongst the Inuit, the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Canada, that despite the fact that there has been a division of land, a division of assets and a division of resources, the language and understanding of what we are doing has always been expressed in terms of creation.
The creation of Nunavut.
Thank you to all those whose commitment has brought about the birth of Nunavut.
Congratulations to you the political leaders and to the people of Nunavut.
Thank you and best wishes.
Speaker: On behalf of the Assembly I would like to thank you for your remarks.
The Chair will now entertain nominations to adopt the Premier and Executive Council.
Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre.
ITEM 7: Appointment of Premier and Executive Council of Nunavut
Motion 3 - 1 (1): Appointment of Premier and Executive Council
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker,
Whereas Section 55(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that there shall be an Executive Council of Nunavut;
And Whereas Members of the Executive Council are appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of this Assembly;
Now therefore, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake, that this Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of Nunavut that the following Members be appointed to the Executive Council/Cabinet:
Honourable Jack Anawak, the Member for Rankin Inlet North;
Honourable James Arvaluk, the Member for Nanulik;
Honourable Donald Havioyak, the Member for Kugluktuk;
Honourable Peter Kilabuk, the Member for Pangnirtung;
Honourable Kelvin Ng, the Member for Cambridge Bay;
Honourable Ed Picco, the Member for Iqaluit East;
Honourable Manitok Thompson, the Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove;
And further confirm that the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, Mr. Paul Okalik, has been chosen Premier by the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Tootoo.
Are you prepared for the question?
Are you agreed?  Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Speaker: I declare the motion carried.
On behalf of all the members of the Assembly, I congratulate the members of the first Executive Council and wish them wisdom as they carry out their very important duties.
Mr. Premier, do you wish to address the House?
Mr. Okalik (Premier): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
ITEM 8: Premier's Address
Mr. Okalik: Respected Elders, Mr. Speaker, those who have visited, Mr. Prime Minister, Minister Stewart, Madame Commissioner, please feel welcome in Nunavut.
As all of the Nunavut residents, I am very proud of this moment and in having been selected as the first Premier for Nunavut.
I wish to thank the members of the Legislative Assembly for their support and encouragement in my selection as Premier.
In the past two weeks, I have enjoyed working with the cabinet and the regular members.
We have already dealt with a number of issues and I look forward to working with you for a productive five years in our future.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank other Inuit and other people who have come to visit us on this historic day, especially the people of Greenland who have given us this beautiful wall hanging.
The Inuit from Nunavik who have also come to help us celebrate this joyous occasion, I thank them as well and also the Metis people of Canada who have come to help us celebrate and will be presenting us with a fine gift, they have been very helpful while visiting us in Nunavut.
As you all know, we had a long, hard journey towards Nunavut.
There was a lot of hard work but we have reached the end of the journey and it feels like we have completed a lot of work.
The Inuit of Nunavut have settled the largest land claim in Canadian history.
When we look at the Canadian map we have reshaped that map today.
Those are very symbolic gestures and they are a very big part of being a new territory of Nunavut.
For those who have been elected to positions and have created a government based on the principles of human rights, there are a lot of outside people who have admired what we have done.
We would like to create a government that is founded on integrity and openness, that is one we can be proud of.