EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
They help when they are asked for help, not only from their community.
They also own a brand-new hotel. All the staff there are Inuit.
There is no hotel like it that I have ever stayed at.
When you want to visit, we urge you to stay at that hotel in Clyde River.
Member’s Statement 536 – 4(3): Recognizing Jenna Kilabuk of Pangnirtung (Okalik)
I believe most of my colleagues are aware that I take extreme gratification in being an Inuk. I recall links to my skilled ancestor who survived many challenges that they overcame, which is why we can stand here today expressing our collective cultural history, which is definitely a strength of our culture that we have to re-acknowledge.
I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of my cousin, Geela Sowdluapik, and her grandchild, who is Jenna Kilabuk.
Jenna is reaching adulthood in my old stomping grounds of Pangnirtung where she resides today. Nonetheless, all of our relatives take pride in her accomplishments irrespective of our age, adult or youth. Furthermore, she is a daughter of Rosie and Peter Kilabuk, who is no stranger to our Legislative Assembly.
Jenna herself has promoted a healthy lifestyle that one wishes to follow and inspires others, as she is very dedicated in her desire to attain lifelong learning.
She took it upon herself to attend courses in Belleville as well as Ottawa, as she wanted to be a physical education teacher.
Today she has accomplished her goal of being a teacher.
When she has the time, she also sets asides nights to residents who wish to partake in volleyball or badminton activities.
Even prior to her assuming an employment position, she was active in our local community youth representation to ensure more support was derived to her fellow citizens.
She was instrumental in organizing local Christmas games.
She was acknowledged in 2008 with an aboriginal role model award where she exhibited many of the skills the judges were searching for, to portray successful role models.
She is not solely responsible for her accomplishments, but she still exemplifies the many qualities of a role model.
Although she is very young, she now owns her own private home, and she was elected to the local hamlet council.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to especially single her out as an example of successful young Inuit who have accomplished much, but in terms of her success as an example of encouragement leading to an Inuk’s perseverance that leads to personal success in their lives.
Member’s Statement 537 – 4(3): Government’s Strategic Framework for Nunavut Seniors (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, exactly one year ago today I moved Motion 23 – 4(3), seconded by my colleague from Quttiktuq, calling on the government to address the needs of elders.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier tabled the government’s Strategic Framework: Addressing the needs of Nunavut Seniors.
This is a step in the right direction towards fulfilling the intent of that motion.
Mr. Speaker, this document is a review of the various programs and services that are available for seniors and identifies some important restructuring of service delivery that will take place in the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Speaker, consolidating residential care for elders under the Department of Health will allow the Department of Family Services the opportunity to more effectively address the troubling issue of elder abuse. This move will also allow the Department of Health to realistically assess and plan for the growing need for residential services for elders across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the government’s 2015 Continuing Care in Nunavut document recommended that the government increase the capacity of residential long-term care in Nunavut.
While I do appreciate that seven more beds are being opened at the Cambridge Bay Health Facility for long-term care and respite and palliative care, much more needs to be done to keep more of our elders at home in Nunavut, receiving care near their families and communities.
Mr. Speaker, it is critical that the government continue to address the need for consistent and ongoing support for seniors in Nunavut.
Yesterday’s tabled documents are small steps forward and I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements. Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Tom Sammurtok.
Member’s Statement 538 – 4(3): Sesquicentennial Reflections (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to offer some reflections on the occasion of the 150th year of Confederation.
Mr. Speaker, earlier in this sitting I made a statement about the wonderful Qajaq Program in Chesterfield Inlet. As members will recall, I noted how this program combines modern technology and traditional skills in a way that fosters intergenerational and intercultural learning.
Mr. Speaker, it has been said that our country is a work in progress. Here in Nunavut we continue our journey towards healing and reconciliation.
The dog slaughters, High Arctic relocations, and residential school abuses have left a painful legacy, and we must acknowledge that there are still unresolved issues today that manifest themselves in such tragic ways as suicide and abuse.
However, I do believe that these can be overcome.
Mr. Speaker, it has also been said that the “world needs more Canada.”
I say that this is true, and I also say that Canada needs more Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, during this sitting I have also raised such issues as the importance of finally connecting Nunavut to the rest of the nation by way of road.
After a century and a half of existence, our country’s single largest jurisdiction should not remain so isolated and I look forward to real progress being made on the nation-building Manitoba-Kivalliq road project.
Mr. Speaker, an anniversary such as the one we are marking this year calls for both reflection and anticipation.
It is essential that we reflect honestly on both the positive and negative aspects of our history.
By doing so, we make reconciliation possible.
There are none. Mr. Tom Sammurtok, please proceed.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues.
