EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Justices of the Peace Act – Consideration in Committee 4546
Bill 60 – An Act Respecting the Nunavut Law Foundation – Consideration in Committee 4550
Bill 57 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013 – Consideration in Committee 4552
Bill 63 – An Act Consequential to the Government Reorganization of 2013 – Consideration in Committee 4557
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Justices of the Peace Act – Third Reading 4559
Bill 57 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013 – Third Reading 4560
Bill 60 – An Act Respecting the Nunavut Law Foundation – Third Reading 4560
Bill 63 – An Act Consequential to the Government Reorganization of 2013 – Third Reading 4560
Honourable James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Monica Ell, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Joe Enook, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Hezakiah Oshutapik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Oshutapik. (interpretation ends) We will move on in our orders of the day.
Minister’s Statement 287 – 3(3): Minister Absent from House (Kusugak)
I wish to advise members that the Hon. Eva Aariak will be absent from the House today. She is attending her son’s graduation in Ottawa.
Minister’s Statement 288 – 3(3): Launch of “A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in Nunavut” Guidebook (Arreak)
Hon. James Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Nunavummiut and residents of Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform members of a newly released Department of Environment publication: A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in Nunavut.
The new guide provides homeowners in Nunavut with the knowledge and resources necessary to make simple household changes to help preserve the permafrost beneath their homes.
The guide explains what permafrost is, how climate change is affecting it, the impacts on houses from thawing permafrost, and the importance of preventing thaw.
The guide was developed with funding support from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) Climate Change Funding Partnership.
It has also been developed in partnership with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, Université Laval, City of Iqaluit, and the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office.
This guide was also developed as part of a series with the Government of the Northwest Territories: A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, damage to buildings caused by thawing permafrost can be costly to not only homeowners but also to government and private construction companies.
By promoting good building maintenance practices and providing education about the importance of permafrost and the impacts of climate change, it is expected that some of these costs will be reduced and will lead to significant future cost savings.
In using this guide, homeowners will be better equipped to make decisions about construction and the upkeep of their homes.
Minister’s Statement 289 – 3(3): GN Long-term Housing and Homelessness Strategy (Taptuna)
Good afternoon, colleagues, Kuglukturmiut, and Nunavummiut. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to present to my fellow members the Government of Nunavut’s long-term housing and homelessness strategy.
This winter, the Nunavut Housing Corporation completed its second step in building a coherent and holistic response to the very serious housing challenges facing Nunavut.
The Government of Nunavut Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy outlines a complete strategic structure for meeting Nunavut’s housing challenges and identifies the goals and objectives that need to be achieved to fulfill Tamapta’s vision to build and diversify housing for Nunavummiut while promoting economic development and self-reliance.
Mr. Speaker, this strategy document, together with the framework and the forthcoming action plan, provides the blueprint that will guide and drive the collective effort required to overcome the daunting and complex, but not insurmountable, challenges facing housing in Nunavut.
The final step to complete this government’s commitment to the territory’s housing needs will be the development of an action plan to implement the strategic direction laid out in the framework and set in the strategy.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation, in collaboration with Government of Nunavut departments and agencies and other stakeholders, is committed to leading the development of an achievable and multi-sectoral action plan that I expect will be brought to cabinet by the end of the summer.
Mr. Speaker, working to resolve the housing crisis in Nunavut will require cooperation, long-term commitment, and significant investment, and I look forward to the outcomes that this collective effort will bring.
Minister’s Statement 290 – 3(3): Nunavut to Host Ministers of Culture and Heritage (Arreak)
I wish to take this opportunity to announce that Nunavut has agreed to host the next annual meeting of culture and heritage ministers. The meeting is planned for August 13 and 14 in Iqaluit.
I shall be co-chairing the agenda with the federal Minister for Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
Nunavut’s hosting is also on the occasion of the 20th anniversary year of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
The meetings are an opportunity for ministers and deputy ministers of jurisdictions to take advantage of our collective experiences and to advance our shared mandate and policies; and, Mr. Speaker, in our arctic milieu.
The program is based on the structure developed by previous ministerial meetings and will include presentations by ministers speaking to three strategic themes: Growing and Sustaining Culture; Community Engagement in Culture and Heritage; and Strengthening Heritage Conservation.
The meeting will conclude with a news release on its accomplishments.
Mr. Speaker, the federal, provincial, and territorial meeting is an opportunity for Nunavut to showcase Nunavummiut culture through our presentations, highlighting of our Inuktut language and Inuit cultural values in our public service.
