EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, for the information that has been made public to date, it seems that efforts have been made to ensure that northerners have opportunities to contribute to the Canadian International Polar Year project.
Can the minister update this House on what types of financial assistance and other resources will be made available to Nunavut communities participating in these projects?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal government provides the funding for research, so I cannot respond to that question as to what kind of financial assistance there will be for Nunavut but I will look into that and table it in the House.
I am aware of the researchers that come up here, and we provide research licenses to the proponents.
But, I’m not about to respond to the financial assistance part at this time.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Minister.
I recognize that some Nunavut communities will be popular destinations for polar research and scientists because of their locations because of previous activities, or because of existing support networks.
How can other Nunavut communities take advantage of employment and training opportunities with International Polar Year projects?
According to my knowledge, this will be a three-year project starting in 2007.
I’m very pleased that the federal government stated that they will be researching what kinds of impacts Inuit culture has experienced.
I’m very pleased with the research that will be occurring, but I cannot tell you exactly what they will be doing but I stated earlier on that they will require licenses.
I will look to the federal government to find out the exact details.
I understand that you will be issuing licenses to the researchers.
In the past, researchers and scientists came and went and rarely shared the results of their research with Inuit.
Can the minister explain how the results of International Polar Year projects will be shared with Nunavut communities?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I attended the initial meeting and we no longer practice the old practices as in the NWT days.
We need to inform the impacted communities and we don’t want to replay the old...perhaps in English. (interpretation ends) It was often said that an Inuit family consisted a father, a mother, a daughter, a son, and anthropologists. Now, we can include the scientists.
(interpretation) So that’s the plan for the International Polar Year projects, and we do want to work closely with the researchers and scientists but we do need to be involved fully.
Question 020 – 2(4): Status of Nunavut and Manitoba Road Project (Alagalak)
Although we can’t see the stars, or see the astrology through the roof of the community facilities, I will direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
I think that the consultation tour for Manitoba and Nunavut road has been completed and they toured Arviat, too. Have they made a report as to their next step?
Minister for Economic Development and Transportation, Minister Simailak.
The consultation tour in the Keewatin region for the Nunavut to Manitoba road; they consulted with the communities and that consultation tour has been completed.
They suggested that they build the road closer to the shoreline, and they believe that it would cost $1.2 billion.
So that’s what they have stated and they’re looking to locate the sites.
They will be provided with $1 million funding for the research or study started last year in April 2005.
Yes, Baker Lake, I’m sure they are yelling, “No!”
And last year we were told, in the summer of 2007, that they would dump the first load for the construction of the road. So has there been any funding set aside to start the first dumping of the loads to construct the road?
No, I have not heard if they will be dumping their first load.
I don’t think they have started looking for the site but the site they suggested will still require research. We still require wildlife research and it will cost approximately $1.2 billion.
I’m not sure where the funding would come from. I don’t think it’s being considered as yet.
I have not heard of whether they will be dumping their first load.
Perhaps, we were misled.
We were told last year the study that was done for Manitoba to Nunavut road that they would look at all of the pros and cons but there were three issues on the Manitoba side. They toured and consulted with the communities, and we were told according to the traditional knowledge of Inuit which area is the best location.
Listening to them, $1.2 billion is not such a huge sum of money. The province of Manitoba will provide funding. That’s what we have heard.
They would start expending some funds. Perhaps it will cost a little over $500 million in Nunavut.
According to your knowledge, as you have stated you have no knowledge about the first dumping of the load. We’re near the end of the study and nothing is still coming.
Perhaps you will be meeting with them this coming winter.
Yes, during the study our officials from the Department of Transportation worked with the Kivalliq Inuit Association on the Nunavut to Manitoba road.
And they have a committee or a working group. So I will look into them to figure out where their progression is with their funding.
I will ask them: have we looked for the location of the road?
Kivalliq Inuit Association and Manitoba…these two.
I will look into those and inform my colleague once I get the information.
Perhaps if you can’t respond to my question at this time you can respond to me next time around.
I feel that this project has to get going and if you happen to get information on that Manitoba to Kivalliq road, if you can inform me on what the progress is?
That would be good for me.
Minister of Transportation, Minister Simailak.
I expect that my staff is already in the process of trying to find out the question of the member and I will inform the member as soon as I hear.
Question 021 – 2(4): Status of Women Meeting Report January 2006 (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
Last January 17 to 20, 2006 a symposium was held here in Iqaluit to discuss issues relating to violence against women and also violence against children and elders.
