EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The area I’m talking about is the area between Greenland and Baffin Island.
I was just wondering: in terms of the partners that you’re working with, are you working with HTOs in terms of determining that or helping with… ?
I think you had said test fisheries.
I was reading a newspaper article that just came out. Out in the western Arctic, they’re finding fish stocks that they never saw before and char was showing up where they have never had it before.
I know one of the things that we’re looking at in the High Arctic as well with the Arctic Fisheries Alliances is checking to see what’s there first of all before we start fishing, and then working towards the quota.
I’m just wondering if that’s exactly what you’re talking about in terms of expanding the market.
With the commercial fishing of turbot and shrimp, we’re working with the five fishing industries, the Arctic Fisheries Alliance, the Baffin Fisheries Coalition, and the entities that are involved in that.
However, when it comes to the arctic char, we’re working with individual HTOs and regional wildlife organizations and establishing what the sustainable level could be, and in the future, establishing quotas and moving forward.
On the same paragraph where it talks about fisheries infrastructure, what is actually meant by that?
Are you talking about physical structures or are you talking about branding?
Again getting back to the Minister’s Statement, you talked about branding, commercializing, probably packaging, and stuff like that.
So what does that really mean?
It’s a combination of both branding and infrastructure.
However, what’s being referred to there mostly is the drastic need that we need to have ports and harbours to deal with our infrastructure and our own fish plants. Right now, as most people know, all of our turbot and shrimp that are caught in Nunavut are offloaded in Greenland and then marketed from there.
So when I meet with the federal minister of DFO, my focus is always on telling her that we would like to see our own fish plants in Nunavut so that we can offload our own fish and deal with our fish here.
I don’t have any more names on my list here, so we will go page by page. I-4. Environment.
Branch Summary. Corporate Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $4,277,000.
Chairman: We will move on to I-5. Branch Summary. Environment.
Program Management. Mr. Rumbolt.
I think it was in January when you travelled to China to promote the seal products and seafood from Nunavut.
I’m just wondering: as of today, what work has been done to keep this initiative moving forward?
Yes, from the China trip, which was a very successful and a very good trip for Nunavut and Canada, we are moving.
There’s a deputy ministers’ committee set up with deputy ministers who are involved in the sealing industry to move forward on how we move forward on the marketing of edible seal meat over to China.
We are in an exploratory stage with the existing fish plant in Pangnirtung to see how we can develop the sealing industry there on a test basis.
I believe Newfoundland is working towards having a shipment of seal meat go to China very soon.
I think it is going to take time for us to develop in that stage. The one thing that we need to do and assure it’s done right is that the quality of edible seal products we ship over to China is very high quality.
You mentioned Newfoundland. Are you guys working with Newfoundland on this initiative or is Newfoundland doing a separate program altogether?
We are absolutely working, all of us, all of the Atlantic Provinces, on this initiative together.
I think Newfoundland has a lot more capability, infrastructure, and expertise in place to deal with the shipment of seals over to China, but we’re going to learn from them and we’re working together to produce seal meat that we can ship to China some day from Nunavut.
With this whole process now of being able to ship products to China, what kind of timeline do you see before we can actually start shipping products to China?
I know that seal meat is one issue, but what about the skins themselves and the raw furs?
I think the Chinese are going to have something to say about that because they are the ones who are going to be the market and have the demand for this type of product.
However, I believe that, looking in the sealing industry in Nunavut, it is going to take time. There is no question that we need to have proper infrastructure, training, and proper produce shipped over there.
What should be stated at this point in time right now too is that we would have a very limited resource to ship over to China right now because seals are mainly utilized by Nunavutmiut themselves right now.
We would have to explore at some time in the future would there be a total allowable harvest on seals. This whole regime would have to be discussed with communities and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
I agree with the minister; it will take time to develop it, especially in the meat department.
We know that Newfoundland has probably got more capabilities in that department already. Because they are probably already years ahead of us in that department, I’m just wondering if Newfoundland is going to be scooping up the market and we will kind of miss the boat just in studying and getting ready for everything.
I’m wondering if you guys have considered that.
I think Newfoundland will be the first ones to get into this market because they are advanced to that stage.
I don’t think at all that we will miss the boat. I think that if we establish a very good market in China, which has 1.4 billion people, if they start eating seal meat and liking seal meat, I don’t think there is any country in the world that could supply that much meat over to China.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $18,001,000.
Chairman: We will go back to I-3. Department Summary. Environment.
Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $22,278,000. Do you agree?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee of the Whole. I would like to thank the members for the very good questions.
The Department of Environment is a very diverse department and we represent the Government of Nunavut in many ways and deal with everyday issues for all Nunavutmiut and are very proud to do so.