Member’s Statement 486 – 3(3): Baker Lake Super Soccer Team (Aupaluktuq)
As my fellow Baker Lake residents as well as Rankin Inlet residents are undergoing a difficult situation at this time, I want them to know that they are in our thoughts.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about our youth who wish to further themselves or to live healthy or are looking at a healing process, which are all related to having a healthy lifestyle.
I am very grateful and I want to express my thanks to Sport Nunavut along with the staff at the Jonah Amitnaaq School who coach the Baker Lake Blizzards in various sports.
Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in these youth and wish to recognize the junior men who played at the Super Soccer event in Yellowknife.
I want to recognize the parents, chaperones, and coaches, as I feel they deserve this acknowledgement of their dedication and effort to grow the abilities of the youth in our community.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the following people:
Amiq Nateela
Glen Stewart Ullyot
Maumau Mautiritnaak
Darren Jamal Osuaq
Joshua Piryuaq
Tyler Aksawnee
Howard Quinangnaq
Vince Kubloitok
Dean Itkilik, and their coach
Glen Patrick Ullyot.
I ask my colleagues and Nunavummiut to join me in recognizing these people.
Member’s Statement 487 – 3(3): Sanikiluaq Marathoners (Rumbolt)
I rise today to congratulate a group of runners from the Sanikiluaq Running Club on their recent success at the Toronto Marathon.
Mr. Speaker, five runners and two chaperones travelled to Toronto to participate in two different races at the Toronto Marathon.
Three runners and one of the chaperones participated in the half marathon, which is close to 21 kilometres, with two runners participating in the five-kilometre run.
Mr. Speaker, Noah Emikotailak had Sanikiluaq’s best result in the half marathon, followed by Paddy Aqiatusuk, and then Willie Iqaluk.
In the five-kilometre run, Aullajuuk Ippak and Janie Audla finished together in a well-run race.
Mr. Speaker, the chaperones for this trip were Terri Skinner and Brad Wutke.
Mr. Speaker, it is always inspiring to see groups and individuals work hard together for their goals. Their dedication and self-discipline can be a positive influence in all aspects of their lives.
When athletes compete in tournaments or races such as the Toronto Marathon, we can all be proud of their efforts as they represent their home community and territory.
I ask my fellow members to join me in congratulating the Sanikiluaq Running Club on their successful event.
Member’s Statement 488 – 3(3): Search and Rescue (Elliott)
I rise today to again raise the issue of search and rescue in Nunavut and the north.
Mr. Speaker, a recent release of the Auditor General’s report on federal search and rescue activities has helped to focus attention on the needs of the north in this area.
Mr. Speaker, during our proceedings of last week, the Minister of Community and Government Services spoke about the importance of emergency preparedness.
Mr. Speaker, the efforts of the Government of Nunavut to undertake such initiatives as distributing SPOT locator devices to all communities are excellent.
In the High Arctic, I am pleased to say that our HTOs have been working in partnership with appropriate authorities to train hunters and others in the use of the devices.
I am also pleased to note that innovative approaches have been used to connect these devices with Internet-based social media applications to help ensure that families of hunters are kept up to date on their location when they are out on the land.
Mr. Speaker, I see this as a good example of our territorial government working in partnership with communities and local organizations.
Mr. Speaker, important questions have been raised in this House concerning the need for enhanced coordination between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments in the area of search and rescue.
The recent Auditor General’s report noted this issue, as well as the need to address such longstanding issues as the age and condition of search and rescue aircraft.
Mr. Speaker, I again want to express my firm support for permanent stationing of modern search and rescue assets in Nunavut.
I also want to again speak about the opportunities that exist in the High Arctic for strengthening search and rescue.
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, the Government of Canada has been undertaking a number of important arctic sovereignty initiatives in recent years, including the development of new infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to again encourage the Department of National Defence to look closely at what we already have in the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, Resolute Bay is the home to the Polar Continental Shelf Project. This community is a logical choice for situating new search and rescue assets and infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, in response to questions asked on this issue last week, the Minister of Community and Government Services indicated that he will be working closely with his federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts on the issue of search and rescue in Nunavut.
I ask all members to join me in expressing support for measures to enhance search and rescue in the north and to protect the lives of our residents.
Member’s Statement 489 – 3(3): Grand Opening of the Repulse Bay Health Centre (Ningark)
On Saturday, May 11, we went to Repulse Bay for the opening of the new health centre.
I would like to thank my colleagues, Ms. Ugyuk, Hon. Minister Kusugak, the Minister of Health, Minister Peterson, the mayor of Repulse Bay, the elders and residents of Repulse Bay, and the nurse-in-charge. She was able to give us a tour of the new health centre and we were looked after well.
It was early in the morning. We were able to leave here along with the elected MLAs. They were able to show up at the airport early in the morning and I thank them.
