EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Jack Anawak, has had his ups and downs and is now moving on to a more civil ambassadorship role, which I know he will relish.
I thank him for his visionary views on issues.
You, Mr. Speaker, Kevin O’Brien, former colleague from the Northwest Territories.
You and I have had our differences over the years, but I respect the job that you have done, as a fair Speaker, and I thank you for that.
Peter Kattuk, Peter Kilabuk, and Olayuk Akesuk, are also all new colleagues, but I had the pleasure of working with them over the past years, and watched them all develop as MLAs, and Cabinet Ministers.
I thank them for their dedication and support.
Premier Paul Okalik was an inexperienced rookie MLA, Minister, and Premier when taking office in 1999.
I have seen you grow and mature into your role over the years.
And I thank you for your confidence in seeking my advice on many occasions and giving me the very important role of Finance Minister and Deputy Premier.
Ed Picco, another former colleague in the last Northwest Territories Legislature.
I am probably the only one that can understand the difficult issues he faces as Minister of Health and Social Services.
I sympathize with him, and I condemn him, Oh sorry, commend him…
Sorry Mr. Speaker that’s commend him on doing the best job possible.
He’s one of the hardest working Members who I have encountered and I thank him for his friendship over the years.
Mani Thompson, another former colleague who I’ve served with the longest of anybody.
I’ve appreciated your support and always being there for us to talk about the very difficult issues that we have of being absent parents of teenage children and I thank you for always being there to talk to and your friendship over the years.
Two others former colleagues, Mr. Speaker, who I wish to recognize and thank are no longer members today, James Arvaluk and Levi Barnabas who both had to relinquish their positions due to personal legal problems.
As we all know, both of their problems resulted from the excess use of alcohol, another example of why Nunavut needs to focus on some of our social issues.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I once again thank my constituents for placing their trust in me; I thank all of you for your support and confidence shown in me; I thank you for your friendship over the years.
I thank all the GN staff, particularly those in departments which I have led, I thank my Executive staff, the Legislature staff, the interpreters and translators, the technicians, my constituency staff, I thank my wife Susie and my family for their patience and understanding over my entire political career.
Mr. Speaker, being asked to serve your country is one of the greatest privileges and honours one can have.
I know that I have carried out my responsibilities to the best of my ability and I’m extremely proud of what has been accomplished both in my constituency and our new territory.
I wish you all the best as you seek re-election or move on to other pursuits.
It’s been an honour and privilege serving as an MLA and Minister overseeing numerous portfolios over the years.
I will always have great memories of each and everyone of you and the accomplishments that we have all achieved as Members of the 1st Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng and the best of luck in your future endeavours.
Tabled Document 161 – 1(6): Written Submissions on the Human Rights Act
And thank you for the nice words we heard.
Those were very good wise words.
Mr. Speaker as a Chair of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit I am happy to table some written submissions that were received by the committee during its review of Bill 12-The Human Rights Act.
Mr. Speaker, the eight written submissions were received from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Nunavut Status of Woman Council, the Nunavut Employees Union, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut, EGAL Canada, Iqaluit PRIDE and Friends of PRIDE and two law firms, Lawson Lundel and Byrd McCuaig Russell.
Mr. Speaker, the committee found that some of the submitted recommendations fell outside the scope of the proposed Act, for example, the submission from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on Human Rights and suggested that this Act should include the right to education, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the rights to adequate housing, the right to adequate food and a protection for rights under the Charter.
Mr. Speaker, although these recommendations fell outside the scope of the proposed Act, the Committee does strongly agree that there is a need to ensure that Nunavummiut are healthy, educated, properly housed and that our children are protected.
Mr. Speaker, while the Committee covered submissions in all of Nunavut languages, it should be noted that when there are no equivalent terms in the other languages, it is almost impossible to translate certain materials.
This concludes my Statement from Ajauqtiit.
Tabled Document 162 – 1(6): Developing an Adult Learning Strategy for Nunavut
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, in keeping with my commitment to this Assembly, I wish to table the following documents which are in sync.
I wish to dedicate to Minister Ng.
Developing an Adult Learning Strategy for Nunavut.
I am including the executive summary in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and French.
Additional copies of the actual report will be available from the Department of Education.
Tabled Document 163 – 1(6): Nunavut Development Corporation Business Plan 2004/2005
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends): I wish to table the following document, Nunavut Development Corporation Business Plan 2004-2005.
