EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Please remember, Mr. Enook, at the appropriate time during the clause-by-clause review, you can ask your question.
(interpretation ends) Bill 67, (interpretation) An Act to Amend the Integrity Act. (interpretation ends) Clause 1. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Mr. Enook (interpretation): I’m not sure if this is the right place.
I’m not really sure which part of the clause it is.
I’m just seeking information because I’m looking at the English version. I’m going to try and translate it into Inuktitut. It states that “…officials are free to bring any concerns that they may have regarding a potential contravention of the Act directly to the attention of the appropriate minister or to the Premier, who would determine whether the concerns warrant a formal request to the Integrity Commissioner.”
I just want to know what this means.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Enook. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker.
What that means is the individuals or the class of positions that are being excluded from being able to file a complaint directly to the Integrity Commissioner have the avenue of talking directly to the minister or the Premier for them to pursue a complaint, if necessary.
Chairman: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. Clause 2. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): I have run out of clauses.
Is the committee agreed to (interpretation ends) Bill 67 (interpretation) as a whole?
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), does the committee agree that (interpretation ends) Bill 67 (interpretation) can now immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Mr. Speaker, if you have any closing remarks, I give you this opportunity now. Mr. Speaker.
I think this is just another example of when legislation is developed, we try and think of everything and incorporate everything to cover off everything that you can think of at the time. It’s not until it’s actually put to the test and used that you discover that there are some things that could be improved upon.
I would like to thank all the members who raised concerns and issues regarding these amendments after the last review.
Hopefully now we have an even stronger piece of legislation that will basically give the Integrity Commissioner the teeth that he needs to ensure that he is provided with the information to be able to do their job properly.
I again thank Mr. Orr and all the rest of the staff that worked on drafting this piece of legislation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Speaker Tootoo and Mr. Orr.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out and thank you.
We agreed that (interpretation ends) Bill 67 (interpretation) is ready for third reading.
At this time, I would like to move a motion to report progress. (interpretation) Thank you.
All those in favour of the motion to report progress to our Speaker.
Your committee has been considering Bill 65 and Bill 67 and would like to report that Bills 65 and 67 are ready for third reading. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Bill 65 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 65, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and as such, Bill 65 has had third reading and is ready for assent.
Bill 67 – An Act to Amend the Integrity Act – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 67, An Act to Amend the Integrity Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and Bill 67 has been read for the third time and is now ready for assent.
In our Orders of the Day, Item 22.
Orders of the Day for May 10:
This House stands adjourned until Friday, May 10, at 9:00 a.m. and I hope that there are happier hockey fans out there after tonight.
If not, they won’t be very happy at all tomorrow.  This House is adjourned.
>>House adjourned at 16:03
DAY 80
Friday, May 10, 2013
Pages 4497 – 4516
Opening Prayer 4497
Ministers’ Statements 4497
Members’ Statements 4499
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4503
Oral Questions 4503
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4515
Petitions 4515
Tabling of Documents 4515
Orders of the Day 4515
Friday, May 10, 2013 4497
284 – 3(3): Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (Taptuna) 4497
285 – 3(3): Niqittiavak Committee (Ell) 4498
286 – 3(3): Remembering Nowyah Williams (Shewchuk) 4498
479 – 3(3): Disease Prevention (Ningark) 4499
480 – 3(3): Building Small Business Capacity in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) 4500
481 – 3(3): Veterinarian Visit to Pangnirtung (Oshutapik) 4500
482 – 3(3): Appreciation of Nursing Staff (Elliott) 4501
483 – 3(3): Attending a Meeting in Sweden (Curley) 4502
484 – 3(3): Jonathan Palluq – Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient (Arreak) 4502
485 – 3(3): Happy Birthday to Mother (Ugyuk) 4503
624 – 3(3): Disease Control (Ningark) 4503
625 – 3(3): Veterinarian Services across Nunavut (Oshutapik) 4506
626 – 3(3): Status of Pond Inlet Resource Centre (Enook) 4507
627 – 3(3): Department of Education’s Contracting Practices (Schell) 4508
628 – 3(3): Southampton Island Caribou Survey (Ningeongan) 4510
629 – 3(3): Food Price Survey (Rumbolt) 4511
630 – 3(3): Medical Escort Policy (Curley) 4512
631 – 3(3): Social Worker Vacancy in Coral Harbour (Ningeongan) 4514
005 – 3(3): Increase the Number of Public Housing Units in Taloyoak (Ugyuk) 4515
359 – 3(3): 2012-2013 Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut (Speaker) 4515
>>House commenced at 8:59
Speaker (Hon. Hunter Tootoo): Before we proceed with today’s sitting, I would like to ask Mr. Elliott to lead us off in a prayer, please.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Elliott. (interpretation ends) We will move on in our orders of the day.
