EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The training duration is a maximum of two years.
They are learning on the job and are also completing course by distance education and attending group workshops.
Mr. Speaker, participation in Sivuliktiqsat is a very exciting employment opportunity for Beneficiaries.
The Department of Human Resources will be advertising to fill the remaining six positions within the program starting this November.
We will ensure that Beneficiaries are well informed of these new job opportunities through an extensive recruitment campaign.
Minister’s Statement 226 – 1(6): Correctional Healing Facility in Kugluktuk
I rise today to speak to Members of this House regarding the establishment of a correctional healing facility in Kugluktuk.
The facility will House up to twenty low risk offenders serving short term sentences or being returned from the Yellowknife or Baffin Correctional Centres to complete their sentences.
Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that we are able to meet the needs of our residents of the Kitikmeot, so that offenders from that part of our territory are able to serve their time closer to their home community.
By establishing this facility in Kugluktuk we will create up to twelve new positions and will be recruiting in the community.
I am also pleased to tell you that we are able to use an existing building from the hamlet for this facility.
Fortunately, only minor renovations are needed before it can be used.
It is important that we provide facilities that are closer to home communities of offenders.
Not only does this aid in the healing process, but it also ensures that Inuit cultural activities are an integral part of the rehabilitation process.
These goals are in keeping with our commitment to healthy communities as reflected in the Bathurst Mandate.
Minister’s Statement 227 – 1(6): Youth Identity Development Strategy
It is my pleasure today to announce that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth has completed a Youth Identity Development Strategy.
Based on consultations across Nunavut, this strategy makes clear recommendations to help us work with youth to build a healthy sense of identity.
We know that identity and self-esteem are critical to our youth making healthy decisions for themselves.
But we also recognize that youth know best what their challenges are and who they want to be.
The goals, vision and recommendations in this strategy come directly from youth, from their successes, problems, ideas and dreams.
Mr. Speaker, growing up in Nunavut today presents challenges, but Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit also offers opportunities for youth to face up to these challenges with the support of tradition and family, elders and peers.
Nunavut youth made six clear recommendations in this strategy based on the following goals.
Foster identity and pride, promote culture and language, cultivate leadership and role models and improve communications amongst youth.
The Youth Identity Development Strategy will help my department to focus its programs, grants and contributions towards priorities identified by youth, for youth. Later today I will be tabling the Youth Identity Development Strategy.
Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Are there any further Ministers’ Statement?
If not we will move on to Item 3.
Member’s Statement 720 – 1(6): Bill 12 – Human Rights Act
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, Mr. Premier, and the Cabinet.
I am happy to rise today regarding Bill 12, which was passed in the House yesterday.
Nunavummiut, I want you to know that you now have rights and we can start planning for the future, according to our rights.
It is hard to say when it will be implemented.
I smile to Nunavummiut now and I am glad and proud to say that we can now aim to meet the needs of Nunavummiut.
No one will now trample on our rights, and we are in the same position as in the rest of Canada.
Thank you, Nunavummiut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 721 – 1(6): Remembrance Day November 11
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about November 11, which will be in a few days.
I rise to remember those who fought so hard for our freedom during past wars, and who today serve in our Armed Forces.
Mr. Speaker, as a symbol of our appreciation, and in remembrance of those who died for us, we wear these poppies.
If they did not fight for our freedom, Mr. Speaker, we would not be here today.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to thank them and I encourage everyone to wear a poppy in remembrance.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank our past leaders who worked so hard for Nunavut, who survived the harsh climate to make it to today, and who had a vision that one day, we would have our own Government.
Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful that they fought hard for this, because today we do have our own Government.
So Mr. Speaker, I wanted to acknowledge how grateful I am and join Nunavummiut, and you, Mr. Speaker, in thanking those in remembrance.
Member’s Statement 722 – 1(6): Country Food - Economic Development in Nunavut
Today I would like to discuss the possible economic development in Nunavut and in building an economic base for Nunavut.
We probably think that it is unattainable at this point, but because there is 26 different communities, I do believe that there are 26, at times, some people say 27, or 28, but I think that there are 26.
We depend on wildlife, for instance in Coral Harbour there are walruses, and polar bears, and in Chesterfield Inlet, Igloolik and Naujaat it is the same, in any community.
We still hunt to supplement the food that we have available today.
However, with the new technologies, for instance, Baker Lake might be requesting some muktaaq, and Rankin Inlet may request for some aged meat.
I think there should be further consideration by the Department of Sustainable Development to further assist those communities that would like to get into the fish and meat economies.
The Government Researchers are always saying no, we cannot do that.
We that are here today, if we work hard enough, you can use the examples of the Greenlanders, where they have a market in Greenland.
