EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We are dealing with the Department of Environment and please make sure that … we don’t take it personally however tough or one-sided we may appear.
Since we’ve started deliberating on the budget of Environment, it’s a very important department and my colleagues are well aware and very educated on the issue of environment.
We have been working for a long time and if I use Rankin Inlet as an example. It’s the second largest community in Nunavut.
The conservation officers don’t have any money at all compared to the large amount of responsibility.
They are overloaded with responsibilities and the amount of money they receive is no match to the size of their responsibility.
There seems to be no strategy at all on how they can access more funds, be it third party funding, or from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and also for facilities.
We should look at the hunter and trapper organization offices; they have a temporary office at this time but once the lease expires they will have to move again. They have an old Government of Nunavut office that they’re currently using and it’s shameful.
We have to have a long-term strategy and include the hunter and trapper organizations in the government infrastructure.
They are doing a huge amount of work and it seems almost impossible to do all that since they don’t have an office.
We had a community freezer and I believe it’s owned by the Government of Nunavut and it’s connected to their building.
I don’t know who the owner is but it is community operated.
Number one, the health officer closed down this building and the Mattaaq was just coming in and the health inspector was going to be closing down the building if they didn’t fix it up properly.
I don’t know who owns that building. I don’t know whether it’s Economic Development, or Wildlife.
They spent approximately $10,000 and they couldn’t recover that cost in order to put that facility up to code.
The government has to give back the $10,000 that they spent because I believe the Nunavut Government owns that building.
So this is one example, the building being condemned.
I would like to find out what kind of strategy you have with regard to the hunters and trappers organization offices?
Just recently, and I think everybody knows, in Rankin Inlet a hunter was charged for killing a polar bear.
He is a very accomplished hunter, but he was charged. He is very incredible and has credentials.
He is originally from Chesterfield Inlet, or Kugaaruk. He would never intentionally kill an animal.
I would like to hear from the minister, I hear that it is in front of the courts, but I would like to get an update from the minister as to what is going to be happening. If the Wildlife Act is broken, and if it’s directed to Inuit, then they do an investigation right away.
This individual was charged by the conservation officers. He was told that he would have to be fingerprinted. I called the conservation officers’ boss, and I told him that he was violating the Wildlife Act; it wasn’t a criminal case.
(interpretation ends) Section 241 in the Wildlife Act says; “Alternative measures may be used to deal with a person alleged to have committed an offence instead of judicial proceedings under this Act. (interpretation ends)...(no interpretation)...(interpretation) Can the minister reply?
(interpretation ends) We have the support of the hunters and trappers organization, but that’s a political organization.
They don’t all support it. Some have come to me and said we don’t support this charge.
So, too quick once again to go and seek political support from somewhere before the charge is laid; that’s not correct.
(interpretation) I believe it was investigated over one or two days. Mr. Minister, you wrote in the letter that we have to be fair.
Yes, most of us, not just me, suspect now that if there appears to be an Inuk hunter who seems to break the Wildlife Act, then it’s investigated right away.
It’s not just me.
We know that the mining companies don’t have investigative powers, but I was also told by a hunter in Rankin Inlet who was out caribou hunting, it appears that too many caribou are dead.
And, some of them have taken a very small amount for testing.
I wonder why the wildlife officers don’t do their regular patrols like they used to because it’s not too cold. The wildlife officers are capable of patrolling, and that is one of the areas where I will be raising questions.
With regard to the polar bears, we heard in the fall time, even though it came from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, they were saying there is a population decrease in the walrus, but we have to hear from the wildlife if they agree with that because we have to convince them that it is not so.
I would like to ask the minister if he approves of tagging because according to Inuit Qaujimanituqangit, they should have an idea of the migration patterns of different kinds of animals, and we will be asking why it is like that, and if you approve of it.
I will want to get more information in regard to commercial harvest.
So I would want you to see, I would want you to table what policies and guidelines there are and I will want information on that.
The written questions I posed, I want a response before we finish this department because it will be difficult in regards whether...
That’s all I have for now, Mr. Chairman.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates starting with page I-5 in your main estimates. Page I-5.
Environment. Branch Summary. Corporate Management.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I’ve asked this question before, but the way I understood when you wrote me a letter that I believe alternative measures can be used. Let’s not worry about the case in Rankin Inlet.
What does that section 241 exactly mean because as you said that you get the support from the conservation officers but I think that should be left up to the courts.
I wonder if you can respond to that in regard to the section 241 of the Wildlife Act. Exactly what does it mean?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): In regard to the polar bears, especially if they have cubs, we talk to the HTOs because we have given that responsibility to them.
If they feel that somebody breaks the law, then we go to the conservation officers. That person he’s talking about, we talked with the HTOs and chairpersons.