It is also essential that we look forward to the future in a way that puts the interests of our children and our children’s children first.
Mr. Speaker, the Qajaq Program at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet symbolizes what is best about our nation, and I ask all members to join me today in reflecting on this important anniversary.
Member’s Statement 539 – 4(3): Meeting of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce (Mikkungwak)
Before I start my statement, one of my daughters is having a birthday tomorrow. I wish Tina Mikkungwak and my older brother-in-law Robert Seeteenak a happy birthday tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to state that I and my colleague representing Rankin Inlet South, Alex Sammurtok, attended a meeting of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce.
It was very enlightening, as we heard about interesting developments and our private sector.
I also wish to thank our Premier, (interpretation ends) Premier Taptuna, (interpretation) as he was also able to partake in that meeting. He heard the same things as to what the priorities are in the Kivalliq region as well as for all of Nunavut.
I also wish to extend my gratitude to the Agnico Eagle mine operating at (interpretation ends) Meadowbank (interpretation) as well as the chairman, Jim Nasso, and Agnico Eagle senior executives.
I also wish to thank the many Inuit who work at the Meadowbank mine for being warm and welcoming during our meeting at the site.
It was very good to see fellow Inuit who were working at the mine.
Further, we heard more concerns from the people of the Kivalliq as well as issues pertaining to all of Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 540 – 4(3): Nunavut Quest 2017 – Pangaggujjiniq (Shooyook)
I rise today on a calmer issue, albeit very happily to announce an event that is not so concerning.
The Nunavut Quest will be commencing their annual husky dog races in Arctic Bay on April 15. They will leave from Arctic Bay to their destination.
Mr. Speaker, back in the days when the dog slaughter occurred, many communities lost their entire dog genetic pool and had no more dog teams.
The Nunavut Quest was started to commemorate the Eskimo husky dog.
With many dog team owners today, it is a cause for cultural pride.
Today I am informing my colleagues and inviting them, starting today, if you wish to observe the beginning of the race, start saving your money towards an airplane ticket to travel to Arctic Bay, provided any of the members wanted to do so.
The start of this dog racing event is particularly spectacular when you see a whole bunch of dog teams, with dogs yelping and antsy to get going.
This is also the case when they start to arrive into the destination community.
The community welcoming the dog teams is always very ecstatic to receive them.
The older generation becomes quite nostalgic and many elders become very emotional seeing the huskies, so similar to the dogs they grew up with being the cause of this celebration.
This is absolutely critical both to Nunavut and Inuit culturally.
The Nunavut Quest will be commencing their race in Arctic Bay. This race has been running for a number of years.
We will again celebrate this unique racing event as residents of Arctic Bay.
If anyone wishes to observe the race, I again invite all members and as the MLA for Quttiktuq, I warmly welcome all other residents of our communities to travel to observe the start of this race.
Member’s Statement 541 – 4(3): Update on School Activities in Cape Dorset (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, people of Kimmirut, Cape Dorset, and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation. As we are all aware, Cape Dorset lost its school almost two years ago now.
After this tragic event, nonetheless, I stated that our education at the community would be delayed but that it would not stop. Education will continue and I want to state this for the benefit of the people in Kugaaruk
However, at the time the students were able to continue their education. Last year in 2016 some students were scheduled for graduation after that school year, but this celebration will finally commence next week.
Amanda Padluq;
Quppapik Samayualie;
Cie Takiasuk;
Kairili Qiatsuk;
Mayann Samayualie; and
Naiomi Ottokie.
Mr. Speaker, I am immensely proud of the success of these students who continued their studies in the face of difficulties in their school year and for their dedication to continue their education.
I want to single out in particular the parents of the students, the school staff, their teachers as well as the school principal, including our local DEA.
Mr. Speaker, next week on March 22 they will be hold their high school graduation ceremony, where we will meet and celebrate their graduation.
I want to share this happy occasion with my colleagues. I also have expectations of other graduation ceremonies with more graduates from grade 12.
Member’s Statement 542 – 4(3): Update on the Pangnirtung Fishery (Mike)
I rise today to speak to the local efforts of Pangnirtung to derive income from our marine environment and in particular their turbot fishery.
This fishery has been running for over 25 years with the commercial fishing industry.
The turbot fishery in particular is where Pangnirtung residents are heavily involved in, both offshore and inshore fisheries, to derive income from the commercial quota in place.
I also want to mention the Pangnirtung fishermen who provide freshly caught turbot to people who want to buy turbot. The turbot fishermen comprise the majority of the winter fishery and they provide freshly caught turbot to the markets.