We can reach that level if we work hard enough to ensure that we benefit through the marketing of our meats and fish.
It would create more economic opportunities in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 723 – 1(6): Debate on Bill 12 Human Rights Act
I rise today to inform my three communities about what we went through yesterday, I am sure that they are aware because of the media coverage of our proceedings from yesterday.
It even made it on the National News.
We debated the issue of the Human Rights Legislation.
The process that we used last night is the usual process because we do not always agree in this House on different issues.
And for the communities that I represent, and perhaps other communities, for instance, in Iqaluit, I encourage them to take their children to Church more often.
We open with a prayer in the House all the time because it is part of our beliefs.
We do believe that once the prayer is said that the day goes well.
So I encourage those communities that I represent, the mothers and fathers to take their children to church more often to build their faith.
There must be room for religion in this House.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for letting me be able to make this statement today.
We have this right to say what statements that we have.
To also inform the communities that I represent, I will travel up there very shortly, and I will find out exactly when I will be visiting my communities.
Member’s Statement 724 – 1(6): Concern for Employees Laid Off in the Mining Industry
I say hi to both my grandchildren.
I will see them today sometime in Kugluktuk. I rise today to talk in regards to the mining industry.
When the mining industry closes down there is a lack of employment for the people working in the mines.
I would like to tell the Government to pay attention in regards to the employees who are not working anymore.
Take the Lupin Mine, for example, there were many people who work at the mine who are unemployed at the moment.
I would like to make sure that the employees are looked after, because there is a concern for no employment.
Many of them have worked for twenty-five years at the mines.
The employees who were laid off possess a lot of knowledge in various trades.
They can easily adapt to other employment opportunities.
I would like to see someone there to consult with employees.
They need encouragement, although they have worked for a long time at the mining industry, to continue to try to look for employment.
For those young people who are getting into the mining trade, I would like to encourage them to continue.
Let us not forget those who have worked in the mines because they had good training.
Member’s Statement 725 – 1(6): Human Rights Act
Through the news media, I was reported to be the only Cabinet Member who opposed the Bill.
I am not just going to join the cause with the Cabinet.
I do not mind even if I am alone with my opinion in the world.
I do not mind speaking my mind.
At times I do not always agree with my colleagues. It wouldn’t matter if they took my ministerial appointment away. There are times I do not agree with my colleagues.
I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to vote freely on my own.
Mr. Speaker, even though the media is pointing fingers at me, I do not mind that.
Whether I am a Canadian, or Russian, if my mind is set, I do not like to be swayed, and I am not swayed.
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister for Education, I have been quoted through the media that the Minister for Education did not approve the Human Rights Act.
Mr. Speaker, as a teacher, and as mother, I made my statements because I was elected here to represent my constituents.
Those are some of the reasons why I had opposed the Bill.
Even if I am intimidated, no matter how people treat me, I do not mind, because I speak my mind freely.
I am not concerned about losing my ministerial appointment and I made my statements in the House freely, and I am not intimidated.
Member’s Statement 726 – 1(6): Treated Differently
This morning I rise to make a statement about the four and half years since we became elected. I have had feelings of anger inside of me.
My father used to tell me not to get upset no matter how bad I am feeling.
That was my father’s advice to me and I still value his advice.
He used to advise me not to stay angry from dusk until dawn
In the past few years, I have been hurt in my heart because I’m an elected member, and also because I come from Sanikiluaq.
When people approach me outside the House and within the House, I have been harassed and I don’t want to carry that bad feeling anymore.
Once I let it out, I will no longer have it inside of me because I was advised to live that way by my parents.
If you let out your own issues and speak about your own issues, that means they come out from you.
That’s the advice and after I voice my issues and pains, then they come out.
I’m just like any regular person here.
I would like to say that as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the 4 and half years, inside the House and outside the House, my heart has been hurt because I was discriminated against because of the color of my skin and because of the community I come from.
Sanikiluaq residents would like to feel welcome here in this city and I myself would like to feel welcome here in this city.
I know that the residents of Sanikiluaq feel proud to be a part of Nunavut as well as myself.
We have to treat everyone equally and we should not discriminate against anyone no matter where they come from or no matter what language they speak.
They should not base their discrimination on the ethnicity and also on where we come from.
We enjoy being and after I let these feelings out, I’m not going to stay angry in the House or outside the House.
Member’s Statement 727 – 1(6): Co-op Store Dividends and Income
Mr. Speaker, I too am happy that I’m able to take part and I would like to inform my colleagues here that we now have a Human Rights Act and we cannot be discriminated against.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my greetings to Hall Beach and send my love to my family.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about a concern by the community of Igloolik.
