EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Last year’s Apprenticeship Program Review that looked at models and opportunities that would enhance our services;
Facilitaties reviews that evaluated current and potential sites for trades and occupational training across Nunavut; and
A new career development officer for Kugluktuk who started in January.
It is our hope that those unemployed, under-employed or at risk of losing their job will benefit from the Employment Readiness Centre. They will be able to access a range of services, in English, French and Inuktitut, including:
Information about the labour market to help them plan their job search strategy
Access to computers and printers for resumé writing, writing samples and letters  Assistance with completing forms and job applications, and
Training – for groups or individuals - in resumé writing, job search techniques, interview skills, and job maintenance.
It is a government priority to support continuing learning.
Pre-employment programs and the use of partnerships to meet the ever-increasing demand for education and training are specific objectives in Pinasuaqtavut.
Member's Statement 211–2(2): Apologies to Member for Nattilik
I rise today to offer to this House my sincere apologies for my conduct this past Friday.
During a break in the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, I made comments to the Honourable Member for Nattilik which were unacceptable in content and tone.
Mr. Speaker, I unreservedly apologize to the Member, to you and to all Members for this.
I’ve always said that one must be prepared to come clean and take responsibility for one’s actions.
In this case, in the heat of debate and in a moment of frustration, I made some assumptions about the minister’s manner towards me as a member during our proceedings earlier that day.
As you know, I have never been reluctant to pose tough questions to the government.
While I certainly expect ministers to respond vigorously and with conviction, I also expect them to respect the right and duty of Members on this side of the House to pose them without fear.
I want to reaffirm my personal respect for this minister.
She has a tough job to do, and inherited some particularly challenging problems.
For my part, I can’t promise that I won’t be a thorn in her side from time to time, but this will be done in the spirit of respect.
Again, I apologize to the member, to you, to all the members here and anyone else, who overheard those comments on Friday, they were unacceptable and uncalled for, and I sincerely apologize for them.
Member's Statement 212–2(2): Acceptance of Apology
I would like to raise a point of privilege.
Mr. Speaker, I have listened carefully to the statement made by the Member for Iqaluit Centre with respect to the incident that occurred in the Chamber last Friday.
Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to accept the member’s statement at face value, and accept his apology.
Mr. Speaker, Members of this Legislative Assembly were elected by their constituents to represent them in this House.
Our constituents expect us to set an example in our personal conduct to accord one another with respect inside and outside of this chamber, and to approach our responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism.
It’s absolutely vital that no member is subject to threats, intimidations, or verbal abuse, and none of us employ those tactics.
This is something I am committed to and which I will fulfill.
Although I don’t consider this as a point of privilege, the member’s words have been heard very clearly.
Member's Statement 213–2(2): Elders’ Meeting in Iqaluit
I rise today not just to hear from the elders that were brought over here to Iqaluit for a meeting.
I know that there’s going to be some resolutions that comes out of those elders that came here to have a meeting, and I am sure that they will help us out.
I am very happy that it seems like all of the elders are here today in Iqaluit, and I have known some of them for a long, long time from the time I worked for the government in the 60’s.
Some of them used to be community counselors.
Even though they are elders now, they are helping out the Government of Nunavut, and I would like them to be shown respect when they come into this House and around town.
All of the time that they have been living, they have helped us quite a bit as a Government of Nunavut.
I am happy to say that I would like to relay this message to the members.
Member's Statement 214–2(2): Canada’s National Winter Sport - Kugluktuk Grizzlies
I rise today in regards to Canada’s national summer sports.
Yesterday, many of my colleagues stood in this House and talked about our national winter sport, hockey.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am speaking about the sport of lacrosse, the Kugluktuk Grizzlies Lacrosse Team was fortunate to be featured on a major United States sports television station, ESPN.
In June, the team will be sending three to five athletes to New Jersey area to play in-field lacrosse.
Many of those players will be scouted by the United States college.
Mr. Speaker, currently, the Kugluktuk Grizzlies are fundraising to attend the Field Lacrosse First Nations Cup National Under 19 Championship.
This championship will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on the Labour Day weekend.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Russ Shepherd, and the many others that act as volunteers in our community, we can show the youth how much we care about them by spending time with them.
Coaches across the territories invest and enlist hours of training, organizing events, and fundraising with little recognition.
I would like to ask the members to join with me in congratulating the Kugluktuk Grizzlies and wishing them the best of luck this season.
Member's Statement 215–2(2): Upcoming Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce Meeting
I rise today to inform the House about the upcoming meeting of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, which will take place in Rankin Inlet at the end of this month.
Earlier this season, I rose to inform members about this year’s Nunavut Mining Symposium, which will also be held in Rankin Inlet.
