EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, before any vaccination is delivered by a community health nurse in this jurisdiction or any jurisdiction, it goes through several different trials and tests to make sure that the complications from such a vaccination would be negated and mitigated and would be not so severe and very minor to say the least.
So all the vaccinations that are delivered in Nunavut are legally tested and then approved by the Canadian Drug Administration by the Health Canada for delivery.
In this case, Prevnar, which is the vaccination that we will be introducing, this vaccination is for the, to try to help the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease.
A pneumococcal disease is a type of streptococcus pneumonia or influenza which is the leading cause of meningitis as well as bacteremia, pneumonia, acute otitis metia which is ear infections.
So these types of things would be prevented by the usage of the Prevnar vaccination and I want to make it perfectly clear Mr. Speaker, these vaccinations have all been tested and cleared by the proper authorities and are very important for the well being of our young children.
We have heard that people immunized in the 1970s or before the 70s, that people that first were immunized, and there’s still immunization going on.
There was a doctor that gave us information that there are further complications to people that were immunized, if they are too young or if the dose is too high.
Have there been any complications that the health minister knows about that come from immunizing children?
Mr. Speaker, I have not been made aware of any serious complications that come from the immunization.
Immunization of people, children, and elders with the influenza vaccination that we put in place for example, far outweighs any small complication that the member brings up.
I can’t comment on what happened in the 70s.
But Mr. Speaker, I can say with some authority that all the vaccinations that are delivered and given in Nunavut meet the certification of the federal authorities, of our health officials and are recommended because of some of the invasive diseases that we encounter.
There may have been something with vaccinations across Canada, given in the 50s, 60s or 70s, but Mr. Speaker, I’m not in the position to comment on those.
Yes, I know about his response but I can’t really answer him either whether the immunization is good or bad.
We are both not knowledgeable enough about the vaccinations to offer an educated opinion.
My question is can there be some studies done that the immunizations that were used in the 70s for the children, are not being used today?
Mr. Speaker, what I can do for the members is to speak with the Chief Medical Health Officer for Nunavut, Dr. Roberts to find out if there has been any concerns raised from any vaccination that may have been delivered in the 70’s in the Northwest Territories, which is now the Nunavut area of the Northwest Territories and to see if there’s any complications that have arisen from those vaccinations.
That’s the question from the member.
I believe we’ll be able to look at that.
There are records and so on kept on those types of statistics.
So, that’s something that I could follow up for the member.
And I thank the minister for the response, but I would like to also ask a question; my last supplementary question.
The minister stated that there would be a very important vaccine called Prozenol.
How long has it been used outside of Nunavut?
Mr. Speaker, Prozenol has just been licensed for use in Canada.
It follows on a series of very complex testing and so on and from my understanding, it’s been based on data that has in surveillance in Canada from the Northwest Territories, from the Yukon, from Nunavut itself, as well as Nunavik.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s very important to make it clear that the immunization, especially for our young people, people with weak immune systems, our elderly, it’s very important, to have been proven to help them in their quality of life, protecting against the invasive diseases; whether it is diphtheria, polio, influenza, and so on.
And Mr. Speaker, as a parent I would make no hesitation in having my children vaccinated.
I think that we have to be perfectly clear on that.
The member’s earlier question on what occurred in the 70s.
I am not again aware of anything there but that’s something that I can speak to our expert, Dr. Roberts.
Question 171 – 1(6): Assistance for Bullets to Scare Off Problem Bears
It’s in regards to polar bear situation, because I come from a heavily populated polar bear area.
Not my colleague’s riding, just a largely populated bear area.
My question is, when we go out hunting in the summer time, especially in the summer time, there’s a lot of polar bears when you go by canoe.
Even though we go out to hunt belugas or caribou hunting, the shells that we use to hunt are used to scare off polar bears.
I just wondered what kinds of assistance the department could provide to us because we use up the bullets, which are now quite expensive, that we should be using to scare off the polar bears when we should be using it to kill our game.
I wonder if the minister’s department could look into this, to see whether we can get some kind of assistance for that.
I don’t have any funding available for that or any bullets to scare off polar bears because this is a part of life when you go hunting, when you’re trying to scare off wild game.
We don’t have that kind of money or any money to provide those bullets that scare off polar bears.
