EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
On August 21, CCME will meet in Iqaluit to discuss a cross-section of these important issues, including waste reduction and management strategies, as well as water and air quality management systems. Those are all the important issues that will be covered.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut has benefited greatly from our membership and participation in CCME.
In fact, many of our environmental standards are based in part on standards developed through our collaboration with other Canadian jurisdictions through CCME.
I look forward to participating in this important meeting.
Minister’s Statement 298 – 3(3): Baffinland Work Readiness Training (Ell)
I rise today to inform my colleagues about a joint Baffinland-GN initiative to prepare Nunavummiut to take advantage of employment opportunities at the Mary River mine.
In 2012-13, our colleagues in the Department of Education collaborated with Baffinland and other partners to develop the Work Readiness Pilot program which was designed to help Inuit living in North Baffin communities prepare for employment opportunities at a large mine site.
This pilot was run in Clyde River, Pond Inlet, and Igloolik and in total, 45 participants successfully completed the training.
Due to the success of the pilot, the Department of Family Services has agreed to sponsor five more of these courses in 2013-14.
This could lead to up to 250 graduates who will be given priority for positions with Baffinland or its subcontractors.
Minister’s Statement 299 – 3(3): NHC Receives $100 Million in Federal Government Funding (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, as we all learned on March 21 of this year, the federal government announced its intention to provide $100 million in new funding for additional housing in Nunavut through the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation as part of its proposed 2013-14 budget.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation was pleased and is still pleased with this announcement. Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is committed to maximizing the quantity of housing it can provide to Nunavummiut while ensuring a fair allocation of units to communities by addressing those with the greatest needs first.
The method developed by the Nunavut Housing Corporation is based on the same needs-based approach used recently to allocate the $8 million in Government of Nunavut funds for the 2013-14 construction season in Arviat and Clyde River.
This method uses the data from the 2010 Nunavut Housing Needs Survey for overcrowding and calculates the community allocation ranking by using the wait list as proportion of public housing stock.
In other words, Mr. Speaker, this method measures how big is the wait list compared to how many public housing units there are in the community.
Using the wait list alone would result in only the largest communities being served.
This methodology ensures that units are allocated fairly.
By also including community-specific construction costs and taking into consideration community capacity to absorb additional construction, the approved unit allocation methodology ensures we maximize the impact of this additional investment by the federal government on Nunavut’s housing crisis.
This is a critical point, Mr. Speaker. It is imperative that we maximize the number of units built with this additional funding.
Building on the lessons learned from the Nunavut Housing Trust and Canada Economic Action Plan initiatives, the Nunavut Housing Corporation has consulted with the Department of Community and Government Services and the Qulliq Energy Corporation to make sure the targeted communities have adequate capacity with regard to power generation and distribution; fuel tank farms; water reservoir and delivery capacity; and of course, land availability. Additionally, consideration has also been given to population growth and economic development pressures faced by communities.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s approved allocation methodology is designed to give the corporation greater flexibility in the face of bid prices received, land prices, and other unexpected factors that would impact the number of units being delivered.
As such, depending on all of these factors, the preliminary community allocation list for a proposed initial 210 units is subject to change.
With this in mind, the preliminary allocation in order of wait list rank is as follows:
Iqaluit – 30 units
Repulse Bay – 20 units
Arviat – 30 units
Clyde River – 20 units
Coral Harbour – 10 units
Kugluktuk – 20 units
Baker Lake – 30 units
Rankin Inlet – 20 units
Whale Cove – 5 units
Taloyoak – 10 units
Cambridge Bay – 10 units
Igloolik – 5 units
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is currently negotiating an agreement with CMHC for the $100 million that will support this need for flexibility.
However, Mr. Speaker, no agreement can be signed until the federal budget is passed in the House of Commons at the end of June.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, please allow me to restate that the Nunavut Housing Corporation, as an arm’s-length territorial corporation, is committed to implementing a competitive approach to maximize value for money and will allocate housing based on the principles of fairness and greatest need.
