EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
On behalf of the people of Cape Dorset, I want to express my sympathy to the colleagues of Mr. Seewald who serve proudly throughout all of our Nunavut communities.
Mr. Seewald's death reminded us of the great risks, and in this case, terrible sacrifices that are made in doing your job.
Finally I want to say to the people of Cape Dorset and the family of Mr. Jaw in these difficult days following Mr. Seewald’s death, we must begin the process of healing.
On Friday Mr. Speaker, I will travel to Antigonish, Nova Scotia to attend Mr. Seewald’s funeral.
I will also take with me the deepest sympathies of the people of Cape Dorset and Nunavummiut.
Member's Statement 089 - 1(5): Kitikmeot Economic Development
I rise today to raise some concerns about economic development in the Kitikmeot region.
Mr. Speaker, as the members are aware there are a number of exciting mining developments going forward in West Kitikmeot.
The Lupin and Jericco projects offer a promise of significant economic gains for Nunavut.
The Izoc copper zinc deposit also offers much potential. Mr. Speaker, my community of Kugluktuk has been proactive in getting involved with efforts to develop an all weather road and port.
Without such vital such development, Mr. Speaker, it'll be extremely difficult to realize our full potential.
Mr. Speaker, an advisory committee has been struck in recent months. Representatives from the GN, the mining companies, and the Kitikmeot Development Corporation, sit on this body.
I am pleased that the Hamlet of Kugluktuk has been able to secure additional representation on this body.
Kugluktuk is on record as supporting an all weather road from the community to Yellowknife but located further to the west than what is currently being proposed.
The community is concerned that the route not impact negatively on the Bathurst caribou herd.
Kugluktuk wants to ensure that the views of the people in Bathurst Inlet and Bay Chimo are fully considered.
Concerns have also been raised over the safety of ship traffic within Bathurst Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that Nunavut Association of Municipalities recently carried a motion in support of Kugluktuk on these issues.
I look forward to progress being made in this sector of the economy.
Progress that takes into account the interests and concerns of the communities most affected.
Member for Quttiktuq. Ms. Williams.
Member's Statement 090 - 1(5): International Women’s Day
It is hard to see our timers, so I will be speaking all day.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to have the opportunity to rise today and recognize, along with many other people around the world, International Women's Day.
Mr. Speaker, women have been making important contributions to their families, to their communities, and to society as a whole for generations.
Historically in Inuit culture, the role of the women and men were of equal importance.
We both had an essential role to play and the duties of one complemented the other.
For example, the man caught the seal and the woman would prepare it. (interpretation ends) The family would not be able to eat without the efforts of both.
I am proud to say that women are breaking down barriers and are making their marks in many fields; it is more common to see women in leadership roles throughout our government and private sector.
This being said Mr. Speaker; in too many other countries, women are denied fundamental equal rights with men.
There are still too many countries where women face extreme oppression and unspeakable forms of torture and even death.
Even in our own communities, Mr. Speaker, violence against women and children is often too common.
As Members of this Legislative Assembly, we must speak with one voice against such violence.
We need to work together to eliminate violence against women and children.
Mr. Speaker today is the day that reminds us of how far we have come.
It is also a day that reminds us of how far we have yet to go.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud to join this journey along with so many others as we celebrate International Women's Day.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Williams.
Member for Amittuq.
Member’s Statement 091 - 1(5): Interpretation at Memorial Service
I rise today to talk about the memorial that just took place.
It was extremely emotional; we've all gone through difficult journeys in our lives.
I send my sympathies to the family of Mr. Seewald.
Since today is International Women's Day, I was extremely proud of our interpreters Blandina Tulugarjuk and Mary Nashook.
Even though they had a very difficult job, they did an extremely good job of interpreting during the ceremony.
Member for Iqaluit. Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 092 - 1(5): Women Photographers Exhibit
As Minister Kattuk and Member Williams have said and stated, today is International Women's Day.
Tonight here in Iqaluit, a local resident and a constituent of mine, Kerry McClusky has been the catalyst, Mr. Speaker, to bring together the work of women photographers from across Nunavut and the NWT to present their work at a display tonight at the museum here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, this exhibition entitled “Femme Fatale” is in celebration of our northern women photographers and International Women's Day.
The exhibition starts at 7:00 pm and refreshments will be served.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kerry for her work in bringing this event to Iqaluit residents.
I invite all residents and members of this House to hopefully join Kerry tonight at the museum for this unique way to celebrate International Women's Day.
Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank my wife Oopa who has been home quite sick for the past week and although this House has been sitting as the members continually state, me included Mr. Speaker, our families come first.
Although we have been sitting late and this morning I left the house at 7:30, a woman’s work is never done, she has to stay home and continue to take care of the children and cook and everything else that a women has to do.
