EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I don't know how this problem will be solved or when the plans or strategy will be put in place.
The way it is I am glad our concerns are being addressed according to our needs.
Mr. Speaker, this was going to be a first priority and I am pleased they have given me this clarification.
Member’s Statement 107 - 1(3): Michael Savard
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young constituent Michael Savard, a twelve year old student at Aqsarniit school in Iqaluit, who was honoured recently by winning a national contest.
Michael was the only winner from Nunavut in a contest sponsored by the National Capital Commission called Every Kids Capital Contest.
The contest required the submission of a drawing, story or poem.
Michael's won on his colourful drawing which expressed his dream of becoming the best scientist.
This is an impressive achievement because there were a total of 15 thousand entries from all across Canada and only thirteen winners.
Michael is the son of the proud parents Andre Savard and Robitaille, long time residents of Iqaluit.
Michael and his whole family just came back from an action packed all expense paid trip to Ottawa where they participated in Winterlude, Ottawa's annual carnival.
When they arrived they were welcomed by our Member of Parliament the Honourable Nancy Karatek-Lindell at the Children's Museum.
At Winterlude Michael and his family were honoured for his achievement and they were able to view an enlarged copy of his picture displayed on the Rideau Canal.
While visiting Winterlude they were very pleased to see that Nunavut was also represented at the ice sculpture competition, where David Paniuk and Sam Pitsiulak were the first participants from Nunavut.
Michael was presented with a framed copy of his picture and a Canadian Flag.
The highlight of the trip was going to the House of Commons with the other contest winners where they were addressed by, and met with the Speaker of the House of Commons.
I'm very pleased to congratulate Michael and his family for honouring and representing our new territory of Nunavut at this national event.
I know members of this assembly will want to join me in congratulating on Michael's achievement and for being an enthusiastic ambassador for Nunavut in the nation's capital.
Member’s Statement 108 - 1(3): Qikiqtani Inuit Association Meeting
I rise today to show appreciation to members from my community of Sanikiluaq who recently hosted delegates from the board of QIA.
We don't get very many delegations in Sanikiluaq, but at this present moment we have the Qikiqtani Inuit Association who are down in Sanikiluaq for their board meeting.
I would like to thank them for choosing Sanikiluaq for their meeting location.
Member’s Statement 109 - 1(3): Pressing need for Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about an issue that I've been concerned about in regards to the elders and the youth of Nunavut.
The elders today are decreasing in number and before they are gone we have to pass on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We always keep saying that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit should be instilled but it is not being practised today.
We must use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit because the elders have knowledge about social issues, about survival, about maintenance and about the environment.
Before the elders are gone we have to teach the youth about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, which is all encompassing in survival on the land and water.
This is becoming a emergency and I rose today to talk about this issue.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Alakannuark for your wise words.
Members’ Statements. Mr Kilabuk.
Member’s Statement 110 - 1(3): Whitehorse Arctic Winter Games
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today to talk about the Arctic Winter Games to be held in Whitehorse and where the invited guests and participants will be going.
Our Nunavut athletes are not great in numbers but a lot of them vied for the positions and the best athletes are the ones going to the Arctic Winter Games.
Just this past weekend there were a couple of athletes that were twins who passed through here for the weekend.
They were Sam and Gabriel Kilabuk who will participating in the junior men’s youth volleyball.
They are not the only twins but there are very few twins participating.
Also I would like to recognize junior women's volleyball - Mina Nowyuk, who is also from Pangnirtung, and we congratulate these participants who passed through Rankin Inlet.
Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Before I begin with the members, I would like to take a moment to welcome to the gallery the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the Honourable George Hickes.
I would also like to recognise our MP, Nancy Karetak-Lindell.
And also I would like to recognise the Honourable Marianne Mahychuck, the Minister of Trade and Mines.  >>Applause
Finally, I would also like to recognise Steve Asten, who is the Minister of Transportation and Government Services.
Mr. McLean: Thank you. Mr. Speaker. It gives me great delight to be sitting in Rankin Inlet again and one of the reasons is that it's nice to be able to recognise people from my community and their attempts to get down here and see the sitting.
Today I take great pride in recognising a friend, a person that was very helpful in my campaign. He's a man that has a tremendous wealth of knowledge about the land. He is also the Mayor of Baker Lake and I'd like to also say a close personal friend, Mr. Jacob Ikinilik.
And last but not least, I've been forgetting to recognise this individual and if I happen to get more camera coverage during this Legislative Assembly sitting it's because it's a constituent of mine, Mr. Sam Itqilik, who is manning the camera up there so I'd like to recognise him also.