Last year they harvested over 700,000 lbs. of turbot, shipped all over the world from our community of Pangnirtung.
Further, this fishery is in the only jurisdiction currently in Canada that provides fresh turbot, at least as far as we know, during the frigid winter.
In the fish plant there are over 30 employees currently and there are 45 licensed fishermen for turbot.
To date, after the winter fishery commenced last month, they have harvested close to 300,000 lbs. processed at the plant.
As well, the fishermen have generated over $340,000 and this is very beneficial to the community and in particular to residents who are not employed but who derive employment from the fishery, as it allows the continuation of our traditional winter activities.
The fishery started in Pangnirtung, obviously using our traditional knowledge about whaling, beluga blubber and skin processing, fur trapping, as well as ring and harp sealskin sales.
This comprises a large part of our present marine resource extraction.
I was quite pleased to hear about the pilot project in Pond Inlet, which was very successful with plentiful turbot.
This is very pleasing to hear and I encourage communities to undertake initiatives like that.
Member’s Statement 543 – 4(3): Country Food Bank in Igloolik (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day to the residents of my community.
We see many people who don’t have enough to eat in our communities and there are food banks now that are opening up in our communities.
I want my colleagues to help me in expressing gratitude to those people who create these initiatives to help other people.
There is a food bank in Igloolik and I’m very proud of it because the people who run it think more along the lines of traditional Inuit food and to have Inuit food available. They have tried that.
The people who run the food bank do fundraising so that some of the money can be used to help hunters and the hunters will bring back the food that can be distributed through the food bank to the needy people.
I’m very proud of the fact in Igloolik that they are trying to go after traditional Inuit food for these people who generally don’t have enough food in their homes, trying to see how they can get food for them.
These food banks where people go and get food really help the communities. Let’s support them and be thankful for them because they are trying to help fellow people.
That’s why I rose here today.
Member’s Statement 544 – 4(3): Thank You to Family Members (Hickes)
I would just like to take the opportunity today for one to thank all of my colleagues around this room.
When we meet at this time of the year, it tends to be a very long session and there are very long hours that have been put in and a lot of hard work.
I would like to acknowledge the work of the staff. People who watch us on TV hopefully realize how hard of an effort we’re putting in, but they also don’t see all the staff behind us that are working around in the long hours that we put in.
I would like to take this opportunity to especially acknowledge all of our families.
I know there were a number of comments made during International Women’s Day, but I would like to again just make special note.
When we’re here working these long hours, it’s our families, communities, and constituents that are helping keep our communities and keeping our activities relevant to what we’re trying to accomplish here.
I just want to take the time to acknowledge not just my colleagues but all the families that are at home, that are allowing us to be able to put in this hard work.
Returns to Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Return to Oral Question 673 – 4(3): Environmental Assessment by Nunavut Impact Review Board (Ell-Kanayuk)
This is a return to an oral question asked by Pauloosie Keyootak, MLA for Uqqummiut, on March 8, 2017, No. 673 – 4(3), on the environmental assessment by the Nunavut Impact Review Board.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board’s announcement indicated that “public engagement sessions” will be held in a number of communities, including Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq.
It also indicated that “a final public meeting and community roundtable will be facilitated by NIRB in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is a partner in the strategic environmental assessments administered by the Nunavut Impact Review Board.
This assessment concerns the future development of oil and gas related activities in the Baffin Bay and Davis Strait area.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation is an active participant in the Strategic Environmental Assessment Working Group.
Its role is to support the study process, with a focus on the public education component of SEA and ensuring that Nunavummiut are well informed on this issue.
Question 699 – 4(3): Senate Reform (Okalik)
The current occupant of Nunavut’s Senate seat is on record as having stated that he would resign his position after having sat in the Senate for eight years.
That deadline is fast approaching.
My question for the minister is simple: does the Nunavut government support the holding of an election to fill Nunavut’s Senate seat, yes or no?
Mr. Speaker, I went through that tabled document and from 2009 that’s what the newly appointed Senator had indicated. He was there for eight years on the expectation that the Prime Minister may change legislation and have the Senator stay for eight years, then go on to elections.
As far as I understand, I have no correspondence, no indication, or no phone call from the Prime Minister at this point, so I can’t speak on something I have no authority over; it’s a federal appointee.
Once I get a good understanding of what may happen... . As far as I know, there is no legislation change for an election.
Mr. Speaker, I do know that there has to be consensus from all jurisdictions, at least seven jurisdictions, to change the Senate legislation.
In the past it was called Senate reform.
Even though that’s the case, there was one election outside of the territory and as a consequence there was one individual that was appointed to a Senate seat.
