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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the release of a discussion document entitled, Developing a Nunavut Adult Learning Strategy.
This document is the first attempt to establish a baseline, and capture the needs, issues, gaps, barriers and opportunities for a coordinated approach to delivery of adult learning and education programs.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, the document also presents several ideas drawn from our initial consultation, and presents opportunities to be considered for moving forward.
It is our intent that this document be used as a basis for a more focused round of consultations which will begin immediately.
Input from those consultations will assist in the development of the final strategy, with clearly defined priorities and time frames.
(interpretation ends) Input from these consultations will assist in the department in the development of the final strategy with clearly defined priorities and time lines.
(interpretation) Input from these consultations will assist in the department in the development of the final strategy with clearly defined priorities and time lines.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my honourable colleagues and members of the public to submit ideas or issues to my department so that our Nunavut Adult Learning Strategy can reflect the needs of all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 234 – 1(6): Nunavut Business Credit Corporation
Good morning. I send my regards to the people of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.
I would also like to send my regards to the people of Northern Quebec.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I want to report to this House on the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
As a result of the recent changes to the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Act, which were approved by this House in October, the Corporation’s loan fund is now providing much greater support for small businesses throughout Nunavut.
The changes to the Act now allow the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation to loan funds to the regional business development centres, which, in turn, provide loans to small businesses in our communities.
For example, the Baffin Business Development Corporation has now been able to borrow $500 thousand from the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation.
These funds are being used to finance the development of small business in Baffin communities through business loans.
The Baffin Business Development Centre anticipates that it will borrow at least an additional $250 thousand from the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation later this fiscal year for this purpose.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Kivalliq Business Development Centre and the Kitikmeot Business Development Centre to also take advantage of this new and exciting opportunity.
This change in legislation will facilitate the movement of funding away from the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and towards more regionally based delivery agencies who are better able to assess the needs of the business clients in their home communities.
Small businesses throughout Nunavut will now be able to borrow significantly higher levels of funding to help finance business start ups and business expansions as a result of the changes to the Act.
Mr. Speaker, because of these changes, Members can look forward to the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation taking a more proactive role supporting business development in Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 235 – 1(6): Nunavut Power Corporation Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since June 2001 the Nunavut Power Corporation has awarded scholarships to Nunavut post-secondary students.
To qualify, these students must have lived in Nunavut for a minimum of five years and have not yet received a scholarship.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, recipients are selected by a group of volunteers.
Mr. Speaker, these students must be forthcoming, and prepare an essay about themselves, which consists of the following attributes; volunteer and leadership contributions, academic performance, career goals and role model qualities.
Based on these essays, this year’s three top scholarship awardees were selected, and Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that they are; in first place for the scholarship, Pujjuut Kusugak of Rankin Inlet, second place Pauloosie Akeeagok of Grise Fiord and third place Gloria Kowtak also of Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Kusugak is a grade 13 OAC student at St. Michaels College.
He has completed two years at Ottawa University in the Nunavut Teachers Education Program.
Once he graduates with a Bachelor of Education, Mr. Kusugak plans to teach in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Akeeagok is a graduate from the Umimmak High School.
Mr. Akeeagok is a graduate from the Umimmak High School where he was the student of the year and he received a Governor General’s Award for the highest academic mark.
Paul is in the second year at the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Program in Ottawa.
In the future he anticipates becoming, Mr. Speaker, an RCMP officer here in Nunavut.
Ms. Kautak is a graduate from Alaittuq High School.
She received the award for both the outstanding grade twelve student and outstanding female athlete.
Gloria is in her second year at the NTEP program and following her completion she plans to teach at the elementary school in Rankin Inlet.
Finally Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to wish these and all the other students the very best of luck in their studies in the new year to come and I would ask this House to join with me in congratulating the Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Nunavut Power Corporation Scholarship winners.
Minister’s Statement 236 – 1(6): New Culture, Language, Elders and Youth Web Site Includes Nunavut’s First Virtual Museum
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to invite you to log on, and revisit the Government of Nunavut’s web site and see the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s New and improved web site.
The department’s web page is now available in Nunavut’s four languages, and includes our on line virtual museum, which offers people the opportunity to view photographs of Nunavut’s museum collection.
The web page is located at www.gov.nu.ca/cley.
In November of 2002, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories agreed to the division of the museum collection.
However, Nunavut’s part of the collection is currently being stored in the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth have created this on-line museum to provide Nunavummiut with access to part of this valuable collection of our heritage.
Until Nunavut has its own Heritage Centre, the department will share this important part of Nunavut’s history on-line.