This person is not from my constituency but he is a friend of mine and I would like to recognise George Porter.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Anawak.
There are many people I recognise here.
Of course we're from here and I would like to recognise some of our visitors, maybe not all of them.
First of all there's Sisiga Pavialuk over there in the corner, also there was another person here, Joseph Inuksuk who was here but I think has left and also a husband and wife, now the husband has left, Mary Frettland.
Her husband was here but apparently he is gone out again.
I would like to recognise them and also CBC employees, Veronica Tattuinie and Jamie Little.
I would also like to recognize Tommy Saniqtuq who is the ADM for Community Government and there was another one that I recognise but has apparently gone out too.
Behind me, there's Leonard Ford who is over there and also Julienne Taqtu and Glenn, Mr. McLean said that he was getting extra coverage, and we have one too.
Welcome to all the people that were recognised.
Before we go ahead, I would like to recognise first of all a person who is here now, George's wife, Pauline. Welcome to the gallery.
Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): The Sanikiluaq member of the Legislative Assembly beat me to the person I was going to recognise.
I too would like to recognise this person from Gjoa Haven.
Last spring when I was elected, I remember him coming to me to congratulate me in the middle of the night and I know that he is very well known by the people of Gjoa Haven.
I can't remember what year it was but it was in the 19 something’s when the white people starting coming in to our community and he can remember all those years and tell you all the exact dates.
He is a great friend of mine, Nattingujaq, please stand up.
Welcome to the Legislative Assembly again.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I want to recognise two constituents from Cambridge Bay.
One is the Chairman of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Joe Ohokannoak and also with him is Vicki Bobinski who is the Acting Campus Director of Nunavut Arctic College.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to recognise a person who works in Rankin Inlet, Thomas Tiktaq who is my Constituency Assistant, here in this building and I would also like to recognise one of our staff members who is the Director of Petroleum Products, Susan Makpah who is wearing the red coat.
Right beside her is the Finance Comptroller, Roy Green.
So these are my staff members from Nunavut.
Also I would like to recognise a person who is up there, Metro Solomon who has been my assistant during my campaign days and please welcome him and shake his hand because he has been living here for quite some time.
I met him in Kivalliq, in Coral Harbour, I think it was in 1972 when I first met him when he lived over there as a school teacher.
He was a Principal there and he's very well known by many people.
So I also wanted to recognise Metro Solomon.
Recognition of Visitors in the gallery.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, there were six people I was going to recognise but there's only two of them left now.
So although they have been recognised in the past, I'm going to recognise two people who have not been recognised here yet.
My ADM of Early Childhood and School Services, Naullaq Arnaquq, and Ian Rose from Iqaluit.
Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Today I would like to recognise a couple more elders of mine. My aunt Pauline and my uncle George Hickes, the Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.
I would like to welcome them to the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognise a couple of employees of our airline sitting back there, Ms. Eva Onalik and Randy Miller.
Both are employees at Canadian North and also a long time friend of mine from Rankin Inlet here, Johnny Naukatsuk.
Question 175 - 1(3): Support for Smaller Communities
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Premier.
Last week I asked our Premier about the smaller communities.
They should benefit from decentralization.
Our Premier stated that he would like to see the smaller communities benefit from decentralization and that the Nunavut Government will not forget the smaller communities.
When I heard that I was very happy to hear that from our Premier and that they were strategizing to give benefits to the smaller communities through government operations, through Government Services and Transportation.
I was wondering if he is willing to state what the strategy is for the smaller communities.
As I stated, we are looking for ways of helping the smaller communities.
I met with the Minister of Sustainable Development to plan and strategize for Clyde River as to how that community can be given more support.
We will be trying to give all these communities all sorts of support.
That's the best response I can give you right now Mr. Speaker.
Have you consulted with the Hamlet Councils as to what the strategy should be.
Last year the strategy was worked on and I'm sure the Hamlet Councils were consulted and the communities have to be involved.
That's the only way we can strategize and it's not going to be good when we have to work for the community and do the work for the community.
We have to work with the community when we make plans.
What kind of strategy.
How involved will the community Hamlet Councils be in the strategy.
Yes perhaps the plan was already given to you, I cannot give you an adequate response so I take your question as notice.
The Department of Sustainable Development will be able to give you a response.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Iqaqrialu, he takes your question as notice, so therefore I cannot give you the opportunity to ask another question.
