EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to personally say, “Robby, I am proud of you and you finally did it!” In a wonderful testament to lifelong learning, he is on his way to British Columbia to take the BC Provincial Instructor Diploma Program at Vancouver Community College School of Instructor Education.
Upon completion, he will be looking for work in Nunavut because, in his words, he wants to bring back to Nunavut all of the skills that he has learned.
I am sure all members will join me in congratulating Robby on a job well done.
If there are no more… (interpretation ends) Member for Iqaluit West, Mr. Okalik.
Member’s Statement 105 – 3(2): Passing of Mary Uniuqsarak (Okalik)
I’m sorry you didn’t see me the first time.
I rise today to send my condolences or to recognize an individual, my aunt, who passed away this spring.
She was physically handicapped and in some ways, it was very hard because we loved her.
Even though that was the case, she gave us advice and she was a role model.
We try to do the same thing and I thank her very much for having given me the advice.
I also thank my relatives. Even though we were going through a hard time, they helped us.
My immediate relative, Miali Uniuqsarak, was a role model in a lot of ways.
She was an elder but did today’s things, as I heard her do many unusual things.
Even though that is the case, the elders who are in the elders centre have helped us and are more than welcome to all of us and just took over what my aunt used to do. They are very welcoming and receptive.
Return to Oral Question 111 – 3(2): Completion of New Bridge in Pangnirtung (Kusugak)
I have a return to Oral Question 111 – 3(2) asked by Mr. Komoartok, MLA for Pangnirtung, on November 26, titled “Completion of New Bridge in Pangnirtung.”
The construction of the new replacement bridge has been completed.
On September 11, 2009, the department received a request for additional funding from the Hamlet of Pangnirtung for the construction of an access road on the north side of the Duval Bridge.
The department provided a contribution of $650,000 to the hamlet to construct the new access road.
Construction has commenced on the road and it will be completed during the summer of 2010.
The department will submit an application through the Emergency Response Program to recover the funds from the federal government.
They’re not behind me; they’re on the other side.
I would like to stand today and recognize Ranger Debbie Iqaluk, Junior Canadian Ranger Valerie Amaruk, Junior Canadian Ranger Menda Iqaluk, Canadian Ranger Lisa Kiguktaq, Junior Canadian Ranger Celina Ipeelie, Junior Canadian Ranger Michael Muckpa, Junior Canadian Ranger Ooleesee Akeeagok, and Captain Sharon Low from the First Canadian Ranger Patrol.
They’re in town today and will be helping with the page program starting tomorrow.
I was going to recognize someone, but the individual has since left. (interpretation ends) Item 6.
Question 149 – 3(2): Enforcement of Liquor Act and Regulations (Okalik)
I wish to pose a question to the Minister responsible for strong water (the Liquor Licensing Board), as we call liquor “strong water” in our community where I grew up.
It is unfortunate that alcohol abuse has raised its peak over the last few days as we have seen unfortunate incidents as a result of abuse. Based on what we have seen, it is becoming a pressing concern, especially the way alcohol is abused.
I believe that we have to explore more options in meeting this challenge as our current legislation, which was recently passed and is being slowly implemented, has to be studied to see how we can better enforce these rules.
I would like to first ask the minister a question, although I am aware that the Act is currently scheduled for review in the short term.
With respect to the legislation we are currently following, how can we best attempt to enforce the contents of the Liquor Act?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Justice, Hon. Keith Peterson.
I thank the member for that question, but I’m not sure I fully understand what he’s asking.
The Liquor Act is a law of Nunavut.
The RCMP follows the Liquor Act. The hamlets can follow the Liquor Act.
If the people see abuses of the Liquor Act, they certainly can report it to the RCMP. I know they can also report to alcohol education committees in their communities.
There are a number of ways, but the Liquor Act is the law. If you see alleged offences under the Liquor Act, then you should bring them to the attention of someone who will deal with them.
Perhaps if I explain it in this manner, it will be more understandable.
To elaborate, any individual who is at a bar ought not to be over-served, especially when they are obviously intoxicated or inebriated. They have to stop serving alcohol to these patrons, but we still hear of cases where intoxicated people are just served more liquor.
To exacerbate the matter, we still have bootleggers who sell alcohol to anyone who is willing to buy their wares.
We should look at ways to try and control this part of the equation, especially on ways for the RCMP to be able to stop this practice. Can the minister task his officials to advise the RCMP to look into that?
These are two areas that I have noted at this time. Although the legislation applies to these cases, it seems that sometimes they are currently not being adhered to properly.
