EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. Paul Okalik: We will be the one enforcing the policy so it will be up to each department to decide what mechanism to use.
I know that if a department is for some reason or another hypothetically is not following the policy, I don't know if I can see that department disciplining itself or catching itself to try and make sure that they don't do that again.
Is there going to be some type of a monitoring or audit to make sure that the policy is being followed by that department.
Hon. Paul Okalik: We have set up some mechanisms.
For example if a business is aggrieved then they can use the appeal process.
That can then expose non-compliance by a department. So, there are provisions NTI and the government will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing the policy.
I see this as a very crucial area of the policy.
There needs to be a way of monitoring and enforcing the policy.
I know that in the previous government and I'm not sure if it is still in practice in this government.
As I said there is an appeal process that we have set up for any aggrieved person or a given contractor.
They can refer to a board and we looked at the possibility of setting up a centralised agency, but we also looked at the costs of doing that.
So for the time being we are relying on the aggrieved person filing an appeal to an appeal board.
I guess as the Premier stated, unless the contractor knows to appeal, or decides to file a grievance there won't be any whether one is required or not.
As he also indicated it is up to us as the government and NTI to monitor the policy.
It may be worthwhile maybe developing some type of a review system within an existing division of government accounting that may be there already.
That's just a suggestion.
We have set up a review process in the policy itself.
So the policy itself will be reviewed in due course.
As a new government of course we would like to set up policies that are Nunavut friendly or people friendly.
I would like to say that as Inuit it is not our tradition to make money.
It is something that is new that has come about to the Inuit.
I think it was around the beginning of the 70's that we started looking at economic development and gaining financially.
So because of that and because making money is something that is new or almost new to the Inuit, we have been taken advantage of and with the creation of the Nunavut Government I would like the Inuit to use that past experience and to benefit from it.
I think that we as the Nunavut Government could be a new beginning for the people of Nunavut and that we can be better prepared.
So with that in mind, I think that we should use past experiences to learn from it and be able to make changes to this policy so that it is a living document.
My question is then, are we going to be given the opportunity to work on it further.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you very much for that clarification.
As it states here there will be an ongoing review process with this policy.
It is stated here already that there will be an evaluation process and possibly what we can do at the end of the year after it has been in effect we can review it again.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman, for those excellent responses.
I believe this was a question brought up by Mr. Irqittuq.
The tender documents are huge, there's a lot of documents that you have to go through and Mr. Mrazek stated that it's going to be almost impossible to translate all these documents into Inuktitut because of the volume of the documents.
So I am asking the Premier if we can start producing these documents with Inuktitut translations available already and not use the old documents.
We might as well produce new documents that will come out in both English and Inuktitut.
Since we are a new government I am sure we can do that.
I can't respond to your question because of course there has to be work done first.
We could possibly do that some time in the future.
One little piece of highlight I missed near the back of the document.
On section 18.9 it states that "notwithstanding an appeal may be pending the contract authority may award the contract."
I just need some clarification there, does it mean that they could or they couldn't or how would one determine whether they do or not.
Chairperson: Mr. Cornthwaite.
The reason that point was written in there, Mr. Hunter is because as you are no doubt aware in Nunavut we are governed by a shipping season and a short construction period of time.
So rather than hold up a job to be started it was felt that the contract can be awarded and if there is an appeal, Mr. Tootoo, then there would be an adjustment.
I guess if there's an appeal and it is won Mr. Chairman, by a different party, what would happen in a case like that if the contractor is going to one supplier and through the appeal process someone else got it and they were going to get their supplies somewhere else.
I was just wondering in that case what would be done.
My understanding is that if something like that were to happen, Mr. Tootoo, is whatever their profit lost, the winning company on appeal, they would be awarded the profit lost is my understanding.
If they had a legitimate complaint.
Chairperson (interpretation): Questions, comments.
Premier in reference to RFPs, would this policy effect the RFPs.
How do you plan on working them into the scenario.
Secondly how will the policy be enforced or overseen in reference to the Hamlets.
RFPs are covered under the policy.
Under Hamlets, Community Government will be the body that enforces these issues.
