EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Both Court Services and the Legal Aid and Court Worker Services, through the Nunavut Legal Services Board, are affected by the fiscal demands of providing these services.
There are allocations of new money for court services and the Legal Services Board to address budget shortfalls that have existed since the creation of Nunavut.
The court circuit is not a perfect system, but it does represent a great commitment to conducting the business of the courts in the communities that are affected by judicial decisions.
The Nunavut Court of Justice is unique amongst all Superior Courts in Canada because of its standard practice of having respected community members sit with the judge as cases are heard.
The Justice of the Peace Program is another significant part of making the court system function at the community level.
In the current fiscal year we will be establishing the new position for a Senior Justice of the Peace who will serve on a full time basis and will provide additional leadership in this area.
This position is targeted to be filled by an Inuk.
Again, by hiring more Inuit we will be in a better position to integrate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in our court system.
(interpretation) Traditionally Inuit did not need jails or correctional facilities.
It is hoped that through the Community Corrections Program we can start to reverse the trend of putting people in correctional facilities and focus on healing instead.
Therefore you will see in our budget for 2002-2003, new funding for the creation of additional community corrections positions.
The department will be providing stronger supervision and support for corrections’ camp operators by having a designated staff member dedicated to this area; this, still again, is using and integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
(interpretation ends) The additional allocation of funding for the Akitsiraq Law School that appears in the Main Estimates provides for a full year of funding for this program.
I am pleased to report that the law school is going very well.
Like all law schools anywhere in Canada, it is a challenging academic program.
The students just completed their first work experience as part of the program in several public and private sectors.
Even after only a few months of legal training they are bringing fresh perspectives to each of our work places, and impress their mentors with the quality of their work.
(interpretation) We are pleased to be able to enhance the quality of our programs and services to better serve Nunavummiut and to do our best to integrate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
To this end, my department has been allocated a new position to hire a full time Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordinator/Policy Analyst.
Those are my opening comments, but I will be pleased to respond to any comments that members of the committee may have with the Main Estimates for the Department of Justice.
Does the Chairperson of Ajauqtiit have any opening remarks?
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be able to give the committee’s opening remarks as we begin debate on the 2002-2003 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice.
Later on, members will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding these estimates.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit has had the opportunity to meet with the minister and his staff.
Mr. Chairman, members were pleased to hear that funding for 14 additional RCMP officers has been allocated.
This new funding will enable the detachments in Kugaaruk, Grise Fiord and Kimmirut to re-open and allow for the opening of a new detachment in Repulse Bay.
Mr. Chairman, the lack of officers in these communities was an area of concern in the past, as was the existence of single officer communities.
Mr. Chairman, the presence of additional RCMP will ensure that Nunavummiut, and the officers themselves, feel that much safer in their communities.
However, there continues to be concerns about the apparent lack of officers in the communities of Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet.
Mr. Chairman, at the same time, encouraging the recruitment of Inuit Officers continues to be a priority for the department.
Fifteen Nunavummiut have departed for the RCMP Academy in Regina.
Members were pleased that these would be in addition to the already existing 12 Inuit Officers.
The hiring of an Inuktitut-speaking dispatcher for the RCMP is indeed good news for the unilingual members of the community, who have publicly expressed frustration about this in the past.
Mr. Chairman, there continues to be some concern as to the liability issue with Corrections and on-the-land Camps.
Therefore, members were pleased to hear that a person designated solely to this job would be hired. This will help to ensure stronger supervision and support for corrections camp operators.
Members noted with concern that funding for Legal Aid does not appear to have increased at all, which helps to assist people without means, while there continue to be increases to funding for internal government legal services.
More support is needed in the area of Legal Aid.
Members were pleased to see new funding for Victims Assistance.
We look forward to learning more detail on how exactly victims can apply for this funding.
We also learned of a Pilot Project called Inuusirmut Aqqusiuqtiit Mediation Agreement, which was developed to deal with family law issues.
Members also look forward to hearing more about this pilot project.
Mr. Chairman, the committee is pleased that the department plans to recruit an Inuk Senior Justice of the Peace Officer, as this will incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to the court system and therefore making the court system work at the community level, especially where Inuit are concerned.
Mr. Chairman, members support the Akitsiraq Law School Program and its students, who are now participating in the "work experience" part of their program.
Members look forward to hearing more about the additional funding being provided to this program.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks, members were generally satisfied overall with the department’s progress, and I anticipate that individual members will raise their own comments and concerns on the department’s 2002-2003 Main Estimates.
Chairperson (interpretation): There is a motion on the floor and it’s non-debatable.
We can ascertain the presence of the Speaker.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 6 and the Main Estimates and would like to report progress.
Is there a seconder for the motion?
