EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
One of the objectives of this government as outlined in Pinasuaqtavut is to ensure that we build on strengths, respecting and highlighting the unique elements of our residents, communities, the environment, and our economy here in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize today the work of the staff at Nunavut Arctic College and our Department of Education for their contribution in this area.
The college recently obtained a grant from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to develop and test culturally appropriate tools for Prior Learning Recognition and Portfolio Development. Prior learning recognition and portfolio development provide learners, and those seeking employment with tools for documenting their strengths, knowledge, and abilities. The Nunavut PLAR process will recognize that knowledge and skills are gained from life experiences and values indigenous knowledge as well as knowledge gained through school and other training experiences.
Mr. Speaker, the project is expected to lead to the use of PLAR across the territory and provides the means for Nunavummiut to get credit for the lessons and skills that they have learned outside the classroom.
The good news: the college will receive a three-year grant totaling $3,806,497 from HRSDC to adapt PLAR and portfolio development curriculum materials for our Nunavut learners, and then test the usefulness of PLAR here in Nunavut. The college will be collaborating with the Department of Education, adult learners, elders, and potential employers to ensure that the tools developed meet the needs of the learner, the college, and the job market.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to the introduction of a Nunavut program for accessing prior learning experience and expect that this project will contribute to the growing success of Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 107 – 2(4): 2007 Pangaggujjiniq Nunavut Quest Dog Team Race (Barnabas)
I rise today to share with you some news about the Pangaggujjiniq Nunavut Quest Dog Team Race, which this year, will travel from Igloolik and Hall Beach to Repulse Bay.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, earlier this session I spoke about the important role dogs played in Inuit lifestyle and culture. I mentioned a number of events that focus on important tradition in an effort to revitalize the use of dog teams in the north.
I’m very pleased that the Nunavut Quest Race will go ahead this year.
For a while, the organizers said it might have been cancelled due to the lack of participants. Instead, they moved the starting date to April 23, which will allow more participants to take part. So far, 17 participants have signed up to the race, which usually takes about seven days to complete.
One of the original Nunavut Quest Organizers Simon Qamaniq is taking part, at this very moment, in another important event: Global Warming 101 is a four-month expedition by dog team across Baffin Island to draw international attention to climate change issues, Arctic geography and wildlife, and of course, the importance of traditional northern activities such as travelling by dog team. Video and written accounts of this expedition are broadcast across the world mainly by internet.
The use of dog teams in the north is steadily regaining its status. After a loss of dogs many years ago the dog team is making a comeback that is being noticed across the world. This is happening, for the most part, because of the efforts of community volunteers, such as those organizing the Nunavut Quest.
Mr. Speaker, despite their best efforts dog team owners have faced and continue to face some major challenges. I urge the government to give serious consideration to establishing Nunavut-wide programs to make vaccines available to communities, and especially ...
If you would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude your statement, you can do so.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) I urge the government to give serious consideration to establishing Nunavut-wide programs to make vaccines available to communities and especially dog teams to prevent illnesses such as distemper and parvo-virus.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be tabling documents that describes this years’ Pangaggujjiniq Nunavut Quest and everything that is contributed to make it a success.
I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing the participants and their dogs a safe and successful race to Repulse Bay.
I have no other names on my list for Members’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 108 – 2(4): More Funding for Nunavut (Curley)
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Iqaluit, those who welcome us when we are here, and the people that we meet in the restaurants and other public places.
I would like to thank very much the people of Iqaluit and I think today is going to be our last day for this winter session and I am sure that for the new fiscal year, which starts on April 1, the government will start implementing the programs and services that are identified in the departmental reviews we did.
With that, Mr. Speaker, the government doesn’t have as much money as they did before. For example, the fuel price is extremely expensive for private homeowners and also for the hunters.
I could also say that we have a shortage of teachers in all the schools, and there are an increasing number of students attending schools.
We are well aware that we have a severe shortage of nurses in Nunavut and including physicians and health care professionals or workers.
We also see in Nunavut that some of the hospitals that were built are not utilizing their beds because they don’t have 24 hour care facilities.
Mr. Speaker, I could also say that some essential workers within the government departments do not have staff housing, especially the nurses and the medical professionals.
I would like to urge the members to remember that even with this fiscal restraint the ministers will have to work extremely hard.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to finish his statement?
You may proceed, Mr. Curley.
As I was stating earlier, even with fiscal restraints, I would like to tell the people of Nunavut, and the ministers are hoping, that the ministers will have to work extremely hard to make sure that there are less challenges.