During spring, Inuit like to go fishing or go out on the land.
Because this is an important health centre for Repulse Bay, they were able to wait for us for the opening.
I thank the Government of Nunavut, the federal government, and the previous MLAs who have been working on the present health centre and the former hamlet members.
Member’s Statement 490 – 3(3): Engage North Program in Pangnirtung (Oshutapik)
Good afternoon to my fellow residents of Pangnirtung.
It is unfortunate that I am unable to be home, but you are in my thoughts on this day and I am trying to think of you as if I was there in person.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the Legislative Assembly about Pangnirtung’s participation in the Engage North program.
Mr. Speaker, Engage North is a University of Alberta organization that “builds connections between university students from across Canada and indigenous communities in Canada’s North.
These connections include supporting awareness and educational events in the southern provinces as well as arranging for students to live and work in northern communities as Engage North Fellows.”
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the program’s first three Engage North Fellows, who are engineering students, will be working in Pangnirtung this summer in close cooperation with the hamlet.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet has identified two projects for the program this summer.
The first project is to work with the hamlet to develop a comprehensive drainage plan for the community.
The second project is to work with the hamlet to conduct a comprehensive energy conservation audit of the municipality’s operations.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to the University of Alberta for funding this program and I would like to pay tribute to the Hamlet of Pangnirtung for participating in this innovative program.
Member’s Statement 491 – 3(3): Pond Inlet Participants of this Year’s Nunavut Quest (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend a warm welcome to a person returning to our home community, although I know that this event won’t transpire for a few more days.
However, last week or the week prior, we heard on the news about the Nunavut Quest dog race that occurs every spring. This spring, the race was from Arctic Bay to Igloolik.
We heard that for the next segment of this race next year, the route will be from Igloolik to Pond Inlet. I want to extend a warm welcome a year in advance to Nunavummiut.
I would like to express my pride of two participants from Pond Inlet who partook in this race, Lee Inuaraq and Michael Inuaraq.
Michael is quite a young person, perhaps not even 16, and I want my colleagues to share my pride in this young man, who is a fellow resident of our community.
I want to encourage my fellow Nunavummiut to participate in these types of events, particularly our traditional activities or cultural practices.
Mr. Speaker, the course for next year’s Nunavut Quest will be originating from Igloolik to Pond Inlet, perhaps around April 2014.
Please plan ahead and make your preparations. We will extend our hospitality upon your arrival to Pond Inlet. As a matter of fact, we welcome everyone ahead of time.
Member’s Statement 492 – 3(3): Congratulations to Wrestler Judai McKitrick (Ningeongan)
First of all, I would like to say “good afternoon” to Coral Harbourmiut and Igluligaarjummiut and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judai McKitrick, who is originally from Coral Harbour, on his recent success at the Canadian National Juvenile Wrestling Championships.
Mr. Speaker, Judai won the bronze medal in the 58-kilogram division of the Greco division.
While he is not the first Coral Harbour wrestler to compete at the national level, he is the latest to have earned a medal at that level. I am very proud that our community can produce such successful athletes in this sport.
Mr. Speaker, Judai currently attends Saint Ignatius High School and is living in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
He returns with his family to Coral Harbour in the summers.
Judai trains hard at his sport every day with long wrestling sport seasons going from fall to spring.
He plans to attend Lakehead University this coming year and will continue his wrestling career.
He may even begin training with the university team this summer.
Mr. Speaker, Judai’s efforts and dedication to his sport will bring him success in many areas, not just on the mat.
He has learned how to set goals for himself, how to accept situations that do not always end up in his favour, and to prepare himself physically and mentally for the challenges that lie ahead.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of Coral Harbour, including myself, are very proud of Judai and what he has achieved.
We all cheer for him and wish him even greater success at his next tournament.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. Hopefully in the next tournament, he gets them all on the mat.
I wish to recognize relatives from my own nuclear family. My mother and my father’s youngest child, my dear younger sister, Ellen Ittunga, is a teacher at the Taloyoak elementary school.
I am quite pleased that she was able to travel to Iqaluit and I love her very much. She provides a lot of support to her fellow residents and I am thankful for her work.
Please welcome her to the Gallery. Thank you.
You’re well aware that I don’t get to recognize visitors in the Gallery too often during the sitting of the House.
Mr. Speaker, this is a special day for one of the staffers, so I want to recognize all the hard work that the staffers do here to make things work smoothly. They work hard behind the scenes there to make our sessions look rather professional. I want to congratulate and recognize Mr. Stephen Innuksuk on his special day today.
Happy birthday, Mr. Innuksuk.
You still have a few more years to go to catch my record at being 19.