Member’s Statement 503 – 3(3): Mental Health and Wellness (Aupaluktuq)
I am very pleased to hear that we’re going to get more housing.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, on a more serious note, I rise today to talk about the fundamental importance of mental health and wellness.
Mr. Speaker, holistic approaches to health and healing require that we provide care for both the body and the mind.
That is why I have been a strong supporter of programs and services to address mental health and wellness.
Mr. Speaker, it is widely acknowledged and recognized that the effects of substance abuse and sexual abuse are two factors that impact negatively on mental health and wellness.
Mr. Speaker, it is also widely acknowledged and recognized that these factors contribute to our territory’s tragically high rate of suicide.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to pay tribute to the work of such organizations as the Embrace Life Council, which is on the front lines in the struggle against suicide.
Mr. Speaker, as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Baker Lake, I am committed to working to ensure that the government moves forward on these issues.
Mr. Speaker, one of the commitments in the government’s Tamapta Action Plan is to “open a culturally-relevant substance abuse treatment facility and support the expansion of community-based programs to provide both preventative services and aftercare for those who receive focused treatment outside of their communities.”
The Department of Health’s current business plan indicates that some of its ongoing priorities are to review the territorial Mental Health Act, “Establish a culturally relevant pilot [program] for addictions treatment,” and develop an implementation plan for the Nunavut Addictions and Mental Health Framework.
Mr. Speaker, these are important initiatives. As MLAs, it is incumbent on us to help ensure that they are successful.
Member’s Statement 504 – 3(3): Hamlet of Arviat’s Programs to Enhance Employment (Shewchuk)
It is with great pleasure that I rise in the House today to acknowledge the training and employment programs being done in the Hamlet of Arviat, which I have the pleasure of representing in this Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Arviat is continuing to develop its training programs targeted at helping Arviarmiut gain employment locally and across the territory, especially in the mining industry.
This year, the hamlet will continue to offer its successful surface diamond driller assistant program and facilitate a class 3 driver training course. The hamlet has also recently partnered up with the John Arnalukjuaq High School to begin offering class 5 driver training to high school students.
In addition to these programs, the Hamlet of Arviat has just begun a three-week readiness program. This program is designed to help Arviarmiut tackle employment opportunities and challenges, understand employer expectations, financial management, and help them develop soft skills, such as communication, goal setting, and conflict resolution, which will help them be successful in the workplace.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Arviat has also been working to develop a welder’s helper program that it intends to launch this fall. Modelled after the successful driller’s helper program, the welder’s helper program will expand the range of employment opportunities available to Arviarmiut.
Mr. Speaker, while the hamlet is the driving force behind these employment and training initiatives, I would like to acknowledge the support and partnerships that make these programs possible.
The Hamlet of Arviat works closely with the Government of Nunavut, especially the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, the Kivalliq Inuit Association, through Kivalliq Partners in Development, the Kivalliq Mine Training Society, Nunavut Arctic College, and most important is the mining industry.
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., in particular, has been a tremendous supporter of local training and employment in Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the community of Arviat and the Hamlet of Arviat, mayor, council, and staff on their achievements and thanking them for their continuing efforts to develop economic opportunities for Arviarmiut.
Member’s Statement 505 – 3(3): Congratulations to Daniel Kavik (Rumbolt)
Unlike my colleague from Baker Lake, I’m not too impressed with the minister of housing’s statement considering there’s no public housing going to some of the smaller communities.
However, Mr. Speaker, for my Member’s Statement today, I rise today to continue my theme of acknowledging and congratulating Sanikiluaq residents on their success in school and the education system as a whole.
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, Daniel Kavik will receive his graduation diploma from the two-year Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College here in Iqaluit.
Daniel’s graduation is an important achievement in his career.
He can use this experience to build his future and make his community proud.