So on this special day for women I would like to take the opportunity to thank my wife for the work she has done in supporting me and my family over the last several years.
Member for Sanikiluaq.
Member's Statement 093 - 1(5): Graduation Ceremonies at Sanikiluaq
I would also like to thank my wife who has taken very good care of me.
I would like to recognize my wife on International Women’s Day.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a statement about a meeting that took place in Sanikiluaq in the fall.
There were four students that graduated, but the minister couldn’t make it down to the community because of the weather.
As a result, he wasn’t able to attend the ceremony.
The Premier also wanted to go, but did not for the same reason.
The names of the graduates, Lucie Mary Kavik and her brother Elijah Kavik, Elain Arragutainaq, Willie Arragutainaq, Brenda Kavik, Nancy Kittosuk and Christine Iqaluk.
I would like to congratulate these students for their graduation and for their hard work in completing their high school.
Member’s Statement 094 – 1(5): Spouses of Elected Officials
This is not the only day but it would be very good if it were Women’s Day every day.
I would like to talk about this issue.
There are 19 of us sitting around this table and all of us have spouses and we never realize how our spouses are more hurt than ourselves during the campaigns or if we lose an election.
I don’t think that we even begin to understand how they feel for us and how they support us.
When we are going through hard times for example, we get noticed and the media says a lot of negative things about us. I think it is our spouses who get hurt a lot more with those sharp words that are directed towards us.
We can never fully understand how they feel, and I think that we should be a little bit more sensitive towards our spouses, especially today, and with the kind of campaigns that we have when we run for hamlet council or for the Legislative Assembly.
No one ever seems to mention the spouses who go through harder times than we do.
Through experience, I know that my wife goes through very hard times and I would like to urge members to be more sensitive.
We hear a lot today about Jack Anawak saying something, or Glenn McLean or Peter Kilabuk.
But our spouses who are our solid foundation, our support I know these things hurt them more.
(interpretation ends) I just wanted to make the point that our spouses, for those of us who are in elected situations, probably hurt just as much if not more than we do and I think it is time that we give them the recognition that they deserve.
Speaker (interpretation): Ministers' Statements. Ministers' Statements.
Member's Statement 095 - 1(5): Working Relationship with RCMP
Uqaqti and cousin, I'd also like to recognize International Women's Day and I also would like to reiterate what my colleague Mr. Anawak said.
We do take some sharp criticism from the public out there.
Our spouses take it too because it is such a small territory that something said a thousand miles away, our spouses hear about it too.
So I would like to reiterate what Mr. Anawak said.
Uqaqti today has mixed feelings for me as one of happiness and one of great sadness.
Happiness that finally Baker Lake, after 10 years of lobbying both the GNWT and the Government of Nunavut on the old Jonah Amitnaaq School that today is the oldest school in Nunavut, full of asbestos, is finally being replaced and the community is very happy that finally their voice is being heard by the Government of Nunavut.
Thank you, Government of Nunavut you are listening to the people of Baker Lake.
The sadness today is that I, like all of Nunavut have a feeling of tragedy today for the RCMP officer that lost his life in Cape Dorset.
I know we have a sorry past with the RCMP but they are here to assist in keeping our communities safe and friendly.
I plead that the Minister of Justice helps keep our working relationship strong and secure with the RCMP in our communities.
In a lot of the communities, we only have one RCMP officer in them.
This could also place existing officers in one community in greater danger and lower public safety for all involved.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, cousin.
Member's Statement 096 - 1(5): Baker Lake Caucus Retreat Communiqué
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the passage of time and how fast time goes by when we are having fun.
Mr. Speaker, almost two years ago all Members of this House gathered in beautiful Baker Lake to begin the process of identifying priorities for us as a government during our term in office.
I was recently re-reading the statement that caucus issued at the conclusion of the retreat.
At that time, we identified a number of areas that required concerted attention and effort.
These included strengthening our education system, addressing the gaps in our housing, and community infrastructure, decentralization and ensuring a consultative and accountable government.
Mr. Speaker, I do believe we are making good progress in the area of investing in education.
I do believe that it was entirely appropriate for members to have spent a number of days scrutinizing in detail the 175 million dollar budget that makes up the single largest departmental budget in the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I recall comments that were made last year in some quarters to the affect that we were approving millions of budget dollars in a matter of minutes.
That kind of observation doesn't reflect well on us, on any of us.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Federal Minister complimented us this morning on good fiscal management.
I would add that an important component of good management includes a legislature that carefully considers every dollar that the executive proposes to spend.
Mr. Speaker, it won't be too long before spring is upon us and it may already be there in some jurisdictions within Nunavut.
We will be approaching the halfway point of our first term of office later this year.