Premier could you be a little bit more precise in reference to how you see the policy interacting with the RFPs.
If you look at section 11.2 of the policy, there's a process in there for requests for proposals.
Chairperson (interpretation): He's doing some heavy reading there.
I will finish reviewing this and get back to the Premier with my other questions.
I believe that's it for the questions.
Now that we are done with our questions on this issue in dealing with the NNI, I would like to thank the Premier for responding to our questions.
I think we will return briefly to this item tomorrow during committee of the whole. I believe some members will be preparing motions to move at that time with regard to the NNI policy and recognizing the clock I don't believe that we'll have enough time to deal with Bill 14.
So I would like to move this aside and I would like to report progress.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Akesuk moves to report progress.
All in favour of Mr. Akesuk's motion.
Mr. Premier, closing remarks.
I would like to know if you are just going to be dealing with the motions or if my staff will have to be here.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Mrazek and Mr. Cornthwaite, and also the Premier.
I apologize if I say your name incorrectly.
At this time I would like to ask the Speaker to return to the Chair.
Item 21. Report of Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 50 – 1(3), Tabled Document 27 – 1(3) and Tabled Document 41 – 1(3) and Bills 10, 13 and 14 and would like to report progress.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
Item 22 on our orders of the Day.
Item 23, Orders of the Day for tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning meeting of full caucus at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Orders of the Day, Tuesday, March 28.
Minister’s Statement 50-1(3)
Tabled document 27-1(3)
Bill 10
Bill 13
Tabled document 41 - 1(3)
Bill 14
The house stands recessed until tomorrow at 1:30 on Tuesday, March 28, 2000.
>>House adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
DAY 24
Tuesday, March 28, 2000
Pages 962 - 1013
Sergeant-at-Arms  Jaco Ishulutak
Opening Prayer 962
Ministers’ Statements 962
Members’ Statements 963
Returns to Oral Questions 968
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 969
Oral Questions 971
Tabling of Documents 986
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 986
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1011
Third Reading of Bills 1012
Orders of the Day 1012
Tuesday, March 28, 2000 962
86 - 1(3): Minister’s Absence (Ng) 962
87 - 1(3): New Nunavut Drivers Licences (Anawak) 962
214 - 1(3): Resignation as Speaker (Barnabas) 963
215 - 1(3): Youth Drop-In Centre for Iqaluit (Picco) 963
216 - 1(3): Monica and Thomas Udjuk (Anawak) 964
217 - 1(3): Cape Dorset Figure Skating Club (Akesuk) 965
218 - 1(3): Iqaluit/Nuuk Arctic Winter Games (Thompson) 966
219 - 1(3): Change of Nunavut Day (Iqaqrialu) 967
220 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Women’s Hockey Team (Kattuk) 967
221 - 1(3): First Anniversary for Nunavut (McLean) 967
222 - 1(3): New Co-op in Arviat (O'Brien) 968
301 - 1(3): Icebreaker Testing (Iqaqrialu) 971
302 - 1(3): Luggage for Medical Escorts (Nutarak) 972
303 - 1(3): Benefits for Smaller Communities (Barnabas) 972
304 - 1(3): Day Care Review (Akesuk) 973
305 - 1(3): Improved Programs for Elders (Alakannuark) 974
306 - 1(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Schools (Irqittuq) 975
307 - 1(3): Housing Corporation Tender (Tootoo) 977
308 - 1(3): O&M Funding for Youth Centres (McLean) 978
309 - 1(3): Nunavut Power Corporation Plans (Iqaqrialu) 979
310 - 1(3): Housing Subsidies (Barnabas) 982
311 - 1(3): Youth Facility Funding Policies (Tootoo) 983
Return to OQ 295 - 1(3): Francophone School (Arvaluk) 968
Bill 10 - An Act to Amend the Boards of Management Dissolution Act 988
Bill 14 - Interim Appropriation Act 998
49 - 1(3): Arctic Bay Concerns regarding Nunavut Day (Barnabas) 986
47 - 1(3): Support for NNI 986
48 - 1(3): Information on NNI 987
49 - 1(3): NNI Policies 987
50 - 1(3): Reporting on NNI Policy Operations 987
51 - 1(3): Bid Security System Reform 988  Tuesday, March 28, 2000
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Mr. Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Mr. Puqiqnak) (interpretation): I would like to ask Mr. Iqaqrialu to say the opening prayer.