Mr. Speaker, I have said many times that it takes the support and encouragement from parents and family members to help our graduates succeed. They too deserve congratulations for this achievement.
Member’s Statement 506 – 3(3): Upcoming Fishing Derby in Hall Beach and Igloolik (Tapardjuk)
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I send my condolences to the people who lost their immediate relatives last evening.
In my riding of Igloolik and Hall Beach, they’re now getting ready for the fishing derby being held this long weekend.
Mr. Speaker, things pass through our lives that are unpleasant, but it helps a lot to bring the families together to participate in such activities as fishing derbies.
It’s something that brings the families together and strengthens their foundation.
This year, the communities of Igloolik and Hall Beach are going to be competing against one another.
I’m sure that this activity will be good for the families. They’re now preparing to leave.
I wish them a safe journey, a very happy weekend, and a stronger foundation for their families and communities. I wish them success.
I hope to see that we set aside a family day some time in the future or possibly in the fall.
I’m sure we look forward to hearing all the fishing stories too.
Member’s Statement 507 – 3(3): The Need for Anti-bullying Programs in Schools (Ugyuk)
I am very glad that my husband will be coming in and I hope he gets welcomed by everyone.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the powerful words and feelings of a young woman from Taloyoak.
Mr. Speaker, Katherine Lyall is a grade 12 student at Netsilik School. She is working on a social studies project about the effects of bullying.
Her experience with bullying in her own school brought her to the conclusion that there is a very small chance that other schools are bully-free.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Lyall speaks about the need for an anti-bullying program to be included in the curriculum for Nunavut schools.
As with many uncomfortable topics, she suggests that the more we talk about bullying, the better able we will be to stand up to it.
Mr. Speaker, this young woman talks about how bullying, as a victim or as a bully, can lead to feelings of depression and other mental illnesses.
She speaks of how bullying can affect school work or even attendance.
She knows that the feelings created by bullying can push people to addiction.
When I read the words in this letter, I am touched.
I am also proud that a young person can look at the issue in this way and try to find solutions.
I agree that having an anti-bullying program or an anti-bullying curriculum across all of Nunavut’s schools could play an important role in improving the lives and success of Nunavut’s students.
I encourage the Minister of Education to work with her departmental officials to address bullying in our schools.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Katherine Lyall.
Member’s Statement 508 – 3(3): Another Successful Year for Arctic Bay’s 3045 Army Cadet (Elliott)
I rise today to acknowledge another successful training year for the 3045 Royal Regiment of Canada Army Cadets of Arctic Bay.
Mr. Speaker, the army cadets have been active in Arctic Bay since 1991. As members are aware, the Cadet Program is a national program for all youth ages 12 to 18 who want to participate in fun and challenging activities while making new friends.
The 3045 Army Cadet Corps held its annual inspection on April 10, 2013.
Special guests included Lieutenant Commander Suzanne Otchenash and Ranger Sergeant Samson Ejangiaq.
Mishak Allurut also helped with translation at the event.
At the inspection, the following awards were presented:
“Best Boots and Deportment” to Cadet James Reid;
“Most Improved Cadet” to Lance Corporal Alvena Natanine;
“Top Cadet” to Sergeant Andrew Reid;
“Top Male Athlete” to Lance Corporal Jesse Olayuk;
“Top Female Cadet” to Cadet Olivia Qamanirq;
“Long Service Award” to Sergeant Caroline Pauloosie for four years service; and
“Long Service Award” to Warrant Officer Bruno Attagutsiak and Warrant Officer Leslie Oyukuluk for seven years of service in the Cadet Program.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to formally thank Arctic Bay’s army cadet staff for their dedication and hard work over the past year.
I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Lieutenant Frank May, Commanding Officer, Civilian Instructor Mickey Iqaqrialu, Civilian Instructor Irene Swoboda, and volunteers Adrian Dzioba, Tom Naqitarvik, Sean Mulhearn, Amber Smith, Barb Hamenjuk, Jennifer Pauloosie, and Darlene Alooloo.
