EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It’s many years of hard work and hard study to earn professional certifications and qualifications that are recognized nationally.
The commitment of people such as Roxanne to pursue success should be encouraged and supported.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating Roxanne Ruediger on her accomplishment.
Member’s Statement 126 – 4(3): 2016 Pangnirtung Fishery (Mike)
I also thank my colleagues. It is nice to see you all again. I wish to welcome our newest Member for Netsilik along with the visitors in the gallery.
In addition, I send greetings to our fellow Nunavummiut and in particular, my fellow residents in our community.
I rise today to make a statement as during our winter sessions, I generally speak to our local fisheries in Pangnirtung that operates seasonally fishing for turbot.
The season started on February 3 and yesterday, the landed catch for turbot was 107,000 lbs. processed in the plant. In particular, the fishermen take pride in their earnings and the total today earned by the fishermen is about $123,000.
With the local fish plant, the workers were not able to work long stretches, but today, we have 38 workers at the fish plant processing the fish.
I imagine that as the season progresses, they will add more workers.
Additionally, for fisheries outside of Pangnirtung, many fishers are currently offshore on the sea ice.
As the fishery just commenced, we currently have only 51 licensed turbot fishers who are fishing, but we anticipate upwards of 200 licensed fishers when the season is in full swing.
This is an important economic opportunity for our community as it allows people with limited income during the off-season to be able to depend on social assistance, but then when the season opens, their disposable income also increases. As the season opens, the numbers of clients have dropped accordingly.
This illustrates that the fishers aren’t just waiting for handouts, but to show the fishing sector in Pangnirtung is very important.
The community is currently enjoying a seasonal rise in sales, as both stores are selling their merchandise as well as providing disposable income to the people of Pangnirtung.
Member’s Statement 127 – 4(3): Hockey Canada Visits Kugluktuk (Taptuna)
Nunavut is proud of our hockey tradition.
Although it’s very gloomy these days, we are hoping that we can see a Canadian team in the playoffs.
Across Nunavut in our communities, in our arenas, on the frozen ponds, and in the community every day, you will find Nunavummiut skating and playing hockey and street hockey.
Mr. Speaker, when it is winter in Nunavut and you see kids outdoors playing street hockey at minus 30, you know that interest is high in hockey.
Mr. Speaker, we have old-timer leagues as well as organized programs for the very young to older players.
Annual hockey tournaments across Nunavut attract teams and fans of all ages.
Hockey today includes both boys and girls, men and women, and it’s truly something we can take pride in.
Mr. Speaker, earlier last week, Hockey Canada visited Kugluktuk.
They set up ice hockey clinics with our youth and helped deliver instructions on floorball hockey.
Mr. Speaker, it is not to be confused with traditional floor hockey.
Floorball hockey is played with a whistle, ball, and sticks used have a rounded shaft and a blade that sits higher off the floor or the playing surface. The rules are quite different too than ice hockey. Mr. Speaker, the unique factor of floorball hockey is that it can be played by all age groups and it does not cost a lot of money like regular ice hockey.
Mr. Speaker, having professionals from Hockey Canada in Kugluktuk was exciting and rewarding to all the youth that participated and the level of dedication and skills training provided were, of course, top notch.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Hamlet of Kugluktuk, the hamlet recreational staff and volunteers, and of course, Hockey Canada for delivering the program in Kugluktuk and we look forward to seeing them again in our community.
Member’s Statement 128 – 4(3): 50 Years of Inuit Art/Arctic Co-ops (Keyootak)
I rise today to make a statement. Mr. Speaker, firstly, I wish to welcome the newest Member for Netsilik, with whom we expect to develop a good working relationship.
As well, I send good afternoon greetings to my constituents in Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to an issue that has faced us for many years, as an anniversary was celebrated, the 50th year of the carving wholesaler based in Mississauga, Ontario.
This is a very important organization, especially in looking at it from a Co-op perspective, as it has allowed our northern member Co-ops to send their carvings for sale.
Mr. Speaker, this organization was instrumental in developing the market for crafts and in assisting its members over these 50 years. With this organization’s creation in 1965, it started out with 12 member Co-ops from our small communities. The communities were involved in the operations and they met with the federal government to develop the organization that would provide an end sales niche.
Mr. Speaker, the creation of this body to sell carvings has been a boon to many carvers, as well as our Co-ops that have worked hard for many years to develop the market, although not many have benefited.
The north back in the 1950s and 1960s was completely different compared to today’s north.
Many communities have benefited from this organization and many Inuit have benefited personally by increasing their income by selling their arts and crafts.