Good afternoon, welcome to everyone and welcome back Mr. Barnabas.
We will go right into orders of the day.
Ministers’ Statements. Item 2 on your agenda. Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 86 - 1(3): Minister’s Absence
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker I rise today to say Hon. Paul Okalik will be absent from the House today Tuesday, March 28th to attend the 25th signing of the James Bay Final Agreement.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 87 - 1(3): New Nunavut Drivers Licences
Mr. Speaker I would like to announce to the members that the Motor Vehicles Division of the Department of Community Government and Transportation will be replacing the Northwest Territories drivers’ licence's with the new Nunavut drivers licence.
Beginning on April 3rd, Nunavummiut with NWT licences can hand them in within 30 days before their birthday and receive the new Nunavut licence.
People whose NWT licences not due to expire until after of March of next year will receive their new Nunavut licence free of charge.
Officials in my department have been working with the RCMP to ensure a smooth transition.
Public announcements will be made to ensure that Nunavummiut are informed about how, where, and when to obtain their new Nunavut drivers licence.
Item 2 Ministers’ Statements.
Item 3 Members' Statements.
Mr. Barnabas.
Member’s Statement 214 - 1(3): Resignation as Speaker
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
It is with regret and sorrow that I make my member’s statement today.
Honourable members of the House are aware about the recent events of my personal life have put me in the position where I feel obliged to formally resign as Speaker.
After deep personal reflection and consultations with my family, my constituents and my colleagues I have come to a conclusion that the Legislative Assembly’s dignity and integrity will be best assured by having a new Speaker elected by his or her peers.
Mr. Speaker, I want to humbly apologize to you, this House, my constituents and all the people of Nunavut for allowing myself to be in position where the reputation of the Legislative Assembly has been damaged.
Mr. Speaker, I want to do what is best for the House and for the people we serve.
I can assure my constituents and the communities that I will continue to represent their interests and aspirations as a regular member of the Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude my statement by saying that it has been a privilege and honour serving as a Speaker and I pledge to you and all the members that I will support the new Speaker in the days and weeks to come as the responsibilities of the office are assumed.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Picco, Member for Iqaluit East.
Member’s Statement 215 - 1(3): Youth Drop-In Centre for Iqaluit
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr Speaker I have had pleasure and the honour of representing Iqaluit, now going on my 5th year.
Over the years many things have been accomplished and there is much more to do.
Mr. Speaker to date the greatest disappointments as a MLA continues to frustrate me.
Mr. Speaker I'm referring to an organized Youth Centre for our community.
In 1996-1997, a dedicated group of young people, high school students, Raurri Ellsworth from QIA, Councillor Lynda Gunn and myself and many more thought we had the problem solved.
Alas the building we had secured fell through, all our planning fell by the way side.
We then struck another working group to review the issue and try and make some headway.
Mr. Speaker we all agree to the concept of a youth centre that is not only a safe centre where youth could go to hang out but also a place that would offer counselling as needed.
Recreational activities and access to computers and the Internet, etc.
Many businesses in Town were contacted and all were all supportive.
At one stage a local contractor drew a floor plan for us and we had volunteer labour to continue to work.
Again the building availability fell through.
Uqaqti today we have reformed a working group to continue the work of opening a dedicated youth drop in centre.
The largest stumbling block is to find a building or lot that would be large enough as well as be in a neighbourhood that would be conducive for our youth drop in centre.
In the meantime, a local business, the Grind and Brew offers a location for youth to meet.
The John Howard group does also.
But, with the estimated youth population of over 1000 Mr. Speaker, a dedicated larger centre is needed.
There is some good news Mr. Speaker, I believe an opportunity now does present itself to move forward and bring successful completion to this file.