I would like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of there being a significant ministerial presence at this gathering.
Mr. Speaker, I will be in attendance at this meeting in order to hear the concerns and goals of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, there are very many important issues facing the business community in the Kivalliq Region today.
Mr. Speaker, it is very critical that we, as a government, hear directly from the business community about the issues facing them today.
I understand from statements in this House that the Government of Nunavut was well represented at the recent Kitikmeot Trades Show.
I understand that commitments were made to address such concerns as the need to reduce red tape an over-regulation, especially where the mining sector is concerned.
I want to see the same level of engagement with the Kivalliq Region.
Mr. Speaker, some of the issues facing the Kivalliq Region include the state of the marine transportation sector, ongoing concerns related to the annual dry goods and bulk fuel re-supply, the construction industry, the impact of the NNI Policy, and the need to make progress in the area of commercial meat and fish harvesting.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to welcoming members to Rankin Inlet at the end of this month.
There are no nays, please proceed Mr. Curley.
I thank the members.
I look forward to welcoming members to Rankin Inlet at the end of this month.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to see if anybody is going to put their hand up for coming to Rankin Inlet for the Mining Symposium.
Member's Statement 216–2(2): Health Centre Vehicles for the Elders
I rise today to draw your attention to yet another concern relating to the care provided for our elders.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, home care workers provide very good services to our elders by visiting them in their homes, but sometimes it’s necessary for elders to go to health centres for tests for treatment.
In the community of Arctic Bay, there’s no suitable transportation for elders with special needs, especially those who need to use wheelchairs.
Mr. Speaker, the vehicle that is used by Arctic Bay health centre staff is small, four-door utility vehicle.
It’s used by staff to do the home visits, and it’s used by maintenance workers to transport the tools and supplies.
It’s not adequate for transporting the elders with special needs.
Mr. Speaker, one of the elders in the community of Arctic Bay managed to get himself to the health center by going from his wheelchair to a four-wheeler and transporting himself.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Department of Health and Social Services to consider carefully the types of vehicles provided for the community health centers.
Vehicles should be capable of accommodating wheel chairs and other special needs.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I have raised our concerns on the issues of elder care a number of times in this house.
I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to take these concerns into consideration when preparing and brining forwards recommendations regarding services for elders in our communities.
Member's Statement 217–2(2): Territorial Junior Women’s Volleyball
I rise today not to talk about fisheries.
I was really proud during the weekend of the individuals who came to play junior women’s volleyball.
With respect to the territorial volleyball women’s championships, I would like to acknowledge the play of all contestants.
Qikiqtarjuaq came in third, Kimmirut came in second place.
And the first place team, which I was very pleased about, was the Panniqtuuq junior women’s volleyball team.
Mr. Speaker, their coach is very young, Angie Dialla, and I am very proud of her and also the team players, Lorna Lawson, Madeleine Lawson, Melanie Keenainak, Debbie Dialla, Rebecca Dialla, Christian Dialla and Annie Nakasuk.
I urge all the members and my colleagues to congratulate the players from Kugaruuk, Pond Inlet, Iqaluit and Gjoa Haven.
So, I would like to ask all my colleagues to congratulate the junior women’s volleyball teams.
Member's Statement 218–2(2): Concern on Contaminated Site
I rise today to express a concern that has been conveyed to me by many of my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, protecting our environment and keeping our land clean is an important priority.
Across Nunavut and the North, the issues of DEW line clean-ups and contaminated sites are well known.
However, we also need to pay attention to our own backyards. Mr. Speaker, both of the communities that I represent have concerns about the large amount of old equipment that has been abandoned nearby.
Cranes, heavy equipment and other objects are rusting away and leaking oil into the land.
Mr. Speaker, we need to make efforts to ensure that such equipment is properly removed and not just dumped on the land as garbage.
We have a responsibility to leave the land in good condition for the next generation.
Members' Statements. Mr. Peterson.
Member's Statement 219–2(2): Mining in the Kitikmeot
Mr. Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the issue of mining in the Kitikmeot Region.
I can only imagine the frustration that mining companies face trying to go through the regulatory process in Nunavut.
Earlier this session I talked about Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s newly published guidebook for exploration and mining on crown lands in Nunavut and the complexity of the flowcharts that are included in the book.
I was looking at them again yesterday and I counted 20 arrows Mr. Speaker in the general mining process chart.
One of these arrows points and directs the reader to yet another chart.
The Nunavut Water License process has at least 27 more areas.
That is a total of 54 possible steps and many of them require reviews by other bodies.
The flow charts really do look more like circuit diagrams.
They certainly don’t “flow” at all, in my opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I find it appropriate that arrows are drawn in red.