For all the communities that have Cooperative Stores, the majority of the community residents are shareholders of the coop.
At the end of the year, we receive dividends.
For example, perhaps my colleague from Cape Dorset is quite aware of this.
If I purchase groceries using my pocket money, the money remains the same.
Part of the money I spend is put into the shares so that it could be allocated as dividend.
It’s a dividend that you actually paid for when you bought your groceries.
We’ve been experiencing many problems in regards to this because coop shareholders, every time they get the dividend, when the income support worker finds out that this coop member received dividends; they are no longer eligible for income support.
I believe it’s a dividend; it does not come in the form of cash.
You can’t even cash it; you can only buy groceries with it.
It’s a coupon; it is also where this shareholder or Co-Op member, when they purchase the groceries, it is part of the money she had already paid.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you, my Colleagues and Premier.
I do appreciate all of the things that you do.
I would like everyone to understand what I am trying to say that the Co-Op members who receive dividend; if they are income support recipients and if this individual receives a dividend, he or she is no longer eligible.
And every time they go grocery shopping, the monies she paid, she will receive as a dividend.
The income support workers should not look at dividends as income.
Not just in Igloolik, Cape Dorset, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet, where there are Co-Ops in those communities, that is how it is.
I would like the Government to understand that the Co-op members who receive their dividend that do not receive actual cash.
It is just the return on the money they actually spent as a benefit.
Member’s Statement 728 – 1(6): Scholarship for Fauna Kingdon
Mr. Speaker, over the last several weeks, we have had an opportunity to discuss a range of topics.
Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring some good news to the Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to inform the House about another scholarship earned by one of my Constituents and an Iqaluit resident.
Mr. Speaker, Fauna Kingdon has earned several scholarships over the past year.
She has worked hard for her bursaries and scholarships and Mr. Speaker, last month, she was awarded another scholarship.
This time, Mr. Speaker, she was awarded the very prestigious Xerox Aboriginal Scholarship and she is the first Nunavut resident to be awarded it.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, the scholarship is started at $12 thousand dollars, $3 thousand dollars paid to Fauna over four years to help her with her schooling.
The scholarship, Mr. Speaker, is based on high academic achievement and contribution to society.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out that almost ninety nine percent of Fauna’s education came from here in Nunavut.
She attended school here, she went to high school in Nunavut and she is now in a University in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker, Fauna, I think, is an excellent role model for Nunavut youth and indeed, has served as a page in the Legislative Assembly and as you know, Mr. Speaker, is an excellent role model who has been involved on the crisis line helping people deal with issues like suicide and so on.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you would join with me in congratulating Fauna, again, on continuing a great tradition of success with her academic studies and a great role model for Nunavut youth.
Member’s Statement 729 – 1(6): Thanks Family and Constituents
Mr. Speaker, today might be our last day for this Session.
I would like to thank my wife Rosie and my family and my friend Joseph, Lynn and Jenna for waiting patiently for the end of this Session and I will not forget my little grandchild Kevin.
And also to the people who I represent, I would like to also like to thank them.
And I would like to go briefly back to the Human Rights Act that we were dealing with yesterday.
I have never wanted to use that word, my electorate, but I would like to use the phrase, my constituents, or the people who I represent.
And I would like to thank them as well.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my staff, Pat and Dorcus, and also all the staff of the Legislative Assembly, and the tireless interpreters, Thank you.
There are also staff who we do not see in the House all the time.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Mali Curley, who is an interpreter/translator.
I would also like to thank the people from Innirvik, my namesake and Mary as well as the others who work there.
I would also to say that we have been away from our home for three weeks, for some of us.
We dealt with various things such as the Human Rights Act, and the Tobacco Act, and the Act to Amend the Liquor Act, the Act to Amend the NWT Business Credit Corporation Act, the Labour Standards Act, an Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, and the Nursing Act amendments, and also the Supplementary Appropriations, 2003-2004, and 2004-2005.
I am over my time.
Member’s Statement 730 – 1(6): Human Rights
I would like to inform the Members of this House that we were all working hard last night, because it was a very controversial Bill that we dealt with yesterday.
My mother, who had passed away, has also helped me with the Inuit ways of doing things.
I also received a letter from our Bishop Andrew Atagutaaluk.
I have always respected and obeyed my mother, and tried to do the things that she told me to do in my life to make my life better.
To make good decisions, so with that I would like to just move on to focus on our future because some of the items that we talked about yesterday, stays in the House and it does not go back out.
We are not going to be carrying it with us forever; we will be going into a better future together.
Member’s Statement 731 – 1(6): Debate on Human Rights
Mr. Speaker, I will just start off by realizing that today will probably be our last day here for this Sitting.