The Arctic Winter Games Host committee has recently moved forward on a proposal for a multi-purpose facility that will complement and enhance local infrastructure.
After the 2 week games event have been concluded, the facility will revert back to a community resource that could be accessed as a convention centre, community recreational centre, and yes, Mr. Speaker as permanent youth drop in centre.
Mr. Speaker I have spoken to the Chairperson of the Host Society and will be throwing my support behind this excellent initiative.
Maybe now Mr. Speaker, the youth of Iqaluit will finally have their own dedicated place.
Mr. Speaker, I will be attending the meeting tonight to endorse this proposal.
Qujannami Uqaqti.
Speaker (Interpretation): Thank you Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 216 - 1(3): Monica and Thomas Ugjuk
We hold great respect for our elders.
Our elders have worked very hard even though many still live in hardship.
There is a couple in Rankin Inlet who I would like to honour today.
Their names are Monica and Thomas Ugjuk.
They have worked very hard all their lives.
Mr. Ugjuk, who is partially handicapped, still enjoys going out on the land hunting and fishing.
Monica Ugjuk is still very active even though she doesn't have many resources.
She does counselling with people who have lost relatives and works with people to work out problems in their social lives even though she doesn't have enough resources or doesn't get much support.
I would like to honour Mr and Mrs. Ugjuk today of Rankin Inlet.
I believe there's a lot of people out there who also believe that they should be honoured.
I believe we don't give enough recognition to the elders.
We just see them and we have often missed out in honouring our elders when they are still alive.
They have contributed so much.
They could contribute even more with our support and I believe we should honour them while they are still able to help us with their wisdom.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Anawak for those wise comments.
Member for South Baffin Mr. Akesuk.
Member’s Statement 217 - 1(3): Cape Dorset Figure Skating Club
Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of the Cape Dorset figure skating club that first started in 1995.
I'm not sure how to say it in Inuktitut so I'll just say that they dance on the ice with their skates on.
Many children wanted to participate in figure skating but due to the shortage and to the high price of skates, it was not possible for some families to participate.
The Cape Dorset figure skating club contacted the Stephenville figure skating club and asked them to donate youth skates.
Which they receive and in return they would receive Inuit Art that they use for fund raising for their club.
Since that time they have become sister clubs and have exchanged approximately 60 skates, shirts and outfits.
(interpretation ends) The two clubs talked about doing some travel together.
This dream became a reality in the fall of 1999.
Stephenville was in the process of opening a brand new arena.
The skaters from Cape Dorset were invited to perform the opening show.
(interpretation)The eight figure skaters are Sylaqi Petaulasie, Helena Workman, Joe Salamonie, Tommy Kinguasiak, Josie Tauki, Tauki Tauki, Jeannie Mathewsie, and Cathy Curley made up the Sikumiut skaters, a synchronised team with their coach Cindy Parsons.
They travelled March 8 to Stephenville, Newfoundland to perform in the grand opening of the Stephenville dome that was scheduled for opening on Saturday March 11, 1999.
Proud parents Oloosie Workman, Kanayuk Salamonie, Muati Mathewsie and Elisapie Curley accompanied them.
Mr. Speaker I would like to ask for unanimous consent to complete my comments.
Speaker (Interpretation): Thank you Mr. Akesuk.
The Member for Rankin South, Ms. Thompson.
I apologize I was moving on to another subject.
I thought Mr. Akesuk was done.
Mr. Akesuk would like unanimous consent from the members to complete his statement.
Since there is none go ahead Mr. Akesuk.
The opening skaters included 1998 Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, the 2000 Canadian pair champions Jamie Shar and David Pallister and the Newfoundland pair team Joshua and Rebecca Babe.
The Cape Dorset skaters had time to spend time with these skaters after the show to meet and get autographs and get their pictures taken with them.
(interpretation) While in Newfoundland the skaters were interviewed by CBC Radio and received television coverage that was aired on CBCs Here and Now, North Beat and Newsworld.
And addition they were seen on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Helena Workman and Joe Saw Salomonie presented a flag of Nunavut and a Sport Nunavut flag at the opening ceremonies to MHA Kevin Elwood.
