EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
217 – 1(5): Suicide Rate High in Nunavut (Irqittuq) 1481
218 – 1(5): Search & Rescue Committee Volunteers (Ng) 1482
219 – 1(5): Tursarvik School Breakfast Program Funding (Alakannuark) 1483
220 – 1(5): Cambridge Bay Session (Picco) 1484
245 - 1(5): Public Service Act Review (Tootoo) 4
246 - 1(5): Housing Units Planned for 2002 (Puqiqnak) 4
247 - 1(5): Inuit Traditional Sewing (Williams) 4
248 – 1(5): New Inuktitut Writing System (Havioyak) 4
249 – 1(5): Housing Task Force Recommendations (Irqittuq) 4
250 – 1(5): Fuel Subsidy for Hunters (Iqaqrialu) 4
251 – 1(5): Invoices Paid Within 20 Days (McLean) 4
252 – 1(5): High Price of Goods and Services (Alakannuark) 4
028 – 1(5): Status of Contracting Back 2001 – 2002 (Okalik) 1502
Motion 006 – 1(5): Changes to Standing Committee Portfolios (Iqaqrialu) 1502
Bill 9 – Change of Name Act 2001 – Second Reading 1503
Bill 5 – Loan Authorization Act, 2001-2002 – Third Reading 1555
Bill 11 – Supplementary Appropriations Act No. 1, 2001-2002 – Third Reading 1555
Bill 7 – Integrity Act – Third Reading 1555
Bill 5 - Loan Authorization Act 2001-2002 1502
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak (10.00 p.m.), Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Minister’s Statement 079 – 1(5): Government of Nunavut Unveils Inuit Values CD/Poster Project
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House today of an exciting new initiative being undertaken within the Government of Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Today Education Minister Peter Kilabuk and Health and Social Services Minister Ed Picco will unveil a series of posters that have been developed through the co-operative work of their two departments.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend two very special individuals for their hard work and dedication with this project.
Caroline Anawak and Margaret Joyce have spent the last several years identifying these values and using them as the cornerstone for their work in suicide prevention.
(interpretation) The posters, designed by Arviat elder Donald Uluadluak, visually represent values that have been the cornerstone of Inuit culture for generations.
By working collaboratively, the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services have created a concrete example of how Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is being developed and used across government departments in the development of new programs and policies.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education has produced CDs that will be sent to Nunavut schools.
Schoolteachers will be able to use the information, including the drawings, stories, PowerPoint presentation and screen savers within their classrooms.
(interpretation) The Department of Health and Social Services will distribute copies of the posters to Nunavut health centres, as well as use them to promote healthy lifestyles and suicide prevention.
These are two significant initiatives, Mr. Speaker, and the value of the content of this work cannot be underestimated as we, as a government, endeavour to improve the lives of Nunavummiut. The government is committed to creating the circumstances to allow Nunavummiut to take full advantage of their potential.
(interpretation) Now, Mr. Speaker, Minister Kilabuk and Minister Picco will publicly unveil a selection of these wonderful Inuit Values posters, which will be displayed in this room for the duration of the session. Koanaqutit, Merci beaucoup, Monsieur President.
Minister's Statement 080 – 1(5): Phase II Decentralization Announcement
I have to make up for all the time that I spent elsewhere, so I am trying to make as many statements today as possible.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce phase II of the decentralization plan.
This year we will be decentralizing three departments and Nunavut Arctic College Headquarters to four communities:
The Baffin Regional Office for the Department of Health and Social Services will relocate to Pangnirtung.
This move will consist of 25 positions;
(interpretation) The Department of Public Works and Services will complete its decentralization commenced last year by transferring the remaining 6 positions in their Baffin Regional Office to Pond Inlet;
The Department of Finance and Administration will set up their Baffin Regional Office in Igloolik with 17 positions being decentralized; and
(interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College will decentralize 13 headquarters positions to Arviat.
Mr Speaker, there are, consequently, a number of our staff affected by this decision and I would like to assure the Members of this Assembly that all affected employees will be treated fairly and with respect. (interpretation) Similar to the process used in Phase I, there will be three options for employees to consider; relocation to the community, to accept another position within the Government or finally, resignation.
The implementation of the first year of decentralization has been a success.
The communities, the departments and staff have made decentralization a reality.
Currently of the 72 positions that were relocated, 40 positions are now filled, and we are continuing to staff the remaining positions.
(interpretation ends) The support from this Assembly has been tremendous and I encourage that to continue.
It will take all of us to ensure that this year and next, our final year of decentralization, is equally successful and completed in a timely and effective manner.
Ma'na, Uqaqti.