A very good report was produced from the final forum.
I hold it here so you can see. It summarizes recommendations for a strategy to eliminate violence against women.
I highly recommend that everybody who has an opportunity get that report and read it, not just the members of this House but for the general public as well.
My question for the minister is would the minister tell me when the strategy will be finalized, as they recommended in this report.
Minister responsible for the Status of Women Council, Ms. Aglukkaq.
The government has formed an interdepartmental working group to put in place an implementation plan of that report.
I’m not sure exactly when that report will be completed or released to the members.
One of the initiatives that came out of that was Bill 12, which we dealt with in November. There is an interdepartmental working group putting together the implementation plan and what resources will be required to implement the recommendations arising from the symposium.
I believe the committee called the Violence Against Women Working Group, VAWWG.
Could the minister clarify for me, and tell the House, who she expects will be writing the report. Will it be the working group or will it be a public servant or will it be consultants from here, from the south, or elsewhere in Nunavut?
The departmental working group will be putting the implementation plan together. You’ll note within the recommendations, a lot of those recommendations are within the responsibility of various departments, and each policy official from each department will put their pieces together, coordinated essentially by between EIA, as well as Health, to present to this House.
It sound like the working group has got a lot of work ahead of it.
Would the minister commit to the House to circulate a draft to all MLAs and the community groups, before the report is finalized, and tabled in the House?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Minister Aglukkaq.
I will commit to providing the implementation plan to the House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madame Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
The Finance Minister yesterday in his budget address mentioned that we’re going to have many pressing financial constraints in Nunavut in the next fiscal year and probably for a few years to come. In this report it looks like there’s going to be a tremendous demand for our resources. It is necessary for us to support the recommendations that the working group is recommending.
Would the minister explain what sort of resources she anticipates being required for support implementation of the recommendations in the report?
In terms of the dollars that will be required to implement recommendations coming out of that, once we have the implementation plan in place we’ll have a better idea in terms of the dollars that will be required to put forth those recommendations.
Some recommendations fall within the territorial government, some community agencies or the federal government.
The idea is also to work collaboratively with other service providers in our communities; not just the Government of Nunavut but the Hamlets, the federal government, and so on.
So in terms of the exact amount, I can’t speak to that at this point in time. Once we have the implementation plan we’ll have a better idea the cost implications to that and whether those projects are short-term or long-term will be identified as well.
Question 022 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Finance, some questions on his minister statement that he made today on calculating financial management and then consolidation of positions.
In his statement earlier today he had indicated that effective April 1, the finance divisions from the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs will be consolidated to the Department of Finance and effective June 1, payment processing functions in Department of Health and Social Services will move to Department of Finance.
Can he give us an indication of how they determined to go with those first?
I know he said this is the beginning of process but how do they determine to amalgamate Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs positions and take over certain functions in the Department of Health.
How did they come up with that plan, I mean, looking at where to start and strengthening our financial management?
Minister for Finance, Mr. Simailak.
The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs volunteered to transfer their finance positions to Department of Finance and also the Minister of Health and Social Services volunteered her department to be the guinea pig as we are trying to strengthen financial management, most of the words she used a number of times at various meetings.
That’s basically what it boils down to: both departments volunteered their, both sections in their departments to be transferred back to the Department of Finance.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Tootoo
Let me just ask the Minister of Finance …it’s nice that those two departments volunteered to be guinea pigs. In the process, as a department and looking at the overall financial situation, financial management situation throughout the government, have they determined which areas need to be addressed?
You know, some are more urgent than others.
Like paying bills for Department of Health is our problem. The over-expenditures there are a problem, I hear that. Paying bills government-wide is a problem too.
Do they have a plan or have they looked at all the departments and come up with a way of prioritizing where problem areas are and what they are and plan to address those?
The departments that volunteered their finance sections to be transferred back to the Department of Finance. We are going ahead with those two departments.
That will give us a very good idea of how much of a difference we can make by doing it within the Department of Finance and also it will allow the two departments, Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and Health can concentrate on other areas rather than just they’re trying to pay their bills everyday.
It’s going to be a learning process for all three departments.
We are starting to look at what other areas and what other departments we should consider but that is still in the thinking stage.
Now, with these two departments doing this, this coming spring, it will give us a very good idea of where we should go next and what we should try next if anything.
So, it’s going to be a real learning process that we want to go through and will be very good work for us to do with the office of the Auditor General in terms of new things to strengthen financial management across this government.