I wish all Members a safe and quick journey home, no weather delays I am sure they are anxious to get home.
Minister Kilabuk and Kattuk are just smiling in anticipation of going home.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also take this opportunity to thank all the Members of this House for the debate that took place yesterday.
I think it is important to remember that one of the whole principles behind a public government and democracy, is having debate on issues, whatever they may be.
Over the past five years I’ve stood up and argued against things, but that’s what it’s all about.
We’re not here to just rubber stamp it.
If people have questions or concerns relating to whatever it is that we’re dealing with here in the House, that’s why we’re here.
I respect the fact that all members have the right and were elected to do that.
I just want to thank everybody for the debate that took place here yesterday because that’s the kind of debate that needs to happen on everything.
That’s the whole purpose of us being here.
As the Premier indicated, as Mr. Kattuk indicated, it’s done.
We move forward.
I look forward to moving ahead on other issues.
We have a lot of other important issues that we have to deal with, within this territory.
Mr. Kilabuk mentioned the number of pieces of legislation that we’re going to be dealing with and I look forward to all of us continuing the debate and raising the issues and concerns that we have on those things in the future.
Member’s Statement 732 – 1(6): Voicing Concerns and Views
I’m happy that this is our last day.
I would also like to thank my constituents from Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk and I send my regards to my family who are waiting patiently for me.
I would like to say my thoughts because it’s good to air out your concerns and your thoughts.
Even though we argue or debate on some things that we clearly care about, that’s the way it should be even though we’re not upset with each other, we have to have a debate and questions and concerns aired out.
We’re able to do that and I appreciate everybody for doing that.
What I’m really concerned about is the elders and the youth because we have to be able to provide them with their needs and their expectations, because we have to work for them in this House as their elected representatives.
We have to be able to provide them with their expectations.
When our constituents elected us they elected us to represent them.
We have to be able to provide for their need, we can’t just leave the needs of our constituents.
We have to work for them.
Are they just going to be following our wishes?
We’re not going to be just leaving them behind us.
We have to be able to work for them and represent them the best way that we can.
So, with that, I would like to be able to tell the Members that we are looking forward to other work that we have to be doing and to remind the Members that when the people of Nunavut were going to get their Nunavut in this territory, that they had a lot of expectations and we have to make them realize their expectations.
We want our children to have a good future and we want them to be able to stand for themselves.
Where are they going to be?
I want to make a better future for them.
Member’s Statement 733 – 1(6): Regards to Constituents
Whenever I stand up to speak, these two people on my side bother me.
I think this is the last time that we are going to be meeting today and I would like to say hello to my Constituents.
Perhaps we will be going home on Friday.
I just wanted to, I do not have very much to say, but this was made for me recently so I could wear it in the House and if the two individuals who made this for me are watching, I smile at them.
There are two people from Pond Inlet as well, Sheila and Crystal.
I send my regards and also my grandchildren in Iqaluit. I send my regards to them.
I think everybody knows my grandson and I send my regards to his little sister.
The term constituent was mentioned.
Sometimes the Inuktitut language is usually a little bit difficult to translate into English and I do not want anybody to make fun of our language, but this is the way it is.
I wanted to briefly say that the Inuktitut language should not be a mockery.
Member’s Statement 734 – 1(6): Representing Constituents
Yes, we do have differing views as Members in the Assembly and at the same time, we have to represent the views of our Constituents as much as possible.
With some of our statements, the Nunavummiut that we represent, are we not representing them anymore, are we just leaving them behind, which is the thought that many people have.
As a Government, perhaps for over four years, the representation has been apparent, although it has been long time coming, we are elected to represent the views of our Constituents and I was just recently in Ottawa with youth for the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Program who are the future leaders of our Territory.
When I appeared before the Senate Committee, they were there to observe the activities of the Senate Committee and they were very proud to see young Inuit.
The Senators barely see anybody interested in Senate Committee Hearings.
Because these young people are our future leaders, we should encourage and support them as much as possible and keep in mind that they will be running our affairs in the future.
We do the best we can to represent the constituents and the people of Nunavut and this new Legislation further enhances our representation in protecting the rights of people.
My parents used to tell me that I should not be talking about other people and how different they are and that only helps in that belief that we should not be looking at other peoples differences and that we should pass this knowledge down onto our children.
There is always room for amendments in this Legislation in the future and I am very proud that the Act will help our Nunavummiut as well as outside of Nunavummiut, for the residents of Nunavut who are down south will also be able to fall back on this Legislation from elsewhere in Nunavut.
And so, our job now is to ensure we take the information out in the open so people are aware of what their rights are.