EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We all know that everything comes on sealift in Nunavut and they only come in the summertime.
So if the material can come in this summer, then it will proceed.
Chairman (interpretation): Do members have any more questions? (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary.
Headquarters. Total Capital Expenditures. $9,748,000. On M-3.
Chairman: Back to page M-2. Department Summary. Nunavut Arctic College.
Mission. Detail of Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $9,748,000.
Chairman: Are you agreed that Nunavut Arctic College is concluded?  Some Members: Agreed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister Quassa and your officials. (interpretation ends) Minister Quassa, closing comments.
I also thank my colleagues for asking very good questions and requesting information on the 2014-15 Capital Estimates for Nunavut Arctic College.
You asked some very good questions and I hope I responded to your questions properly.
We will proceed with our plans for 2014-15.
Sergeant-at-Arms, (interpretation ends) can you please escort the officials.  Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) What is the wish of the committee?
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I move to report progress.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We have a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
Your committee has been considering Bill 2 and the capital estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
A reminder that there’s a meeting at ten o’clock tomorrow morning of the Regular Caucus in the Tuktu Room.
Speaker: This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 18, at 1:30 p.m.
Pages 425 – 478
Ministers’ Statements 425
Members’ Statements 428
Returns to Oral Questions 433
Oral Questions 434
Tabling of Documents 458
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 459
Report of the Committee of the Whole 477
Third Reading of Bills 477
Orders of the Day 478
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 425
035 – 4(1): Nunavut Wins First Gold at AWG (Sammurtok) 425
036 – 4(1): Nunavut Food Price Survey (Ugyuk) 426
037 – 4(1): Baffin Island Caribou (Mike) 427
090 – 4(1): The Need for Medical Transportation in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak) 428
091 – 4(1): The Need for an Increase in the Polar Bear Quota for Western Hudson Bay (Savikataaq) 428
092 – 4(1): Closure of Children’s Group Home in Iqaluit (Angnakak) 429
093 – 4(1): Representation of Constituents (Hickes) 430
094 – 4(1): Tribute to Rita Paneloo Nashook (Ell) 432
095 – 4(1): Nunavut Seal Day in Ottawa (Mike) 432
Return to Oral Question 039 – 4(1): Kivalliq-Manitoba Hydroelectric Development (Kuksuk) 433
Return to Oral Question 045 – 4(1): Medical Travel for Unilingual Clients (Ell) 433
096 – 4(1): Steps to Reduce Medical Travel Costs (Hickes) 434
097 – 4(1): Western Hudson Bay Polar Bear Quota (Savikataaq) 436
098 – 4(1): The Need for Medical Transportation in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak) 440
099 – 4(1): Status of Suicide Prevention Strategy (Joanasie) 441
100 – 4(1): Closure of Iqaluit Children’s Group Home (Angnakak) 442
101 – 4(1): Search and Rescue (Sammurtok) 443
102 – 4(1): Medical Travel for Unilingual Clients (Enook) 444
103 – 4(1): Use of Telehealth Technology (Hickes) 446
104 – 4(1): Seniors’ Fuel Subsidy (Mikkungwak) 448
105 – 4(1): A Comprehensive Elders’ Health Strategy for Nunavut (Angnakak) 450
106 – 4(1): Medical Travel for Unilingual Clients (Enook) 452
107 – 4(1): Government Contracting Practices (Angnakak) 453
108 – 4(1): Review of Income Assistance (Enook) 454
109 – 4(1): Pond Inlet Airport (Enook) 455
110 – 4(1): Baker Lake Airport (Mikkungwak) 456
027 – 4(1): Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers under the Ministerial Benefits Policies for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2012 (Taptuna) 458
028 – 4(1): Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers under the Ministerial Benefits Policies for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 (Taptuna) 458
029 – 4(1): Medical Travel Policy (Ell) 458
030 – 4(1): 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut – Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut – Department of Family Services (Speaker) 459
Extension of Question Period (Enook) 450
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2014-2015 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 459
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2014-2015 – Justice – Consideration in Committee 464
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2014-2015 – Family Services – Consideration in Committee 467
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2014-2015 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee 476
Bill 02 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2014-2015 – Third Reading 477
Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Monica Ell, Mr. Joe Enook, Mr. George Hickes, Mr. David Joanasie, Hon. George Kuksuk, Hon. Johnny Mike, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak, Hon. Paul Okalik, Hon. Keith Peterson, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Hon. Tom Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna, Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk.
