EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We've asked again through my good offices to have those positions filled and we are trying to fill them.
We are using the guidelines that the Government has in place.
The Health Boards are following the guidelines.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Speaker.
Thank you for giving me a response, however as the Nunavut Government, we are amending all the legislation of Nunavut.
I'm not too sure if we dealt with that legislation.
That’s why I asked this question and I thank you for giving me an adequate response.
Perhaps as the new Nunavut Government, we will have to amend the rules, regulations, and policies so that these policies will come from Nunavut and be made in Nunavut.
Question 320 - 1(3): Alcohol Committee By-Laws
I won't congratulate you now since you have received many congratulations from around the table already.
I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Finance.
I think it was last summer or fall that I asked him in regards to the local alcohol committees.
According to them, they don't have any rules, regulations, or by-laws for those committees.
Perhaps, I'll just explain my preamble.
In some communities they have controlled liquor access by the local alcohol committees.
I had asked this question previously where your position is.
His response was that he would take it as notice.
I was wondering where your answer is Mr. Speaker.
Speaker Thank you Mr. Nutarak.
I believe the question has been directed to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Board Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, I don't recall taking a question as notice on that matter, but if that were the case certainly I'll find out and clarify.
Maybe I could ask the member to clarify the question to me.
I can try to answer it or provide the information.
I had asked a question in regards to liquor access.
We do have a liquor store in Nunavut now but we have to order our alcohol from Yellowknife and you need permit to order alcohol from outside of Nunavut.
That has to be approved.
As you have stated Goo Arlooktoo, the liquor licensing board chairperson will have to deal with that.
So, I asked a question about that.
Once we became Nunavut Government, every since we became a Nunavut Government, the legislation of liquor has been a problem.
Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister about that.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for clarifying that.
He is correct that I have asked the liquor board to make some recommendations about the distribution of alcohol.
They haven't had an opportunity to report get back.
Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker the fact is that they got into their positions as you know late in the fall.
They had to deal with some pressing issues.
In respect to liquor licence applications here in Iqaluit and some hearings to enforcement issues.
I don't believe they have had that opportunity yet but I will follow up, now that the matter has been raised again to try to move forward on this matter.
Since your reply has been that you will look into that and you'll go ahead, probably I'll wait a year for your response again.
I don't hear a question unless Mr. Ng would like to respond.
First of all, Mr. Speaker I don't believe it was a year ago that the member asked the question because we weren't sitting here a year ago.
Since it is a high priority for the honourable member I'll make sure we get the information as expediently as possible.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Before we continue I would just like to take this opportunity to recognize one of the key Inuit leaders in the creation of Nunavut, Dr. John Amagoalik who has joined us in the last few minutes.
Speaker: We will continue with oral questions.
Question 321 - 1(3): Inuit Cultural Teachers
I would you to say my name properly because it sounds a lot like Akesuk.
I took the opportunity to ask him a few questions, but he never answered my question directly.
I ran out of my time.
I grew up with the Minister of Education, kind of, although he's a bit older than I am.
I was from Hall Beach and he was from Igloolik.
We speak the same dialect and he understands exactly what I'm trying to say.
But yesterday during question period he didn't seem to quite understand where my question was coming from and he was going all over the place.
My question yesterday was is the department of education getting plans underway so that we can have Inuit teachers out in the field.
The reason why I'm saying that is because we are missing the traditional knowledge like igloo building, survival and other issues like that.
It is very critical at this point that we get cultural teachers out there.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Education.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you for being the new Speaker.
And, yes, I do understand exactly where the member is coming from because of course we speak the same dialect.
I tried my best to answer your question yesterday.
He's talking about many issues, there's culture, language that we talk about and getting cultural teachers who are experts in the Inuit culture.
And when they are talking about the elders as teachers or instructors, we have many Inuktitut teachers who are very well versed in Inuktitut and they created books through the Baffin Divisional Board.
We now have fully fledged Inuit teachers and there is quite a few of them.
I believe the member is talking about the elders who know about the culture or the old cultural values, Inuit clothing making and so on.
Yes, were working on it.
Like I said yesterday, in Arviat there some Inuit linguistics that are being put together as a language material.
I would like the member, my colleague to understand that the kind of teachers, if we’re looking at the kind of teachers that we are going to be producing.
Yes, we have produced teachers through the Arctic College.
So, how are we going to utilise the Arctic College.
What kind of teachers are we going to producing.
Those are the types of things we have to do.
So, that we will know about the cultural values.