Yes, if there is nothing then that is true if the department does not have any funds available for that, but I would say to the minister that you are representing the people of Nunavut in this matter as we are dealing with it and you should be putting yourself in their place, for if there is no policy in place and Inuit started to request compensation for their damages, are you saying that you would tell them we can’t do anything about it and we do not want to be bothered or would you try to help the people or the community in their stated needs?
We don’t have any problem with people asking wildlife officers to scare off polar bears and we have them in each community.
If the people could phone or radio up the wildlife officers in the communities when they have problems with bears while out hunting the officers have the kind of equipment to scare off polar bears. If they are worried about using up their bullets trying to scare the polar bears instead of for killing food for their tables they could contact the wildlife officers in each community.
It’s unfortunate that the department does not realize the urgency of this situation.
In the summer it’s very difficult as you cannot act freely especially when travelling.
If the department does not see the urgency of this, I guess it’s up to the individuals that go out hunting to protect themselves.
That is how we are up there.
Sometimes when we are sleeping they go and tear up tents that are occupied by people along with their equipment and every summer they rob our prepared food sources.
Like this summer, my wife and I were out on the land camping, I was trying to make some line out of bearded sealskin and the polar bear snatched it when we were asleep even though it was right next to us.
So these are the types of emergency situations that I am describing.
Our community experiences this without fail every summer and that’s why the hunters lose out with wasted shells used for scaring off polar bears in my community.
I wonder if the department could have a plan in place whereby they could help out the people of Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River with some type of subsidy because they are really in need of this and none of you are being affected by this personally.
Could the department do whatever they can to help us out in this situation?
I thank the member for his question and his request.
Mr. Iqaqrialu, there are polar bears everywhere not only in his communities.
There are other communities experiencing this phenomenon but more so in the member’s community I suppose.
The reason why there are wildlife officers is because they are there to help the people in the communities.
I know that the people want assistance, but from the wildlife officers guarding their tent all night long?
There are a lot of people that go out on the land and it’s their choice to go out and hunt.
So we could provide wildlife officers if there is an emergency but they can’t be available all night long and they also have bullets to scare off polar bears.
If we were to buy some bullets for the individual hunters that go out on the land, we would spend a lot of money obviously.
Our wildlife officers are salary paid employees and they can be called in case of an emergency by the people and we want all Nunavummiut to know this information.
Also, there are dogs that could go along with the hunters, especially if out for a long period, to warn the people out camping to make sure that they don’t get their tents and equipment destroyed.
The dogs know when there’s a polar bear approaching or if there’s a polar bear around.
They can warn the people in advance at night.
This is another example of self help practices that can be used, as they are good guard dogs.
Since this is my last supplementary, I’ll ask two questions as I will have my quota for the day.
I would like to inform the member that the dogs are now as ignorant as we Inuit are and timid these days.
I think everyone knows that and should know it now.
We have done all kinds of studies on polar bears in my area.
My question is in regards to the Uqsuqtuq area or Gjoa Haven.
There was a moratorium immediately imposed on polar bears in that region not too long ago.
The reason stated was that the polar bear population had crashed and there was no more available.
The people of Gjoa Haven knew how many polar bears there were in that area.
The government chose to believe the scientists even though their information was erroneous.
This moratorium was set without using the local traditional knowledge.
Perhaps this will also apply in other areas where the government sloughs off the Inuit knowledge as being second rate.
Perhaps this will apply when only the scientists are believed and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is belittled.
Can we Inuit, who are citizens in this country, be included in resolving some of the problems we face every day?
I don’t agree with the member in some parts.
Some of the dogs are very smart and I know that they make excellent guard dogs.
They know as much as we do about the animals.
In regards to the polar bear studies, it’s an ongoing project that is being done by our department.
We have stated from day one, that as the Nunavut Government, we are going to be using the local knowledge and expertise in conducting these studies.
We have made that commitment and we’re going to use it.
We will work closer together with the local communities.
I have also worked with the member representing Gjoa Haven area.
We have done the studies using the local expertise and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We as the Nunavut Government are listening to the people of Nunavut.
We’re looking for ideas in managing wildlife cooperatively.
It’s very obvious that we have a closer working relationship with the people of Nunavut than did the previous government.
As well, this proposed new wildlife act will detail other ways we are trying to help the people.
It’s an ongoing commitment that we will hold up to.