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Mr. Quassa, can you say the opening prayer, please.
Speaker (interpretation): Good afternoon, Members, Ministers, (interpretation ends) Premier, (interpretation) and all Nunavummiut. Welcome. (interpretation ends) Item 2.
The Hon. Member, Mr. Sammurtok.
Minister’s Statement 035 – 4(1): Nunavut Wins First Gold at AWG (Sammurtok)
I am pleased that my this statement is good news and a cause for celebration for Nunavummiut.
I wish to start off with a good day greetings to Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends) I would like to say “good day” to all Nunavummiut and in particular, to all 279 of our athletes, coaches, cultural performers, staff and people representing our territory at the Arctic Winter Games that is currently underway in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games is only halfway through, but I am very proud to rise today as Minister of Community and Government Services and say “good job” to all of our athletes for their hard work.
It is inspiring to follow their journey and see Nunavummiut be so hard-working, determined and filled with team spirit.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to rise and congratulate our first athlete, Drew Bell from Arviat, for capturing Nunavut’s first gold medal at the 2014 Arctic Winter Games.
Yesterday, Mr. Bell of Arviat scored first place in kneel jump for his open male division and the distance was 146.1 centimetres, in English, four feet, five and a half inches.
And not only did he win gold; Mr. Bell also won a bronze medal in one-hand reach for his division with a height of 162.6 centimetres, or five feet, four inches.
Mr. Bell’s accomplishment is a success for the whole territory, and I commend him for representing us so well on this northern stage.
Mr. Speaker, I am also happy to tell this House that Halla Crowley of Iqaluit won a bronze medal in the 777-metre individual juvenile female event in speed skating.
And I know many Nunavummiut enjoy playing basketball. I have the pleasure to report that for the first time, Nunavut’s female basketball team has won a match at the Arctic Winter Games, when they defeated Yukon 50-33.
Mr. Speaker, we have also won medals in other sports as well. I look forward to hearing all the final standings as they come in.
Mr. Speaker, the Games are not over. There are still races to be won.
To everyone at the Arctic Winter Games, I would like to say, “Good luck, we are proud of you, and come home safely.”
The Hon. Member, Ms. Ugyuk.
Minister’s Statement 036 – 4(1): Nunavut Food Price Survey (Ugyuk)
I say “good day” to the good people of Netsilik. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the high cost of food continues to be an issue in Nunavut.
The well-being of families in all our communities is impacted when food is not affordable.
In 2013, the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Family Services’ Poverty Reduction Division undertook a pilot food price survey in 11 Nunavut communities.
Mr. Speaker, in the communities surveyed, the average cost of one litre of milk was $3.19. The Canadian average price is $2.31.
Staple vegetables such as onions and celery were respectively, on average, $4.33 and $7.75 more expensive per kilogram.
In follow-up to this, my department is supporting a territory-wide food price survey which will be conducted this month by the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics.
The results of this survey will allow us to monitor price changes throughout the year and to understand the impact of certain measures, such as sealift versus airlift on the price of goods.
Mr. Speaker, having reliable information on the cost of living across the territory is important to inform policy and programs that support easy access to healthy food for all Nunavummiut.
The aim of this project is to train community staff so that people will be able to monitor prices in our communities on an ongoing basis.
Mr. Speaker, food security is a key element of well-being for all Nunavut communities.