I thank Mr. Okalik for that question. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the bootleggers are a serious issue in Nunavut.
I think we’re all familiar with the dangers they impose to our citizens, many of whom are addicted to alcohol, and they prey on the weakness of people.
We hear about the price that they charge for the bottles of booze.
I know the RCMP is very diligent in trying to apprehend bootleggers in the communities.
I have talked to the commanding officer about bootlegging and he says that alcohol is probably the root of all of the violence in Nunavut; 99 percent of the violence is triggered by alcohol.
In various communities across Nunavut, they have caught and charged bootleggers. Interestingly enough, Mr. Speaker, some of the bootleggers operate in the communities that have voted to ban alcohol, so you know it’s a serious issue.
I know that as part of the review of the Liquor Act, we will be discussing how to enforce and possibly even increase the fines for bootlegging in Nunavut.
So I would encourage Nunavummiut, Members of the House, and the public to work with the RCMP and their communities to report bootleggers, and if the bootleggers are charged, to support the RCMP in court appearing as witnesses.
It’s very difficult to apprehend bootleggers without actually catching them red-handed or having witnesses who are willing to testify in court.
He responded to some of my questions. Perhaps if you could give advice to the RCMP commanding officer because we are quite concerned here in our community and we need to deal with bootleggers.
Also, he did not respond to the question I posed in regard to the drinking establishments. There is legislation there that they are not to over-serve clients of theirs when they are drunk.
So I would like to know what they are going to do about that because it seems like that has been occurring often in some of our communities.
I apologize to the member if I didn’t completely answer his question.
Mr. Speaker, again the Liquor Act is there to be enforced.
I know we have inspectors who regularly inspect the facilities. I’m sure that if they see over-serving, they will deal with it and levy appropriate charges, but if Mr. Okalik is aware of any specific instances, I’m sure the inspectors would appreciate the assistance.
With respect to the bootleggers, again I can assure Mr. Okalik that the RCMP is taking bootlegging very seriously in Nunavut. I know in particular, in Iqaluit over the last year or two, they have caught and charged some bootleggers in the community. So they are taking it very seriously.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for his response. Also, he stated that they will be reviewing the Liquor Act.
When will the review be initiated? Will you have the public involved in the review of the Liquor Act? When do you expect to complete the review of the Liquor Act?
Mr. Okalik, I think you asked three questions in that one question.
I am hoping to make an announcement during this session about reviewing the Liquor Act and we want to get it started as soon as possible, hopefully early in the New Year.
Second of all, we will be consulting with Nunavummiut in all communities. That’s the plan. I have spoken to alcohol education committees, I have spoken to the hamlets, and I have talked to representatives of NTI saying that we want to talk to everybody to get input.
It’s my hope that the review of the Liquor Act will be completed within 12 to 18 months.
Question 150 – 3(2): Income Support Levels for Akulliq (Ningark)
Along the line of my Member’s Statement, although we are not just requesting handouts for Nunavummiut, Mr. Speaker, the prices of carvings, polar bear hides, sealskins, and fox pelts are going down.
As a government, we seem not to be providing assistance and we know that we will always have individuals in Nunavut who need assistance.
I have been told in Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk and I have seen individuals who need help, especially in the wintertime.
In the wintertime, homeowners have no form of making money. They have no other way, except to go to income support.
I have been told that they were given $500 for income support per household and then it was $250.
I’m sure the minister stated that he was going to look into it. Has he looked into this already?
Which minister are you posing your question to?
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): I am sorry; I was too excited to ask my question.
My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Hon. Tapardjuk.
Tagak and I nearly came to blows to provide the answer.
Some families have no other means of income. Although we feel compassion for them as a government, we provide programs and services for those kinds of individuals through the Department of Education’s Social Assistance Program.
They have provided assistance.
In the regulations, it states that for groceries, household expenses, fuel, and etcetera that are required for basic living, these forms of assistance are provided through the Department of Education’s Income Support Division, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Hon. Minister Tapardjuk for his response.
How much are the homeowners who have no form of income given through the Fuel Subsidy Program every month, especially in the wintertime?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): We have not identified these factors because they can vary monthly. In some months, some clients do not come in for assistance.
For example, if a client wins a bingo game or if they acquire any money, the monthly assistance amount changes, especially in winter. This requires that we follow the criteria.
It would be better if an individual is self-sufficient and able to afford to pay for their household expenses.
We can only evaluate the cases as the clients come in for assistance for that month.
I can only reply by saying that we follow the criteria, Mr. Speaker.