I would like to thank you for your input and we will move forward with all of the challenges that we face and hope that we can improve not only our sealing and fishery markets, but work on all of our wildlife strategies and population surveys.
I would like to also just quickly thank my staff for being here with me and the hard work they did in putting this information together and the business plan for 2011-12.
I also want to thank the minister and his staff for showing up to answer questions in Committee of the Whole. Could the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the minister and staff out.
I would like to make a motion to report progress at this time, please.
Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ningeongan) (interpretation): Thank you.
Your committee has been considering Bill 1 and the main estimates and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
Deputy Speaker (interpretation): There is a motion on the floor.
The motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion.
A reminder of meetings for tomorrow morning, at 8:45 a.m., the meeting of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness, followed by a meeting of the Regular Caucus at nine o’clock, both meetings will be in the Tuktu Room, and a meeting at ten o’clock of the Full Caucus in the Nanuq Room.
Tabled Document 248 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 249 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 251 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 274 – 3(2)
Tabled Document 275 – 3(2)
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 18:39
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Pages 496 – 577
Opening Prayer 496
Ministers’ Statements 496
Returns to Oral Questions 503
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 504
Oral Questions 505
Tabling of Documents 520
Notices of Motions 521
Motions 521
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 523
Report of the Committee of the Whole 574
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 575
Third Reading of Bills 575
Assent to Bills 576
Orders of the Day 576
Thursday, March 10, 2011 496
030 – 3(3): NunaFam (Curley) 496
031 – 3(3): Piqqusilirivvik (Arreak) 497
032 – 3(3): Occupational Training Program Designations Award (Tootoo) 497
044 – 3(3): Happy Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Ugyuk) 498
045 – 3(3): Nutrition North Canada Program (Ningeongan) 499
046 – 3(3): Congratulations to High Arctic Graduates (Elliott) 499
047 – 3(3): Happy 62nd Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Kusugak) 500
048 – 3(3): End of Current Sitting (Ningark) 501
049 – 3(3): Happy Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Curley) 502
050 – 3(3): Upcoming Square Dance Competition in Kugluktuk (Taptuna) 502
051 – 3(3): Government/Municipal Vehicle Usage Policies (Schell) 503
Return to Oral Question 048 – 3(3): Health Situation in Sanikiluaq (Curley) 503
Return to Oral Question 063 – 3(3): Feasibility Study for New Airport in Kimmirut (Taptuna) 504
075 – 3(3): Status of Utility Rates Review Council’s Consideration of General Rate Application (Ningark) 505
076 – 3(3): Medical Travel with No Heat on Airplane (Ugyuk) 506
077 – 3(3): Multiple Options (Elliott) 507
078 – 3(3): GN Vehicle Use Policy (Schell) 509
079 – 3(3): Taloyoak’s New Municipal Building (Ugyuk) 510
080 – 3(3): School Breakfast Program (Elliott) 511
081 – 3(3): Capital Projects for Repulse Bay (Ningark) 513
082 – 3(3): NunaFam Program (Elliott) 514
083 – 3(3): Remainder of Housing Trust Units (Schell) 516
084 – 3(3): Auditor General’s Report on Children, Youth and Family Programs (Elliott) 517
085 – 3(3): Bonus Payments to Senior Managers (Elliott) 519
034 – 3(3): Family Abuse Intervention Act Implementation Evaluation (Peterson) 520
035 – 3(3): Editorial Kivalliq News (Elliott) 520
036 – 3(3): INAC News Release on Nutrition North (Elliott) 520
037 – 3(3): Nunavut Emergency Management Annual Report for 2008 (Kusugak) 521
038 – 3(3): 96th Advisory Committee of Deputy Ministers of Education and the 98th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education (Tootoo) 521
004 – 3(3): Suspension of the Member for Pangnirtung from Sittings of the Legislative Assembly and Meetings of its Committees and Caucuses – Notice (Ningeongan) 521
004 – 3(3): Suspension of the Member for Pangnirtung from Sittings of the Legislative Assembly and Meetings of its Committees and Caucuses (Ningeongan) 522
001 – 3(3): Deletion of $297,000 from the 2011-12 Main Estimates of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs (Elliott) 555
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs 524
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee –Legislative Assembly 560
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee 565
Bill 03 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Consideration in Committee 566
Bill 04 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011 – Consideration in Committee 568
Bill 05 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee 573
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Third Reading 575
Bill 03 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Third Reading 575
Bill 04 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011 – Third Reading 575
Bill 05 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 2 – Third Reading 576
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2011-2012 – Assent 576
Bill 03 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Assent 576
Bill 04 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011 – Assent 576
Bill 05 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 2 – Assent 576
Good afternoon. I would like to ask Mr. Elliott to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. (interpretation) Good day.