I can even say that some people out there are probably saying that I am only looking at the negative aspect of it, but I think that if the ministers are more visible to the people of Nunavut and visiting the communities and talking to the people, I think that things will go a lot smoother.
You are going to have to work extremely hard and make sure that the monies are used prudently during the, I don’t think that you should be going on holidays to Ottawa, I think the people out there elected you because of your ability and there’s going to be elections again in about three months. Ministers, I urge you to work collectively and as hard as you can, and we are going to be behind you all the way.
Member’s Statement 109 – 2(4): Upcoming Federal Election (Peterson)
I am pleased to rise today on what we anticipate to be our last sitting before we leave to recess.
Like my colleagues, I’m looking forward to returning home to my family, my community, and my constituents.
A CBC News report said Iqaluit resident Kirt Ejesiak will represent the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kirt on the nomination.
Being a former Deputy Mayor of Iqaluit, I’m confident that his background in the trenches of municipal government will provide him with a good understanding in the real needs of our territory and residents.
Ottawa is aflame with rumours about the date of the next Federal Election. The fact that the parties are nominating their candidates, now tells us that a general election is not too far off.
I want to take a moment to give a Kitikmeot perspective on the next campaign.
When the campaign gets going it’s going to be important for Nunavut’s candidates from all major parties to take the time to travel across the territory to listen closely to the concerns of our local leaders and residents.
As we often say in the Kitikmeot, Nunavut does not finish when you reach the end of Iqaluit’s Road to Nowhere.
The Kitikmeot will be the engine of Nunavut’s future in economic development and prosperity. I would like the Federal Member of Parliament to also have a good understanding of the natural resource sector of our economy; he or she must take the time to learn the issues in the different regions; he or she will need to represent all of Nunavut.
When candidates knock on my door and ask for my vote, I’ll be challenging them to show vision. I will be asking them to be prepared to stand up and push for such issues as a firm set of commitments to nation-building projects, such as the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project, the Kivalliq-Manitoba Road, and the Iqaluit Deep Water Port.
I would expect them to work towards fulfilling federal promises like the establishment of the Canadian Forces Training Centre in Cambridge Bay. I want to hear them say that they will commit to achieving an increase in the value of the Northern Residents Tax Deduction.
I want them to promise that they will represent our hunters in voting against the Gun Registry.
Campaigning for public office takes courage, commitment, and conviction. I salute all the men and women who will be running in Nunavut and look forward to electing a strong voice for our people.
>>Applause  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
Member’s Statement 110 – 2(4): Skills Canada Competition (Tootoo)
As a couple of my colleagues have indicated, this is probably going to be our last sitting day until it warms up, so I would like to wish all members a safe trip home, and hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow; a little problem with that this sitting.
I would like to just acknowledge an event that’s going on here in Iqaluit today and that’s the Skills Canada Competition. I had the privilege of attending one of the competitions this morning.
It was a public speaking competition and I watched some of these young students that had to do a five-minute speech on different topics.
One young guy was talking about being a plumber and how important it was because the bottom line for him was that amount he gets paid an hour was the attractive thing for wanting to be a plumber.
But I think it’s not only getting up there and speaking at that young age and watching that, I think it gives me hope that I’m going to see young people move on, whether it’s in a trade or in any category of work that they do well.
I know there were other events going on up at the high school, and I wish all of them the best of luck and congratulate them on taking the courage to compete in such an event.
I would like to ask all members to join me in congratulating them. The winners who are yet to be determined, and all of them for participating.
Members’ Statements. Member for Nattilik, Ms. Aglukkaq.
Member’s Statement 111 – 2(4): Community Activities (Aglukkaq)
Very quickly, I know we want to get through our last day today. I would like to wish all the members safe travel home following this session. I believe there is a blizzard warning tomorrow so we may sit again tomorrow.
I want to say happy Easter to everyone and safe travels home.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I would just like to highlight a couple of important events coming up in my constiuencies. In Gjoa Haven we will be hosting the Nattilik Cup Hockey Tournament on the weekend of April 12 to 15. I will be there for this exciting event.
Taloyoak will be hosting the first “Pat Lyall Memorial Hockey Tournament” the weeened of March 31 to April 1.
Also, Mr. Speaker, Taloyoak is planning for a Drum Dance Festival – April 23 to 27.
A number of communities have been invited to participate including Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, and there has also been interest from Rankin Inlet and Repulse Bay.
(interpretation ends) As well for the new candidate for the Liberal Party, my congratulations go out to him as well. At the same time they’re picking a season where it’s spring to campaign where as unlike us we were campaigning door to door in February at minus 60. So hopefully, he’ll get out to and get to as many of the doors in Nunavut to hear first hand the diversity of our territory.