The motion is carried Mr. Kilabuk.
Meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Education at 4.15 today in the Nanuq Room and tomorrow afternoon meeting of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development at half past one in the Tuktu Room.
Orders of the day for Monday May 13, 2002:
Motion 005 – 1(6)
Motion 006 – 1(6)
This House stands adjourned until Monday May 13 at 10 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 3.50 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Monday May 13, 2002
Pages 774 - 888
Opening Prayer 774
Ministers’ Statements 774
Members’ Statements 777
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 782
Oral Questions 783
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 795
Tabling of Documents 795
Motions 796
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 801
Report of Committee of the Whole 886
Orders of the Day 886
Monday May 13, 2002 774
034 – 1(6): Update to Tabled Education Act (Kilabuk) 774
035 – 1(6): Official Opening of Kitikmeot Heritage Centre (Anawak) 776
036 – 1(6): Opening of the Kiilinik High School (Kilabuk) 776
037 – 1(6): National Immunization Awareness Week: May 12 – 18, 2002 (Picco) 777
131 – 1(6): Official Opening of the Kiilinik High School (Ng) 778
132 – 1(6): Comments Made on the Education Act (Tootoo) 778
133 – 1(6): Decentralization (Havioyak) 779
134 – 1(6): Negotiation and Creation of Nunavut (Anawak) 780
135 – 1(6): Governor General Visits Repulse Bay (Alakannuark) 781
136 – 1(6): Rankin Inlet Hospital (Thompson) 781
156 – 1(6): Ruled Out of Order (Alakannuark) 783
157 – 1(6): Negotiation of Block Funding for Iqaluit (Tootoo) 783
158 – 1(6): Award of Kitikmeot Boarding Home Contract (Havioyak) 785
159 – 1(6): Arctic Bay Airport Terminal (Williams) 787
160 – 1(6): Increasing Ceiling on Local Purchase Authority (McLean) 789
161 – 1(6): Staff Housing Shortage for Arctic Bay Teachers (Williams) 791
162 – 1(6): Funding for Arena in Kugluktuk (Havioyak) 792
163 – 1(6): Encouraging Students to Consider Civil Service Careers (McLean) 793
164 – 1(6): Analysis of Moving Nanisivik Houses to Arctic Bay (Tootoo) 794
Report 001 – 1(6): Ajauqtiit Review of Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act (Alakannuaq) 795
023 – 1(6): Motion to Replace Bad Gasoline (Alakannuark) 795
024 – 1(6): Package Supporting Bill 1, Education Act (Kilabuk) 795
005 – 1(6): Strengthening Support for Our Students (Arvaluk) 796
006 – 1(6): Gjoa Haven Gasoline Study (McLean) 800
Bill 6 – Appropriation Act 2002-2003 – Consideration in Committee 801
Bill 10 – An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act – Consideration in Committee 841
Bill 11 – An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act – Consideration in Committee 885
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker: Ms. Thompson could you say the prayer please?
Speaker: Ullakkut, good morning, Mr. Premier, members.
Minister’s Statement 034 – 1(6): Update to Tabled Education Act
Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update to the House as to what has been done regarding Bill 1 and give a brief overview to avoid confusion in the process.
First let me stress that Bill 1 is not a revision of the NWT Education Act.
That Act was used as a starting point but Bill 1 is a new Act.
The extensive work on drafting the Bill at each step makes it almost impossible to directly compare the two acts.
In fact there are not two Acts but four; the NWT Act, two drafts of the new Act and Bill 1.
There were a total of 18 internal versions dating from the start of drafting a new Act to the completion of Bill 1.
That process involved more than three thousand edits.
Because this is a new Act, in March I tabled an overview document which discussed the seven major sections.
In addition, as requested by the Standing Committee, that document identified significant changes to Bill 1, in comparison to previous legislation or previous versions of the new Act.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to review the key stages and documents in the process to develop a new Education Act.
In September 1999 a set of principles on which the new act was to be based were released to District Education Authorities and others for comment.
In December 1999, the first draft of the new Act was released.
Responses and reactions were requested and District Education Authorities were also asked to hold public meetings.
In May 2000, the second draft of the Act along with discussion papers was released to District Education Authorities and others and responses were again requested.
In September 2000, a joint working group co-chaired by Education and NTI, began consideration of the Act, held public meetings in each region and received submissions from the DEAs and others.
In January, 2001, the joint working group provided eighty-four recommendations for changes to the second draft of the Act based on their consultations.
In November, 2001, I tabled the report of the joint working group in the Legislature.
I also presented a discussion paper on DEA roles and responsibilities.
Both of these were distributed to all DEAs.
In March, 2002, Bill 1 was introduced into the Legislature.