On our web site, people will also be able to read about other departmental initiatives, access Language Award nomination forms and contact us to share their concerns, questions or comments.
The website will have a ling to the Living Dictionary, Asuillaak, where Nunavummiut will be able to access new terminology in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun as it is created.
From the website, people will be able to get information about our grant and contribution funding, as well as the application forms which can be filled out and e-mailed directly to the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 237 – 1(6): MYATT Conference
Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s Youth Action Team on Tobacco (MYATT), who are right behind me and I hope to have the opportunity today to introduce these fine young people from across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, behind me today are members of the Youth Action Team on Tobacco (MYATT).
MYATT us working with Inuit Communications Systems Limited (ICSL) to produce three tobacco public service announcements (PSAs).
They are acting, assisting with camera work, props and costumes in the making of the PSAs they helped write last March.
Mr. Speaker, youth are also participating in workshops put on by Georgina Lovell, an international guest speaker for schools and special interest groups working to raise the awareness of tobacco industry tactics.
The Minister’s Youth Action Tram on Tobacco is a team of 19 youth members from across Nunavut.
These bright, enthusiastic and promising youth came from all three regions to their first face-to face meeting in Iqaluit this past spring.
In early September a call for applicants was sent to every school, health centre, and regional Inuit association to select the 2003 MYATT team members.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all MYATT members for their dedication to reducing tobacco use in Nunavut and wish them success and continued work on behalf of and for the Minister’s Youth Action Team on Tobacco.
I would also ask Mr. Speaker, that you join me in welcoming them to the Assembly.
Speaker: Welcome to the members.
Minister’s Statement 238 – 1(6): 2004 Arctic Winter Games
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the Members of the Legislative of Assembly about the upcoming 2004 Arctic Winter Games to be held in the Wood Buffalo region of northern Alberta.
The 2004 Arctic Winter Games will commence on February 29 to March 6 with the majority of events taking place in the city of Fort McMurray.
At theses games, Nunavut will be represented by a contingent of approximately 300 Nunavummiut.
Team Nunavut will consist of 236 athletes, 36 coaches and chaperones, 12 mission staff and 8 cultural performers.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Chef de Mission of Team Nunavut is a long serving community volunteer Ms. Ruth Niptanatiak-Wilcox of Cambridge Bay.
Her Assistant Chef will be Mr. Frank Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo is currently the Director of Sport Nunavut.
My Department has worked hard to improve community development in many aspects.
Part of that is making Arctic Winter Games participation a priority for Nunavummiut.
As stated in the Bathurst Mandate, we are directed to assist in building healthy communities.
Healthy and active athletes contribute to healthy communities and I fully support these types of projects.
As many Members are aware, although we will send 300 people to Alberta in February, when one considers the whole process that takes place in selecting team Nunavut, over 1,500 Nunavummiut will have directly benefited from this Arctic Winter Games program by taking part in territorial qualifying and selections camps.
Mr. Speaker, the athletes, coaches, chaperones and mission staff selected for Team Nunavut will be ambassadors for Nunavut and will be representing the territory.
I invite Members to join me in wishing all of Team Nunavut good luck in the upcoming Arctic Winter Games.
We wish you every success.
Members and Ministers will note that the Minister’s time is now up.
Member’s Statement 747 – 1(6): Selection of Speaker
Mr. Speaker, a big smile for you, and I will be talking about you today.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform this House regarding our Speaker, who was elected to be our voice.
Because he does not get the opportunity to make any statements on behalf of his constituents, Members in this House have brought to voice the concerns of their constituents, and I am wondering if we should start considering a different system of selecting our Speaker in future.
I think that should be one of our first priorities to discuss for Nunavummiut to ensure that everybody gets an equal opportunity to voice their concerns.
With that in mind, that should be on the agenda for the next Assembly, for the Speaker to be selected on a regular basis and this should be a consideration for the next Assembly.
I would also like to state that we represent the communities, some of us represent two communities, and some Members represent only one community, and at times there are Members who represent three communities and due to the budget constraints, we are allocated the same amount of budgeted funds, although we represent more communities than others.
The people who I represent of Qikiqtarjuaq have asked me whether they can start electing their own Member.
They have asked me what the requirements are for a community to have individual Members.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that you are happy with my Statement today.
Do we have any further Members’ Statements?
Member’s Statement 748 – 1(6): NNI Appeals Board
Mr. Speaker, today there are less than 40 days left in the life of this Assembly and Government, and we finally, finally have a Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Appeals Board in place.
