EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would also like to thank the people who came in first to prepare for the meeting and also the interpreters who are vital to the running of the legislative assembly.
And last, I would like to thank Kevin Aliqatuqtuq, my grandchild who is in Qikiqtarjuaq, who won the best dressed Halloween costume at their daycare and I will see them again soon.
Member’s Statement 226 – 1(6): Thank You to Minister from Pangnirtung
I would like to thank the member of the Legislative Assembly for Pangnirtung for his hospitality and just to remind or to remember the residents of Pangnirtung, I have known over the years.
Daisy and Simeonie Keenainak, they were my school mates.
I think they had just got married in 1967 and I saw them in Saskatoon then.
I have met them over the years and I would think of them now and then.
Simeonie was an RCMP member at that time, and he’s now a well deserved retired man.
At that time, when we were going to school, we didn’t think about our children or what they were going to be doing as a career.
Rosemary Keenainak’s the daughter of Simeonie is the ADM for Sustainable Development, and I was quite proud, when I learned whom her parents were, as I recall them prior to having kids.
All the things that I remembered, such as when I recalled Jack Maniapik, who was our billet in Repulse Bay, he’s doing very well and I would like to congratulate him.
While we are here, I would like to also thank my colleague Mr. Peter Kilabuk for his hospitality and thank you.
Member’s Statement 227 – 1(6): Economic Development in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker before I start my statement I too would like to say how, happy were to be here and Pangnirtung this weekend and thankful to the great hospitality that we’ve received since being here and also to Mr. Kilabuk for the fine job of assisting and organizing and making sure that we’re all looked after here.
Mr. Speaker, today I speak to the needs for economic development in Nunavut, Mr. Speaker I was pleased to hear the Minister of Department of Sustainable Development speak earlier this week about expansion of the turbot fishery and the development of the Baffin Fisheries Coalition.
I think it was highly appropriate for the Minister to make his statement here Pangnirtung, where the fishery is an important component for the local economy.
Mr. Speaker, I remain concerned that we are not moving forward as well as we should have some fronts, for example I vote my colleagues from Kitikmeot, as well as Kivalliq has spoken so eloquently about the tremendous mining potential in the regions, I do not see as progress being made in securing a better deal for Nunavut in respect to resource royalties.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Premier spoke strongly this issue of an agreement in principal between the federal government and Makivik Corporation, regarding offshore fishing in waters of the Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay.
Mr. Speaker I read with concern that federal announcement on October 25 regarding the signing of an agreement in principal between the federal government and Makivik Corporation.
Later today I will be raising questions regarding this agreement, whether Nunavut’s interests are being adequately protected, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 228 – 1(6): Congratulates Joamie School Students and Staff
Mr. Speaker before I start on my statement I too would also like to thank some people.
We came in on Saturday and it seems like the time has going by and last night was quite an entertaining night with the costumes here in Pangnirtung and I want to say were second to none, Mr. Speaker, and I want to congratulate Simeonie Keenainak for teaching the kids how to play accordion.
I would also like to thank some people Mr. Speaker; first of all I would like to thank Jeff and Lizzie Ryan, Meeka Mearns.
A big thank to Minister Kilabuk and his family, Meeka Arnakak, the health services office here in Pangnirtung provided logistic and administrative support to me, Virginia Turner and most all to the good people of Pangnirtung for the warmth and the Mr. Speaker the well known hospitality.
Mr. Speaker on Wednesday evening Joamie School hosted their annual Joamie school fun night, Mr. Speaker Joamie School has had many first, including the first school in all Canada to be awarded the environmental award as to first green school.
Last month, Mr. Speaker, Minister Kilabuk and I, were fortunate enough to be in Joamie School and participate when Joamie School north of sixty to actually make contact with the orbiting Space Shuttle.
Mr. Speaker, Principal David Serkoak, who is actually here in Pangnirtung here today for the signing ceremony, and his staff in Joamie School put much energy into providing the very best in academics, as well community oriented events, like Wednesday night’s fun night.
Mr. Speaker, school is more than just adding, subtracting, reading and writing.
It is an environment where the student is made to feel a part of a family and an environment that brings out the best in academics.
And also, Mr. Speaker, provides the forum for life-long learning.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you and this House join with me in congratulating the students and staff of the school for a job well done again.
Quyannamiik, Uqaqtii.
Member’s Statement 229 – 1(6): Thanks to the People of Pangnirtung for Hospitality
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Pangnirtung and for the well coordinated session that we had here in Pangnirtung.
I was very happy to be a part of this session.
This is not the first time that I have been here.
When I was wearing my other NWT MLA hat, I didn’t have any white hair on my head, and I think that there area lot of us who are in that same state, such as Manitok.
I would like to thank the people of Pangnirtung and also the MLA for Pangnirtung, and the Speaker also for his hard work in making sure that everything is well coordinated and that things go smoothly.