I encourage all members to join me in congratulating Arctic Bay’s 3045 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps on another successful year.
Member’s Statement 509 – 3(3): 2013 High School Graduates of Qikiqtarjuaq (Arreak)
I rise today to express my pride in students who will be graduating in Qikiqtarjuaq.
I want my colleagues in this House to join me in congratulating the following students:
Jenny Mosesie
Karen Kooneeliusie
Vicky Kooneeliusie
Ronald Kownirk
Sarah Audlakiak
Marissa Kuniliusie
They are the upcoming graduates in Qikiqtarjuaq and their graduation ceremony will be held on June 6. For those people able to attend this ceremony, I encourage them to travel to Qikiqtarjuaq.
This is the largest graduating class in Qikiqtarjuaq as it is one of the smaller communities.
I am extremely proud of their accomplishment, and they will now serve as role models for the youth in the lower grades.
Member’s Statement 510 – 3(3): Appreciation to Pangnirtung Hunters (Oshutapik)
Good afternoon wishes to my constituents that I unfortunately left behind.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my pride in all hunters throughout Nunavut, as they still go on the land during the cold of winter.
Although we are progressing towards springtime, people continue to go hunting and they never stop in their activities. It is getting quite late in the spring and these hunters will soon be going out with their family members.
This is also an activity I wish to acknowledge as beneficial, especially with the warmer temperatures we are experiencing, as that is our usual practice.
Mr. Speaker, our community hunters are largely ignored in this House. Although we are greatly appreciative of them, we rarely make any mention of their importance.
So I want to specifically mention our hunters as they provide invaluable food resources to us, their fellow community residents, and the harvested foods are greatly enjoyed by our people.
Mr. Speaker, in the beginning of this spring, I would like to congratulate these individuals from my community of Pangnirtung.
I want to inform the members that they have a difficult time due to the mountains they have to travel by and they have problems with warm weather and water in their path, but they still go ahead and drive their snowmobiles.
I would like to ask my colleagues to congratulate the hunters as well. As we recently had ice melting in our area of the sea ice, they have a difficult time hunting for food.
Even though that’s the case, they don’t give up and continue to go hunting out on the land and provide food for the people of Pangnirtung. Let us congratulate all the people of Nunavut who go hunting to provide food for our families and communities.
Return to Oral Question 612 – 3(3): School Attendance Policy (Aariak)
The question was asked on the School Attendance Policy.
What is the average attendance across the territory and, if you have the numbers, will you commit to tabling it?
The Nunavut public school attendance rates are available on the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics’ website.
The rates are available by district, gender and grade, and region.
You can also get the information by going to (interpretation ends) www.stats.gov.nu.ca.
Mr. Speaker, the average attendance rate in Nunavut for 2010-11 was 70.3 percent.
Over 12 years in school, this is equivalent of missing close to three years, unfortunately.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that attendance is a team effort.
As part of our efforts to improve attendance and community engagement about education, the Department of Education is starting a promotional campaign with the theme: Parents Motivate, Students Participate, Together we can Graduate!
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Shewchuk.
I rise today in privilege to recognize three people in the Gallery today in attendance and I would ask them to stand when I call their names.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the new Assistant Deputy Minister and Attorney General for the Department of Justice, Andrew Campbell.
Andrew has been a lawyer for over 14 years and has lived and worked in Nunavut for 7 years.
Between 2005 and 2008, he worked in the GN Department of Justice.
Andrew joined Justice Canada’s Iqaluit office in 2008 and relocated to their Yellowknife office in 2012.
We welcomed Andrew back to the GN Department of Justice as of April this year.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Lindsey Brine.
Lindsey became the commanding officer of “V” division in Nunavut in January of 2013.
Commanding Officer Brine has previously served in Nunavut.