We want to be represented properly in the Senate and we would like to elect a true Nunavummiuq to that seat.
I very much would like the minister to lobby the federal government to appoint a new member elected by Nunavummiut for that seat on the Senate.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Hon. Mr. Taptuna.
As I indicated, this is a federal jurisdiction and if the member is willing to find out if there are going to be any changes in the legislation, anybody in Nunavut, including people from the south, has the authority to write to the Prime Minister or to our MP to see what the next steps are going to be.
At this point I haven’t had any indication, any correspondence, or any phone calls about what the status of Senators’ seats may be.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, there are nine new Senators that were appointed at that time and I believe most of them had indicated that they are willing to step aside if legislation is approved by all jurisdictions for eight-year terms moving on to elections.
If there are any indications from this House that there’s a wish for an election process for Senators for Nunavut seats, we will certainly investigate that possibility.
At this time anybody here is free to write to the MP to find out what the processes are and what the Prime Minister is thinking.
In my next conversation with the Prime Minister, I will certainly bring that issue out and having that discussion on where his party stands on Senate reform.
I believe we need to improve the process we use nowadays because the Senator who represents Nunavut, for instance, is very quick to put down Inuit organizations.
Most recently a Senator from his own party stated that the old residential school system was “well intentioned.”
Even though the Senator of Nunavut heard about that, he didn’t rebut that statement.
It seems like he is not representing us in Nunavut.
Nunavut deserves its own Senate representative strengthened by general election.
Can the Premier lobby to get this long overdue change made?
Mr. Speaker, as a young territory we try to engage our federal partners in making sure that our concerns are heard, and this is no exception.
This is an appointed position by the Prime Minister by the previous government and I had no say in selecting or even appointing the Senators.
Mr. Speaker, if I do have a conversation with the Prime Minister, I will certainly bring that out because for the most part we do have to change our legislation, our Nunavut Elections Act, to fall into place with whatever legislation that the federal government may put in place for Senate reform.
I haven’t had any indications or correspondence, but at the very next opportunity I’ll certainly bring that concern out.
Again I’ve got to state that every Nunavummiuq has that opportunity to write to their MP on such concerns to bring forth how the process may be done to make Nunavut better, not only Nunavut, but people of Nunavut.
You’ve got to understand that there are efforts being made from all sides. There may be some disagreements here and there, but at the end of the day we will certainly do our part to make sure that whatever happens within the federal government, we are consulted.
Question 700 – 4(3): Fur Auction House (Keyootak)
Mr. Speaker, during our session last fall I was asking questions in regard to the fur auction house.
Hunters who have been sending out furs, especially polar bear hides, have been waiting for years.
I have been asking questions in regard to when the next auction would be.
Have you heard when the next auction date is or did they not have one this year?
The polar bear hides that are old were bought overpriced and have not been sold. The newer hides have been priced at a lower rate and they are being bought.
The polar bear hides that are collected down at the auction house are actually depleting. That is how it is right now.
Is it impossible at this time to know when the next auction will be? Although I know that this is not the minister’s jurisdiction, I would like to ask the minister if he has heard when the next fur auction will take place.
I don’t have the information as to when the next auction will take place, but it is supposed to be in the spring.
However, the polar bear hides at the auction house can be bought at any time of the year.
Any person can go there and purchase a polar bear hide if the price is good for them.
The polar bear hides that are not being purchased are because they are too expensive. At the time that the polar bear hides were purchased, the price was high and the department purchased them from the hunters.
We gave half the price to the harvesters in advance and when the prices of polar bear hides went down, the money that was given to the harvesters became too expensive. That is why the polar bears are not being purchased at this time.
However, there will be a fur auction this coming spring.
The hunters who have sent their hides, I am not too sure, but the majority had been given an advance for the polar bear hides given to the department. If the polar bear hide is sold, then they get that part of the money given to them.
That was probably the case for some of them when the price of the fur was high.
What would happen if the polar bear hides cannot be purchased? Would they have to be returned to the hunters themselves and they would end up owing money because of the advance they received?
If the individuals who have polar bear hides wanted to get their polar bear hide back, then they would have to pay the advance back to the government.
However, if the individual does not want the hide, then they would leave the polar bear hide in the auction house without owing money as the government had purchased it.
If the harvester agrees that the government can purchase the polar bear hide at a full price and if the polar bear hide remains at the auction house, then they wouldn’t owe money for their advance.
However, if they want to get their polar bear hide back, they have to pay back the advance that they had received in the past.
Question 701 – 4(3): Pre-dissolution Priorities (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the current Legislative Assembly will be dissolved in a little over six months from now and Nunavummiut will soon be rendering their judgment on all of us.