Minister's Statement 081 – 1(5): Status of Territorial Parks Inuit Impact & Benefits Agreements
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Koanaqutit, Uqaqti.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to update the House on the status of our negotiations with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the three Regional Inuit Associations toward an Umbrella Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement for Territorial Parks in Nunavut.
As you know, in 1993, when the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was signed, special provisions were included for Parks in Nunavut.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement recognized the importance to Inuit of both National and Territorial parks, and the importance of ensuring that the benefits of park development must positively impact Inuit.
Last year, my department began discussions with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the three Regional Inuit Associations toward the development of a “made-in-Nunavut” IIBA.
This IIBA will address the opportunities parks can provide in our communities and for Nunavummiut.
It will also include training programs, a stronger link between our parks and visitor centres, and assisting our Inuit tourism operators in accessing necessary funds to help build and operate their guiding, outfitting, or other tourism operations.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Premier Okalik and President Quassa met to reaffirm our commitment toward the IIBA process, and to a timely completion to the negotiations.
They have agreed that if substantive progress is not achieved toward an IIBA by June 1, a facilitator will be appointed to advance the discussions to completion.
Following the completion of the IIBA, we will begin the equally important work of developing our park system in partnership with NTI, regions, and communities in Nunavut.
Some of these projects are already in development.
For example, in the Kitikmeot, we have a number of projects planned for this summer:
We will continue to work with Kugluktuk towards nomination of the Coppermine River as a Canadian Heritage River to identify the cultural, natural and recreational values residents of Kugluktuk place on the River.
We will also be continuing the development of Kukluk Park in Kugluktuk.
We will be revisiting the plans developed several years ago for Ovajuq Park which is becoming world renowned for its bird watching opportunities, and we will be updating the Arctic Coast Visitor Centre here in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, last year my predecessor Minister Kilabuk, committed to undertaking attraction development projects for non-decentralized communities – projects which I also support.
This summer we will be working with the communities of Kugaaruk, Hall Beach, and Coral Harbour to identify and develop community attractions that will help promote those communities to our visitors.
We will also be working with Gjoa Haven to prepare for the centennial celebrations of Amundsen’s successful journey through the Northwest Passage.
This story is of global interest, and we will be working with Amundsen’s home community in Norway to plan a celebration.
Mr. Speaker, we are entering an exciting time in Parks.
The completion of the IIBA will mark the start of the development of a new made-in-Nunavut Territorial Parks Program, and allow us to focus our attention on building that program.
Minister's Statement 082 – 1(5): Granular Materials Transfer
Hon. Manitok Thompson: Qujannamiik, Uqaqti.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues may be aware, the Department of Public Works and Services has administered a Granular Materials Revolving Fund program.
This program was established under the Government of the Northwest Territories in 1991 and involved nine Nunavut communities.
Over the past five years, the program has primarily assisted with the management of granular stockpiles in those nine communities.
Mr. Speaker, future direction has evolved such that the Department of Public Works and Services will no longer administer this program.
As a result, I am pleased to inform you that my department is in a position to transfer the stockpiles of granular material that currently exist in the communities of Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Repulse Bay, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Kimmirut and Clyde River.
Officials from my department have been in contact with each of these communities to initiate the transfer of the existing stockpiles to them.
So far, the response received from communities has been favourable.
It is my hope that the communities will accept these transfers so that the existing materials will assist them and their residents with their future granular needs.
Minister's Statement 083 – 1(5): Art for the Government of Nunavut Buildings
Mr. Speaker, I want to invite the members of this House to attend the opening tomorrow of the display of art at the new Government of Nunavut building here in Cambridge Bay.
Last year, the Department of Sustainable Development initiated a program to purchase the work of local artists for display in every Government of Nunavut building in Nunavut.
The program has been very successful, involving more than fifty individual artists.
(interpretation ends) In the lobby of the new government building here in Cambridge Bay, members will see on display the beautiful creations of local artists, which have been selected for purchase by a committee made up of community residents.
I think all members will agree that their choices will provide in this new building a strong link between the community and the Territorial Government, as well as promote the recognition of our artists and the important role they play in the Nunavut economy.
Mr. Speaker, I hope all members will be able to join me at 7 p.m. this evening in the lobby of the new Government of Nunavut building, to recognize the talent and creativity of the artists of Cambridge Bay.
Member's Statement 210 – 1(5): Executive Masters Program Graduates – Helen Klengenberg & Beatrice Bernhart
Mr. Havioyak: Koanaqutit, Uqaqti.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two former residents of Kugluktuk for their recent success in graduating from the Executive Masters of Business Administration Program.
The EMBA program was a joint partnership offered through St. Mary's University in Halifax and Nunavut Arctic College.