I’m just wondering if the thinking stage is now trying to determine where to start and what to look at other than what has already been offered up on the table, so to speak, with those two departments.
But one of the things that I know has been problems in the past, and the Department of Finance is a central agency that puts together our main estimates from the departments, they get all the information to provide updates to the members and on the government as a whole through where we’re at.
But, I know that in the past there have been problems with some departments being able to provide financial information in a timely manner and cases of over spending where there is over spending.
Would the minister take a look at including those as indicators of areas that they may want to look at addressing first to help strengthen the financial management in those particular areas?
As a result of our review of the Government of Nunavut’s Financial Structures Report in 2006, there were nine separate actions plans that were recommended and approved.
We are continuing to work through all of those, and we’ll continue to work through all of those.
Just as a few examples: expand accountability framework, enhance the strategy for public accounts, and so on, and so on.
We are everyday working on all of those.
Now, with these two departments volunteering their finance sections to be transferred back to finance, that’s just another step in the right direction I think. And, we will continue to just work away at it.
All areas are being looked at; departments being late with providing their information, we’re continuing to work with those departments to solve that problem, and so on.
So, there are whole numbers of areas that are ongoing at the same time in terms of strengthening financial management across government.
The minister indicated in his last response that there were a number of different action plans, or whatever. I don’t know if that’s what he called them.
But, would he commit to providing those to Standing Committee of Government Operations and Accountability, to have a look at so that we can also monitor and check on the progress that is being made in the area of strengthening financial management within the government?
Members, we’ll take a 20-minute break, and then we’ll return after 20 minutes.
>>House recessed at 15:19 and resumed at 15:34
Tabled Document 013 – 2(4): Article 26 Inuit Impact Benefit Agreements – Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (Okalik)
I wish to table the following document for clarification purposes: Article 26 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement dealing with Inuit impact and benefit agreements verifying that IIBAs can only be negotiated on Inuit owned land.
Tabled Document 014 – 2(4): Wise Woman of the Year 2007 – Meeka Alivaktuk Biography (Aglukkaq)
Tabled Document 015 – 2(4): Letter to NorthwesTel Regarding Nunavut Representation on the Board of Directors and Call Display Services in Gjoa Haven (Aglukkaq)
I have two items here. I wish to table the bio for the winner of the Wise Woman Award, Meeka Alivaktuk of Pangnirtung, as per my minister’s statement.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table today a copy of my recent correspondence to the chairman of the Board of Directors of NorthwesTel. In my letter I urge the corporation to take action and provide call display services to the community of Gjoa Haven.
This service is essential to addressing concerns that arisen from a number of my constituents who have received abusive and harassing calls. I also urge the corporation to take steps to ensure that Nunavut is represented on its Board of Directors.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Item 14.
Tabled Document 016 – 2(4): Presentation to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service Public Hearing on the Proposal to List Polar Bears as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act (Netser)
I wish to table the following document: the presentation to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service public hearing.
Tabled Document 017 – 2(4): Public Accounts Non-Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Consolidated Financial Statements March 21, 2005 (2 documents) (Simailak)
I wish to table the 2004-05 Public Accounts of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. Public Accounts consists of two documents; the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, and the unaudited, non-consolidated financial statements.
Tabled Document 018 – 2(4): Tagged Seal – Scientific Pictures from Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a photograph from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. They are scientific pictures of hacked seals which our elders would consider cruelty to animals.
Tabled Document 019 – 2(4): Letter to NorthwesTel Regarding Nunavut Representation on the Board of Directors and Providing Payment Agents in the Smaller Communities (Arvaluk)
I wish to table today a copy of my recent correspondence to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NorthwesTel.
In my letter I urge the corporation to ensure that payment agents are made available in Nunavut communities. I also urge the corporation to take steps to ensure that Nunavut is represented on the Board of Directors.
I look forward to tabling the chairman’s reply to my letter which I have not yet received.
Tabled Document 020 – 2(4): Cancelling the Flight Information Centre in Yellowknife - Letter to NAV Canada (Peterson)
I wish to table today a copy of my recent correspondence to the President of NAV Canada.
In my letter I urge NAV Canada to respond to concerns of the northern aviation community on the issues I raised in my Member’s Statement today. I look forward to tabling the president’s reply, which I have not yet received.
Motion 002 – 2(4): Adjournment for the Day (Tootoo)
Pursuant to Rule 46, and mother nature, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, that the Assembly adjourn for the day.