Minister’s Statement 284 – 3(3): Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (Taptuna)
Ullaakkut, colleagues, Kuglukturmiut, and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators which was held in Iqaluit from May 5 to 8.
The CCMTA exists to facilitate communication and cooperation between jurisdictions in recognition of the fact that vehicles and drivers move between them.
The theme of this year’s event was “Northern reality meets modern transportation,” a theme which is fitting for Nunavut.
I would also like to recognize the outgoing President and Chair of CCMTA, Methuselah Kunuk, for his leadership. As my colleagues will know, Mr. Kunuk is also the Assistant Deputy Minister of Transportation with Economic Development and Transportation.
The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators is comprised of members from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and over 150 people from all three nations were in Iqaluit. Events like this have an economic impact in the short term, but more importantly, it helps raise Nunavut’s profile within Canada and internationally.
Mr. Speaker, the modern transportation is increasingly part of our northern reality. By engaging with other jurisdictions through CCMTA, we ensure that our regulatory framework for road transport is modern and our administrators are attuned to the practices and policies of their counterparts across Canada.
Minister responsible for Family Services, Minister Ell.
Minister’s Statement 285 – 3(3): Niqittiavak Committee (Ell)
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Good morning and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I say “Happy Mother’s Day” to my mother.
I rise today to update the Members of this House on the activities of the Niqittiavak Committee, which is now convened by staff from the Department of Family Services.
The committee has been expanded and now includes the participation of six government departments and representation from the Inuit organizations.
The terms of reference for the Niqittiavak Committee will be tabled in this House.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, with other members of the Niqittiavak Committee, is hard at work this month analyzing the results of the food price survey. The survey has collected information on food prices in 11 Nunavut communities. This information will be the foundation for the committee’s recommendations for action on food prices.
A report on the outcomes of the pilot will also be tabled in the House.
The committee is examining the effects of government subsidies on food prices in our communities, including those subsidies provided by the federal Nutrition North Canada Program.
The committee has reached out to the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board to request information about food prices currently collected by Nutrition North Canada Program staff.
As Members of this House have made it clear, we need better information on subsidies and how they are reflected by the price of food on store shelves.
I am confident this information will be forthcoming through the work of the Niqittiavak Committee.
The committee will report to me on a regular basis and I will ensure members continue to be informed of its activities and their outcomes.
Minister’s Statement 286 – 3(3): Remembering Nowyah Williams (Shewchuk)
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Good morning and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As we celebrate Nursing Week in Nunavut, I rise in the House today to honour Ms. Nowyah Williams, a registered nursing assistant and traditional Inuk midwife who made tremendous contributions to the Arctic College Maternity Care Worker Certificate and midwifery programs.
Mr. Speaker, Nowyah recently passed away and her memorial service was held in Rankin Inlet on Sunday, April 28, 2013.
An excerpt from the Inuktitut magazine, 1972, written by Nowyah herself, tells of her pride at completing the registered nursing assistant course at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, she spoke of working very hard at all the science courses and the clinical aspects on the hospital wards.
Her dream after graduation was to return to Coral Harbour and help her people.
Mr. Speaker, at the first convocation of midwifery students in November of 2008, Nowyah was presented with an honorary diploma in midwifery for her contributions to the college’s maternity care and midwifery programs in recognition of her strong commitment to the advancement of the profession in Nunavut.
She was a leading contributor to the development of the Arctic College maternity care and midwifery programs.
She was one of the elders who contributed her stories to the book, Birth on the Land – Memories of Inuit Elders and Traditional Midwives, by Bev O’Brien and published last November.
Mr. Speaker, Nowyah Williams was a lifelong learner in the health professions in Nunavut and today, I am honoured to acknowledge her services to the people of Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 479 – 3(3): Disease Prevention (Ningark)
Disease prevention has to be promoted more by the government, not just through written material.
We always read that if you wash your hands with soap and warm water and if you have a cold, you are to stay at home.
Those are the types of things that we read in disease prevention. We see it around in public places every day and this is very good.
As a government, if we believe that disease prevention… .
Some people go to the hospital and they’re told that there’s no way that they can get an appointment because they can’t have… .
If there’s a doctor who comes in and you want to see a doctor and you don’t have an appointment, then you can’t see the doctor. The doctors will be leaving the next day and you can’t see a doctor because you don’t have an appointment.
If you want to see the dentist or the optometrist, the answer is, “We’re sorry to say, although the specialist is in town, unfortunately you don’t have an appointment and no space.”