Mr. Speaker, according to a press release issued late last week, the long outstanding and contentious issue of the establishment of an Appeals Board for awarding contracts under the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy have finally reached a resolution.
Mr. Speaker, this could be a good news story, but it could also spell disaster for the construction industry in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Appeals Board will be made up of three individuals.
I also understand that the Government will be refocusing the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy.
While we may expect new appeals to come forward, it is not secret that the number of outstanding files lying in wait for the appeals process.
Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that the Appeals Board will not be able to deal with this workload in a timely and effective manner.
I am concerned that important and vital contracts will not progress while they are tied up at the end of a long line of appeals with a skeleton crew to handle them.
I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, that this delay will break the back of Nunavut’s developing construction industry, which we are looking to as a critical source of job, or skills training for our residents.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize the need for incentives to help grow and strengthen Inuit and local small businesses.
Being a former small business person for many years, I know what it feels like to be squeezed out by the big companies from outside.
However, we need to avoid falling into the trap of putting process before people.
We need to avoid holding up vital capital projects in our communities while hired guns argue endlessly.
I want an appeals process that is fair but efficient and takes into account the short time frames we have here for getting projects underway and accomplished.
Member’s Statement 749 – 1(6): Inuit Traditional Clothing
Mr. Speaker, now that winter is before us again, as people of the Canadian Arctic live in a harsh climate, and Mr. Speaker, there are some things that we buy for the arctic that are suited to the arctic climate.
Mr. Speaker, the Inuit traditional clothing is best suited for our climate and will never be matched by any clothing that is manufactured.
I know both Inuit traditional clothing and the store bought clothing that is expensive in the stores.
And because I do use both types of clothing, and because we live in the very harsh winter climate, those who will be going out on the land, if possible, should try and use Inuit traditional clothing whether it be caribou or sealskin because they are best suited for the harsh climate.
And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking questions regarding my Statement.
Member’s Statement 750 – 1(6): Elders Facility
In Pond Inlet, we do not have an elders’ facility and our elders still live in their own homes.
One of our elders is 84 years old, and the only helper was sent away from the community and he or she was the only helper for this elder.
She does get people in the community to assist her for her day to day needs, but because her main helper had been sent away to a safe shelter, the issue about sending people away to safe shelters do not seem to get the assistance they need once they are sent away.
The local social workers who help out with the social problems in the community, I think should be versed in the process of sending people out to safe shelters.
Perhaps, the assistants could be made closer in the community.
I think that needs to be worked on, the issue surrounding sending people away to safe shelters from their community.
Member’s Statement 751 – 1(6): Licensed Day Care Operations
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to revisit an issue that I raised almost three years ago in February of 2000.
At that time, I brought the issue of licensed childcare spaces to the attention of the Minister of Education here in this House.
At that time there were not enough licensed spaces and not enough funding for existing daycare operations here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for Early Childhood Development addressed these issues by increasing the Childcare Facility Grants and Services budget by $598 thousand, which meant that Nunavut daycares were not forced into bankruptcy.
But the increase did little to alleviate the demand for licensed childcare spaces here in Iqaluit.
Three years ago, there were 189 licensed childcare spaces here in Iqaluit, and all of them were occupied.
An additional 120 children were on the waiting list for care.
Over the past three years only 21 new licensed spaces have been created, bringing Iqaluit’s pool of care to 210 licensed spaces.
Waiting lists for Iqaluit Daycares are now at 151 children with an estimated 38 more children who require care, who are unable to get on the waiting list.
Mr. Speaker, there are almost the same number of children on the waiting list for daycare as there are daycare spaces here in Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, there are social costs of inadequate support for children, especially for those living in poverty, or for parents with low income and education levels.
Mr. Speaker, the cost of not providing enough care is high, and hits our economy hard.
Each year employers in Iqaluit, including the Government, lose over $4 million dollars because there is not enough licensed childcare spaces available.
This loss comes from increased employee turnover.
Ours, which is close to 30%, more absences from work, and from delays in returning to work for people on parental leave.
It is not cheap to provide daycare services. 200 new spaces in Iqaluit would cost $3.5 million dollars to construct, and annual operating costs for these spaces would be approximately $2.5 million.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my Statement.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, colleagues and Mr. Speaker.
To offset the very high cost of care, parents in Iqaluit pay $9 thousand, 500.00 a year for each daycare.
Mr. Speaker, that is 40% more than the average Canadian family.
As high as these fees are, they only account for three quarters of the total operating costs of licensed daycares.
Parent cannot afford to pay anymore.