Speaker (interpretation): The Member for Iqaluit Centre’s motion is in order.
The motion is carried, and we’ll go to Orders of the Day.
This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 15:40
Friday, March 9, 2007
Pages 104 – 156
Opening Prayer 104
Ministers’ Statements 104
Members’ Statements 108
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 110
Petitions 128
Tabling of Documents 128
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 129
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 130
Report of the Committee of the Whole 154
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 154
Orders of the Day 155
Friday, March 9, 2007 104
009 – 2(4): Long Term Service Award Ceremonies (Tapardjuk) 104
010 – 2(4): Policing in Nunavut (Okalik) 105
011 – 2(4): Technical Training Innovation (Brown) 105
012 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management at HSS (Aglukkaq) 106
013 – 2(4): Inuit and Dene Games (Tapardjuk) 107
022 – 2(4): Literary Prize Winner – Jennifer Kadjuk of Repulse Bay (Mapsalak) 108
023 – 2(4): Long Term Service Awards (Peterson) 108
024 – 2(4): Canada Winter Games Coaches (Evyagotailak) 109
025 – 2(4): Congratulations to Canada Winter Games Athletes (Netser) 109
023 – 2(4): Medical Escorts for Elders (Mapsalak) 110
024 – 2(4): Enforcement of Wildlife Act (Curley) 113
025 – 2(4): Survey of Caribou Herds (Evyagotailak) 115
026 – 2(4): Ongoing Problems with Medical Travel in the Baffin Region (Barnabas) 116
027 – 2(4): Process for Overflow at Medical Boarding Homes (Tootoo) 120
028 – 2(4): Consultations with Yellowknife Weather Station (Peterson) 122
029 – 2(4): Environmental Clean Up of Old Clyde River Site (Arreak) 124
030 – 2(4): Boarding Home Contracts (Tootoo) 126
021 – 2(4): Policing in Nunavut & Policing in the Territories (2 documents) (Okalik) 128
022 – 2(4): Nunatsiaq News Article “Medical Travel a Stressful Time for All” March 9, 2007 (Tootoo) 129
023 – 2(4): Petition to NorthwesTel for Call Display from Residents of Gjoa Haven (Aglukkaq) 129
Bill 02 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2006-07 – Notice 129
Bill 03 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2006-07 – Notice 129
Bill 01 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2007-08 – Consideration in Committee – Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs 130
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Hon. Peter Kilabuk)(interpretation): Good morning.
Good morning, Premier and Members.
Minister for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Human Resources, Minister Tapardjuk.
Minister’s Statement 009 – 2(4): Long Term Service Award Ceremonies (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the continued effort and contributions of our employees who have served long periods of employment within the public service.
Long-term service awards ceremonies recognizing employees with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of continuous service with the Government of Nunavut including service carried over from the Government of the Northwest Territories were held in 23 communities in Nunavut for approximately 600 employees this fiscal year.
I would like to acknowledge this year’s 40-year recipient, Maggie Gordon from Iqaluit, who works in the Department of Education.
There are also seven 30-year recipients: Jeannie Iou from Iqaluit, who works in the Department of Health and Social Services, Carl Isnor from Cambridge Bay, who works at the Nunavut Arctic College and from the Department of Education, Johnny Meeko from Sanikiluaq, Celina Tucktoo from Taloyoak, Elizabeth Iksiktaaryuk and Sally Seeteenak, both of whom are from Baker Lake, and Angeline Simik from Chesterfield Inlet.
I would also like to thank my colleagues who were able to participate at these awards: Leona Aglukkaq, Levinia Brown, Tagak Curley, Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Peter Kilabuk, Patterk Netser, Paul Okalik, Ed Picco, and Hunter Tootoo.
The next long-term service award ceremonies will be held in 2008-09 fiscal year.
Please join me in acknowledging the dedication of our employees, our most valued assets.
Minister’s Statement 010 – 2(4): Policing in Nunavut (Okalik)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am dedicated to the improvement of the safety of every community across Nunavut.
Later today, I will be tabling the Nunavut Policing Report and Pan-Territorial Policing Report.
The three northern territories jointly contracted an independent company to hold community consultations and to report on their findings.
Consultations were conducted in ten Nunavut communities and they expressed their views on five major aspects of policing:
community justice
crime prevention
community safety
communications, and;
the roles and priorities of policing in Nunavut.
Participants in the consultation process recognized and appreciate the policing services now being provided by the RCMP.
However, the report also notes that there are some service delivery challenges.