Mr. Speaker, the sales and showing of these carvings to the members has been a foundation for many communities in Nunavut. The Co-ops developed as a result.
All the art has identifying plastic tags that show that Inuit made it and that the income sent to Inuit… .
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Keyootak, you have run out of time.
Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
There are none. Please proceed, Mr. Keyootak.
Mr. Speaker, the sales and showing of the carvings to the membership has become a foundation for many communities, with Co-ops created to serve this niche of the sales of Inuit art and crafts that also mark the art as being Inuit-made.
This has resulted in income for many communities, both for economic development locally as well as to enlarge their local Co-ops.
Mr. Speaker, back in the days when members of the co-operative movement started, the Inuit saw the opening of economic opportunities by banding together as a local group and becoming a co-operative. The community leadership saw the opening of opportunities as local co-operatives started up in their communities. The co-operative movement has opened many doors since that time.
Back in 1965, many of these emerging local Co-ops met as a group for the first time and they created a northern co-operative movement, which is the Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.
They represent the northern Co-ops in both sales and purchases of northern arts.
Mr. Speaker, the latest co-operative initiatives haven’t received any financial assistance, especially for new artists and carvings.
Nonetheless, the co-operative movement in Canada was started with financial assistance from both ACL as well as from the federal government.
ACL has a mandate to increase their member Co-op sales as well as to show Inuit art in galleries.
Mr. Speaker, the co-operative movement has been very beneficial to Inuit, both in selling their wares as well as showing their art in galleries. They have also provided many benefits to communities, some reciprocal and others to show the changing of the Inuit culture and lifestyle here in Nunavut.
Returns to Oral Questions. (interpretation ends) Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Savikataaq.
Return to Oral Question 143 – 4(3): Vacant Positions in Arviat (Savikataaq)
Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am going to answer the question by the fine MLA from Arviat South on November 5.
That very fine, smart MLA asked the Minister of CGS a question.
The question was, “Ever since I have been elected, which has been two years now, the number of positions [in Arviat] is three.
The number of positions filled has always only been one or two and according to this, it is currently one.”
The MLA’s question was, “I would just like to ask the minister when he plans to have all three positions filled in Arviat.”
Of the three positions in Arviat, the supervisor and settlement maintainer are currently out for staff action. However, the department has not been successful in attracting a candidate.
The settlement maintainer position is filled by a casual while the incumbent is acting in the senior position.
The third position, IPS incumbent, is away on leave and Rankin Inlet staff is providing support service until the incumbent returns, and I believe he returned.
Mr. Speaker, that answer should be sufficient to satisfy the member to ask no more questions on the matter.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Returns to Oral Questions. Mr. Clerk.
Return to Oral Question 137 – 4(3): Update on Building 534 in Iqaluit (Clerk)
I am tabling the return to Oral Question No. 137 – 4(3), which was taken as notice during the November 5, 2015 sitting of the House.
I thank my colleagues for this.
*See Appendix for full text of Return to Oral Question 137 – 4(3).
Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the board of directors for ACL. As you know, there was a long Member’s Statement on that.
As I call your name, can you please stand up.
Mr. Rod Wilson, Mr. Glenn Williams, Mr. Peter Wilson, Mr. Jim Jones, Mr. Duane Wilson, Ms. Bev Cochrane, Mr. Mark Needham, Mr. Ikey Milton, Mr. Lucassie Arragutainaq, and of course, Mr. Speaker, you are very familiar with this person, this whole House is familiar with, as he has received the Nunavut Order, President Bill Lyall.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery. (interpretation) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Enook.
It is always a pleasure to be able to recognize people from one’s community and friends in the House.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my friend and member of the ACL board, Mr. Ikey Milton. Welcome.
I, too, would like to recognize someone from my riding in Cambridge Bay.
As was said many times in the past, we don’t very often get to see people from the Kitikmeot in the House.
I would like to welcome Mr. Bill Lyall to the visitors gallery.
As we all know and I know from my years living in Cambridge Bay, the Co-op in Cambridge Bay is synonymous with Bill.
He has done lots for the co-op movement in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and Cambridge Bay.
We are always very happy when we receive dividends at our Co-op.
Bill is also a former MLA for the western Kitikmeot way back in the ‘70s, I think, when I was just a little guy, before I became a politician.
Welcome to the gallery, Bill.
I also want to recognize this individual while he is in the gallery. I wish to welcome a resident of Sanikiluaq who I take great pride in as an individual.
Although he is not with ACL, he was involved in the creation of a booklet using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as the basis.