Minister’s Statement 030 – 3(3): NunaFam (Curley)
I stand today as the Minister of Health.
Nunavut has faced ongoing challenges to recruit and retain family physicians.
Thanks to a new partnership between my department, Health Canada, and Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, that is about to change.
In mid-February, the federal government committed $4.9 million to the Nunavut Family Physicians Resident Project, otherwise known as NunaFam.
The funding will be used to train eight new physicians to practice family medicine in Nunavut and to establish a new family practice training centre at the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit.
Memorial University established a family medicine training program almost 40 years ago to help get more physicians practicing in rural areas.
Their experience and knowledge will greatly benefit the Nunavut physicians during their training, along with assistance and support they will receive from the local physicians at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
Mr. Speaker, at the same time these physicians are being taught valuable skills to practice family medicine they will be learning about our communities.
This combination of training will be rewarding for these physicians as it will help them develop strong community connections and a genuine understanding of the health concerns of Nunavutmiut.
These physicians will be caring for families they know, which is an important component of providing quality health care, especially in our remote communities.
Minister’s Statement 031 – 3(3): Piqqusilirivvik (Arreak)
Today I would like to inform my colleagues about Piqqusilirivvik, our Inuit Cultural Facility in Clyde River.
I am very pleased to announce that the construction phase on this building has been successfully completed on schedule.
As the Piqqusilirivvik building was being constructed so too was the program curriculum.
CLEY staff has been working with elders to develop and test programs on the land.
Much of the learning will involve cultural activities, including travelling, hunting, making items, learning Inuit values and oral history skills, and practicing them on a daily basis.
Mr. Speaker, the completion of this new and very attractive facility signals the real beginning of the work for Piqqusilirivvik.
Staffing is still underway and applicants with a minimum age of 18 and with the ability to take instruction in the Inuit language will be invited to apply later this year for the start of programming in fall 2011.
Information about Piqqusilirivvik, including the application process, will be available on the Piqqusilirivvik website to all Nunavut communities.
I would like to inform all of the members and our constituents throughout Nunavut that an official opening of the Piqqusilirivvik facility will take place in Clyde River on May 4, 2011.
Don’t forget that date, May 4. I look forward to keeping my colleagues up to date on the final stages of development of this exciting new program.
If you could change the date to May 26, then I would be able to celebrate my birthday in style, but that is fine.
Minister’s Statement 032 – 3(3): Occupational Training Program Designations Award (Tootoo)
As Minister of the Department of Human Resources, it is a great pleasure for me to rise today to congratulate all of our 125 Occupational Training Program participants and especially recognize 15 from the Qikiqtaaluk and Kivalliq regions, 5 of whom are beneficiaries.
These 15 employees have, through their continued pursuit of professional development, for the first time within the Government of Nunavut, received the Canadian Professional Supervisor (CPS) designation.
This initiative demonstrates the commitment by the Government of Nunavut to continual learning.
Since October 2009, we have been in partnership with Think Training from Nova Scotia for delivery to Government of Nunavut employees of the Supervisory Development, Human Resource Development, and Administrative Professional Diploma programs.
Both new and existing administrative, human resource and supervisory staff have been given the opportunity to strengthen their leadership, management, and communication skills.
The job specific knowledge and hands-on practise received from these excellent training programs have given them confidence and the working knowledge to perform more effectively in their current positions and advance in their careers.
In 2011-12, it is our goal to continue this Canadian Professional Supervisor designation opportunity and further expand our professional capacity through offering to our occupational training administrative professionals the opportunity to receive their Canadian Administrative Professional (CAP) designation.
Building on the achievement of our newly designated professionals, we would like to offer continued support and encouragement to all of our Occupational Training Program participants to continue their educational pursuits, including completion of their Canadian Professional Supervisory and Canadian Administrative Professional designations.
Member’s Statement 044 – 3(3): Happy Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Ugyuk)
I want to express my wishes for a good afternoon to my fellow Nattilingmiut.
I hope you have a good day today.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House of a momentous occasion of which I am quite proud and pleased to announce regarding a close family member originally from Nattilik who now lives in the Kivalliq. I would like to state that Peter Ittinuar and his wife are celebrating their 62nd anniversary.
They have been married longer than I have been alive. I genuinely love them.
Mr. Speaker, the couple were married in Chesterfield Inlet by Father Quqtama, who was a Roman Catholic priest.
Ittinuar and his wife currently have 14 children, all grown, although some of them have been adopted.
They currently have 58 grandchildren as well as 42 great-grandchildren.
The couple have contributed much towards Nunavummiut, especially with respect to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and we are extremely grateful for their tremendous assistance in this regard as Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, my mother, Arnangujaq, is related to the person I am speaking of and our family considers them our relatives.
We wish them the best on this special day and this is also coming from my maternal aunt Ivviaq.