If our health system is genuine, then the person who feels they need to see the specialist ought to be accommodated.
They have to be provided these health services.
Why, when our people place faith in our health system, can’t these people be seen by these specialists?
Are the reasons related to the lack of space in our local health centres, or alternatively, is it due to the lack of staff at our health centres or is this due to the lack of diagnostic means?
Don’t we have these services available in Nunavut?
At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions on this matter during question period.
Member’s Statement 480 – 3(3): Building Small Business Capacity in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq)
I send my regards to the people of Baker Lake. Good morning.
There is currently a search underway by search parties from Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet.
I would like my fellow Baker Lake residents to be aware that our fellow Nunavummiut are keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.
Also, as Mother’s Day is over this weekend, I wish my mother and every mother in Nunavut a happy Mother’s Day. That includes all of our staff and colleagues who are mothers here in the Assembly.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the importance of building small business capacity in Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, although a significant amount of public attention is being focused on major mining developments and other megaprojects, I believe that we must not lose sight of the important role that small businesses and individual entrepreneurs play in our economy.
Mr. Speaker, the GN’s departments of Economic Development and Community and Government Services have published a very useful document titled “Doing Business with the Government of Nunavut.”
I encourage both departments to ensure that this publication is kept up to date.
Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents, a number of whom are aspiring entrepreneurs, have told me that they would be interested in attending workshops or training sessions to help them better prepare to submit proposals or bids to the government in response to tender calls or requests for proposals.
I strongly encourage both departments to hold such training workshops in Baker Lake and other communities.
Mr. Speaker, an issue that I have raised on many occasions in this House is the need for expanded access to banking and financial services in our smaller communities.
I have encouraged financial institutions to give careful consideration to the opportunities that exist for them in Baker Lake, and I look forward to the day when residents of our community can walk down the street and enter a bank or credit union.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in paying tribute to Nunavut’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Member’s Statement 481 – 3(3): Veterinarian Visit to Pangnirtung (Oshutapik)
Good morning to my fellow residents.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my thanks to the Pangnirtung Humane Society and the Hamlet of Pangnirtung for their successful efforts in bringing veterinarians to the community.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Pangnirtung had not had a veterinarian visit in over ten years.
Services such as vaccinations and spay and neuter programs are important for the well-being of our pets.
They also promote the well-being of the community with less strays and less disease.
The veterinarians also visited the school to talk about how to avoid dog bites.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Pangnirtung Humane Society raised over $4,000 for the visit with local fundraising. The hamlet donated the use of the community garage to host the weeklong clinic and helped with its organization. First Air supported the event and several community members pitched in as well.
Pet owners were asked to donate what they could for the service that was provided.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that 67 dogs were seen over a period of five days with the visit of the veterinarians to our community. The veterinarians who came from Nova Scotia are interested in coming back to our community. I believe this would be very much welcomed by Pangnirtung’s pet owners.
Member’s Statement 482 – 3(3): Appreciation of Nursing Staff (Elliott)
I rise today to recognize National Nursing Week and to express my appreciation for the hard-working and dedicated nurses of the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate Joanne Dignard, nurse-in-charge in Grise Fiord, on her award for excellence in nursing practice which the Minister of Health announced earlier this week.
Joanne worked for a time in Arctic Bay and we are very fortunate to have her back in the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my thanks to the nurses and health care staff who show their dedication to the residents in their communities on a daily and often nightly basis.
In my constituency of Quttiktuq, we are very fortunate that many nursing staff have been in their positions for a long time, on average over ten years.
This not only helps them to know their clients better, but truly makes them integral part of their community.
Mr. Speaker, nurses across Nunavut should all be recognized for their commitment to health care and to the well-being of our residents.
I commend them for their dedication and thank them for all they do.
Member’s Statement 483 – 3(3): Attending a Meeting in Sweden (Curley)
There are a number of search parties from Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, and Chesterfield Inlet, and we support them fully in their efforts.
Mr. Speaker, the reason why I rise today and which I feel I need to voice is although I have to be in Iqaluit for next week’s session, I won’t be able to attend and I would like Rankin Inlet residents to know this fact.
The government will continue regardless.
There are some global issues that can either be a source of pride or very problematic. Here in Nunavut, we have been visited by pressing problems sometimes unexpectedly, for example, the CITES polar bear vote that occurred this winter, although it had been in the works for quite a while.
Just recently, here in the Inuit homelands, the Arctic nations have the Arctic Council, where our MP, Leona Aglukkaq, will be the chair, and we are quite proud of the Arctic nations that gather to discuss these issues.
