EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I’ve been on at least three different cabinets, not including the current one of course, but that’s all being new as the first legislature and this situation has arisen in the past.
Certainly I can say, from a Nunavut Cabinet perspective that personally I’ve run into this same situation.
There have been issues that I strongly opposed at the cabinet table and had my say.
But unfortunately when the decision was made, I respected that decision of the cabinet, of my colleagues and carried forward supporting those decisions.
Now, having said that Mr. Speaker, if it was a decision that was made, that I felt that I couldn’t live with, my method, my option would have been to step down as a cabinet member and then publicly voice my opinion.
That’s what I would have done certainly in a situation like that.
That does not detract anything from Jack in any manner, sorry Mr. Speaker, Mr. Anawak and the manner in which he’s handled it.
That’s his prerogative again, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and as a Minister.
Mr. Speaker, parliamentary rules, practise or convention within a party system is clear, the Premier or the Prime Minister has the ultimate authority of picking or removing cabinet members.
In our consensus system, it’s totally different as you know.
All Members of this legislature vote in the Premier and at the same time vote in the cabinet representatives of people they feel can best represent them.
So, I don’t know if that’s good or bad in our consensus system, but that’s what we’re working with right now.
The Premier has authority through us again, through the legislation to assign portfolios or remove portfolios.
That’s obviously what he’s exercised that authority in this particular circumstance based on what he thinks is the proper decision.
Now our consensus system isn’t ideal.
I would agree with Members. It’s not ideal.
It may be a foreign system, like some of my colleagues have said, there’s no doubt about that.
I can tell you, when I first became a legislator it was the same for me.
I couldn’t understand why things were done in the way they were done and I questioned it as well.
I also want to say first of all, in some of the comments about Inuit traditional practise and knowledge, I’m definitely not an expert, and I’d be the first to admit that. I rely on my colleagues in this legislature to provide that.
I know that sometimes there’s a difference of opinion.
But having said that, Mr. Speaker, again good or bad, it’s the system that we adopted when we took office from the Northwest Territories.
Remember, we had lots of debates about this and what we were going to do and what we were going to change and we have made some modifications.
So, good or bad, it’s our system.
If it’s not working, we have no one to blame but ourselves here today because we’re the ones who have accepted it.
Now, based on that Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues have mentioned there is an election coming, it’s on our caucus agenda next week, it’s sometime before we leave during this session a decision will be made on when that happens.
There will be a new legislature, some of us may be back and some will be gone.
That’s just the way it works with elections.
But the new legislature and government will have the opportunity to provide their input, to change the rules to do whatever they see fit and to see what will or won’t work.
And if it won’t work, then modify it, again it's not different.
But Mr. Speaker, based on our current practices and our current rules, based on the circumstances of not being able to have in my view, a Minister without portfolio sitting on Cabinet, I have no choice but to support the motion as well.
Speaker (interpretation): Next on the list is Mr. Arvaluk.
There’s a blizzard in Rankin Inlet.
Debating the motion and this is what we agreed on, even if I lost my portfolio when this was being formulated I had no choice but to follow it.
You had put in place some rules and procedures and Acts and Bills, we’re dealing with Bill 22.
In 1992 there were a lot of Bills and Acts that had been enacted although a lot of times we may not agree with the contents we have to deal with them to the best of Nunavummiut.
I’m not saying whether I’m against or for the motion.
My colleague Mr. MacLean, I was happy to hear what he had to say. However we will have to come to a vote on this, a non-confidence vote that we will have to vote for or against.
However I have a question that has not been responded to.
They say they understand what the issue is but the recurring question is whether the Cabinet or the Premier or Jack Anawak have, to date, discussed different ways to resolve the issue.
Did they research every avenue as to how to resolve this issue, on the issue of his portfolio and his Ministerial position and then I was told that because I did not get that information I will have to go against the motion so, there was a lot of discussion there in that regard.
If you want to look for ways on the best ways to resolve the issues as they come up, I’m not sure whether he’s not happy with Mr. Anawak or do they have other reasons.
There hasn’t been a proper response on that issue.
But then I was told later the day before that it’s got nothing to do with Jack, it’s got nothing to do with Mr. Anawak.
I was told the issue was if the Ministers are to get away with these types of things, it weakens the strength of the unity against the Canadian government.
So, I was told that it was up to me, whether I wanted to vote for or against the Motion.
And if I did vote against it, that it was up to me whether or not it would go the other way.
Looking back, I do not think it is against the Government, against Rankin Inlet.
I do not think this would have come up if that issue came up.
That was my understanding that I was told I couldn’t vote against the Motion.
It is, I think it would be better if there is no clapping or stuff like that because we are not in a hockey game; this is not a joking matter.
I would like to make some comments to the Motion and I will be speaking in both English and Inuktitut in order to get my message across.
So, bear with me, I will try to keep it within twenty minutes.