Oh! I made an error in my reference.
I stated that it was Peter Ittinuar when I should have mentioned Ollie Ittinuar.
To reiterate, my relatives wish them well and these include my maternal aunt Ivviaq and our uncle-in-law Iola, along with my maternal uncle Igutsaq and all of their relatives, as well as my maternal aunt Mangak and Uhuniq, as well as from my grandfather Alukie and his wife, Alice.
We celebrate their momentous anniversary with them and to remind the couple that Nattilingmiut hold much love towards them. We wish to see many more years where they celebrate their anniversary.
We wish a happy anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar.
We celebrate with the couple on their longevity.
Let’s now move from Nattilik to Nanulik.
Member’s Statement 045 – 3(3): Nutrition North Canada Program (Ningeongan)
I would like to rise on the subject of the Nutrition North Canada Program.
Mr. Speaker, I was also glad to hear yesterday that the federal government has demonstrated a willingness to listen to the concerns of Nunavummiut.
My mother always told me that listening is always a good thing.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, I made a Member’s Statement on this program earlier in our sitting. In my statement, I expressed concern that smaller retailers may not be participating in the new Nutrition North Canada Program. In the Kivalliq, we have already heard that Safeway is pulling out.
Mr. Speaker, reducing choice will not benefit our constituents.
I also continue to have questions and concerns about how personal orders will work under the new federal program.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, I strongly supported the motion that we passed in this House to invite retailers to appear before us in the spring sitting of the Assembly.
It is my hope that we will hear testimony from both larger retailers and smaller businesses and I am certain that this will be a very productive dialogue.
Mr. Speaker, I am also sure that the federal government had gotten that important message from us over the past few months. We are paying attention, we are asking questions, and we are standing for our constituents.
Member’s Statement 046 – 3(3): Congratulations to High Arctic Graduates (Elliott)
With this being the last day, usually there is good humour shown.
Before I actually start my Member’s Statement, I just wanted to mention about my godson Dominic Qaqqasiq, who is from Arctic Bay and is currently living in Ontario. I spoke with his mother last night, who is a proud hockey mom. Hockey moms are kind of unique in how they support their children in what they do.
She was explaining to me very proudly how happy she is that this coming Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, which I’ll be watching, his hockey team from Gravenhurst is actually going to be highlighted on that, so I’ll be watching that with interest.
Interestingly enough, she had mentioned that when they were interviewing and asking who your favourite hockey player was, he proudly said that it was Mr. Tootoo, not the MLA or the minister, but the hockey player.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to our High Arctic high school graduates.
Mr. Speaker, I feel it is important that we recognize this significant achievement.
A high school graduation certificate is a stepping stone to other opportunities.
It also represents much hard work and effort.
Our graduates are community role models, a title they have earned and should be proud of.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate graduate Daniel Flaherty from the Umimmak School in Grise Fiord. Well done, Daniel.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate graduate Valerie Amarualik from the Qarmartalik School in Resolute Bay. Congratulations, Valerie.
Mr. Speaker, there are eight potential graduates from the Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay.
I would like to acknowledge them and encourage them to keep working hard so that they get their final credits to graduate at the end of the school year.
Lionel Willie
Lorraine Kilabuk
Carrie Uttak
Susan Kalluk
Jonathan Reid
Jennifer Pauloosie, and
Qajaaq Qamanirq
Mr. Speaker, parents and family members often play a big role in supporting and encouraging our youth to succeed at school. Congratulations to the parents and families of our graduates because part of this success is theirs to celebrate as well.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the High Arctic high school graduates on their achievement and in wishing them continued success in the future.
We celebrate with you.
Member’s Statement 047 – 3(3): Happy 62nd Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Kusugak)
I am glad today that we have reached the end of the session.
My grandson arrived last night and I believe I slept with a smile and it was so enjoyable to have our grandson arrive.
I believe that the person referred to is one of the oldest people in Nunavut and the Ittinuars have been married for 62 years, as my colleague mentioned.
I rarely ever like mentioning names, but I celebrate with Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar.
I am very proud of their milestone anniversary.
Every time we go to Rankin Inlet, we try to visit them. When we return to Rankin Inlet, I will come and visit you.
I am very proud of your milestone and I imagine that my fellow residents of Rankin Inlet will go on the local radio when it opens to celebrate your anniversary.
I am so proud to have a couple married that long.
I thought that I have been married for a long time, but it’s nothing compared to the longevity that they are celebrating.
Although this issue is a very good item to speak about, Mr. Speaker, I also want to express my pride with respect to the residents of Whale Cove. Even though they are one of the smallest communities, they rarely sit back and let their size stop them in their efforts.
It is very enjoyable to represent the community since they don’t let obstacles stop them.