When he first started to tell the story, I looked into it and I started to feel my cultural identity as an Inuk grow since he was using the contents of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and he was well versed in the knowledge. That was a time of great satisfaction and I have continued to take pride in his accomplishments.
The person is Lucassie Arragutainaq, who I want warmly welcomed while he is in the gallery.
Question 148 – 4(3): Federal-Territorial Fiscal Priorities (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to everybody.
Last week, the federal Minister of Finance announced a partial restoration of funding to the three territories under the Territorial Formula Financing Agreement.
Can our minister indicate whether he is fully satisfied with the partial restoration of our funding?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Ms. Angnakak for asking that question.
Mr. Speaker, it’s no secret that Nunavut needs additional revenues from Ottawa. We have lobbied for many years to change the Territorial Formula [Financing] Agreement.
We were very shocked when we received a notice last December of a reduction of $34 million.
There was a lot of lobbying and a lot of work with our officials and Ottawa officials to restore the funding, which we got the word last week, to $26 million of the $34 million.
To say that I’m fully satisfied, no, I would like all the funding, but we’re going to continue to work on it.
I think Minister Morneau, the Minister of Finance for Canada, gave us assurance last December that he would work on it and he didn’t want to see the territories severely impacted by funding shortages.
Hopefully he will have good news the next time we sit.
There was a meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial finance ministers last December, and we know that the new federal government is currently undertaking its annual pre-budget consultations.
Can the minister tell us today what the response has been from his new federal counterpart regarding our government’s request for what I understand to be three-quarters of a billion dollars in investments for housing and the replacement of our aging power plants?
Mr. Speaker, I have met with Minister Morneau in Ottawa privately with my officials and some of his officials in December. I presented him with our two business cases.
One was for $525 million for housing over five years and the second was for $250 million for energy investments over five years.
He asked a number of questions; we provided answers. Our MP is aware and he is working with us and Ottawa.
Today, I have not heard any feedback one way or the other. That’s how it works when you’re lobbying the Government of Canada. They’re not going to tell you yes or no.
We’re going to wait until March 22 when we find out.
We have to keep in mind that there are ten provinces and three territories all lobbying for this money out of the same pot.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but we certainly made a strong case for Nunavut.
I hope that in the spring sitting, they will have very good news for us.
The three territorial finance ministers work together on a number of issues.
In response to a question that was asked in the NWT legislature concerning the issue of the Northern Residents Deduction, the premier publicly stated that the report of the territorial finance ministers on this issue noted that, and I quote, “…increasing the Northern Residents Deduction would decrease income tax revenues for federal, territorial and some provincial governments.
It would not benefit low-income families and would only benefit high-income northern taxpayers…at this time, we decided it was not in the best interest of our low-income families to pursue this.”
Can the minister confirm whether or not this is still his position on the issue?
I must apologize that I haven’t been following the Northwest Territories that closely.
Mr. Speaker, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Finance in January, I believe, asking him for an update on when they would introduce an increase to the Northern Residents Deduction.
I don’t think our government has any problems with an increase.
Question 149 – 4(3): Matching Adult Education to Labour Force Needs (Mikkungwak)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s Arctic College provides important training and certification programs for adults who wish to improve their employment opportunities.
However, it is important that the training provided actually matches the skills and certifications required to fill the jobs that are available.
Can the minister provide some clarification on how Nunavut Arctic College matches its program offerings to needs and vacancies identified within Nunavut’s labour force?
Training and particularly pre-employment training is something that is very important to us as a government, so it is a relevant question.
In all Nunavut communities, even before the CLCs opened, the adult educator would canvass the community at the beginning of a school year to see what kind of programs they would like to see offered in their community.
They have to consult the communities as to what kind of programs they want, which focus on filling available jobs in Nunavut. They consult the community on the type of programs they would like to see in their community learning centre in each individual community.
The adult educators have to do that prior to the beginning of the school year.
That is one aspect.
The other issue with respect to programs is whether they are going to be in the communities or in the larger regional centres, which we know as (interpretation ends) campuses, (interpretation) and the report submitted identifies the needs and which programs are most relevant that they want to offer.
Just to provide an example, in the Kivalliq region, in Rankin Inlet, the overall focus was on the mining sector positions and what types of positions the mining sector required.
That is how we deal with that centre.
We also collaborate with the mining companies in the Kivalliq region, such as the (interpretation ends) Agnico Eagle mine, (interpretation) and we are trying to emulate that here in the Baffin region.
We consult the sectors to see what positions are available and what type of training is best suited for them.
In addition, every year, we research new programs, such as new industries developing in Nunavut and that is how we try to meet our educational needs in our local CLCs.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, I recognize that certain programs are delivered at the regional campuses.