On the same day I tabled a paper with a description of the major sections and the significant changes for education.
Shortly after Bill 1 was introduced, I wrote all DEAs and provided them the overview document and a contact name and number if they had questions about Bill 1.
Mr. Speaker, this process had taken two and a half years.
After substantial discussion and revision we have a new Education Act for consideration by this Legislature.
The focus of our discussion should be on Bill 1, what it says and what it means, not on past history.
Mr. Speaker, later today I will table the following documents:
A review of the steps in the Education Act consultation process;
A copy of the Education Act update tabled in the Legislature last November.
That included the Joint Working Group recommendations and my response and a discussion paper on District Education Authority responsibilities;
A copy of the Education Act overview, previously tabled in March that identifies significant changes in Bill 1 in comparison to previous legislation or previous versions of the new act;
Finally, I am providing a new document that addresses a number of issues raised over the past several weeks about Bill 1.
I think DEAs will find this last document particularly useful when reviewing the new act.
Mr. Speaker, Bill 1 is an act for all communities in Nunavut.
It must serve the needs of all students and all schools.
If DEAs and others want to recommend changes, the Standing Committee will receive their input.
I am sure that their recommendations will contribute to legislation that reflects the needs and interests of all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 035 – 1(6): Official Opening of Kitikmeot Heritage Centre
It is with great pleasure that I rise today to talk about the opening of the Kitikmeot Heritage Centre which took place in Cambridge Bay on May 12.
I would like to thank the member from Cambridge Bay for the hospitality extended to us on our short stay there this past weekend.
The people of Cambridge Bay, through leadership provided by their elders, have been strong advocates for the preservation and the promotion of the Kitikmeot Region’s rich cultural heritage.
Through the work of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society, and through partnerships with community, government and educational institutions, the language, culture and traditions of the Kitikmeot have been documented in many forms, including film documentaries, books, and art exhibits.
Mr. Speaker, because these materials are invaluable educational resources, it is very fitting that the heritage centre be located within Cambridge Bay’s new high school.
Knowledge of Inuit cultural traditions is an essential part of the education of our youth, and locating the heritage centre within the school reinforces the bonds between education and culture.
It also provides a setting for the transfer of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit between elders and youth, and the revitalization of Inuinnaqtun.
The heritage centre will serve as a source of pride in Inuit heritage, and as a source of inspiration and confidence for our youth.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is a proud supporter of the Kitikmeot Heritage Centre, and I know that all members join me in extending congratulations and best wishes to the community and to the region on the success of this initiative.
Are there any further Ministers' Statements?
Minister’s Statement 036 – 1(6): Opening of the Kiilinik High School
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: I rise today to note the very happy event that took place in Cambridge Bay yesterday.
I was privileged to be at the official opening of the Kiilinik High School.
This event represents the reality of many dreams following the tragic fire that destroyed the previous school.
The opening was particularly significant because of the presence of Her Excellency, the Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
Her presence, along with that of the Premier, MLA Minister Ng, Hamlet officials, and distinguished elders from Cambridge Bay, showed the importance of this event for the community.
Mr. Speaker, the new facility, combines space for students with spaces for the heritage and culture needs of the community.
That combination makes it a special place.
The direct contribution of CLEY, the Hamlet, and the Heritage Society to the construction made all of this possible, not only that Mr. Speaker, the elders had a large role to play in the design of this facility.
The opening was a joyous event shared by the entire community.
I was delighted to be there and know that this excellent new facility will we serve the needs of Cambridge Bay for many years to come.
Speaker: Minister’s Statements.
Minister’s Statement 037 – 1(6): National Immunization Awareness Week: May 12 – 18, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the week of May 12-18th is National Immunization Week.
It is a fitting time for me to announce that we are adding an important vaccine called Prevnar to our immunization program in Nunavut.
Prevnar is a vaccine that can be administered to very young children and helps to prevent pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and ear infections; the sort of diseases which if left untreated or Mr. Speaker, undetected can lead to hearing loss, speech delays, learning disabilities, paralysis, brain damage and death.  Mr. Speaker, Prevnar is not cheap Mr. Speaker, but it has been determined that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the costs.
There are many people in many countries that still live in fear of the world’s highly contagious, sometimes fatal diseases. But we live in a country and a territory where immunization programs, from birth through old age, are recognised as an important part of an active illness prevention program. We are very fortunate today to have access to so many valuable vaccines.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognising this week as National Immunization Week. I encourage Nunavummiut to visit their community Heath Centres to get information as well as guidance, on the appropriate immunizations that will keep our families healthy and free of avoidable illness.