I don't believe that we will ever regain all the knowledge that we have forgotten.
We will only be able to get the ones we know today and what's available out there.
We do try to use the Arctic College to produce those types of programmes.
I will try to pronounce the names of members properly.
I' still working on Mr. Picco's name.
I understand exactly what Mr. Arvaluk is to say.
For example, what I'm trying to understand here is are you going to make money or funds available or are you looking for additional funds so that we can at least get two teachers in each community or in each of the communities that want those types of teachers.
If the money is produced, there are already some very qualified teachers in the communities already.
Do you have that in the plans.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Speaker.
We have that.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you for your positive response.
I'm very glad.
So when are these funds going to be made available.
Speaker: Hon. James Arvaluk.
We do have the same dialect.
I don't think I understood exactly what your question was.
I thought your question was have you considered.
Now the question is all of a sudden when are the funds going to be made available.
Can you clarify your question please.
Speaker: Mr. Irqittuq:
Well when you take it into consideration, we always have made a decision already.
When we take this into consideration, there is dialogue between us.
We put out a tentative date on when the funds are going to be made available.
That's the direction of my question.
Possibly today or tomorrow we will elaborate further when we start working on the details on education aspects and so on.
However, it very hard to give you a yes or no answer.
Because there are lot of programs out there.
There are qualified teachers that went through the NTEP program and we have an agreement with McGill University.
They teach Inuktitut from Kindergarten to grade 6 and some to grade three.
They teach in Inuktitut and just this fall we'll be putting together some curriculum for grade seven to grade twelve.
I believe what the member is trying to say, whether if the cultural and traditional knowledge values, shamanism, survival or any other Inuit traditional knowledge will be taught.
I believe that is his question.
And, yes were trying to put plans together which is going to be hard work.
Nobody has ever produced that type of programs before.
What usually happens is that we give the types of programs that the communities want.
For example, qamutiq making, tanning, sewing, and things that even the middle age people know.
Those are the types of programs that are requested by the schools.
Now, what were trying to do is try to put some things together that will preserve what we forgot know.
The ayaiya songs, the shamanism and so on which we will lose forever when the elders die, that is what the member is talking about.
Possibly through recording or data collecting or producing books.
We'll put plans together.
In the financial plans and again in Arviat they’re putting together some objectives and I believe my colleague heard it.
Mark Qalluaq and the other elders are working in Arviat on these projects.
On behalf of all of Nunavut, they're putting together some plans on what should be included in curriculum or in the programmes in the schools.
Once this is completed we're looking at completion in the fall.
From there we'll look at the 27 communities and see how many elders are available.
For example, walrus hunting techniques in Hall Beach.
Somebody over there in Arviat might not know because they don't have walrus.
If we are going to be setting those types of programs, curriculum developments and so on, we can't say we want these types of elders.
It’s going to take quite a lot of work to produce.
So I would like answer my colleague by saying yes, we have thought about it but we can only provide money for planning and once things are more on track than we'll see how much more money we would put in there.
My colleague know that first of all, there's the cultural inclusion programmes and than Inuit languages and also teaching Inuktitut grade 6 and this fall starting in September we will be teaching Inuktitut from grade 7 to grade 12.
My colleague knows this but we have to set up a plan and objectives if were going to including any more.
Were not going to stop here when it comes to language and cultural aspects of teaching.
I hope the member found an answer in that.
We have one more question I believe.
Yes, he answered some of my questions.
But, my main question is and I will be rephrasing my question.
Perhaps if I made my question much clearer I would have had a better response from the Minister.
What I’m concerned about is those people who have not completed high school and who are middle aged and they do not have anything to do in the community and they are mainly on social assistance.
So with those in mind I feel that we should have some kind of program that addresses those middle aged people.
I was not so much concerned with story telling and Inuit songs.
What I was trying to say is I think we should be preparing those people to enter the workforce.
That was my main concern and I was asking the minister if we could put some kind of funding in place.
Mr. Speaker, if I could seek unanimous consent to extend oral question period.
Speaker: I will ask the minister to answer the question first and then we will deal with the request for the extension.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Yes the member knows very well that the distribution that we put to communities that will be used for cultural programs usually depends on how many students will be enrolled in such programs.
The money that we put out is usually put out to DEAs and the DEAs decide what kind of funds will used within their schools for cultural programs and what kind of language or cultural instructors they will have in their classrooms. It is usually put out to local education committees through formula financing.
It is usually up to the local education committees to decide what funds will go to what instruction that will be held in the schools.