I look forward to us having the opportunity at that time to fulfill our caucus commitment to reviewing the performance of the executive.
Given the emphasis that the opening address from the budget speech placed on government-wide program review over the coming months, I would think we ourselves should be looking at such issues as the size and structure of our committees and other bodies in the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Orders of the Day. Item 3.
Member for Rankin Inlet South / Whale Cove, Ms. Thompson.
Member’s Statement 097 – 1(5): Women’s Day Celebrations in Rankin Inlet
I would also like to thank the organizers of the International Women's Day in Rankin Inlet that is being held to celebrate this special day.
Before I say that, I think Picco should do more in his house.
The luncheon started today at noon and it was a first come, first served basis with room to accommodate a hundred people.
This was organized by the Katauyak Society in partnership with Pularvik Publoo Friendship Centre and the community learning centre.
Today's purpose was to recognize the work women have done to improve their living conditions, raise community awareness regarding women's issues and celebrate the achievements and victories of women.
It is also a day for women to speak out on issues affecting them and celebrate both their strength and wisdom.
At this time, I would like to recognize my mother Kanayuk Bruce today on Women's Day.
Two older sisters and two younger sisters, I'm right in the middle.
In my mom's day it wasn't very popular to have daughters as everybody can understand in our culture.
We do have a brother and some other brothers that my mom and dad have adopted into the family.
When I was running for MLA and my sister Kathy Towtongie had just run for NTI president, my mom made a comment that when we were born, she used to be let down because she would have this pregnancy and then she would have the baby and it would turn out to be another girl, another girl, another girl, another girl.
She didn't realize that when we grew up we would all want to be leaders and tell everybody what to do.
So I would just like to recognize her and I don't know what her strategy is but it worked and I know a woman can do this job just as well as anybody else.
Member's Statement 098 - 1(5): Status of Women Council Appointments
I want to acknowledge and thank the Minister Responsible for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
The department asked us to nominate individuals to the Status of Women Council.
Thank you for appointing the person that I nominated, the person for Pond Inlet.
Member's Statement 099 - 1(5): Tribute to Mother & Spouse on Women’s Day
Minister Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Today during International Women's Day, I want to acknowledge my mother in Pangnirtung and I want her to know that I am grateful to her.
I would also like to thank my wife.
My wife's the only one here out of all the other members’ spouses.
Mr. Speaker, women take care of and feed our children, they welcome people into our homes.
So we should be thanking women more for all the work that they do.
I know that when my colleagues go to my house she makes them feel welcome and feeds them.
I would like to thank my wife and acknowledge her hard work.
Mr. Speaker, if I were allowed to kiss here I would, but I don’t think that is allowed.
Speaker (interpretation): Going back to the Orders of the Day.
Member for Uqqummiut. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Member’s Statement 100 – 1(5): Families Affected by Cape Dorset Shooting
Mr. Speaker, my voice is still hoarse, I don’t think women like my voice any more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say on this special day that I have a very good bond with my wife and my children and my mother. Especially when I have been away from my family, I really miss my family and I get very moody when I have been away from home for too long.
I also wanted to mention the incident in Cape Dorset where the RCMP member was killed.
All the people of Nunavut have been touched by this tragedy. The family of the deceased, the family of the accused all deserve our sympathies. All the people of Nunavut feel this tragedy and we send our condolences and sympathies to all the families.
Member for Akulliq. Mr. Alakannuark.
Member’s Statement 101 – 1(5): Respect for All Things
First of all, my voice is a bit hoarse too, maybe there is something going around.
I also would like to thank my wife for raising all our kids and all the children that we raised are adults now.
She has raised our children for 22 years, and ever since she has been young she has been on her own when I have been travelling on the road.
She is very patient and she never changes and her behaviour is always stable. I think we are all aware that our spouses are very good to us so I would like to thank her for that.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to make a statement using Inuit Traditional Knowledge.
We have to respect other Inuit people as well as all animals and birds whether on land or sea. We were taught not to abuse them and not to kill them if we are not going to eat them.
This is true for insects or even flowers as well, we are not supposed to abuse them.
When I was a young child, even the bones were not allowed to be thrown on to the ground.
Mr. Speaker, there is much Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit that can be incorporated and used in Nunavut.
Through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, Inuit people had traditional laws and we can use them to plan for the future and our territory.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, it is rare that I have a constituents here from Cambridge Bay, so thank you for the opportunity.
I have two Public Works employees from Cambridge Bay, Brent Boddy the regional superintendent, in charge of Public Works and Joanne Apsimik of Cambridge Bay.
I already talked about my wife but I would like to recognize my wife Rosie and welcome her here.
Mr. Speaker, as some of the members know I really don't like watching myself on TV, most nights.
A Member: Yeah, right.