My department continues to consider this a priority, with food security being one of the themes for action in our Makimaniq Plan and upcoming five-year action plan on poverty reduction.
We also continue to collaborate with other departments and Inuit organizations to ensure Nunavummiut have access to affordable and healthy food across the territory.
The Hon. Member, Mr. Mike.
Minister’s Statement 037 – 4(1): Baffin Island Caribou (Mike)
Inuit knowledge and scientific information indicate that the number of caribou on Baffin Island is very low.
Results from a 2012 aerial survey in the South Baffin area indicate a decline of approximately 90 percent since the 1990s.
On July 23 to 24, 2013, some 60 co-management partners met in Iqaluit for a two-day workshop to develop a proposed management process and suggested actions to address the caribou conservation need on Baffin Island.
In response to the feedback that was provided during this workshop, my department is currently conducting a Baffin-wide aerial survey to estimate the abundance and late winter distribution of caribou on Baffin Island.
Aerial survey activities are currently underway, having commenced in late February, and are expected to continue into mid- to late March.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this project includes a large amount of community involvement. Local Inuit hunters and elders provide valuable and extensive input and advice into the survey design and its implementation during recent consultations with community and hunters and trappers organizations (HTOs) in December 2013 and January 2014.
As well, community members and HTO representatives from 10 Baffin communities are being included as “wildlife observers” in all aircraft during the survey.
In addition, the HTOs from Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River and Arctic Bay will be conducting caribou ground surveys by snowmobile concurrent with the aerial survey.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, caribou are an extremely valuable resource to Nunavummiut and an important part of the arctic ecosystem.
The aerial survey findings will be presented to the hunters and trappers organizations, Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board (QWB), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) as soon as possible after the survey has been completed. (interpretation ends) The survey results will be used to inform management decisions and community-based conservation actions to promote the recovery of the population.
In the meantime, I urge HTO representatives to work with their communities to share knowledge and take any immediate action that may be appropriate as a start to conserve Baffin Island caribou to ensure their future sustainability while we conduct the scientific studies and continue to collect Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to inform on appropriate management action. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ministers’ Statements. I have no more names on my list.
Member’s Statement 090 – 4(1): The Need for Medical Transportation in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak)
I rise today to bring forward an issue that the residents of Baker Lake have been raising for some time: the need for medical transportation in the community.
Mr. Speaker, at a recent meeting of the Baker Lake Hamlet Council, a resolution was passed to request 24/7 stretcher service for those individuals who require transportation to the nursing station.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware that contracts are in place in other communities, such as Rankin Inlet, to provide 24/7 stretcher service.
The community of Baker Lake would like to enter into a similar type of agreement with the Department of health to provide emergency transportation of a patient to the health centre when the need has been identified by the nurse-in-charge.
Mr. Speaker, this is not a new issue for my community, but it seems to be taking a long time for the Department of Health to address it.
I encourage the minister and her officials to give the hamlet’s resolution full consideration.
Members’ Statements. Member for Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq.
Member’s Statement 091 – 4(1): The Need for an Increase in the Polar Bear Quota for Western Hudson Bay (Savikataaq)
Today I rise to speak about the issue of polar bears, specifically the western Hudson Bay population adjacent to Arviat.
The western Hudson Bay polar bear population is harvested by the communities of Arviat, Whale Cove, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake and Chesterfield Inlet as part of the management zone.
As people may be aware now, our community of Arviat experiences polar bear conflicts every fall as numerous bears invade our community and they are everywhere in adjacent areas.
These polar bears damage practically everything not protected, and some bears kill dogs, so not only are they destroying hunting equipment and cabins, when they enter a cabin they destroy everything. Some bears are now habituated with humans and don’t fear Inuit anymore as they casually enter our community.
The local conservation officers are constantly harried by calls, and they work with the hamlet by-law officers to chase them away. The danger is such that we need night watchmen who work all night long chasing away polar bears. It is usually one person doing this work.