Question 172 – 1(6): Scavenging Birds Re: Piksi or Nikku
My question is directed to the minister of the wildlife division, Sustainable Development.
The member for Uqqummiut, it’s very true because of course some dogs are timid, they don’t even know how to guard us from polar bears and it has always been that way with dogs.
Some dogs do not even want to see or sniff a polar bear.
My question is these days the communities make dried meat and dried fish and other ways of preserving wildlife.
My question to the minister is are we going to do anything about the gulls and ravens that raid our caches of meat?
I do go out on the land a lot myself and we make dried meat and fish and so on.
It’s okay during the day when there are people moving around but we usually put away the meat in the evening so that they don’t get eaten by scavengers.
I think proper precautions such as taking care of the food, putting a tarp over it in the evening, or putting it in a cardboard box so that they don’t get raided by the seagulls and ravens is the easy answer.
So there are ways to prevent the scavengers from raiding your meat.
I understand your response and I do know there are ways to prevent scavengers from raiding your caches.
You cannot put a tarp or put food in a cardboard box if you are going to be drying it or treating it.
Would the minister know if meat can get contaminated from the droppings or saliva of these scavengers or have they looked into ways of resolving this problem?
I think the people that go out on the land know a little more than we do about preserving and preventing raids of their meats.
There have been scavengers on the land since day one and for those of us who live around the bird sanctuaries or nesting areas we tend to have a little more problem than the other communities.
If the member is concerned about raiding and contaminating of meat I think I would suggest that you talk to the people that frequently go out on the land so that we can prevent such things.
I would suggest that you talk to the frequent campers and talk to them about prevention and to prevent contaminants.
Very briefly the ravens and the seagulls are protected species Mr. Speaker.
Are they not protected species?
The federal government legislation is superior so we have to apply the federal government regulations.
We could look into their legislation because of course, we as a Nunavut Government can’t revise legislation enacted by the federal government.
We can look into the pieces of legislation and make suggestions for recommended changes.
This applies to the Migratory Birds Act.
But we do not want to break the legislations that have been enacted by the federal government.
We as the Nunavut Government are dealing with the issue and have made a commitment to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Would Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit be used if we’re going to pass new legislation in regards to protected species?
We have made a commitment to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and implement them within the government.
In regards to his question, we can use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in conservation and protection of wildlife species in Nunavut insofar as we are capable of doing so.
Question 173 – 1(6): Negotiated Block Funding for Iqaluit - Update
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister Responsible for Finance.
I’m not sure if it’s in his capacity as the house leader or chair of the Financial Management Board but he can determine that.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister Responsible for Community Government and Transportation had indicated that an agreement that was being put forward by her department with the City of Iqaluit towards a negotiated block funding agreement for capital has gone, or is basically waiting to be addressed at the Financial Management Board.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance, that’s the chair of the board, you know, when the Financial Management Board will be taking a look at that.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe it’s appropriate for me to say when and what is on agendas for the Financial Management Board but I will say that the submission has been received and there will be a series of Financial Management Board meetings in dealing with regular business as well as the capital issue that’s upcoming for the 2003 budget year.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not just asking. The Minister of Community Government and Transportation had indicated yesterday that it has gone to Financial Management Board for review. As a result of that, I’m just wondering when, and I also asked yesterday, the city would really like to and wants to come to an agreement on this as soon as possible because they would like to implement some of those projects this year for this construction year.
Does the minister think that’s something that could be possible, if this could be discussed and approved, I can’t say approved but looked at by the Financial Management Board in order for the city to be able to look at moving forward with some of those projects that they’d like to do this year?
Mr. Speaker, yes I know that the Department of Community Government and Transportation, her officials from that department have been speaking with the town administration in trying to work on their cash flow in respect to capital projects to allow things to happen for this current construction season and fiscal year.
But having said that, even if there were, or when it does go before the Financial Management Board and if and when it is approved, there is an issue about timing given that Supplementary Appropriations have to come back to the Legislative Assembly for final approval.
The timing of that of course, this House isn’t expected to sit again until some time in the fall, October, November, September.
There is that issue about timing.
But we are going to look at options on how we can work around those issues to address the needs of the City of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the minister’s response in acknowledging that they will look at ways in which they can accommodate it and get it approved.
I would also like to ask the minister if one of the factors that they deal with in so far as prioritizing what’s being looked at, if the timing of this issue, just in the way that it’s dealt with would also be a factor in which they address the timing wise in when it is reviewed and decided upon by the FMB?