However, they will be meeting in a faraway place over in Sweden, Kiruna. It is apparently a regional centre and I have actually visited that city in 1984-85, when we had business groups in the NWT legislature. John Todd, John Hickes, and other people were part of this group.
Additionally, the city which is a regional centre also houses the Sami people’s Parliament.
They also wanted to meet with the elected representatives.
We will be going to express our appreciation to the Sami people.
I was asked to help out by the Premier and I was quite thankful for this opportunity.
Although it’s difficult to just leave the session and it is also hard, we’re dealing with our future in the Arctic, especially Nunavut, as the oceans are becoming less ice-congested and perhaps shipping through arctic waters may become an issue. I believe we, as elected officials, have to listen to these discussions.
Due to these reasons, when the Premier requested my assistance on this file, I agreed to attend. I’m just voicing this upcoming trip for the benefit of our listening public in Nunavut, particularly in Rankin Inlet.
It isn’t of my own choice, but I will be travelling for about one week to attend that meeting.
Member’s Statement 484 – 3(3): Jonathan Palluq – Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient (Arreak)
I say “good morning” to Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I congratulated the recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
I am sorry to say that I missed out one other name, Jonathan Palluq.
He received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General in Ottawa. He was the only one attending from Nunavut.
He was recognized for teaching Inuit culture in our community.
I would like to say that I’m sorry for omitting his name.
Member’s Statement 485 – 3(3): Happy Birthday to Mother (Ugyuk)
I say “good morning” to the people in the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that May 10 is my mother’s 74th birthday. I wish her a very happy birthday.
I am thankful that I have a mother who helps me out all the time and I love her.
I would like to also wish her a happy Mother’s Day.
She is a very good mother.
I am thankful that I am able to make this announcement.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery an individual who was recognized in the Committee of the Whole yesterday and that is Ms. Sheila MacPherson.
She will be filling in as our Law Clerk for the remainder of our sitting.
She is also the Law Clerk from the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I also would like to recognize the Law Clerk from the NWT, whom I had the pleasure of working with many years ago.
Welcome, Ms. MacPherson.
Question 624 – 3(3): Disease Control (Ningark)
I would also like to thank the nurses in the north. They work very hard in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, the question that I have is directed to the Minister of Health.
We are advised that if you have a cold, you have to wash your hands with hot water and soap and that if you are sick or suffering from a cold, you should remain at home.
Be that as it may, our health system is supposed to provide services to residents, to MLAs, to government employees, and our communities. It is supposed to provide services to our residents who require assistance or medication.
If you go to the health centre or call, the usual answer is that the appointments are full and there’s no room to accommodate more people.
This isn’t proper health care, especially when the specialists arrive into our communities. If a person calls to make an appointment, the usual answer is that their name isn’t in the appointment list and they cannot be seen by the specialist and that the specialist would be leaving in a matter of days. This isn’t true health care.
Why, when people go to the health centres and we have a lot of examples now, are they continually advised that there is no room or that the person is in good health, but their sickness is finally diagnosed when it is too late or too advanced? Why? Why aren’t we providing proper health care to our people?
Is it due to the lack of nursing positions in our communities or is this due to the lack of space in our health centres or is it due to the lack of diagnostic tools that we can’t accommodate them, Mr. Speaker?
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our nurses and health professionals across Nunavut. I had the opportunity in the last six weeks to visit the nurses in Igloolik, Sanikiluaq, Arctic Bay, and also in Kugaaruk. They’re very hard-working nurses and health professionals, so I am very proud of the work they do for us.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ningark asked a very good question, but now we have established the community profiles.
The nurses in the communities are very busy.
Depending on the size of the community, there could be a minimum of 6,000 visits to health centres every year and I know there are as many as 12,000 or 13,000 on the range of things.
There has to be a way to control that.
Appointment is normally the way so that people get their chance.
I don’t believe that if there’s a real emergency, the health centres will tell people not to come in.
If you go there, they will find a way.
I encourage the communities to work with the community health centres. They are community health centres after all.
The health committees that most communities have can also play a vital role in coordinating between the community and the health centre on how to best serve the community in terms of people getting in to see the nurses or other health professionals and specialists who visit the communities.
The answer I was seeking here, the hon. minister managed to answer it, indicating that nurses in the community are very busy. That brings my question to the next stage.
About a few months ago, after I had written to the minister’s office, I received a reply that Repulse Bay was getting two health professionals.
I would like to know where those health professionals are.
Are we getting the nurses, two extra health professionals, today or is it still in the works?
Mr. Ningark knows and most people know because of the media that Repulse Bay has a new health centre that we will be officially opening at some point, but they’re already in the facility.