Many residents in Arviat suffer hardship over this period as we prefer not to hunt polar bears at that time of year, so the practice is to try to chase them off.
However, this population is growing and we see more polar bears these days, yet it isn’t reflected in our quota, and specifically the (interpretation ends) TAH (interpretation) has to be increased for the western Hudson Bay population, as currently it is too low.
Back in 2007, our community was allowed to harvest up to 56 polar bears, but it was reduced to a lower number. For a period of three years, we were provided with eight tags, but these tags were used for human-bear conflicts or defence kills and the result was no hunter was able to harvest bears as no tags would remain in the western Hudson Bay population quotas.
At this moment, the number of tags provided to the community number is at 24. This number is much too low.
I wish to cite some examples related to the southern Hudson Bay polar bear population shared by Sanikiluaq and Northern Quebec Inuit hunters.
The overall numbers are very similar with approximately 1,000 bears in each population. The southern Hudson Bay population shared by Sanikiluaq and Northern Quebec is also about 1,000 bears. Western Hudson Bay population estimates also place the number of bears in it at about 1,000.
The total allowable harvest for western Hudson Bay is set at 24 tags, while the South Hudson Bay total allowable harvest is different as Sanikiluaq has 25 tags. At this time, the total allowable harvest for Northern Quebec was set at 60 tags.
Simple math means this population has 85 tags for polar bears that can be harvested while our zone only has 24. That is too much of a discrepancy.
I would like to ask for unanimous consent to continue with my statement.
Are there nays?
Yes, as I was saying, the number set for our zone is too low. The western Hudson Bay TAH is set too low, and it has to be increased. Just recently, there was a population study on the polar bears in Hudson Bay and it shows an increase.
We also know since we heard about this matter that the department has undertaken a (interpretation ends) polar bear management plan (interpretation) and here I mean the Department of Environment is consulting the communities which started this fall and expectations are that upon completion, the results will be released.
Later on, when we reach the appropriate time, I will be asking questions about this matter to the minister responsible.
Member’s Statement 092 – 4(1): Closure of Children’s Group Home in Iqaluit (Angnakak)
I rise today to express my sincere regret and concern that the Department of Family Services has decided to no longer maintain the children’s group home in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this move is misguided and ill-advised.
For almost 20 years, the children’s group home has provided just that: a home to children who are medically fragile and have specialized needs.
Recently, it has also provided a temporary home to other children in desperate need of a place to stay before a foster home can be found for them.
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the children who were being taken care of at the group home are all going to be placed in foster homes.
We already face a shortage of foster homes for all the other children who end up in the care of Child and Family services. Finding a foster home that is willing and able to provide specialized care is going to be even more difficult.
Mr. Speaker, what will happen to these young, fragile Nunavummiut?
They will most likely be sent out of the territory to foster homes in the south, even further away from their families, their culture and the society that they are familiar and comfortable with.
Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Department of Family Services will be converting the group home into a home for troubled adolescents.
While I do not disagree that there is a need for such a service, it astounds me that the Department of Family Services would decide to simply replace one service for another.
Mr. Speaker, we need a place for troubled adolescents to be supported and assisted. We need more foster homes. We need a facility where our medically fragile children can be cared for in a loving and supportive environment.
We need to provide for our youth. We should not be juggling one priority over another, eliminating one service whenever another service requirement raises its head.
Mr. Speaker, I call upon the government to reconsider this decision at the earliest opportunity. Our children, all of them, deserve to be cared for at home in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 093 – 4(1): Representation of Constituents (Hickes)
I first would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Finance once again for assisting homeowners with the home heating fuel rebate. I’ve had a number of calls thanking me for the small part I played in that.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send a strong message to the government. All of us in this House have the responsibility and the obligation to represent our constituents to the best of our ability.