For example, if the individual does not earn any income or does not win bingo and they need assistance, will they be given $1,000 or over?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): It’s evident that some recipients of income support are not physically able to work.
There are some clients too who are only provided assistance for a short period of time.
We provide assistance for fuel and for the rent of the house.
We’re able to provide assistance to those because we’re able to know how much they cost, Mr. Speaker.
I have been told that the income assistance they would receive was $500 previously and now it went down to $250.
Perhaps I can provide a response to the individual that if you require assistance and you are eligible, you will be able to receive more than that $500.
I cannot give you a definite amount as to where the limit is, but I will take your last question as notice and I will provide a response later on, Mr. Speaker.
Question 151 – 3(2): Disruption of Services at the Sanikiluaq Wildlife Office (Rumbolt)
As the minister is aware, I have raised concerns in the House on the issue of small communities having only one conservation officer.
Conservation officers provide such important services as issuing hunting licences, patrolling, and purchasing of sealskins and other hides from local hunters.
It is my understanding that the conservation officer for Sanikiluaq is currently in Iqaluit attending a conference and may not be back in the community until January of next year.
I am concerned that this will disrupt services in my community. What policies or plans does the department have to ensure that services to the community are not disrupted?
Yes, that is right. Just for the member’s information, we have six communities in Nunavut that have more than one conservation officer. However, as with the previous government, this government’s position is that we would, in the future, like to staff at least two conservation officers in all communities in Nunavut.
Specifically to his question on what plans we have when an officer leaves a community, we have done it in his community before, we utilize the HTO to deliver services that can be delivered by the HTO and the members of the HTO in the community. In other communities, we also have hired casuals on an as-needed basis to deliver services when officers are out.
As far as him indicating that the officer might be out until January, I think this officer conference that is happening in Iqaluit right now is, I believe, over on December 12 to 15.
The reason for him being out until January, I think he is continuing on his vacation when he leaves here.
So has the minister or his department made any arrangements with the local hunters and trappers organization so that services are not interrupted in his absence?
I am not aware of the specific case with Sanikiluaq, but I definitely could check into that and get back to the member.
How does the department determine how many conservation officers should be posted in a community?
At this point in time, the guideline we have been following is if a population has more than 1,500 people, we would provide two officers or more.
However, I just would like to explain at this time that it is our intention down the road to staff all communities with two officers or more for safety reasons, patrolling reasons, and delivering of services.
It’s very difficult, with the funding we have and the resources we have, to do this, as the previous government knows and was committed to this too. We have a shortage of housing and we have a shortage of infrastructure to allow for two officers or more in every community. So there are many challenges that we have to overcome.
However, as I explained to the House before and Full Caucus, we do have an officer trainee program in place targeted for beneficiaries in Nunavut and through this trainee program, we want to train more beneficiary officers to be allocated to communities in the future.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt.
I’m not sure if he answered this question earlier, but if he did, I apologize.
Has the department considered, in communities where there is more than one officer, taking one of these officers and temporarily assign them to a community where there is only one officer and is absent from the community?
That has been done before.
Arrangements can be made. If there is going to be a long-term absence in communities, we will move an officer into that community to offer services.
Question 152 – 3(2): Current Status of Apprenticeship in Nunavut (Elliott)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, during Monday’s Committee of the Whole debate on the 2010-11 capital budget for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, I raised the issue of local training and apprentices as part of the Nunavut Housing Trust program.
The Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation indicated that the Minister of Education would have that information.
Can the minister update the House on how many apprentices are currently working under the Nunavut Housing Trust program?
The matter he asked about, I believe, is in regard to the Nunavut Housing Trust program.
With respect to apprentices, as an example, I only have the figures of those who have passed exams, so I basically only have the numbers in total.
There are currently 192 apprentices as of September 2, 2009.
That’s the total number of apprenticeships, where they spend 80 percent of their time gaining work experience and 20 percent in class work.
Those are the figures that pertain just to apprentices that we have currently.
The Department of Education provides funds for apprenticeship programs currently here in Nunavut for continuing apprentices.
There were 192 apprentices in September 2009, Mr. Speaker.
I’m just a little confused because I remember him telling us that 51 apprentices were in the program and if we specifically wanted a breakdown of details, we would have to contact the Minister of Education and ask him questions because he had that information.
Could the minister confirm that he doesn’t have that breakdown?
The particulars that the member is asking for are not provided in the breakdown of the information, specifically where the apprentice is working or what region.
We only have the compiled total figures in front of us. We provide funding for the apprenticeship training and only for the approved final apprentices, and we can only state what we have been provided in total.