They will have to try to decide how many instructors they will have in a classroom and how many students will be admitted into these programs under the old policy.
We have been trying to deal with this new policy that we want to put out but apparently some communities are still going under the old policy.
There are two different policies.
Speaker: Question period is now over.
I seek unanimous consent to extend the sitting hours of oral question period.
Speaker: Mr. Kattuk would like to continue question period.
There are no nays so we will continue but first we will take a fifteen minute break.
Then, question period will be extended by one hour.
>>House recessed at 4.05 p.m. and resumed at 4.27 p.m.
Speaker: We will continue with oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 322 – 1(3): New Baffin Regional Hospital
The town of Iqaluit is growing and all the Baffin residents come to the regional hospital in Iqaluit.
So I would like to ask the minister of finance, we have been dealing with the new hospital in the Baffin for the last 4 years now and I’m wondering if the minister can update us as to what kind of plan they have made regarding the hospital in Iqaluit.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Speaker, as you know the birthright development corporations are negotiating an agreement with us and are trying to undertake some work to finalize some reviews on requirements to allow the project to proceed.
At this time the contracts, the contribution agreements are with the birthright corporations and we expect that will allow them to continue with their work.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Mr. Barnabas.
When will they be signing this agreement.
If they are going to sign this agreement soon what will be the date.
Can the minister give us a date when they will sign the agreement.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Well Mr. Speaker, I cannot give you a date because it is not within our hands. They have it.
They’ve had their representatives review it and I understand between the officials of the birthright corporations that there have been some minor amendments to the agreements and it is a matter of formalising the agreements and signing them to allow them to proceed with the work.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral questions. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Question 323 – 1(3): Nursing Positions in Smaller Communities
The minister that I was going to direct my question to is not in the House, so I will be directing my question to the Premier.
I was going to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services regarding CHRs. The Health and Social Services Boards in the communities, there are many communities that have shortages of health professional and nurses.
Qiqiktarjuaq also has a shortage of nurses and professionals in the community. So I’m asking the Premier if he will be staffing more nurses in the smaller communities this year.
Speaker: I would remind the member not to make note when a minister is not in the House to answer your question.
The Minister of Health and Social Services had to leave town this afternoon and I thought we would be ending this session earlier.
His meeting is with the federal minister of health and for that reason he is not in attendance this afternoon.
Just a reminder to the members when a question is taken as notice there are no supplementary questions to follow.
Question 324 – 1(3): Breakdown of Budget Surplus
Mr. Speaker my question is responsible for the minister responsible for finance.
Mr. Speaker in the minister’s budget address he talked about a 34.1 million dollar surplus.
Mr. Speaker, on top of that he alludes to another 17 million dollars that went to offset the health board deficits that were incurred.
Mr. Speaker that to me is a grand total surplus of 51.2 million dollars.
Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if the minister could provide the members of this House with the breakdown by department what the surpluses are.
Once the financial statements of the Government of Nunavut are completed and once the auditor general has audited those statements, they will be tabled in this House and that will show all the financial information for the operating year April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.
Mr. Speaker this number came from somewhere and I can recognise the fact that it is not a hard and fast number, and the year isn’t over yet and there are going to be some adjustments.
Nevertheless, could the minister provide the House with the information, by department, that was used to come up with this temporary number.
Yes, from the preliminary number from each department I would be able to provide the numbers once the departments’ budgets come up for review.
Speaker: Supplementary, Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I was just wondering if this information is already there, and he must have a list by department already to get that total, why do we have to wait for when the departments budget is before the House.
I was wondering if he could provide it sooner than that.
Well I just thought it would be convenient at the time when we had some substantive debate on it and it was part of the department of finance’s budget review.
But if the member wants it earlier and the information is available, I would be willing to provide it.
If I understand the minister that if we wish to see those numbers he would provide them to us and I would appreciate getting those numbers as soon as possible if that is what the minister is committing to.
I think that is what the minister is saying.
Question 325 – 1(3): Analysis of Airstrips
Mr. McLean: Thank you, I will wear my yellow shirt tomorrow.
My question today is to the minister of transportation.
We take it for granted when we are flying around this country, myself included, personally I’ve done more flying in the past year than in the last forty.
My question today is for the minister responsible for the airstrips in Nunavut.
Does the minister’s department do a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the airstrips on a yearly basis or a bi-yearly basis.
Mr. Speaker, we have an ongoing report of the state of the airstrips in Nunavut.