Member’s Statement 112 – 2(4): 58th Anniversary to Mr. And Mrs. Ittinuar (Brown)
I too would like to make a statement. The members, my colleagues will be going home.
I wish you a safe trip back home. And I would also like to thank the family members of the MLAs for being very patient.
And Easter is upon us so have a good Easter break.
I would also like to mention before the month is over, Mr. Curley and I and our constituents, would like to think of the elders Mr. and Mrs. Ittinuar will have their 58th anniversary this month, so before this month is over I wanted to wish them a happy anniversary because everyone knows them and they’re very nice people.
I’ve known these people since I was young. And I know my colleague from Coral Harbour knows these individuals. When I was a small child, I knew them.
When I got married in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, in 1965, they took care of us.
But we had elders chaperoning us because we weren’t free to go everywhere so, I would like to thank them for guiding us. This is going to be their 58th anniversary.
They asked me why we got married in Lynn Lake, it was due to decentralization. Back in the 1950s and 60s my husband was sent over there to work.
At least we went to work and had a great future, so I would like to thank them and I would like to have a 58th anniversary, too, myself.
Member’s Statement 113 – 2(4): Constituency Concerns (Alagalak)
I’m very pleased. We are very homesick and are glad that we’ll be going home.
And I would like to thank our elders, who we have been meeting in the restaurants. We always welcome their hospitality. It was very warm.
It’s especially very nice, when you are here in town, when the host community residents have great hospitality.
We see many people whom we haven’t seen for long time. When we see them, it gets very exciting.
I would like to say that we reviewed the main estimates for approximately this whole month for the fiscal year 2007-08. Even though we reviewed the budget, it seems like we repeat things over and over.
Because Mining Development is occurring all over, we need to have a proper working system because we need to do more on mining training for working in the mines. Looking at Baker Lake, there are not enough Inuit people working there so we need to see more Inuit in the work place because that was our vision, to have Inuit in the work place.
If we don’t make ourselves available we won’t see that occurring. In the Keewatin region back in the 1970s, we started expecting benefits from the food mail program, and other communities other than Rankin Inlet did not benefit from this food mail program. Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit and Yellowknife benefit from the food mail program but other communities outside Rankin Inlet and larger centres, could not.
The Manitoba-Kivalliq Road is the most important issue and I am urging the government to work harder on that so that it can resolve some of the other issues.
I’m asking unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
There were lots of issues but one that has not been developed, and has been staying idle for so long, is the fisheries budget.
This budget line item is only for the Baffin region but we need a budget line item for fisheries in the Keewatin region, we need all those programs to make sure the freight costs are cheaper and for that reason, the government needs, or we need to work harder, as the ministers, communities and the members we need to support each other and to grasp it, and we need to work together on the marketing aspect.
So even though the session’s not on, we will be working closely, we will be working closely together so you, I can make you laugh, I can make you sad, so I’ll do that anytime.
Member’s Statement 114 – 2(4): Iqaluit Hospitality (Arreak)
I, too, would like to express my gratitude since today is going to be the last day of the session. It’s very difficult for me to find out what kind of broadcasting, or what language will be aired on TV, so I would like to thank everyone for watching.
Don’t hesitate to correct us when we are wrong.
Also, my grandchild, in my community of Clyde River who watches the proceedings on TV, my grandchild started worrying about my hair because the majority of the members are going bald.
So I would like to thank each and every one of you, especially the Iqalungmiut for your hospitality.
I would like to urge in the new fiscal year of 2007-08, the people who will be applying for funds and for grants, don’t give up when you apply.
When you are referred to someone else, please don’t give up. We don’t give up with the ministers when the ministers refer us to another department.
We continue to ask questions, so don’t hesitate to ask questions because a lot of good ideas come from our constituency members for employment opportunities and others.
Member’s Statement 115 – 2(4): Thanks to Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Picco)
I would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate my constituent, Mr. Kirt Ejesiak, for his election as the Liberal candidate in the next federal election.
Whoever wins the next election will have huge Kamiik to fill. Nancy Karetak-Lindell has been an effective, hard working, and dedicated representative for all Nunavummiut.
As elected representatives we all realized the stress and pressure of the job, and the stress and pressure, especially on our families.
Nancy has taken it all in stride, and has done it with professionalism and modesty. During her tenure, she invited and they accepted. She invited several Prime Ministers, Mr. Chrétien, Mr. Martin, and more senior ministers that I can remember seeing ever, in elected life since 1995, come visit Nunavut, and that means something.