However, if the member would like a further breakdown of the figures into regional and local apprentices, I regret I cannot provide that today. I can request that type of breakdown data prior to the completion of our session and provide it to the member here in the House.
I’m specifically looking for the breakdown for the apprentices who are working for the Nunavut Housing Trust. In that breakdown, would it include what level the different apprentices are at in terms of level 1, level 2, and level 3?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will be able to provide you with the breakdown information with different levels.
There are also drivers, carpenters, and electricians. We provide funds for people who are taking apprenticeship training.
Yes, I will be able to provide that information, but I won’t be able to give you that information right away, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks again to the minister for getting that information out to us.
I am hoping for a breakdown of which trades the apprentices are involved in and what levels they are at.
I would also like to know if I could ask the minister if he could give us an update on the progress of the in-class theory training that’s going on for apprentices in terms of: is it a level 1 carpentry being offered in Iqaluit this spring? Is there anything going on in Rankin Inlet for housing maintainers?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I don’t have that information.
Perhaps I will work with the adult educators and get information to you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 153 – 3(2): Funding for Travel to Dubai and Support to the Kinngait Studio (Schell)
It is my understanding that the Government of Nunavut has provided or is looking at providing up to $50,000 for Nunavut artists to travel to Dubai in order to take part in a culture and artistic exhibition.
Can the minister please provide further details on this initiative?
We provide a variety of funds under the grants and contributions program.
For artists who are going to be taking part in a cultural and artistic exhibition, they can access funds by making a request to our department.
All you have to do is send your request to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. We will review the requests and make a decision from there, Mr. Speaker.
I guess my question is: has the department released funds of up to $50,000 to a group to go to Dubai?
Could the member give us further information on which artists he is talking about that will be getting the $50,000, Mr. Speaker?
Can you please clarify your question, Mr. Schell.
I am not too sure exactly who the group is and that’s the reason I’m asking. I was just told that there was a group going to Dubai and that there were some government officials going along with them. That’s why I was asking that question.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I don’t know anything about this group travelling to Dubai, so I’ll take the question as notice, Mr. Speaker.
Question 154 – 3(2): Need for a Community Freezer and Meat Plant in Pond Inlet (Arvaluk)
Before 1999, the GNWT used to have a community freezer program. It is my understanding that the government has established an interdepartmental working group chaired by the minister’s department to look at the issue of community freezers.
Can the minister update the House today on what the working group has accomplished?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question.
In 2003, there was a study done, which was called “Sustainable Infrastructure for Nunavut,” and in this study, it identified community freezers as necessary to support economic activities that are important to communities.
Within the government, we don’t have any specific community freezer programs, but the member is correct in saying that the GNWT did have that program, which they discontinued just prior to division going into Nunavut.
The interdepartmental working group is chaired by ED&T officials and at this time, there are some findings that came out of that study through this group that was formed. It indicates that funding was very difficult to channel from various departments into the communities.
There have been a couple of communities that were assisted, Chesterfield Inlet and Repulse Bay. The department has helped with funding in building their own community freezers just recently.
With the successful assistance to those communities, can the minister then tell the House that the support is available to other communities that require a community freezer for the purpose of economic development in their own communities or at least processing the local meat products to be sold at their HTOs?
We don’t have any sort of mandate in providing community freezers or maintaining them within the community, although there are programs out there, like the Small Community Initiatives Program, where communities can apply into to assist in building community freezers which may or may not be linked to community meat plants.
But at this time, we recognize, as we have said throughout the tenure of the government, that communities play an important role not only in providing economic and traditional harvesting.
The best part of this is that it provides nutritional country foods to Nunavummiut and we do realize that it is a health issue.
I think the member must have read my mind because this afternoon, I just instructed my assistant to schedule in a meeting for next month with some other departmental officials to see how we can actually develop better programs in getting community freezers to the smaller communities.
I would not confess to that knowledge. However, I think it is important that… . You know, I was also told that in Pond Inlet, there are guidelines for not wasting meat, that as long as you retrieve all of the Mattaaq and that you’re not wasting meat.
But we were told in Greenland, “What are you guys doing with this whole carcass of a whale? Do you just give it to the dogs? What do you do?
We pay $30 a pound for that in Greenland.” But yet, there’s a gold mine sitting in our community.
What did we do with those 600 whales that we caught last year? $30 a pound, I think, is something that would have been a good investment.
Mr. Speaker, in my statement, I also spoke about the need for a meat processing plant.
Can the minister indicate if his department is considering a strategy in investing in that kind of capital infrastructure next year or in the coming years?
Maybe I should clarify my response.