Members, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a group of visitors who are here with us in the Gallery today.
They are in Iqaluit this week for their annual study tour of Nunavut.
Please join me in welcoming:
Melissa Bonga
Claire Boychuk
Gavin Charles
Vincent Hardy
Kathryn Martin
Iman Mohamed
Melissa Moor
Sean Pierce
Morgan Ring
Lauren Walsh-Greene
I had the pleasure of having dinner with them last night and I would like to thank our director of research for organizing that, Mr. Alex Baldwin. Also, it was a pleasure to have Mr. Elliott and our Law Clerk join us at supper.
As I indicated to you guys last night at supper, now you’re on the permanent record here in Hansard in Nunavut.
Question 632 – 3(3): Capital Planning Process (Aupaluktuq)
Mr. Speaker, I have been a strong advocate for strategic infrastructure investments in Baker Lake throughout my term of office.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of the community are looking forward to the completion of a number of projects that are on the capital plan, including Baker Lake’s new middle school.
Mr. Speaker, the government’s 2013-14 capital estimates were approved by the Legislative Assembly in the fall of last year.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of the government’s development of the 2014-15 capital estimates?
Thank you, my colleague, for the question.
As the member is aware, we haven’t approved the 2014-15 budget yet and it will probably be the next government that deals with that at that time, Mr. Speaker.
Much appreciated as well because there are some planning strategies being implemented at the municipal level for requesting some assistance to bridge services.
Mr. Speaker, over the years, the government has established such entities as the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee to provide a forum for local input into the government’s capital planning process.
Can the minister indicate how the government is currently consulting with the NCIAC, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, and individual communities to identify priority projects for next year’s capital estimates?
As I have often said in the House, Community and Government Services works very closely with those entities my friend spoke about.
We work with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators, and the Nunavut [Community] Infrastructure Advisory Committee. We work with all of those entities.
It’s through the Nunavut [Community] Infrastructure Advisory Committee that priorities of the municipalities are put into order, and then worked through our department and other affected departments to set those priorities, Mr. Speaker.
Very much appreciated that the hon. minister was able to put that on the record as well.
I’m sure that the people and residents of Baker Lake are in tune with this and anticipate a lot more progress in bridging services.
Mr. Speaker, one of the responsibilities of the Capital Planning Branch of the Department of Community and Government Services is the “successful implementation, management and reporting required under the Gas Tax Fund, the Building Canada Fund, and other [federal] infrastructure programs.”
Can the minister indicate whether the recent federal budget included any new infrastructure funds for Nunavut in addition to the money that was announced for new housing?
As my colleague knows, we work very closely within the different departments within our government. I’ll communicate with our Minister of Finance and give our colleague from Baker Lake the details he’s requesting.
Question 633 – 3(3): Status of Qikiqtani General Hospital Renovations (Elliott)
On Wednesday of last week, the Legislative Assembly considered a capital supplementary bill that contained just over $20.2 million in carryover funding for renovations to the Qikiqtani General Hospital, which is Nunavut’s largest medical facility.
Late last week, CBC news reported that the contractor for the project has abandoned the project and defaulted on the contract.
Can the minister confirm if these news reports are accurate and, if they are not, can he clarify the situation?
I was assuming that some MLA would pick up on the media report.
Yes, it’s true the contractor, one of the partners, Dowland Contracting, has some financial hardships.
I’m not privy to the internal discussions, but I’m assured that my officials, through the Department of Health and through Community and Government Services, are meeting with the bonding company to ensure that project will proceed without too much delay.
As I noted earlier, the government included over $20 million in capital carryover funding in the supplementary appropriation that was introduced in the Legislative Assembly last week.
What will be the impact of these developments in terms of the cost and timeline for the project?
Mr. Speaker, this development only recently occurred and it’s too early to determine the impact on the carryovers.
It’s our full intention that we meet with the bonding company and our legal counsel who are involved and that we proceed as quickly as possible to try and maintain the timelines.
Again, it’s too early. I don’t have a report on the discussions and the decisions that will be made, but I want to assure the members that our officials are on top of this matter and it’s very important because it’s a priority project for this government.
Can the minister indicate if any other capital projects for the Department of Health are at risk of encountering a similar situation to the one which has developed at the Qikiqtani General Hospital?
Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of any other similar situations with any other health project across Nunavut at this time.
Question 634 – 3(3): Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will recall from our sitting of October 23, 2012, I asked him questions concerning the Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan and the status of his efforts to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories to introduce new legislation that would make participation in the NEBS pension plan mandatory for municipal employees in Nunavut.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of this issue?
I thank my colleague for the question and keeping the discussion on NEBS out there.