Lindsey has an outstanding career, including heading up a 4,000-member multinational police force in Haiti.
Prior to joining us in January of this year, Lindsey was a commanding officer at RCMP National Headquarters in Ottawa.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Don Halina.
Don is an RCMP officer in charge of the Kitikmeot region and also the support services in Nunavut.
Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Ningeongan.
At this time, I want my colleagues to join me in welcoming, if I were to say it in English, my better half. Please welcome Elizabeth, who is in Iqaluit, as well as my daughter Faith Ipiksaut, along with our grandchild who is also in the Gallery.
I have always wanted the opportunity to state her name.
Furthermore, Elizabeth and I will be enjoying tomorrow, as our daughter is taking the college foundation course. My daughter Faith will be graduating tomorrow.
I would like my colleagues to welcome my family members to the Gallery.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ningeongan. Welcome to the Gallery.
I would just like to welcome everyone else who is here to the Gallery.
I would also like to pay special recognition to one of our long-time interpreters, Michael Langenham.
It’s her 40th anniversary today, so happy anniversary, Michael.
Question 654 – 3(3): Tri-territorial Mental Wellness Initiatives (Aupaluktuq)
My questions are for the Premier, the Hon. Madam Eva Aariak.
In my Member’s Statement today, I spoke about the importance of mental health and wellness.
I was very pleased to note that the Premier’s communiqué from last week’s meeting of the three territories stated that, and I quote, “Premiers committed to working together to ensure that northerners have access to effective and timely mental wellness treatments.”
Can the Premier describe what specific mental wellness initiatives and treatments the three territories will be working together on?
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Aupaluktuq.
Mental wellness is an integral part of health for residents of all three territories and the circumpolar Arctic.
Premiers committed to working together to ensure that northerners have access to effective and timely mental wellness treatments.
Premiers also expressed support for the Arctic Council’s work on mental wellness and I very much hope that this will be a focus of Canada’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
Together, Mr. Speaker, northern premiers approached the Government of Canada about prioritizing suicide prevention during Canada’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
The Government of Canada responded positively on this priority.
The Kiruna Declaration released today by the Arctic Council Secretariat acknowledges that, and I quote, “…Arctic peoples are experiencing challenges associated with rapid socio-economic and environmental changes…undertake further work to improve and develop mental wellness promotion strategies…”
So I am happy to say that there are entities out there that are in support of what we are trying to achieve.
No doubt, the three territories and all the other Inuit circumpolar countries will be looking forward to this to be able to have these services enhanced to our communities.
Mr. Speaker, to follow up with a question in regard to the Premier indicating that there was support, can the Premier describe how the three territorial premiers are working together to obtain increased support from the federal government for mental health and wellness initiatives?
We had a very good meeting in regard to the three northern premiers, although I had to participate over the phone.
In terms of conflict of our issues to discuss, it was very good.
As you know, this is the beginning stages of this dialogue and I will be happy to keep the member informed as to what specific areas that we will be working on this issue.
I am very much encouraged that the Government of Canada, through the Arctic Council, will also be involved in that.
I would also appreciate if Madam Premier would also be able to update us in regard to how the federal government will be supporting this initiative.
Just to bridge it over, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask as well, the Premier’s communiqué from last week’s meeting of the three territories stated that, and I quote, “Premiers also expressed support for the Arctic Council’s work on mental wellness and hope that this will be a focus of Canada’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.”
Can the Premier describe what specific mental wellness initiatives of the Arctic Council will benefit Nunavummiut?
I very much look forward to identifying certain areas as we continue this dialogue and working together with the other two premiers of the territories.
Question 655 – 3(3): Ministers’ Travel Benefits (Schell)
On October 26, 2011, the Premier tabled a report respecting benefits paid to ministers under the Ministers Benefit Policy for the year ending March 31, 2011.
I look forward to the Premier tabling the next report for 2012-13 during our September sitting.