I talked with an elder in Rankin Inlet who was observing that hunter. He went after that polar bear for quite a long time.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you. Yes, since he refers to that, could he say how he feels about that, Mr. Chairman?
We are not to ask hypothetical questions. Mr. Minister it’s up to you to respond or not.
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) We are not to answer hypothetical questions, so I won’t answer.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, as the minister stated earlier, the response he gave to my question, I didn’t say that I wanted to refer to that but he automatically went to that response about the incident in Rankin Inlet because it sounded like he knew the person who witnessed it because he witnessed the whole thing.
It’s not hypothetical.
The person who witnessed this I know but the member is proud of him because he is a very respected elder and I often consult with him in regard to the wildlife.
His name is Tatty and he said he witnessed the whole thing and he was not too happy when that young man was going after the polar bear with cubs.
Yes, this will be put into evidence.
It looks like it had a political interference but in the Act it doesn’t state under legislation planning if somebody is charged under the hunter and trapper organizations.
That is why I asked the section 241 without thinking about the Rankin Inlet incident.
This section, is this used? And it would be helpful too if you can respond to my Written Question and do you think about alternative measures because I don’t think it’s referring to hunter and trapper organizations.
So I would like to ask the minister.
I think the member is alluding to the Written Question that he posed last week and we are preparing answers to the written questions so that will be forthcoming and I will have that answer for him at the beginning of next week or before.
Section 241, do you use that section if people think that somebody’s breaking a law, or if there should be an investigation?
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My assistant deputy minister, Jane Cooper wants to answer that question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Ms. Cooper.
We often use alternative measures. Not all cases go to court. We often, between the conservation officer, the hunter and trapper organization, elders in the community will often look at something that has happened and decide within the community how to go forward with this.
In this case, at the consultation with the hunter and trapper organizations, the conservation officers decided that yes, they should proceed in the manner as they did. If you look at 241(1) a, it says, “… if the alternative measures authorized by a person or a person within the class, the persons designated by the commissioner,” that would be our conservation officer, and our conservation officer, after consultation, decided to go forward with this prosecution.
I think that’s the dialogue that your corporate management deals within those planning and legislation division. Also I’m sure interpreters in every division. But I am not 100 percent clear that local hunter and trapper organizations are fully informed of this alternative legislative measure because they are not part of the prosecution case or whatever.
I asked the minister earlier.
I am sure Ms. Jane Cooper can respond to my question. I believe your first name is... I believe it is Jane, but Sue.
Here’s the question, the question is according to the Act when wherever the charge is laid, are you required by law to consult with the hunter and trapper organizations and if so, under what provision is that in?
Before I let the minister respond, please don’t refer to people by their names, anybody’s name.
The First Assembly in consultation with the hunters and trappers organizations dealt with the Wildlife Act.
The chair people of the hunters and trappers organizations were involved.
They are fully aware; they agreed to that. That is how the Wildlife Act came about.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): My question was directed to Ms. Cooper. I would like to hear what she has to say because she had indicated that once a charge is laid, they normally go to the hunters and trappers organization.
Under what provision of the law in the Wildlife Act is the department required to consult with a hunters and trappers organization? In my opinion that is not clearly specified here, and I must be wrong.
It is up to the minister if you want to respond to the question, and you can also designate your official.
Before you respond, I think Mr. Curley wants to clarify his question.
Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, my question was to one of the witnesses, Ms. Cooper.
Thank you.  Chairman (interpretation): Minister.
Hon. Patterk Netser: One of my witnesses will answer that. Ms. Cooper.
No, there is no provision under the Act for us to consult with the HTAs.
However, we work very closely with the HTAs and we try to consider all aspects of any kind of misdemeanour within the Act. We consult the HTA to see how they feel about going forward with different prosecutions, etcetera.
It is a part of our consultation process that we do within the department with the HTAs.
It would appear, when dealing with the legislation, or the interpretation of the legislation, that the department normally, I’m sure, consults with a legal advisor. As well, you’re trying to get political support, like they say with the hunters and trappers organization.
I truly believe though each local HTA requires independent legal advice from yours.
Is that part of the advice, Ms. Cooper, when you deal with that initial consultation?
Hon. Patterk Netser: I’ll try and be Ms. Jane Cooper for a moment.  Mr. Speaker, under the land claim agreement, we are obligated to work with the hunters and trappers organizations, and we do that.
Mr. Curley: I would also like to ask Ms. Cooper whether or not the legal advice requirement is also considered; that they need independent legal advice when dealing with that; that they are not part of the department.
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Can you hold on a second. I would like Mr. Awa to respond to that question.