My wife Oopa, said that Eddie you are not smiling very much on TV and I was thinking about that.
It is hard to smile when you are answering questions on Health & Social Services.
But Mr. Speaker I looked around the Assembly today and I noticed one of the reasons why I wasn't smiling was because I miss my good colleague Mr. John Ningark.
He's been in Yellowknife and he always sends me these little drawings, these little funny cartoons and I miss them.
I'd like to take an opportunity to welcome to the Assembly a former MLA working now for the Member for Repulse Bay and Pelly Bay, Mr. John Ningark to the Assembly.
He is quite a drawer, Mr. Ningark.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome a person that we mentioned earlier in the statement naming the Status of Women Council and that person is Maureen Doherty. Maureen is well known by many people here in Iqaluit.
Maureen was also with me 14 years ago when I was the President of the Baffin Adult Education Society and we worked together on a project at that time to translate the child sexual abuse material kit into Inuktitut.
She has always been a community activist and so on.
I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome her to the gallery also.
I just noticed Brent in the back there, Kelvin had introduced him.
Brent was a long time resident of Iqaluit.
He had a boat and used to do a lot of hunting with a good friend of ours Mr. Cody Kenneally. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Brent back to Iqaluit and to the Assembly.
It is not very often that I recognize people from my home community.
But today I have two.
Thanks to the beloved Minister of the Power Corporation for hiring them and bringing them to Iqaluit to train them.
Today I’d like to recognize Rosie Iyago of the Power Corporation and Carmen Ikuutaq.
I would like to recognize an elder who is visiting in the House and he used to live in the Kivalliq region.
Celestine Erkijuk.
He is a resident of Iqaluit.
I have not had a chance to recognize many people.
Today I would like to recognize an individual. My mother passed away in 1962 and my daughter is named after her so I would like to recognize Annie my daughter.
I also want to recognize one of the new Women’s Council appointees, Rhoda Ungalaq, who is sitting over there.
Also, Maureen Doherty, also a new council member.
Orders of the Day. Item 5.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Ms. Williams.
I would like to recognize an old classmate I went to school with in Churchill, Manitoba.
I would like to recognize Rhoda Ungalaq.  I would also like to recognize my daughter who is one of the pages here in the Assembly.
When I asked her what the Members of the Legislative Assembly were doing, her understanding was that they are talking about millions and millions of dollars for a long, long time and that they agree with each other.
She feels that they are very good at that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Williams.
I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize an individual in the gallery.
I would like to recognize my daughter Angela Nutarak.
I would like to recognize an individual that has been with the church in Cape Dorset for quite some time and a very good friend, Daniel Aupaluk.
I know Mr. Ng already recognized my staff, but I would also like to recognize and appreciate Brent Boddy who has done a very good job for the Public Works Department in the Kitikmeot Region.
Also Joanne Apsimik who is also one of my staff, they are very good support for me in that area.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Member for Nanulik.
Question 094 - 1(5): Ublivik Contract
He said during question period recently that he thought the contractors of Ublivik Boarding Home had been changed.
Has it indeed been changed and who are the contractors now.
Minister of Health & Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the contractors who run the boarding home in Winnipeg have changed ownership in that 51% of the company running the contract, has bought the full shares of the contract from the previous winner of the contract.
That new owner is Nunasi Corporation in partnership with the Regional Inuit Organizations, development organizations in the Keewatin, Sakku Corporation.
Is this following the government rules or policies, is it okay to be able to do that without the involvement of the government.
Yes, indeed Mr. Speaker in business, for example, it could be a boarding home or it could be a contract. If you changed ownership the contractors in place still continue, and there's many examples of that in business, in hockey for example if you get traded from one team to another if you have a contract it doesn't matter about the ownership of the team, the contracts are still valid.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, the contract to run the boarding home, the ownership has changed but the contract is still valid, for the period of time the award was made.
Speaker (interpretation): Supplementary.
Can he tell me who owns the 49% of the business remaining.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, if my memory serves me, I believe it’s TC Enterprises, that has the 49%.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Will there be a new building or are there plans to replace the building, it's an old building and the patients that travel to Winnipeg have concerns about the service that is provided there.
Is the minister aware of those concerns.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are aware of several concerns with the current boarding home itself, not the operation of the boarding home but the actual physical infrastructure that we are using.
That's a property that we have been using, we've been using that for quite a long time, previous to the Government of Nunavut in the NWT government.
Mr. Speaker, I have been approached by different organizations and groups, in the process of trying to identify if we should have a new building on the ground. At the same time we would want to point out that our patients, escorts that are travelling to Winnipeg, deserve the best treatment possible.
That includes the physical infrastructure they are in, and that's something we are looking at right now as a department.
Question 095 - 1(3): Change of Ownership for Government Contracts