The EMBA program began in 1998 with an initial enrolment of 18 students.
In October of 2000, Helen Klengenberg graduated from the program followed by Beatrice Bernhart earlier this month.
Helen is now a resident of Rankin Inlet and Beatrice is a resident of Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, programs like this provide a type of educational opportunity that will help our territory's residents gain the skills necessary to build our future.
People like Beatrice and Helen are role models for our youth.
I ask all the members to join me and my colleagues from Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove in congratulating Helen and Beatrice on their great success.
Member's Statement 211 – 1(5): Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a statement about suicide and suicide prevention.
It is something that is a priority within our government.
There are quite a large number of completed suicides and there have been two in my community and one was just recent.
With those types of incidents, it is very hard on the community and on the residents.
To try to deal with this issue, a number of youth in my community are going to be taken out on the land approximately 20 miles away from the community and I think there are going to be approximately 40 youth that are going to be sent out on the land.
The youth will be walking from that point to the community.
One of the goals is to give the youth an opportunity to think about and realize what life is about.
It is something that I am very proud of as a resident of Clyde River and I am very proud of all these youth.
They are all teenagers who will be walking and overnighting on the trail on their trek back to our community.
They will be sleeping over night out on the tundra and they are walking to make the youth realize that suicide is a problem and that youth have the ability to overcome these problems and to realize what they can do with their lives.
This was announced on the radio this morning and again in the afternoon.
It is something that I am very proud of.
We know that the two communities in my constituency, Broughton Island and Clyde River are co-operating more and more so that the residents of these two communities will have a better lifestyle.
There is a close connection and co-operation amongst the youth in Nunavut.
Speaker: Members' Statements. Mr. Tootoo.
Member's Statement 212 – 1(5): Public Service Agreement with GN
Mr. Speaker, I would like to first start off by thanking Stewart Komak for the fine gift of artwork that he prepared for me, it is very beautiful, I had an opportunity look at it.
I hope to meet the young man and thank him personally.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to rise today with my colleagues in Cambridge Bay in this House.
I had hoped to be arriving here on Tuesday, but the Cambridge Bay wind saw fit to provide me and my colleague across the floor from Iqaluit West a spontaneous visit to Kugluktuk where the local staff from Culture, Language, Elders & Youth and DSD were very helpful and also very pleased to receive the Tim Horton's donuts that I had planned to bring here.
Also we spent an unplanned night in Yellowknife where I fortunately was able to replenish my supply of Tim Horton's donuts to bring here.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut reacted with relief to the news this week that our territory will not be facing the possibility of a general strike in the public service.
As we have witnessed over the past few weeks in Iqaluit with the worsening municipal labour situation, the costs to communities and families of such a widespread disruption in public services would have been most serious in our communities.
I believe it is also important to note that in a jurisdiction with a high cost of living and the high cost of housing it makes families survive from pay cheque to pay cheque.
A strike is something that many working people simply cannot afford to endure, regardless of their views on the merits of the agreement.
Mr. Speaker, we need to think of ways to help us avoid the re-occurrence of costly and protracted disputes.
We need to think of ways to ensure that if the give and take of the bargaining process does not achieve consensus, then there are alternatives to deadlock and confrontation.
Mr. Speaker, the Public Service Act that we inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories was amended in the 1990's by a former government to remove the possibility of arbitration.
We hear and speak a lot about the need to make all legislation more consistent with our values in Nunavut.
Some of the legislation that has been introduced to date reflects this very well.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that having arbitration as an option is something that the government should seriously consider reinstating into the legislation as it reviews its Public Service Act.
Such an option would be much more consistent with our preference for consensus over confrontation.
Member's Statement 213 – 1(5): Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk
Mr. Speaker, I would prefer to be out on the land but I am very happy to be here.
I was out of town for the past few days in Kugaaruk with my colleague Mr. Alakannuark.
We got stuck due to the weather conditions here in Cambridge Bay.
But I am very pleased that while we were in Kugaaruk that we were able to do some touring and some fishing in Tasiqjuak.
We had a very good tour of Taloyoak, Uqsuqtuq, Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk.
We met the people and I met people from Repulse Bay that I used to live with.
My younger brother Josepee was there also and I was very pleased to meet those individuals.
I would also like to thank the Minister of Education and Health & Social Services for unveiling the posters.
Suicide is one of the priorities of the Nunavut Government and my wife Caroline works very hard on the issue of suicide and suicide prevention.
The member from Uqqumiut also mentioned that he was very pleased that the youth are going to be trekking from out on the land to their community.
As a government, listening to the Minister of Social Services, it is something that we are going to have to work on. It is not something that is going to go away by itself.