Tabled Document 164 – 1(6): Second Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee of Nunavut, April 1st, 2002 – March 31st, 2003
Hon. Paul Okalik: Ma’na, Uqaqti.
I wish to table the following documents:
Second Annual Report of the Victims’ Assistance Committee of Nunavut from April 1st 2002 to March 31st 2003
Tabled Document 165 – 1(6): 2003 Annual Report of the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut
2003 Annual Report of the Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent of this Assembly to waive the two day notice requirement to allow the First Reading of Bill 54, an Act to amend the Access to Information and Protection and Privacy Act.
Speaker: Mr. Premier is just getting a little bit ahead of himself there.
I would ask that you would bring that under Item 17.
Once again, Item 15.
Hon. Paul Okalik: My apologies, Mr. Speaker. I am a little premature.
Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I request unanimous consent of this Assembly to waive the two day notice requirement to allow the First Reading of Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection and Privacy Act.
The Minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 54 can have First Reading today.
Bill 54 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge, Bay that Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be read for the first time.
Speaker: The Motion is in order.
Bill 54 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act – Second Reading
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one day notice requirement to allow the Second Reading of Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act.
Speaker: The Minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(1) so that Bill 54 can have Second Reading today.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hudson Bay, that Bill 54, an Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this Bill amends the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to extend the period of time before the provisions of that Act will prevail over the provisions of any other Act.
All those in favour; All those opposed.
The Motion is carried, and Bill 54 has had Second Reading and accordingly the Bill stands referred to a Committee.
Second Reading of Bills. Second Reading of Bills.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and other matters.
Bill 35, Bill 49, Bill 50, Bill 51, Bill 52 with Mr. Puqiqnak in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 2-1(6), the Committee of the Whole will stay in Session until it reports itself out.
The Minister responsible for Bill 49 may go back to the seat he was sitting at yesterday.
Committee Motion 021 – 1(6): Bill 49 – An Act to Amend the Safety Act be Amended by Adding Clause 17
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman I believe there is just one housekeeping motion on this Bill to conclude things and I can do it from here if I may.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 49 be amended by adding the following after clause 16, clause 17 “this Act or any portion of it comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Commissioner”.
We did not complete Bill 49 yesterday and we will go on to clause 16 if everyone has a copy of Bill 49.
I move that Bill 49 be amended by adding the following after clause 16, clause 17 “this Act or any portion of it comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Commissioner”.
Chairman (interpretation): There’s a motion on the floor for clause 17.
Do you agree Bill 49 as amended?
Chairman (interpretation): Do you agree that Bill 49 is ready for third reading?
We would like to commence with Bill 35, the Wildlife Act.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister responsible for Bill 35 may proceed with his opening comments.
It is an honour to appear before this Committee to present Bill 35.
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who was involved with Bill 35 and they are here at the Gallery and I would like to thank them for supporting us and providing us with assistance and also to the Members of the Legislature for supporting the Wildlife Bill.
It is my honour to say that this Bill is Nunavut-made.
The old Act did not comply with the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
It did not meet our wildlife management needs.
Nunavummiut agreed the Legislation had to change.
The piece of Legislation we have today is the result of more than three years of collaboration and consultation with our partners, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Regional Wildlife Organizations and, most importantly, Nunavummiut.
We believe we developed the most extensive public consultation process ever undertaken in Nunavut to prepare this Legislation.
It involved two rounds of public consultation, publication of discussion papers, three separate Hunters and Trappers Organization workshops, a Wildlife Act web page, through newspapers and an intensive public awareness campaign that included newspaper advertisements, radio shows and television shows.
(interpretation ends) A focus group was also formed to ensure the principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit were incorporated into this Act.
It is those principles that will guide Nunavummiut who are involved in wildlife management throughout this Territory and help them make wise decisions.
I want to personally thank the elders and all those who worked long nights and for some, all night, to prepare this Bill.
What we have created after countless hours of public consultations and colossal effort is legislation that truly reflects the vision of people in communities across the north.
We managed to achieve something very rare and unique by creating a Bill that incorporates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into public law.
In other words, the Bill expresses Inuit needs, rights and values in legal terms.
(interpretation begins) It is legislation that fully complies with the provisions outlined in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and clearly defines Inuit harvesting rights; legislation that is consistent with national and international standards and agreements.
Provisions in the Act also include the protection of species at risk of extinction which are consistent with the federal regulations.