For those of us who sit to your left, Mr. Speaker, that includes the duty to raise concerns, ask tough questions and hold the government to account.
Mr. Speaker, on any given day, we can all expect to receive a number of phone calls, emails and other communications from our constituents.
Since my election, many residents of Iqaluit have approached me with ideas, concerns and suggestions regarding ways in which our government can improve the way it serves the public.
I value this input and use it every day in my work.
Mr. Speaker, unlike in many legislatures in the country, our role as regular MLAs is not to defeat the government or to treat every question period as an opportunity to call for a minister’s resignation or to exchange childish insults.
Mr. Speaker, although we are here to hold the government to account, we are not here to bring it down.
However, Mr. Speaker, I believe that this message needs to be heard more clearly in some parts of our government’s administration.
Mr. Speaker, although we all recognize the importance of ensuring that privacy rights of Nunavummiut are respected by the government and although we all recognize the need to allow the public service to do its work and provide confidential advice to ministers, that does not mean that residents should be afraid to approach their elected members from time to time.
Mr. Speaker, it’s important for all of us to be mindful that Nunavut is a small jurisdiction. Over 3,000 Nunavummiut are employed by the government as public servants, teachers, health care professionals, first responders and other professions.
Mr. Speaker, I would go so far as to predict that every single Member of this House has at least one close friend or relative who is employed by the government in some capacity.
Mr. Speaker, raising suggestions, ideas, questions and concerns with a Member of the Legislative Assembly is very different… .
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays?
There are none. Please proceed, Mr. Hickes.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and all my colleagues.
As I was saying, raising suggestions, ideas, questions and concerns with a Member of the Legislative Assembly is very different from finding the nearest reporter or news camera to publicly criticize the government.
It’s also very different from a formal whistle-blowing process that involves allegations of wrongdoing or lawbreaking.
Mr. Speaker, muzzles and gag orders are not healthy for our government and they’re not healthy for this Legislative Assembly.
If we, as MLAs, do not have the opportunity to hear directly from our constituents on their ideas for how to improve the way we do business, we will all lose touch.
Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of losing touch with my constituents, and I have no intention of being “muzzled” in this House.
Member’s Statement 094 – 4(1): Tribute to Rita Paneloo Nashook (Ell)
Good afternoon to the people of Iqaluit-Manirajak.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a late constituent who passed away, Rita Paneloo Nashook.
Mr. Speaker, Rita was born in Pond Inlet, but moved into this area about 40 years ago.
She lived in the Illaulittuq outpost camp that has existed outside of Iqaluit for many years.
She moved to the city of Iqaluit later on and made it her home community for many years until her passing recently on February 2 of this calendar year.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Rita was the first host for IBC’s Kipinnguijautiit Inuktitut Show.
She has many relatives and had compassion for everyone.
She always wanted to make sure that everyone had enough to eat.
Mr. Speaker, Rita was always willing to help others in any way she could.
Personally, I very much appreciated her gift to my husband, the Iqaqtiik and Pualuuk she sewed, made out of waterproof material, to thank him for providing her with country food.
Mr. Speaker, Rita was a compassionate and caring woman.
We will miss her.
Member’s Statement 095 – 4(1): Nunavut Seal Day in Ottawa (Mike)
I want to express my pride in my fellow residents of Pangnirtung, and specifically Pilemonie Etuangat.
He spent many years in his position up until he retired recently.
He was a heavy equipment operator who worked as the local road maintainer for 27 years.
As he worked tirelessly until his retirement, I wanted to express our gratitude to Pilemonie Etuangat, as well as to his wife and children.
I ask that colleagues share in this celebration, which is why I rose to speak.
The other matter I wanted to speak to relates to the sealskin ban as this issue has surfaced again in the global community.
Just over lunch, there was a news piece about a demonstration outside of the Parliament where students attending the Nunavut Sivuniksavut are demonstrating against the EU ban while wearing sealskin clothing and to have examples of the uses of seals.