We know that it will cost $3.5 million dollars to create enough spaces to meet the current demand for care, and another $1.2 million in excess of parental fees to cover the operating costs of daycare here in Iqaluit alone just to meet the current demand.
Mr. Speaker, something must be done to address this critical and pressing need here in one of the fastest growing communities in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that it is happening here now in Iqaluit, and it will not be long before it is happening in all the other communities across Nunavut as our population is growing.
I think that we need to come up with some type of a strategy to address this, and at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister responsible questions on that.
Thank you, M. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 752 – 1(6): Municipal Flag for Apex
Mr. Speaker, during my constituency meeting in Apex, I was asked by many of the Apex residents why Apex did not have its own municipal flag like other communities in Nunavut.
At that time I committed to hold a poster contest and asked the student of Nanook School in Apex to design a flag for Apex.
Mr. Speaker, over two dozen designs were submitted to the office, and Mr. Speaker, they were excellent.
It was a very difficult task to judge the posters entered in the contest.
Mr. Speaker, I asked two Apex elders, Ms. Martha Michael and Annie Tiglik to assist me and my Constituency Assistant, and Apex resident, Oonga Henderson with the task.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Annie and Martha for volunteering their time to judge the poster contest.
Mr. Speaker, first place, the winning design was submitted by Emily Nowdlak-Lloyd, second place was Jasmine Kadluk, and third place was Leetia Tiglik.
Honourable mention goes to Jennifer Amagoalik and Carmen Barrieau.
Mr. Speaker, this coming Monday, I will be presenting all the students who entered the flag contest, the flag design contest certificates and prizes at the general assembly at Nanook School in Apex.
Mr. Speaker, I will also be sending the five posters to a flag making company to illustrate some mock ups out from there a possible flag for Apex may become a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I want again to thank the students and staff of Nanook School in Apex, Apex elders, Annie Tiglik and Martha Michael for helping me in this very successful flag poster design contest.
Speaker: Thank you, Picco.
Member’s Statement 753 – 1(6): Adult Learning Centres
I rise today to talk about the adult learning centers.
In most of all the communities there are adult learning centers.
Yesterday and today we discussed the topics in regards to this Statement that I was going to make.
I would like to thank the Minister for her Ministers’ Statement to encourage us about how we can submit ideas or issues to her Department, for example, in Iqaluit high school and students in grade 9, 10, 11, young people, when they cannot do well in academic studies, they are sent away.
Although we would like to see academic students, Mr. Speaker, what I am trying to say is that we utilize the adult learning centers in the communities so that they can be, so the adults could be taught on the land programs and how to survive on the land and how to sew.
As Mr. Puqiqnak made his Statement that traditional clothing is the best clothing to wear and is best suited for this climate, Mr. Irqittuq talked about how we can use proper pronunciations in Inuktitut and there are Inuit who could be hired to instruct people on sewing as well as land skills and how to prepare skins traditionally.
These things could be taught in the adult learning centers.
Also in regards to proper pronunciations, proper reading and writing could be taught by the adults or could be learned by the adults.
Perhaps many elders could not write properly in Inuktitut.
We need instructors in adult learning centers and I encourage everyone and all the Members to support the adult learning centers and I would also like to thank the Government for providing us in the high arctic with adult learning centers.
Member’s Statement 754 – 1(6): Wellness Coordinator – Kugluktuk
Today, I rise to address an issue of great concern for the future wellbeing of my Constituency.
This issue affects many other Nunavut communities, in particular, my Constituency in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, over the past year I have raised the issue of Kugluktuk’s need for a wellness coordinator a number of times.
The wellness coordinator is an important position for the community.
I have questioned the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue on whether this will be an ongoing position for our future.
I understand that the funding of these positions comes from the Federal Government Brighter Futures Program and is allocated to the Hamlet on a yearly basis.
If the position is eliminated, the wellbeing of the community is cause for great concern, and I urge our Nunavut Government to look at this concern.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the community wellness coordinator is critical to the overall health and well being of our community.
This position is an important one for coordinating other wellness programs and involving many different groups of people.
Promoting wellness cannot be done in bits and pieces.
As the Minister has said himself many times promoting healthy lifestyles in most effective way in preventing illness.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to conclude my Statement.
Thank you, Colleagues. (interpretation ends) Investing in wellness is far more cost effective than treating illness.
Mr. Speaker, short term funding is a short term solution.
We can spend a lot of time with the Department of Health, working with the hamlet and working with the Federal Government to secure funding, but this still leaves the wellness coordinator position on the edge from year to year.