It is updated whenever there is a need to work on an airstrip and I will use an example of Whale Cove where the rocks were showing and we had to do some work.
We are kept up to date as to what shape the runways are in through the department of transportation.
That is reassuring to know when I’m flying in and out of my home of Qamannituak that the tires aren’t going to blow off and I’m going to crash and burn.
I know the minister does have that evaluation, being on a municipal council for the last nine or ten years, can the minister let me know if that document is available so I can check the condition of the runway and see that there aren’t large rocks sticking out and going to cause problems.
Will he make that available to me.
I have not been a minister of transportation for the last twelve years but I will make that information available.
Mr. McLean: Thank you I will sleep a lot better tonight knowing that .
On the other hand when they are doing their evaluation and condition ratings do they put in any kind of consideration, because we all know that planes are getting bigger, heavier, faster and longer.
Is there any criteria in there to decide what becomes a jet strip because I know we are past the DC-3 stages in our life up here I hope.
I was wondering in the minister’s criteria and evaluation does he consider what strips could be lengthened to accommodate jet travel.
As I have stated before there will be a comprehensive review by the department of transportation and yes, the airstrips we want to keep them as safe as possible and that is one of our top priorities.
But I would like my colleagues to know, and the residents of Nunavut, that there are three airstrips that are priorities.
Kimmirut, Pangnirtung and the third one is Repulse Bay because they are either too close to the community or their airstrip is too short.
We do review all the airstrips in Nunavut for safety reasons but once we review the safety standards we will include the Members of the Legislative Assembly and give them the opportunity for input.
Speaker: Thank you Minister Anawak.
Mr. McLean: Ma’na Uqaqti. If a municipality like Arviat or Baker Lake had been asking to have their airstrip to be lengthened an extra six or seven hundred feet to accommodate jet service that is provided in the Keewatin.
Would the minister be looking at that.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that in the future I will be meeting again with my colleagues, my fellow minister of transportation within the government of Canada, Mr. David Collenette, and my former colleague.
I will be mentioning the need for better runways and longer runways for some of the communities.
I know there are a number of communities that would like to lengthen their runways.
Question 326 - 1(3): Increase in Social Assistance Rates
Mr. Speaker I would like to make a supplementary to Mr. Alakannuark's question.
I will be directing my question to the Minister of Education.
In the High Arctic there are no job opportunities and many people in our ridings do receive social assistance.
We lack social workers in the High Arctic and since the Minister of Education is responsible for income support; for communities that have a higher cost of living I was wondering if you would increase the social assistance rates.
Your question, starting question, is directed to the Minster of Education.
At this point we don't have any plans as yet because we did not do any review we don't know how it is best the way to improve the income support program especially the objectives.
Therefore we will be awaiting the results of the review committee and as I have stated before I will be tabling the reports this coming fall.
I will table the results.
I would like to get clarification about the review committee, will you have review committee too for the High Arctic?
Will the review committee's members include members from the High Arctic residents?
Mr. Speaker: Minister responsible for Education.
We selected the members who worked in the social services field and they have lived in various communities.
We would like to hear from Sanikiluaq to Grise Fiord from Kugluktuk to Qikiqtarjuaq all across Nunavut.
They won't be touring all the communities but when I met with them yesterday morning, I advised them to review it and don't think about what the government's positions are.
I want them to review and be sensitive to the needs of the local people.
As I stated before to the members of the review committee it will be totally up to them and I leave that open to them.
They can make recommendations on any initiatives.
We gave them all the information and I expect that whether you are from the High Arctic or whether you come from another community they will consider those communities.
Question 327 - 1(3): Clyde River Hamlet Finances
I would like to direct my question to the Community Government Minister.
Twice I have asked the question in regards to the Clyde River hamlet finances I have never received any answer in regards to this.
I was wondering if the Minister could provide to me a document with the progress report or the status report.
Prior to the request I asked the mayor of Clyde River as well as the Member of Legislature to have a meeting with me so I could brief them on the status of what is happening in their community.
However, I have not received a response from either of the individuals.
I am very willing to sit down with the mayor of Clyde River but at this time there is some changeover happening right now.
Therefore, this question perhaps can be dealt with through a meeting with the MLA and with their representatives from their community.
Question 328 - 1(3): Heritage Centre Location
There was a person that had his hand up on the other side there but they are pulling to get me back so here my question will be directed to the Minister of Finance.
This is an additional question regarding heritage centres.
I'm wondering just where this heritage centre will be because this question was asked already but it was not responded to.
Where do you plan to put up this heritage centre?