However, important training and education can also be delivered at the community level, as the minister indicated.
One of the goals of decentralization was to provide government jobs in Nunavut communities that are not regional centres.
Can the minister clarify how courses at Nunavut’s Arctic College’s community learning centres are planned and delivered to ensure that local residents receive the necessary training that will enable them to fill local GN decentralized jobs?
I also thank the member for that excellent question.
Arctic College provides different programs.
For example, we are currently reviewing the (interpretation ends) Sivuliqtiksat Internship Program, (interpretation) where we train individuals in leadership roles. This is one program.
Further, we are now offering certified accounting courses in financial management in the higher levels. We are trying to provide more courses within NAC.
The members are probably well aware that we also focus on health professional positions to train future nurses.
Just today, we reviewed the Nursing Program requirements and provided more resources to allow it to continue. This includes our training program for lawyers.
Another sector we are looking into is the community enforcement sector, primarily (interpretation ends) by-law officers (interpretation) who work in enforcement, and how we can offer more courses such as that. This is what we are trying to do now.
We are looking at focusing on new programs because we would like to hire more Inuit at the community level.
That is what we do at Nunavut Arctic College.
Will the minister commit to ensuring that the appropriate courses and programming are delivered by Nunavut Arctic College in Nunavut’s decentralized communities to give long-term residents the opportunity to meet the requirements to fill GN vacant positions in their home communities?
I thank my colleague for reiterating this.
Yes, almost all the communities have community learning centres, but there is one community lacking a facility as they are working on it, but all the other communities have learning centres and they have different programs and courses.
For instance, what he said about the decentralized communities, they deliver the Teacher Education Program in Kugaaruk. As an example, they have the Teacher Education Program going on right now in the smaller communities.
We are teaching these courses in our community learning centres. For instance, I can say that they will start from the smaller communities and move onto bigger communities to carry on, for instance, nursing students.
Yes, we utilize the smaller communities and, as I stated earlier, the instructors in our community learning centres have to search for what courses are wanted or needed in the communities.
Question 150 – 4(3): Report on the Independent External Review (Joanasie)
The report on the independent external review concerning the tragedy in Cape Dorset was submitted to the minister late last year near the end of 2015. I thank the minister for making the report public on the government’s website.
I would like to ask the minister if he will be formally tabling the report in the Legislative Assembly during our current winter sitting.
This is now available to the public on the website and I can also table it in the House for the benefit of members.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for saying that he will table it.
One of the recommendations in the report was that a formal coroner’s inquest be held in Cape Dorset. The family has formally written to the minister requesting that he exercise his authority under section 24 of the Coroners Act to direct that an inquest be held.
For the record, can the minister confirm when and where the inquest will be held?
Using my legal authority, I directed the chief coroner to conduct an inquiry into this matter.
As to the timing, I cannot state at this time when this inquiry will take place.
However, both the officials and frontline workers require outside review and these require planning to conduct the inquiry.
I cannot respond as to exactly when it will be; I can only return to the official notification that the inquiry will take place.
I accompanied Ms. Peterson on a number of her trips to Cape Dorset and I thank her for the work that she put into her report, which contains a total of almost 50 formal recommendations.
Will the minister be tabling the government’s formal response to Ms. Peterson’s report during the current winter sitting of the Legislative Assembly?
Once we received the report, cabinet agreed that they wanted to follow the recommendations in the report and we will be implementing them as we proceed and we will have a clearer understanding on where we stand during the sitting.
I can’t respond right away, but we will be responding as the sitting proceeds.
Member for Netsilik, Emiliano Qirngnuq.
Question 151 – 4(3): Housing Needs in Netsilik (Qirngnuq)
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My question is regarding housing needs. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I am a new MLA and he is a new minister, so maybe we are both still learning.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the Nunavut Housing Corporation plans to construct five new public housing units and five new staff housing units in the community of Kugaaruk during the upcoming 2016-17 fiscal year.
Can the minister indicate when NHC plans to issue tenders or requests for proposals for the ten new public and staff housing units in Kugaaruk?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Hickes.
Specifically with regard to the construction in Kugaaruk, I was not aware that it was at a point where there was a need to re-tender.
I will have to check with my department and get back to the member on that specific initiative, but I’m sure the member will have follow-up questions.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Qirngnuq.
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Can the minister indicate what training or apprenticeship opportunities will be provided to residents of Kugaaruk during construction of the new housing units in the community?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Hickes.
As we’re all aware, apprenticeship across the territory is a very important process of any infrastructure development that we have in the territory.