Those arrows represent all of the red tape that companies have to wade through prior to beginning construction in proposed mine sites.
I understand the need to balance the environmental concerns with economic development.
I also understand that the Department of Sustainable Development was divided into the Department of Environment and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation last March specifically in order to ensure that balance.
There were some situations that I don’t understand, Mr. Speaker.
While I do understand why the Department of Environment stalled the environmental assessment of Miramar’s Hope Bay project in July 2004, I do not understand why the Department of Economic Development didn’t speak on Miramar’s behalf.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, I asked the Premier what the government is doing to reduce red tape.
He informed the House that it will be a complicated process because institutions of public government are enshrined in the Land Claims Agreement.
In a January news release, the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation outlined three priorities to support the development of a strong and viable mining economy.
One of those priorities was to “work with the industry to streamline and clarify the approval processes while still maintaining the environmental and social economic requirements”.
Mr. Speaker, in February, despite overwhelming amounts of red tape, Miramar announced an increase in gold resources in the Madrid area at Hope Bay.
It’s good news because it could potentially mean a longer production life for the mine, and that means more jobs and contracts for Nunavutmiut in the Agreement in Principle, the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement between the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and Miramar.
This will help to improve Nunavut’s gross domestic product in the Kitikmeot economy.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage Miramar to continue cutting through the red tape.
I will be asking the minister questions on this issue at the appropriate time.
Member's Statement 220–2(2): Income from Sealskins
As I have previously stated in the House, I would rise up again in the House to talk about an issue.
Back when Europeans started coming to the north, Inuit were very receptive to the newcomers coming into the north, long before I was born.
I am very proud of those Inuit who welcomed these newcomers with open arms.
Mr. Speaker, today, we now hear about sealskin products and polar bear products being the concern of animal rights activists.
This hinders our economic development.
We know that if we don’t sell these goods, it’s going to have a negative impact on the families and their income.
Mr. Speaker, I am an animal rights activist, too in some ways, but we are hunters.
We hunt for subsistence to feed our family and the whole community.
Mr. Speaker, what I have seen on television had an impact on me personally.
When I see sports fishermen on television, and they just grab the fish by the mouth, that is literally abusing the animal.
Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to conclude by statement.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
When I watch sport fishermen on television, I feel for the animals because fish don’t breathe air.
Since I am a mammal, I can’t breathe in the water.
I would drown and die, likewise with the fish.
That is how I see the fish being abused.
For seal products and polar bear, I do not wish to see outsiders interfering with our lives because we need those animals for subsistence.
We use these animals daily for subsistence.
What I am trying to say, Mr. Speaker, is that I wouldn’t want to see the international community interfering with our wildlife, we should be managing our wildlife in our area.
Member's Statement 221–2(2): Congratulate Kugaaruk Municipality
I rise today to congratulate the Kugaaruk municipality.
I encourage all the members to congratulate them.
It has been two years ago since that municipality went into that deficit situation.
But, our current mayor and councilors and the SAO worked very hard to get out of the deficit situation.
It has only been approximately two years, and the municipality was able to get back to operate without debts.
I am very proud of the municipality that they are now up and running.
I would like to congratulate the mayor, the councilors and the SAO.
I encourage all the members to congratulate that municipality.
I am very pleased to see the Mayor of Kugaaruk, Canute Qiulak, sitting in the Gallery and his SAO, Mr. Johnson.
They worked very hard to get the municipality out of a deficit situation and I am very proud of them for making the municipality operate without debts.
Welcome to the Gallery. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Arreak.
I am very pleased to acknowledge these people: my wife, Martha, my daughter, Sally and the youngest one, Christie.
I am very pleased to see them here in the gallery.
I would like to acknowledge and welcome this individual sitting behind me, the mayor of Qamanittuaq, David Arsarniq.
I too would like to, along with my colleague, recognize the mayor of Kugaaruk.
I have known him for many years.
He is a very hard working mayor in the Kitikmeot region, he is one of the hardest working mayors I know.
I would also like to recognize Mr. Ellword Johnson, the SAO.
He was my SAO for three years when I was the mayor of Cambridge Bay, and taught me everything I know about municipal finances.
I’m sure Mr. Kilabuk is appreciative of all that.
So, I would like to welcome the two gentlemen to the House today.
I would like acknowledge a very handsome individual who is in the CBC booth.
We now have lost a very invaluable person who speaks Inuktitut and English.
He can speak Arviarmiut dialect.
Please welcome him, he is now working with CBC.
And also David Arsarniq, I know you’ll give him a hand.
He took over when I was the chair of KWB.
He is now the chair of KWB, David is number 2.