Question 176 - 1(3): Health Board Deficits
Mr. O'Brien: Mr. Speaker, in the February 11th edition of Nunatsiaq New, the Finance Minister is quoted as stating that we will have approximately 20 million dollars in deficits that relate to the three Health Boards.
My question to the minister is, is this comment or statement that was made in the local paper accurate.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker. It's an estimate based on their current spending for the 99/2000 year and in addition to their opening accumulated deficit that carried over on April 1st of 99.
The minister also indicated that this 20 million dollar deficit would likely be covered by the surplus that we expect.
Is that statement correct.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. O'Brien. Minister Ng.
Hon. Kelvin Ng : Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, recognising that we did have some room in this current year's expenditures, we did allow the department of Health to transfer over approximately 5 million dollars this year from their unspent expenditures.
In addition to that, to deal with the opening deficit of approximately 8.9 million dollars that the three health boards had from April 1st, from a Government wide perspective, we allowed that funding to be used to offset those opening deficits.
Can I assume the money that we speak of to cover this 20 million dollar deficit, has this been approved by FMB.
Yes in respect to the 8.9 million dollars that I spoke of for the opening deficits and yes in respect of 5 million dollars approximately from the Department of Health's unexpended funds, reallocations to the three boards.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Final supplementary, Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the funds that the minister just spoke of, he has indicated that the 20 million dollars in accumulated deficits for the three health boards would be looked after through our surplus.
My question is, has that been approved by the FMB.
If it has, why wasn't it put in the supplement that we looked at and approved last Friday.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker, I just indicated in an earlier response that it was approved by the FMB.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Oral questions. (interpretation) Oral questions.
Question 177 - 1(3): Payment for Grave Workers
Last spring during our session, I think it was towards the end of session, I asked some questions to the Minister of Community Government.
To date I have not received a reply.
During the 1960s, they moved grave sites to another location during the spring time when the ground was pretty wet.
The people who were working on the relocation of these burial sites have never been paid.
I have asked the minister when they will be receiving their pay cheques and I have given them the names of these people.
I was wondering what your position is on that now.
Mr. Irqittuq, who did you direct your question to.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Justice and Community Government.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I had written a letter and an e-mail and I have not received any response so I apologise for not responding.
I'll take your question as notice.
Question 178 - 1(3): Taloyoak Youth Centre
My question is directed to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
I think that is where my question should be directed in regards to youth and elders.
It is in regards to the community of Taloyoak.
I met with the inter-agency committee and they had a concern about the young people, because they have no place to go. I would like to ask the minister responsible for that if he worked with this group or if he looked into that to find out if we can get a place for the young people or a recreational facility.
You asked three questions in Inuktitut.
It’s a good question and I am going to try and reply to your concern.
In Pond Inlet and also Cambridge Bay and Baker Lake we organized youth conferences, as you may know.
Right now we are trying to look at their concerns and trying to make policies for youth and also for elders.
They are working on it right now and drafting policies, I can’t really do anything until we follow up the Kitikmeot and Keewatin meetings of elders and youth.
We want to hear their concerns, in a few days they should be finished.
We’ll take a look at it and I will let you know.
I am glad that this is being taken into consideration, but this department is recruiting and relocating, it is going to be costly and will they be able to receive funding in order to cover these expenses.
I can provide more information on the decentralization plans, what it is going to cost to decentralise some of our staff to the other communities, but right now I do not have the answer.
I will find out about the costs of decentralization first and then I will give you an answer.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): I was trying to ask the Minister and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth because it is a new department, because you are responsible for this department you said you would look into the concerns and the facilities for the young people, recreation facilities.
Because Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is a new department will they be able to receive funding in order to implement these programs.
We are undertaking a policy review right now and we are trying to go by our policies.
Right now we are going by the old policies from the GNWT and we are upgrading our new policies.
We have to be very careful with these policies that we are developing right now.
All these will be done from the funding we will be receiving from the government.
I already stated earlier that the elders and youth are already at their conference.
We have to make our priorities first and we still have to listen to the young people and the elders because they are working together.
I agree with you, we have to develop these procedures and the policies very carefully, that way they will be more understandable.
Question 179 - 1(3): Health Board Deficit Offset
Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance.
The minister earlier stated that the deficit for the health board has been covered off by 5 million dollars from the 99/2000 surplus within the department and 8.9 million dollars of the accumulated deficit would be from the overall government surplus.
I am wondering, the minister in the article talks about close to a 20 million dollar deficit, this only comes just under 14 million dollars.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance where the remaining funds are going to come to offset that.
Speaker: Thank you Mr Tootoo.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: We have to confirm those final numbers once we get to the year end.