While we are televised, I would like to say that all the Members of the Legislative Assembly work hard on behalf of their constituents and in properly representing the people.
At this time I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the residents of Pangnirtung for their hospitality.
The first time that I met Minister Kilabuk was when we became Members of the Legislative Assembly and that he has always been receptive.
Item 4 Returns to Oral Questions.
I would like to recognize Shuvinai Mike.
In 1999, when I first became a Minister, she supported me and helped me tremendously.
Up to now, of all the Government employees, I think that she is one of the wisest ones as to what the Government is trying to do.
So I would like to recognize her.
Shuvinai Mike.
Speaker: Item 5 Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to recognize and I would like to thank the Inuinnaqtun interpreters.
And also I like working with them.
They have been very helpful in making the information comprehensible to the Kitikmeot Inuit; Henry Ohokannoaq and James Panioyak.
Mr. Speaker, on our last day here, I’d like to recognize some people that make this event happen, our technical crew and our translators, who I think have done a fine job.
This time a special note, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask all members and join me in wishing Mr. George Metuq a happy birthday.
I understand that he’s 20th birthday today.
And special thanks to the interpreters as well and I’d also like to recognize someone that has lived first time over 20 years ago in the west and now both of us, are over here in the East, Mr. James Stewart living back there in Iqaluit.
I’d like to recognize the floor mat that Alakannuark tripped over and he slid quite far.
No one else saw it.
(interpretation ends)Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize one of my constituents, Sandy Kusugak, as she’s also a good friend of mine.
Our kids, our boys, Bupsy and Buddy, Buddy mine and Bupsy hers.
But sometimes it’s Bupsy mine and Buddy hers, it works anywhere we are.
She’s been one of my supporters as a mother when I travel, I can leave Buddy with her and he feels very comfortable with her and the same with her boys, being very comfortable with us and I’d like to thank her for that.
It’s been very good to have constituents like that, our kids have been, have known each other since they were 4 or 5, now they’re 14 years old now that they’re just like very close brothers and it’s good to have constituents that can support you, especially as a mother that travels a lot.
And today I’d like to recognize for her contribution for her success on my being a minister, I guess.
During the hearing on bill 1 on proposed education act, here in Pangnirtung, we went to the community meeting on the issue.
I would like to thank someone who assisted us during the meeting.
When we travel to communities, we don’t know their names and at that meeting I had the assistance of the mayor of Pangnirtung, Hezekiah Oshutapik, who was nice enough to pass along the names of people who wished to speak.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, thank you.
I’d like to recognize today, the staff and the students of Alookie School, they did a very good job and there are 19 names on the wall there.
If you haven’t seen them, if you turn that way then all our names are there in syllabics.
And they’re very well made All our names are there, except Nutarak is not written there.
And I’d like to recognize again, that the mural behind the Speaker is in regards to the Inuksuk being completed, it seems like if they’re going to put it on over the Speaker’s head, the piece of rock that they’re holding.
And we have very nice artwork and the flags from the 26 different communities.
So this was very well organized by the residents of Pangnirtung.
First of all, I would like to recognize our pages, all from community of Pangnirtung.
They did a very good job and I did not know he was a secretary, I always assumed that he was the mayor.
He assisted us by taking the names of the residents, Mr. Hezekiah Oshutapik.
I would also like to recognize James Stewart, he’s from Income Support and he travels to the communities and he just recently came back.
I would like to recognize as well, Sandy Kusugak, who is on the literacy council and I would like to recognize her and thank you.
I do not usually acknowledge my staff and while I have the opportunity, I would like to recognize my staff. Especially, Ian Rose who has assisted me during this meeting and unfortunately she is not here, but I thank my secretary; Sheila Kolola, and the ministers’ assistants and other staff, I would like to thank you and it was an honour to be here with you, Thank you.
Speaker: Item 5.Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Good morning, I am very happy to be here, with the warm welcome we received from the community.
I would like to thank Peter Kattuk and Kelvin Ng, we’re in the same place.
I would like to recognize my staff, we recently went to Halifax for a meeting and we came here from Ottawa, even though we have children of our own, I like to thank my assistant who assisted me very well, even though she has small children so I sincerely want to thank her, Jane Cooper.
I thank you because she helps me a lot and I wish to thank my wife, that I’m always away from home, and she still looks after me.
Mr. Speaker, in my members’ statement, I forgot to mention and I would like to recognize Geoff and Lizzie Ryan.
They are not here right now, but for taking the time to invite Minister Picco and I after the feast, to watch the hockey game at their place.
Speaker: Item 5.Recognition to the Visitors in the Gallery.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, I would like to recognize my constituent, Sandy Kusugak.
I don’t think that back when she went to Rankin Inlet that she knew she would be still be up in the north in 2002.