Question 281 – 2(2): Compensation for Fishermen
I would like to direct my question to the minister responsible for fisheries, maybe the department of environment.
I would like to ask: in the North we live in very cold weather and when they lose their equipment in the spring and summer… . That is the situation right now in Panniqtuuq, where they lost all their gear.
Can the minister inform us if those fishermen will receive compensation and what kind of compensation they will get for losing all their fishing equipment and their fishing shacks.
Will you be able to assist them?
From the Department of Environment, for one individual, we can only compensate fishermen and hunters up to $4,500 for lost equipment.
The others would have to go through economic development.
From our department, they can usually qualify for $4,500 for equipment that is lost.
I am pretty sure that the minister is quite aware that if you were offered that much from the Financial Management Board, I think you would flatly refuse because that cannot buy very many things.
Those fishermen lost all their equipment and in our communities, a lot of times they lose boats or canoes or outboard motors.
That $4,500 is even too small to use it as a down payment.
I wonder if the minister can advise this House: when the energy corporation is short of funding, they ask the Legislative Assembly for assistance; I wonder if you will be able to consult with your cabinet colleagues to discuss this.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, I am sure that we will be able to discuss this.
I am quite confident that I can have a positive discussion with my Economic Development colleague to assist those fishermen or hunters, not just for the people from Panniqtuuq.
I will look into how we can improve our assistance to hunters and how they can get insurance for their capital assets, for their boats and snowmobiles.
We will also definitely have to look at this in the future, as a government, how we can assist those hunters.
Perhaps if they had insurance, it would have been easier to replace the equipment that they had lost.
I am pretty sure the minister knows that the licences are not sufficient, and that the insurance the minister mentions cannot be used for losses offshore.
The only way is to provide funds from the government, as a special emergency.
There are always contingency funds within the government.
I wonder if they would be able to take some money from that fund, because we know the money that they would have earned is lost now.
This will not have to be just discussed, this will have to be resolved and this will have to be treated as an emergency matter.
Will you be able to consult with your cabinet colleagues on the seriousness and the urgency of this matter?
Yes, I will be dealing with this matter.
Question 282 – 2(2): Listing of Leased Properties
For a long time now we have called upon the Government of Nunavut to table the comprehensive listing of lease properties.
I have often said the government knows that information such as this is eventually going to see the light of day and is much less likely to enter into deals that are bad value for public money.
The document that the minister tabled on Friday revealed only half the story.
Although we know some information, we do not know everything yet.
Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the list, one particular lease jumped out at me.
The single most expensive lease on the list is a 20-year lease in Cambridge Bay that is valued at $1.2 million a year.
This is a 20-year lease that works out to about a little over $22 million over the life of the lease.
We build health centres and schools for much less than that.
My first question to the minister is, what building is this lease for and will we own it at the end of the lease?
In response to my colleague’s question, the members can appreciate the number of contracts and leases and the long list contained in the documents tabled.
I am going to commit to providing the additional information to my colleague, as I must apologize I do not have the details of the contents of the listings in front of me.
But the other information my colleague inquires about on this, I would be more than prepared to meet with my colleague and discuss this and other issues or matters that he would like to raise questions on.
I can appreciate the minister not having all of the details in front of him; it was a pretty comprehensive list.
Like he said, he is going to look into it and I would like to ask him, while he is looking at it, if he could inform us when this lease began and when the lease will end, and also get an indication… .  As I said, we can build a new building for much less than $22 million, and I would like to ask him if he could put in there some kind of a statement.
I know the Auditor General, in one of her previous reports, had indicated that we need to look at getting value for money on these leases, and if he could indicate what analysis was done, and if the department feels that we are getting value for money on this lease.
I will commit to providing that and those to my colleague.
Question 283 – 2(2): Fencing for the Coral Harbour Airport
My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Earlier this year, the Minister of Education and I were at the airport in Coral Harbour, getting ready to fly to Chesterfield Inlet.
There was a caribou on the runway, Mr. Speaker, and the airport personnel had to chase it off before we were able to take off.
This was a very dangerous situation that could have resulted in tragedy and I am sure the residents of Iqaluit East are in no hurry to vote again so soon after the territory election.
Mr. Speaker, there is no fencing along the airport runway or the apron in Coral Harbour.
There have been many incidents with caribou entering the area and posing a danger to aircraft.
My question is this: does his department have a standard policy for safety at Nunavut airports when it comes to such things as fencing?
Yes, we have checked into this in Transportation, but looking at the navigational rules and regulations, there’s no requirement. There’s no compulsory requirement, but I have thought about this.
At this time, we can’t really do too much, because for one airstrip it would cost over $220,000. But at this time, we are still exploring how we can start this.