Yes, Mr. Speaker, timing is always a factor in consideration of submissions from departments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Orders of the Day. Item 7.
Do we have any Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills?
Tabled Document 025 – 1(6): Inuinnaqtun-English Dictionary
I would like to table a copy of the Inuinnaqtun Dictionary that I spoke about earlier.
Just to inform the members and the Nunavut people that they are available through the Nunavut Arctic College.
Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Mr. McLean.
I would like to go back to Item 12.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Item 12.
Proceed Mr. McLean.
Report 002 – 1(6): Bill 8 - An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act
I wish to report that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 68(5) and have Bill 8 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Speaker: Mr. McLean has requested to waive rule 68(5) so that Standing Committee Report Bill 8 can be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Standing Committee Report Bill 8 is referred to Committee of the Whole.
Report 003 – 1(6): Bill 9 - An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act
I wish to report that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development and that the Bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 68(5) and have Bill 9 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Speaker: Ma’na, Mr. McLean.
There is a request to waive rule 68(5) so Standing Committee Report Bill 9 can be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Standing Committee Report Bill 9 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Motion 007 – 1(6): Empowering Our District Education Authorities - Notice
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on May 16, 2002, I will move the following motion:
I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Qamanittuaq, that the Department of Education move forward in coming to agreements with each and every DEA that expresses its desire to take on these responsibilities;
AND FURTHER, I MOVE that the Department of Education continue to provide training and support to DEAs on an ongoing basis to assist them to carry out these important functions.
At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be seeking consent to deal with my motion today.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 45(1) so that my motion can be introduced today.
Speaker: The member’s seeking unanimous consent so that he can deal with his motion today.
Motion 007 – 1(6): Empowering Our District Education Authorities
WHEREAS the Act to amend the Divisional Education Councils Dissolution Act was passed in this House on April 28, 2000;
AND WHEREAS section 7 of this Act states that, “A District Education Authority and the Minister shall enter into an agreement dealing with how the District Education Authority will carry out its duties and responsibilities and exercise its powers to ensure that the District Education Authority, to the extent it is willing and able, carries out as many duties, takes as much responsibility and exercises as many powers as possible”;
AND WHEREAS it has been a stated goal of the Department of Education to allow communities to assume more responsibilities over time;
AND WHEREAS it has been a stated goal of this Government to increase accountability and responsibility at the community level across Nunavut;
AND WHEREAS many communities have expressed their interest in taking on such District Education Authority responsibilities as budgeting, accounting and management functions;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake, that the Department of Education move forward in coming to agreements with each and every DEA that expresses its desire to take on these responsibilities;
Mr. Speaker, in bringing forward this motion, I know that as I indicated since April 1, 1999 and prior to that, there has been a desire of all of our communities to take on more responsibilities and control over matters regarding delivery of programs and services in the communities.
This particular case Mr. Speaker, deals with the administration and running of the educational system within the communities and I’ve heard many times in this House or members have said it that our communities know themselves best and that they should be given the authority and the responsibility and the power to carry out those duties and that’s one of the reasons I’m bringing this motion forward.
I think that, also Mr. Speaker, I think that devolution is something that we need to look at as a government not only in education but in other areas in order to become more effective and efficient.
Also the fact that the high turnover rates within the government sometimes leads to confusion and misunderstandings between these community based elected bodies that have responsibilities and the departments.
Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that’s the case in this particular case but that there is a potential for that happening and what this will do is allow for more continuity in the delivery of those programs and services in the communities.
Very briefly, to the motion, the District Education Authorities in just about every community in Nunavut are elected by their community, just like us.
They have power to run the programs in their community and they are given responsibilities to run the programs and they should have more responsibilities to run more programs in our communities.
They understand the communities and they visit their schools and they know what’s going on in their communities.
I think we should recognise them and give them more power so they can run their own programs in the communities.
If I can use one example, Mr. Speaker, in the smaller communities such as my community for example, they make plans for one year and they make the school year calendars in their communities.
This way the communities are taking more responsibilities in terms of what they want to do in their own communities and this is a recognition of their roles.
The Nunavut Association of Municipalities, just like them, they have power like that organisation.
They’re not less than the NAM program, so they should be given more power to run their own programs, due to their abilities and their due election by their people.