It is critical that we pass Bill 35 during this session of the Legislative Assembly.
This legislation will be a celebrated accomplishment in the life of this young government, and it is one of the last important major pieces of legislation we will consider before the next election.
It is work with which we must all be proud.
We have all agreed to the substance of this Bill.
We know what it says and it says that what we want to say.
Lawyers have approved, technicians have approved it and most importantly our hunters and elders have endorsed it during their Apex meeting.
The Bill you have before you is shaped by Nunavummiut, approved by Nunavummiut and wanted by Nunavummiut.
As the first government of Nunavut I hope we can point to this Act in years to come as part of our legacy and contribution to the future of our territory.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I welcome questions from fellow Members of the House regarding this legislation.
Although my opening comments could have been longer I am very pleased that the Members are in support and I will try and answer the questions that will be posed to me.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Minister Akesuk.
Mr. Chairman the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development is pleased to have had the opportunity to review Bill 35-The Wildlife Act with the Minister of Sustainable Development and his officials.
Mr. Chairman the Standing Committee would like to congratulate the Minister, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board on their joint work in development of this legislation.
Committee members were pleased that primary stakeholders were given the opportunity to be heard from the start and that all parties worked together to ensure that the legislation we see before us today is as sound as possible given the ambitious timeframes established for this project.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee is pleased that the Minister responded positively to the Standing Committees’ challenge by holding a meeting in Apex from September 30 to October 2, 2003.
This meeting included representatives from eight HTOs and RWOs as well as representatives from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Department of Sustainable Development.
The Apex meeting was essential for the passage of this Bill.
Support of the Bill could not be determined until stakeholders were given the opportunity to read the Bill and ask questions.
Mr. Chairman, I commend the Minister for listening and taking action on this matter.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee was concerned by the poor quality of the Inuktitut translation of Bill 35 that received second reading in the House.
The quality of the translation made consultation difficult at best and in some cases substantive submissions could not be made to the committee because the Inuktitut translation was not clear.
The committee urges the Government of Nunavut to work toward a translation process for legislation that ensures that accepted Inuktitut legislation terminology is used and that there is consistency throughout Inuktitut translations of legislation.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to congratulate the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Minister for working together to include the Standing Committee in the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board’s decision making process and for non-quota limitations.
The Committee is concerned however, by the apparent complexity of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board decision making process and the fact that there does not seem to be a form of a dispute resolution in place to resolve differences of opinion between the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Department of Sustainable Development.
Committee members are further concerned because it is not always readily apparent exactly what the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board’s jurisdiction is on certain matters.
Committee members urge the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the Department of Sustainable Development to work together to formalize a dispute resolution mechanism to encourage greater certainty in the relation between the two bodies.
Mr. Chairman, members are concerned that the enforcement provisions of the Bill give Conservation Officers extremely broad and potentially excessive powers of search and seizure.
Committee members know that the Minister must prepare a detailed report on various issues related to wildlife and table it in the legislation within twelve months of the coming into force of this Act, and then every five years.
The Standing Committee encourages the Minister to review the Wildlife Act and its associated regulations and orders as part of that report.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee knows that many parts of Bill 35 refer directly to Article 5 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Committee members are pleased that Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated was closely involved in the drafting of the legislation to ensure that the intent of the Agreement was preserved.
Mr. Chairman, several aboriginal groups from Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan made submissions to the Committee.
Committee Members urge the Government of Nunavut to continue working closely with these groups to ensure that the reciprocal hunting rights exist. In addition, Members encourage the Government of Nunavut to work toward a quota system that treats the residents of all impacted jurisdictions fairly and ensures that cooperation is used to enhance conservation measures.
Mr. Chairman, most importantly, the Standing Committee recognizes that many regulation-making powers are included in this legislation.
It is extremely important that Hunters and Trappers’ Organizations be provided the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the drafting of these regulations.
In addition, the Committee urges the Minister to set up a committee made up of stakeholders to review draft regulations and their translations.
Committee Members would also like those regulations to be tabled during the 2nd Assembly for review and comment by elected MLAs.
Mr. Chairman, this legislation forms the basis for harvesting, conservation and wildlife management in Nunavut.
It is legislation that empowers our government to manage wildlife utilizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and to maintain control over our most important resources, land and wildlife.
Mr. Chairman, the translation team has worked tirelessly to produce an improved Inuktitut translation of this Bill and the Standing Committee acknowledges their efforts.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee has worked hard over the past year to listen to stakeholders and gain an understanding of this very complex legislation.