The role of MP is to advocate on behalf of Nunavut. As a backbench MP, Nancy was effective.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nancy for her hard work and representation for all of Nunavummiut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 116 – 2(4): Incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Kattuk)
Since today is the last day of our session, I believe I will be seeing my family members tomorrow but we have been told if we are patient, and if you don’t run away from something everything will come to pass. Likewise, the session lasted long.
If you’re not lazy, if you don’t run away from your responsibilities they will come to pass and that’s what we have been told and I urge everyone to do that during this session.
I have a better idea during this session of the Government of Nunavut.
I believe the government should focus more and incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit more because in the past Inuit did not have the equipment we have today but were very capable without all the equipment today like, for example, health.
Without the aid of the nurses and the doctors, without the aid of the hospitals and nursing stations, Inuit had treated their own people.
But today, the Government of Nunavut would like to infuse and incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I believe that the Department of Health and Social Services should recognize and incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within their system and that is what I have heard and I believe that should happen to Income Support.
Inuit have survived by supporting each other and helping each other. That’s how I am able to survive, because my ancestors, my parents, my grandparent had supported each other and survived together so that’s how I am able to be here.
When we talk about income support, I believe that the Government of Nunavut could infuse Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, the ability to support each other.
So I believe the Government of Nunavut, if they had that kind of legislation, they would be able to go forward.
Mr. Kattuk is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
Please proceed, Mr. Kattuk
What I’m saying is that, when we’re talking about income support, and how we’d like to support each other, the Nunavut government should focus on helping each other and cooperation.
And Inuit, when it comes to the environment, they survived in the environment without having any modern day equipment.
They were sustained by wildlife by utilizing the animals for everything from skin down to the bone.
We’ve been protecting our environment, because of the wildlife and the fact we live off of it.
What I’m saying is that the Nunavut government should incorporate and infuse Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit so that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit could be used permanently.
If there’s none.
Minister for Environment, Mr. Netser.
Return to Oral Question 116 – 2(4): Mercury Build-up in the Food Chain (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide a response to an Oral Question posed to me on March 26 of this month by the Member from Quttiktuq.
The member asked about current environmental contaminant monitoring practices for the arctic food chain.
The member was correct when stating that heavy metals tend to accumulate in polar bears since they are at the top of the arctic food chain.
Contaminant monitoring in polar bears and other species has been ongoing since the 1970s and is still continuing today.
We work cooperatively with the Canadian Wildlife Services to collect samples and to monitor any changes on a regular basis. The most recent sampling from harvested polar bears is occurring this spring in Nunavut.
Contaminant levels in polar bear tissues are declining for most kinds of contaminants, but new contaminants are always being discovered.
Contaminant levels tend to be highest in the fat, but levels of heavy metals are not high enough to cause a health hazard to the bears or the hunters that harvest them.
I love polar bear meat, by the way.
I trust this answers the member’s question.
In the Committee of the Whole the other day I mentioned that the Arctic College Board of Governors would be meeting this weekend in Iqaluit.
I know several of the board members are here and they are constituents of many of the MLAs so I’m not going to introduce them individually, and let the MLAs introduce their own constituents.
I would take this opportunity to introduce one person on the board of governors who’s my constituent, a long time northern resident, father and a grandfather, well known for his exploits on the land as well as on the water, former Armed Forces and Naval Senior Executive Officer in the 50s during the Cold War against our friends, the Russians. Here he is, the one, the only, Mr. Frank Pearce.
I would like to recognize here, he is well known here, he is the mayor in Gjoa Haven, Uriash Puqiqnaq. I would like to welcome him.
Welcome to the Gallery and I thank you for being a strong supporter of mine.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, there’s another group of individuals that are here with us today from the Canadian Stroke Network, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, Canadian Stroke Strategy Group, Canadian Heart Health Strategy for Foothills and Hospitals, and I’m just going to introduce them briefly.
And, as I introduce them if they can stand up, I believe two or three of them just left for another meeting.
Ms. Carmen Connolly.
Donna Hastings.
Diane Krecsy.
Ms. Debra Lynkowski.
And, Dr. Kevin Willis.  >>Applause
The other individuals that were here that had to go to another meeting are Mr. Robert Smith and Dr. Tim Watson. Thank you and welcome to the Gallery.
I would like to recognize my constituent. On behalf of me and Tagak, I would like to welcome an individual.
There’s someone from Rankin Inlet South I would like to introduce.
First of all, Rianna Satiana.
Also beside Rianna, Mike Shouldice. He’s a very good boss. He was my boss before.