Member’s Statement 131 – 1(6): Official Opening of the Kiilinik High School
Mr. Speaker, as a few of my colleagues have mentioned, yesterday evening was the official opening ceremonies for the Kiilinik High School and the May Hakogak Community Library and Cultural Centre.
It was almost five years from the tragic, from the date of the tragic fire in Cambridge Bay that this new facility held its official opening.
We had her Excellency, the Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul participate as part of their Western Nunavut Tour.
Also, Premier Okalik, Ministers Kilabuk, Anawak and I had the opportunity to participate along with an excellent turn out from the community.
Hundreds of elders, youth and residents turned out to witness the event.
I’d like to thank, on behalf of my constituents, her Excellency, the Premier and my cabinet colleagues for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in these ceremonies.
Their presence at these ceremonies will leave a lasting, positive impression on the community for years and decades to come.
I also want to thank members of this Assembly for passing the funding for the construction of the new facility.
As you know, there was some controversy surrounding that, when the debate took place in this House.
But in the end, I think we all should be proud of the fact that the results are the establishment of a beautiful new facility that will serve our youth, our elders, the community residents and visitors to the community for years and decades to come.
Member’s Statement 132 – 1(6): Comments Made on the Education Act
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my concern about the comments made in this House last week by the Minister of Education regarding the issue of the proposed new Education Act.
Mr. Speaker, one of the responsibilities that all members have is to convey the views of their constituents to the government.
At times we may not necessarily agree with every opinion expressed by our constituents.
But this should not stop us from doing our jobs as their representatives.
Mr. Speaker, when I was asked to table a letter from the Iqaluit District Education Authority to the parents in this community, I was pleased to do so.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that there are issues in the proposed Education Act that are causing discomfort.
What concerns me is the manner in which the minister dismissed the District Education Authority’s concerns as though they were wholly without merit.
Mr. Speaker, reasonable people have reasonable differences of opinion on issues and I find it unacceptable when an elected community based organization has their concerns treated in a disrespectful manner.
Mr. Speaker, I do hope that when communities raise concerns on this, or any other issue, that they will get a fair and respectful hearing and at least the courtesy of a direct reply.
Speaker: Members' Statements. Mr. Havioyak.
Member’s Statement 133 – 1(6): Decentralization
I rise today to discuss the issue of decentralization.
Last week, members were pleased to see the government table the first major evaluation of the decentralization initiative.
The report contains of a lot of food for thought.
In fact Mr. Speaker, some of the recommendations echoed what members of this House have been saying for some time with respect to like performance measurement and collecting better human resource information.
However, Mr. Speaker, I was concerned with one section of the report that questioned the decentralization of Department of Health and Social Services to the community of Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, Kugluktuk has always been an enthusiastic supporter of decentralization.
As one of the western communities, we are acutely sensitive to the distance between the Kitikmeot and the capital.
An on the ground Government of Nunavut presence is important to my community.
Mr. Speaker, all members recognize that nothing ever works perfectly.
I want to suggest to the government that in the example of Kugluktuk we need the following things.
First, we need committed departmental leadership that is not reluctant to spend the time in the community itself.
Leadership must be visible in order to be credible.
Secondly, we need more trainee positions.
We need to provide more opportunities for residents to gain skills while on the job.
Thirdly, we need to address the staff housing shortage in the decentralized communities.
Mr. Speaker, the bottom line for me is that a great commitment has been made to communities like Kugluktuk.
We cannot back away now and take positions away from the communities and put them back into Iqaluit.
If the original structure was inappropriate to the community, we need to replace them with the other positions.
Mr. Speaker, later today I’ll be asking the minister responsible about this issue.
Speaker: Members' Statements. Mr. Anawak.
Member’s Statement 134 – 1(6): Negotiation and Creation of Nunavut
I am understandably stressed by this issue that I will be raising.
When we started on the road to Nunavut and we started the Land Claim process there were several northern groups who started negotiating these land claims.
Some of the negotiations were in relation to programs held by the GNWT and I don’t agree with some of the clauses that were negotiated, especially related to culture and language.
Since 1997, I was appointed to work on this Nunavut issue and to plan the future setup.
I had created a poster of two little girls, Qallunaaq and Inuk, to indicate what our vision of the future Nunavut government was and what we planned to do in the future using the Inuit culture. We wanted to place Inuit culture first or the Inuit first but it was to be a government for the people and programs would be designed for the Inuit based on the factors affecting the Inuit in the communities.
As a government, we need to be aware of the needs of our communities and the members are aware of these concerns, but whether that awareness percolates down into the bureaucracy is another matter, so we have to make sure that we continue to express these concerns.
The government bureaucracy has to reflect the concerns of the communities, even down to the last concern voiced by the residents.
We need to have good communication with the public to make sure our officials are listening to the people of Nunavut.