During the Standing Committee process, many motions were made to amend the Bill in response to stakeholder input.
The Standing Committee also heard the presidents of the Hunters and Trappers’ Organizations when they said that this Bill is needed and is ready to be passed in this House.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Standing Committee recommend the passage of the Bill as amended and reprinted, to all Members.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. McLean, the Chair of the Standing Committee.
Minister, are you going to bring in your Officials to the Witness Table?
Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the officials to the Witness Table.
Thank you, for going to the Witness Table.
Minister, if you can introduce your officials for the record.
To my right, Joe Tigullagaq, he is the Director of Wildlife Division at Sustainable Development and also to my left, Patrick Orr; our legal drafter from the Department of Justice, Patrick Orr.
And I would like to welcome you, Mr. Minister and your officials for appearing before the Committee.
In order to conduct the meeting orderly, I would suggest that you go through the Chair.
We have a rule here in the House 77(1), individual Members of the Legislative Assembly will have time for general comments consisting of 10 minutes and you will be allowed to ask questions according to Rule 77(2) and each Member has 10 minutes for questions.
At this time, we are now on general comments.
Mr. Chairman, I am very proud to see this Bill on Wildlife.
It has been worked on for many years and I know that it did not take overnight to complete the Bill.
Some legislation was made that does not really reflect the needs of Nunavummiut and at times, it becomes difficult to go with the Act.
The knowledge of Inuit and their values, because Inuit people know the wildlife and the environment, they were able to conserve and manage the wildlife.
Inuit of Nunavut have not been given enough authority to deal with them.
Even the scientists in Nunavut are not originally from Nunavut.
When they start drafting legislation, they do so without too much knowledge of the north.
They do not know the day-to-day lives of Nunavummiut, especially in the springtime when they come in, when the weather starts getting warmer, they stay here for a few days and they seem to act like they know everything.
They start drafting things that we are suppose to use and the Government recognizes them.
Nunavummiut seem to be neglected in this process and this has really hurt us.
I know that we cannot have jurisdiction over federal legislation.
Animal rights activists have had an impact on our land up here.
They come up with the support of these animals rights activists to our land.
Since the scientists side with the animal rights activists they can never seem to agree with Nunavummiut according to the mandate that they were given by the Government.
Mr. Chairman, at times I regret quite a bit, that we aboriginal people, who have resided in the north and who have the knowledge of our environment, and our wildlife and who also know whether the wildlife is decreasing or increasing are never given any consideration.
If this Bill is to impact us, that would be the best process.
Wildlife in Nunavut is studied from time to time.
When the wildlife is going to be studied, they should include and involve the adjacent community and provide funding.
The communities themselves feel that they should govern themselves and operate themselves.
If this Bill is going to help them to run their own affairs, that Inuit will manage wildlife, if it is going to provide Inuit people with management of wildlife, they can learn a lot more about the environment and wildlife because that is where they live everyday.
There are many barriers that we have to face in regards to wildlife issues.
In the Land Claims Agreement it states that this Bill is using parts of the Land Claims Agreement.
If it is going to be the case, you have to make it clear where the sections apply to Inuit and where the sections apply to non-beneficiaries because as Inuit, our ways are not the same as non-natives.
As Inuit people, we are very conscious about conservative of wildlife.
We conserve wildlife according to our tradition and culture.
We are not very rich people and we do not have many hunting equipment that we own.
Through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, our culture should still be visible so that we will not go through starvation again.
We all know that in the south many species of wildlife have become extinct, people who live in the south, as long as they have a means of making money, it does not seem to matter even if they consume all natural resources.
The people of the north are not like that.
We do not just think of making money, we harvest for subsistence and harvesting for subsistence is very important to us and our families.
We all know that some species of wildlife have become extinct in the south due to pollutants and contaminants.
If Nunavut could be affected less by pollutants this Bill would be beneficial.
If this Bill is going to provide for these things, it would be really good and they will have to make it clear in the Bill which sections apply to the beneficiaries of Nunavut.
This Bill is quite long.
It seems like this Bill is going to be used by Inuit of Nunavut.
And if it states it like that, there are some issues that I might be quite concerned about.
If the clause can state which provisions apply to Inuit and non-native people such as sport hunters and if you can provide those information on that, the beneficiaries the Inuit of Nunavut can have a clearer understanding of the Bill.