Even though she is my constituent and she’s the Chief Electoral Officer, so unfortunately she will not be able to vote for me in the upcoming election.
I too would like to recognize the support staff, when you are trying to pull off an operation like this, you need people to do the audio and visual as well as the technical stuff and support staff behind this bureaucracy, the administrative assistants as well as the executive assistants.
I would like to take this opportunity to especially welcome them and I wish George a very happy 32 birthday today as Mr. Tootoo had earlier said.
Mr. Speaker, having been in this job for a little while, I have, as Mr. Akesuk and Minister Thompson just mentioned, you cannot do the job of an elected official unless you have a strong family support behind you.
Yesterday, when we missed Halloween, it is one of those times that you miss a lot of events as a politician, because you are traveling in different places and you don’t have an opportunity to partake in some of the family activities that a lot of us take for granted.
I too, would like to take this opportunity to recognize our partners at home and families.
And like I said before, this week has gone very fast.
And I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery, the Mayor of Pangnirtung, who did meet us at the Airport, although Minister Ng indicated to me that there were other more important people to meet, the Mayor did show up for me on the Charter.
So I thank him for that.
I would like to recognize those individuals who are not usually recognized.
Earlier, when I was recognizing people, I forgot to include that person.
We always hear media reporters.
I would like to recognize my sister, Joanna Awa.
They give us up to date news on the CBC and this is very important to some of our people.
When we first moved from Igloolik to Pond Inlet, and after we moved to Pond Inlet, we used a different dialect to describe a hammer, which was “Kautauyaq” in the Igloolik dialect.
My father asked her to bring in a hammer using the Pond Inlet dialect, which is “Uyaratiaq”, so after being out for quite a long time, she came in rolling a rock into the tent because it looked really nice.
I guess that she thought that he was talking about getting the best looking rock and she got it for him.
The best looking rock, that is.
On the other hand, I would also like to recognize Jennifer Tilden, who grew up in Pond Inlet and who is working with Igalaaq.
Even though she just stepped out, I want to share this experience with you that occurred when she was a child in Pond Inlet.
She grew up, as I stated earlier, in Pond Inlet.
Prior to a baby-sitting job, she told a good friend of hers from Pond Inlet that since they were going over to a Qallunaaq household, that they should wash their faces because they were going to be visiting these Qallunaaq people.
I wanted to recognize someone, although James already mentioned the CBC and Igalaaq reporters.
Presently, CBC has produced the Sedna story and it is very interesting to listen to this traditional story.
It is promotion of the Inuit culture.
That series is very well done and I am very proud of their work.
I know that for us the residents of Nunavut, we are very proud of the way things are progressing in Nunavut, especially within the realm of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The CBC has managed to let us see what we think and let us talk our language.
By producing this episode, they are letting other people see the Inuit cultural perspective and why this legend was so important to the Inuit of Nunavut.
I want to praise them for their work and as Nunavut residents, we should be proud of who we are and where we came from.
So for the Legislative Assembly those are very beneficial to be able to hear different kinds of news from different communities and regions as we are able to hear different viewpoints of our various constituencies.
I would like to say first off, good bye to Pangnirtung.
I had a great time here, and I have enjoyed the hospitality and I want to recognize Mrs. Young.
I am going to tell a story where I first met Mrs. Young.
The first time I met her was in a place called Mosinee, Ontario, where her husband was a Northern Store manager and I was also a Northern store manager, so I would like to recognize Mrs. Young and this is the first time that I met her in Pangnirtung, first time like I say, was in Mosinee Ontario, small world.
What I would like to say too, is that I know we get a little bit of negative publicity about moving the legislative assembly around in various communities and we, as a caucus decide, that it’s good for the people of Nunavut.
And I think we make the right decision and I know money is tight and you get the naysayers saying it’s a waste of money, but I think when the young people in communities see us that and my colleagues has said it a numerous times this week.
It brings the government closer to the people and I see that.
But the amount of work that’s involved, in moving this Legislative Assembly to a community, is large.
And sometimes myself, I don’t appreciate it, and I’ll be the first one to say that.
You know that I had to go three days, and I hope my wife is proud of me, but I went three days without a telephone or a TV, and that’s a major accomplishment.
Yes, I can live without a telephone or a TV for three days and that’s the first time in my life since I came north in 1971, but getting back to it.
I would like to recognize the media, the CBC news, CBC TV, they’ve been very good to us.
This is one of the few times that I felt close to the media and a good working relationship with them and I would like to recognize them.
But what I wanted to say is, I really appreciate the hard work that the Legislative Assembly staff do, I know John lost a lot sleep and worried about this for three months, but John you’ve done a great job and I would like to thank John, Alex and all the staff.