Josie Taukie, Taukie Taukie, and Kanayuk Salomonie throat sang at the ceremonies.
The skaters from Cape Dorset Nunavut stole the show and did Nunavut proud.
Mr. Speaker I want to share this with all the members.
Member’s Statement 218 - 1(3): Iqaluit/Nuuk Arctic Winter Games
Thank you Mr. Speaker today I would like to make a member's statement about the upcoming Iqaluit/Nuuk Arctic Winter Games.
I have been told by the people of Rankin Inlet and some other people that attended the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.
The next games are going to be in Iqaluit and Nuuk.
The people of Nunavut realize that our athlete's from Nunavut are not as accomplished as the other athletes that go to the Arctic Winter Games are.
I think they should be practising a lot more just like the other athletes from other jurisdictions.
I was given this suggestion by Robert Tatty from Rankin Inlet that I would like to relay this to the house.
All Hamlets have recreational officers, perhaps when the Arctic Winter Games are going to be hosted here and in Nuuk, that the athletes should get more practice before they go to the games because it is not to far away in the future.
Member’s Statement 219 - 1(3): Change of Nunavut Day
Mr. Speaker I heard over the radio this morning about Nunavut day being proposed to be changed.
The Nunavut government started on April 1st.
I feel that April 1st is not as appropriate but July the 9th is.
The first Monday in August was being proposed by some people.
I know that everybody realises that the first Monday of August is a holiday and perhaps for the people that are working they don’t want this changed.
But, for members of the public that are not working, they don't really care about a holiday whether it’s a holiday or not, because they don't have a job to go on a holiday from.
Everybody that is employed is more inclined to keep the August 1 holiday.
They go out hunting on holidays for the people that are working.
The hunters usually go out hunting because they are going out for food and they are out hunting for living.
I just wanted to make a statement about the August the first being a holiday and to give people the information as to the reason why we want to have Nunavut Day changed.
Member’s Statement 220 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Women’s Hockey Team
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Today I rise to recognize a group of my constituents, the women hockey players of Sanikiluaq that was invited to a Nunavik community and also a first nations community to play hockey.
There were seven communities that participated in the women’s hockey tournament.
The women invited were Annie Ammituq captain, Martha Cookie assistant captain, Alice Takatak, Mary Inuktaluk, Mary Appaqaq, Alice Nayalik, Mary Mikiyuk, Lucy Meeko goalie, Nellie Ippak, Meena Ippak, and Mary Ningeochiak.
Those are the Sanikiluaq women’s hockey team that I would like to recognize today especially because as I had stated before Sanikiluaq does not have a proper arena and it takes a special effort for them to be able to play hockey in other communities.
Member’s Statement 221 - 1(3): First Anniversary for Nunavut
I rise to day because April 1st is fast approaching.
This is the first anniversary of our swearing in of the first Nunavut MLAs and the Nunavut Legislature.
The year has gone by so fast it feels like weeks.
But we as members have been preoccupied with the task in front of us and for our constituents’ well being.
As we strive to make life a little better for all of Nunavummiut.
As our new logo describes and means, look forward but look back.
Today Mr. Speaker I would like to look back who had the vision to help build Nunavut.
The list is long and sometimes we forget the personal sacrifices that these individuals paid for being away from their families and their communities negotiating with the federal government for months and years to establish this great territory of Nunavut.
Without their hard work and dedication we would not be here today.
I’m sure that everyone in this building knows of someone that is not with us today and the person that comes to mind to me today is a person who had great influence on me.
I will always remember Michael Amarok as a Nunavut builder.
Member’s Statement 222 - 1(3): New Co-op in Arviat
Mr. O'Brien: Mr. Speaker I would like to congratulate the local co-op board for their efforts in constructing a brand new co-op in my home community.
Mr. Speaker our community is growing at a pace of approximately eighty babies per year and the population will be approaching 2 thousand in two years.
With the rapid growth, my community welcomes its new 18 thousand square foot store and we also welcome the Eskimo Point Lumber Store, which is a corner stone business operating for the past twenty-five years.