Mr. Awa (interpretation): Just a short response; the hunters and trappers organizations and the bodies such as the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board are the people that we work with.
We work with all those organizations according to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement because they are also responsible for wildlife in Nunavut, so we work in partnership with them. Under the Wildlife Act, it does not state that but even though it doesn’t state that in the Wildlife Act, because they are recognized under the Land Claims Agreement, we work in partnership with them.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): My question, Mr. Chairman, is: can I ask any one of the witnesses, or do I ask one particular witness?
Mr. Awa. (interpretation ends) Mr. Curley, I think you’re questioning my authority here. (interpretation) When you’re asking a question you can direct it to the Chair, that’s myself, and I will give the minister the discretion to answer or get one of his officials to answer the question.
He can designate either one of his officials to answer that question.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I understand that but I would like to recognize the clock now, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley. (interpretation) There’s a motion to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
Thank you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Awa, and Ms. Cooper.
I’m sorry; I haven’t said anything for quite some time so my voice is kind of harsh.
Is there a seconder? Thank you, Mr. Alagalak.
The Orders of the Day for March 23:
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until tomorrow, March 23, at ten o’clock in the morning.
>>House adjourned at 20:06
Friday, March 23, 2007
Pages 717 – 810
Opening Prayer 717
Ministers’ Statements 717
Members’ Statements 719
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 721
Oral Questions 722
Returns to Written Questions* 738
Tabling of Documents 739
Notices of Motions 739
Second Reading of Bills 741
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 742
Report of the Committee of the Whole 807
Point of Privilege 807
Orders of the Day 808
Friday, March 23, 2007 717
041 – 2(4): Early Childhood Resources (Picco) 717
042 – 2(4): Legal Interpreter Training Program (Okalik) 718
043 – 2(4): Piqqusilirivvik Progress Update (Tapardjuk) 718
081 – 2(4): Sanikiluaq’s Nuiyak School – An Aboriginal Education Success (Kattuk) 719
082 – 2(4): Animal Rights Groups (Picco) 720
083 – 2(4): Community Health Representatives (Barnabas) 720
084 – 2(4): Appreciation of Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Arreak) 721
108 – 2(4): Energy Issues (Curley) 722
109 – 2(4): Community Health Representative for Grise Fiord (Barnabas) 724
110 – 2(4): Client Travel Policies for Patients and Escorts (Tootoo) 725
111 – 2(4): GN’s Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy (Peterson) 727
112 – 2(4): Medical Travel From Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 729
113 – 2(4): Fuel Prices (Arvaluk) 730
114 – 2(4): Continual Monitoring of Contaminated Marine Mammals (Alagalak) 733
115 – 2(4): Income Support Assistance for Hunters (Barnabas) 736
Return to Written Question 002 – 2(4): Support to Community Libraries (Clerk) 738
059 – 2(4): Guidelines for Nunavut Territory Archaeology and Palaeontology Permits (CD) (Tapardjuk) 739
005 – 2(4): Amendments to Rules 18 and 39 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly – Notice (Tootoo) 739
006 – 2(4): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Picco) 740
007 – 2(4): Amendments to Rules 97 and 101 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly – Notice (Tootoo) 740
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Elections Act – Second Reading 741
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Consideration in Committee – Environment 742
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Consideration in Committee – Human Resources 769
I would like to ask Minister Simailak to say a prayer for us.
Premier, Ministers, Members, and pages.
Just to remind you this morning that we have only two pages due to parent-teacher meetings this morning.
Minister’s Statement 041 – 2(4): Early Childhood Resources (Picco)
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning.
I am very pleased to announce the development of early childhood resources in the form of a Nunavut Wildlife Theme Box. I’d like to thank you for giving us permission to show that box this morning.
The box contains and is geared for pre-school children age zero to five years, and will reflect both Nunavut’s wildlife, as well as all four official languages.
It includes posters, books, puzzles, fact-sheets, and a memory game.
As you can see this initiative demonstrates that the Department of Education is including more culturally relevant materials and activities for our pre-school children. One of the props that are used is an Okpik. We also have a Tulugaq.
It gives me great pleasure to know that we are continuing to improve the quality of early childhood for our Nunavummiut children. Quality programs for culturally relevant learning help our young children develop and grow into successful, productive adults.
Minister’s Statement 042 – 2(4): Legal Interpreter Training Program (Okalik)
I think the minister needs to take lessons himself about learning the proper terms for the birds and animals in Inuktitut, so it’s good that he has some in his possession.
I don’t like being mistaken for an owl.
I am pleased to report today that six Nunavummiut have successful completed the legal interpreter training program.
Since 1999 the Department of Justice, Court Services has partnered with Nunavut Arctic College to offer an eight week legal interpreting training program.