You and your staff, you pulled off a great, great job and Tony and Nancy and I know I’m going to miss them a couple of them but all our Legislative Assembly staff that were involved in this, you’ve done an excellent job and it just proves that moving this assembly is not such a big deal after all.
And at the end note, I just want to say something.
I always say I’m the oldest Qallunaaq in the Legislative Assembly but, Mr. Speaker I stand corrected today, you are.
Mr. Speaker: Thank you. Mr. McLean.
I’m glad to be here, and I wish to thank the people of Pangnirtung who gave us a very warm reception.
I’m sorry I didn’t see Davidee Arnakak, but I saw Qappik and his family.
I would also like to tell Mr. McLean, since you were last in Mosinee, it’s a much bigger city now.
I was just there this summer.
Also my co-worker, Gaetan, he helps me a lot here, at the legislative assembly and at our workplace.
Also the eldest member in our session here, I want to recognize him and I want to tell a little story.
When I first became a Minister, he mentioned I don’t know what it was, something about losing his dentures, he lost his dentures, perhaps to a raven.
He stated that I’m not going to ask you a question until I have retrieved my dentures.
Then later on when he wanted to ask a question, I asked him if he had retrieved his dentures, and I thought that was quite funny.
Our elder member here is quite a receptive fellow and he is always accommodating and welcoming, so I would like to thank you.
And we will see each other again, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 231 – 1(6): Decentralization Committee
Earlier on when I made a comment about the backdrop behind Mr. Speaker, I made it because it looks like that little piece of rock is going to drop on top of Mr. Speaker’s head.
I just wanted to make that point because that painting is well done.
I’m not making fun of the backdrop, earlier on as I stated that that little piece of rock seems like it’s going to drop on Mr. Speaker’s head, but I just made that comment to complement the painting in the back drop.
But Mr. Speaker, I’d like to direct my question to the premier, for the non-decentralized communities and some communities have decentralization, while other do not.
But for the communities that are non-decentralized, as the premier has stated that he would consider the non-decentralization communities to be their priority, but I want to direct my question to the premier if there has been some sort of committee struck who has been looking after future transfers to the 26 communities.
In reference to the back drop, I can assure you that this week I do feel that rock has dropped on my head.
Decentralization today is not complete yet and we’re trying to finalize it and once if we can finalize it it’ll become evident that we can look at other programs like because we’re still working on the two communities and we have stated that, we’re trying to keep up with the, filling up the positions.
So what we’re trying to do is complete the work in the decentralized communities.
Once decentralization is completed, we will be able to transfer some responsibilities to the non-decentralized communities.
And also the Minister of Health and Social Services has talked about the terminal detox centre that will be located in non-decentralized communities.
I know that various programs will be coming up, be established in the future.
It’s not just for job opportunities.
I’d like to see government programs or assist if we can help the private businesses.
When I see the private businesses, I really appreciate it when I see that in the communities.
They are attempting to look after their own problems and I appreciate that.
So I know that there will be more interest in the future, the interest will grow.
I’m trying to develop private businesses in the community level.
I’d like to thank the premier for his response. But I do have a supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker, I have two communities in my constituency.
The other one is a decentralized community and the other one a non-decentralized community.
The two communities are totally different from each other. The non-decentralized communities and the de-centralized are totally different communities because decentralized communities have more job opportunities and jobs that have been created by decentralization.
I would like to ask the Minister, our Premier, in regards to non-decentralized communities.
He stated earlier that they would like to transfer programs to non-decentralized communities.
My question is, Mr. Speaker, for example, in the Kitikmeot we have been discussing the correctional facility for a long time.
Is he considering establishing the correctional facility to a non-decentralized community in the region?
I was wondering if he can consider these communities.
In regards to the correctional facilities, as I have stated in the House, the Correctional Facility will be located outside of Iqaluit.
I would like to complete the plans, this coming year.
If the communities would like to see the correctional centre or facility being located in their community, they can make requests at the community level.
The detox centre, that is at the discussion stage, that it is going to be outside of Iqaluit and we would like it to be located in a non-decentralized community.
These various things will keep coming up.
It would be ideal to place them in various communities because we hear the community interests.
They would like to work on meat plants and fish plants.
Some communities have infrastructure available already, even though they are non-decentralized communities.
So we will keep considering these things.
As the Premier stated, they are looking into non-decentralized communities.
Since he has stated many times that he would be looking into non-decentralized communities, I think that it is about time we see a non-decentralized community in one of the twenty-six communities in Nunavut.
For that reason the non-decentralized communities, as the Premier stated that he would consider these communities.
Do you have any expectations either in 2003, 2004.
Can the Minister tell me what year they expect to have the plans implemented?
We have to deal with all of these as a whole government.
There is the decentralized and the centralized communities and Iqaluit is the Capital.
There are 15 communities that we are going to be looking at.
I am not anticipating it to be completed within a year but if there is an opportunity we do try to give support.