We have to work with the people and have a closer working relationship with them and with the youth.
I know there are a lot of youth out there who have a very hard lifestyle and there has been a change in their culture.
Our lifestyle today is very different from before and we have to work harder on behalf of our youth.
As community residents, we have to look for ways to do better.
We can work through the government but the government itself cannot stop suicide.
It is up to the people and the community residents to work together to combat suicide.
I am urging the people out there to work harder on issues that are youth related.
We have to understand the youth and what their problems are and what they would like to do.
We have to be more receptive to the youth and work harder so that there will be less suicide in our territory.
Member's Statement 214 – 1(5): Mining in Nunavut and the Closure of Polaris Mine
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to those who have been speaking in this House about mining in Nunavut.
I have appreciated listening to the comments of my colleagues from Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
I have sensed clearly the enthusiasm about the economic development potential for their constituents and communities.
Mr. Speaker, as members know the Polaris mine in my constituency in the high arctic will be closing in the near future.
Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a meeting on this issue with stakeholders from the Government of Nunavut, the Federal Government and Cominco Mines.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of Sustainable Development for his efforts in working towards a GN position that will ensure the process of closing down the mine and cleaning up the site is done in a manner that puts the needs of community residents first.
I recognize the complexity of the challenge ahead and I look forward to helping as the Nunavut Government defines our place in the puzzle.
As stakeholders, we have serious responsibilities in this matter and the government must take a leadership role in ensuring these responsibilities are met.
Mr. Speaker, a wise person once remarked that we are only borrowing the land from our children.
I believe that if communities have confidence, that mining development will take place in an environmentally responsible fashion and in a manner that recognizes a response to the fact that sudden growth can bring with it a number of social problems.
Then communities will be in a better position to fully embrace such development and to participate as equal partners.
Member's Statement 215 – 1(5): Housing Shortage and Overcrowding
Mr. Speaker, I was sitting at the other end yesterday but I appreciate being moved back here to my proper place.
Mr. Speaker, on Saturday I went to the community of Taloyoak and we didn't quite make it to the celebrations that were occurring there.
Even though that's the case and the fishing derby didn't go as expected, there were some people that made it back home eventually and there were no problems.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the issue of housing in Gjoa Haven and in Nunavut as a whole.
I will be making some comments through this member's statement.
As members of the House know there is a severe shortage of public housing units in all of our communities.
We have all heard from our constituents through the radio.
Mr. Speaker, I recently received a copy of a proposal from the Gjoa Haven Development Corporation to lease units to the government for use as public housing.
This is an example of innovative thinking on the housing issue.
The suggestion that the government should lease units to provide housing to families in need is a good one.
Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, I understand that the government cannot commit to this proposal due to a lack of funds.
Mr. Speaker, obviously this is disappointing news.
It is too bad that the government can't set aside some funds for this proposal.
Mr. Speaker, we all realize that funds are not unlimited, however housing is one of the core priorities of the Bathurst Mandate and we must do everything possible to reduce the housing shortage in the Nunavut communities and in our constituencies.
Mr. Speaker, I will be posing questions during question period to the appropriate minister on this issue.
Member's Statement 216 – 1(5): Training Programs and Future Mine Operations
Uqaqti, first I would like to say that I am glad everybody in Qamanittuaq is back home and safe.
We also had a fishing derby in Qamanittuaq and we had a flash thaw and a lot of fisherpersons got caught out on the land and stranded.
At this time, I would like to commend Shawn Maley, the Director of Community Government & Transportation, for his quick action on sending out Search & Rescue personnel to help locate these people.
Uqaqti, as you know the Kivalliq is virtually aglow with rich mineral resources and precious metal deposits.
Currently exploration companies and Inuit prospectors are picking through the rocks and digging into the ground in search of copper and zinc, gold and even the odd diamond.
As each exploration season passes there is a greater probability that a mine will be opening in this region.
With the pending sale of the Meliadine West gold project, it is expected that the move toward the construction of a producing mine will be revived.
Mr. Speaker, with figures like 6.25 million being earned by Nunavummiut from the development of the Meliadine area over the past five years and over 40 million being spent on mineral exploration in Nunavut last year, it is clear that we must step up our efforts to keep as much of this money as possible in Nunavut.
We need to be ready with a skilled labour force that is prepared to take on the job opportunities that mining brings.
Like the little Boy Scouts say, let's be prepared.
While attending various mining conferences like the Nunavut Mining Symposium, which was held in the Kivalliq in November of last year, I came away with two distinct impressions.
One was that Nunavut was rich in resources and the other was that we are poor when it comes to skills that the mining industry is seeking.
The latter, Mr. Speaker, we as a government must address.