Right now these are preliminary projections based on work with the departments of Health and with the three health boards.
But once that final amount is finalized and pending audit post March 31 of 2000 to get what the final numbers would be, we would anticipate that we will have to come back and reallocate to offset that deficit from unexpended funds in other areas.
Speaker: Thank you Mr Ng. Oral questions.
Mr. Speaker, then is the Minister of Finance saying that whatever the final number is from the deficit of the health boards that it will be coming out of the 99/2000 surplus funds.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker I believe in the last session in October one of the members made a recommendation in the house that any surplus funding will go towards housing.
Mr. Speaker I am wondering if there is going to be an effort to put any of the surplus towards housing.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: If my memory is correct, one of the standing committees also directed all unexpended funds going to health board deficits as well, from my recollection.
But anyway, having said that, I can’t speak right now on what areas the surplus may go into until we table the upcoming budget and once the year end is resolved and all the final numbers are in.
Again, it will be based on the preliminary estimates and the budget will roll out based on the final numbers.
Mr. Speaker, the minister did indicate that it was also recommended by one of the standing committees that any health board deficit be covered off by the surplus and it appears that it has been Mr. Speaker.
Another recommendation was for housing, so I was just wondering again if any recommendations that are made in the House by members or standing committees, are those considerations going to receive priority on looking at the use of these surplus funds.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Quite frankly, we have to deal with the health board deficit situation as those are ongoing programs that the health boards are delivering.
As we all know, they are finding some difficulties in delivering their programs for whatever reasons.
They are going over budget and we have an obligation to continue to provide services because of the importance of our health care programs.
So, we have to find the funds to deal with that issue and I think all members recognize that.
For an issue such as housing, another equally important initiative and priority I think of all members, it is not an ongoing current year issue.
I mean it more relates to future needs and it would be more adequately addressed in that form in looking at future years' budgets versus current year.
There is nothing that we can allocate now in this current year that would make a significant impact given that deliveries and planning requirements on the matter of housing would have to take place for the current year, 2000 year, 2000-2001 delivery Mr. Speaker.
Question 180 - 1(3): Liability for Deficits
Mr. McLean: In the February 11 Nunatsiaq News document, it stated that there was 8.9 million dollars carried over from 98-99.
To me I think it’s because the health boards weren’t funded properly in the last go around and my question to the minister is, has this been factored into the division of assets and liabilities or are we going to assume the whole 9 million dollars according to the newspaper article.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Approximately 8.9 million dollars of accumulated deficit from the three Nunavut based health boards has carried over effective April 1, 99, but it’s not from the 98-99 operating year, it’s an accumulated deficit that they have run up for whatever reasons since they have been in existence.
So, having said that, with the division of assets and liabilities that was entered into and signed off between the Office of the Interim Commissioner, the Government of the Northwest Territories and NTI, the agreement was that all surpluses and deficits of independent boards, whether those be health boards or education boards, you have to remember, that will offset some of these in the broader scheme of things, will offset some of the deficits of the health boards.
Wherever those jurisdictions lay with those, wherever those agencies were based, the surplus or deficit would remain with that jurisdiction effective April 1.
So, in other words, if there were western boards, and there were some western health boards quite frankly that had deficits as well, if it was a western Northwest Territories based board and they had a surplus or deficit it would remain with them.
If it was a Nunavut based health board or education board or agency, it would remain with them.
So, that was the agreement that we all signed off on and that took place effective April 1.
Mr. McLean: Ma’na.
I think the answer I got from the Honourable Minister is that we absorb the deficit in the health boards with no charge back to the other Territory with the division of assets and liabilities.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, he got it correct, yes.
Question 181 - 1(3): Approval of Funds for Deficit
Mr. Speaker, referring to the same article on February 11, in reference to the 20 million dollars that has been focussed on regarding the 3 health boards, the minister in the same article, the Minister of Health and Social Services, indicated that these deficits were not caused due to frivolous spending and in the same article, the Minister of Finance indicated that he would have to look into this further.
My question to the minister, did the minister put forward to the FMB that the 20 million dollars would be covered under the funding that we dealt with last Friday.
Was it approved, was it forwarded by the Minister of Health to the FMB to have this included in the supplementary.
When you are asking questions to the minister please identify which minister you are referring to.
Mr. O'Brien, which minister are you referring to.
Mr. O'Brien: Mr. Speaker, I indicated that the question was to the Minister Responsible for Health.  Speaker: Okay, thank you Mr. O'Brien.
Minister Responsible for Health, Mr. Picco.