Many interpreters from communities across Nunavut are interested in expanding their skills as numerous employment opportunities await them in the justice system and other areas of public and private sectors.
I would like to thank the Kakivak Association and First Air for providing sponsorship support for several of the students, in addition to the contributions of the students’ employers.
(interpretation ends) The Nunavut Court of Justice, led by Senior Judge Beverly Brown, has always insisted on proper interpretation for Nunavut’s public and inspired the creation of this training program.
The graduates of this program are an essential component of our government making our justice accessible by providing Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtut translation to the parties and the public in our courtrooms.
Senior officials from Newfoundland and Labrador were in Iqaluit a few weeks ago to see first-hand how this program works. They are very impressed and are considering implementing a summer program based on our model.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker and members, please join me in recognizing the six graduates of the Legal Interpreters Training Program for their achievements.
We also congratulate the Legal Interpreters Training Program.
Minister for Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Minister’s Statement 043 – 2(4): Piqqusilirivvik Progress Update (Tapardjuk)
Piqqusilirivvik Steering Committee consists of Department of Iliqqusilirijikkut, the Department of Education, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, elders from the three regions, along with some Members of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit and the Mayor of Clyde River.
Planning is well under way on the development of Piqqusilirivvik Inuit Cultural School.
Their knowledge and skills on culture and tradition will be essential.
As I committed in the House last session to provide a report early in the year, I have not been able to do that yet as there are several sub-committees working hard to develop the implementation plan.
I wanted to assure this House the government is continuing to draft an implementation plan and once the progress report is provided to me then the Piqqusilirivvik Steering Committee, I remain committed to sharing that information with the members.
Member’s Statement 081 – 2(4): Sanikiluaq’s Nuiyak School – An Aboriginal Education Success (Kattuk)
I rise today to share with you another success story from Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq.
Earlier this month, the Society for Advancement of Expertise in Education released a report, a ten-case study on schools which are examples of success in aboriginal education.
The report praised Sanikiluaq’s Nuiyak School for its strong leadership and integration of Inuit culture, activities, and innovative programs.
It’s really shows how success can be achieved by outstanding principals such as Lisi Kavik, whom I spoke about earlier in session, and the staff at the school.
As you know, I am a strong believer in the importance of culture and traditions. I am very pleased that this report linked academic success with respect for aboriginal culture and involvement of aboriginal staff.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Nuiyak School on this very successful report card.
Member’s Statement 082 – 2(4): Animal Rights Groups (Picco)
It is with great expectation and some apprehension that April 1 is almost here.
Mr. Speaker, usually on that day in many of our communities in Nunavut, the 24-hour sun has come.
With many years of traditions behind us, we will venture forth in search of the elusive and the highly regarded sea lemming.
Mr. Speaker, with thousands of these ferocious creatures under foot and under water, hunting them and harvesting them for their sable, their ermine-like fur will help our economy.
But, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Greenpeace and the folks at the International Fund for Animal Groups don’t like it.
They say that the sea lemming harvest is cruel. They say that the sea lemming is in danger of extinction.
At last count, there were five million plus sea lemmings. Our hunt is regulated, monitored, licensed, and has been studied for the past 100 plus years, and found to be humane. The animal rights’ groups love to show baby sea lemmings because they are cute and marketable.
But, Mr. Speaker, we don’t hunt the baby sea lemming, and we don’t club them either.
Mr. Speaker, there really are no sea lemmings. But, like the other tall tales around our real seal hunt, it is hard to tell fact from fiction.
Our seal hunting is sustainable, regulated, licensed, and Mr. Speaker, in Nunavut, the hunting of seals continues to provide for food for our tables, Kamiik for our feet, and that is no tall tale.
Member’s Statement 083 – 2(4): Community Health Representatives (Barnabas)
Good morning and good morning to my fellow members and people of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about community health representatives. They should be available in all the communities in Nunavut.
In my constituency, in Grise Fiord, we used to have a community health representative but we don’t have one today.
The community health representatives have assisted the people of the communities, and they work to ensure that the people of Nunavut - adults, young people and children alike - are not exposed to sicknesses.
They talk to Inuit about being well in their bodies, and to be sure that store-bought foods are not expired. They talk to the public about anything that may be hazardous to their health.
Elders have worked with community health representatives very well in the communities.
For that reason, Grise Fiord should have a community health representative because the people are not as informed as they were before, because there is no program over there and they don’t have a worker as a community health representative.
At the appropriate time I will be asking questions about the community health representatives.
Member’s Statement 084 – 2(4): Appreciation of Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Arreak)
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today to represent my constituents and to speak on the topic that they wanted me to speak about.
This individual was elected in 1997, Nancy Karetak-Lindell.