First of all, I would like to assure the Members that all the Ministers work extremely hard and I do not want them to be treated like dogs because of course, they are my colleagues.
We are able to make comments on issues and carry on with other responsibilities and represent our communities, but I think that we should place a priority in all items, whether we are Ministers or Members.
(interpretation ends) I’ll speak to the motion.
It will probably be very short and I make my points clear.
The consensus style of government that we have here in Nunavut sees each of us elected independently.
We are not members of a party nor do we follow party directions or guidelines.
(interpretation) We, as a government, are called a consensus government in English, we work together as one unit and we are representing various Ridings and of course, the same goes for the Ministers.
We do not belong to a Government, we are not given direction, because of course, we are a Consensus Government, we have our own individual ideas and beliefs and we have a unique Nunavut Government.
And, it is exactly the same, of course, in the Northwest Territories.
(interpretation ends) We have never talked about what a consensus-style of government should be or it should operate up to today.
There are no clear guidelines to direct a consensus-style of government or to indicate how a consensus-style of government should technically operate.
You cannot show me that anywhere.
We have never discussed it, there are no written rules.
(interpretation) We have never discussed what kind of government we would have and what type of government, a consensus government was.
We have never had discussions on the type of government we have; we do not have anything in writing of what a consensus government is.
Here are your guidelines; there is nothing that we can base it on.
(interpretation ends) The Nunavut Implementation Commission, John Amagoalik and his group never asked the question of what type of government system Nunavut might have.
(interpretation): the Nunavut Implementation Commission never asked us on the type of government that we would have.
Would it be party politics, would we base it on the other, the Parliament, or on the Northwest Territories?
This is a question that we have never asked.
That would not be recognized or understood by a unilingual Inuk.
For example, like my father I don’t want to talk about Inuit traditions and values.
I don’t want to talk about anybody’s traditions or anybody’s traditions because I was brought up in a unique way.
(interpretation end) I don’t want to talk about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I don’t specialize in it either.
Neither are any of you guys.
It’s everybody’s interpretation, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We can say Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is this and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is that.
We are operating under the rules that were developed in England under the biggest parliamentary system regardless of whether we call ourselves a consensus style of government.
(interpretation) The present government that we have uses parliamentary rules, and England’s system.
It is styled from England.
This is something that we’ve never discussed.
We’ve never talked about the type of government that we should have.
(interpretation end): I thank my Premier for respecting this decision because we’ve had chats, we’re honest with each other.
We argue within the office.
He respects me for this.
That is a consensus style of government.
(interpretation) Today, I cannot morally, and I thank the Premier for respecting this decision.
We’ve talked and we’re honest with each other.
He respects me for this. And that is a consensus style government.
(interpretation end) I cannot morally vote against Mr. Anawak.
Today I cannot say, I don’t have confidence in Mr. Anawak.
I can’t.
He did not commit a crime such as assault or rape or steal money from the government.
He didn’t do that.
As such I cannot help but believe that the intended punishment is just too harsh.
If my father were here today, he would just be asking, what is going on?
(interpretation) I cannot say today that I do not have confidence in Mr. Anawak.
It’s something that I can’t say.
He didn’t break any rules.
He wasn’t taken to court.
He hasn’t stolen any money from the government.
The punishment is way too harsh for what he did and for trying to oust him from his position, we might lose on this motion but I will oppose it.
I’m a teacher and I have learned about the different governments anywhere in the world.
We have a consensus style government and there are no guidelines or rules.
I have heard, I don’t know whether it’s true or not, that the B.C. Premier, Gordon Campbell, was charged with impaired driving.
He has been charged and to date he is still the Premier of B.C.
(interpretation end) However, I still stand here today, Mr. Speaker, to inform my Cabinet colleagues, that yes, I stand with you in solidarity.
I respect you. I remain a very responsible member of Cabinet.
I’m probably the most reliable member in that Cabinet room in a lot of cases.
I’m on time.
And though I want to continue to work with you for the betterment of the territory, but I cannot and will not morally or ethically vote against my colleague Jack Anawak.
I won’t do it, I just won’t.
(interpretation) Today, Mr. Speaker that I can work very closely with the Cabinet, I can have open discussions with them and they can listen to me, I want to have a close working relationship with the Cabinet Members and they are well aware of that fact but today I will not punish an individual for doing something trivial.
He hasn’t committed murder, he hasn’t stolen from the government, and he hasn’t assaulted nor punched anyone in this room.
I can say that if my father was here and if you knew who my father was, he would probably say that you’re making a big fuss out this trivial matter.
There are lots of other serious things you can consider.
I will oppose this motion because it is not something worth this much punishment.
I would like to inform the Members that I have no other names on my list.
I would like to ask the Members if they have any other comments.
Mr. Speaker just a few brief comments and one, I agreed wholeheartedly with the people when they say, there’s rules out there and we need them.
I heard a number of colleagues here say that today.
Our House Leader pointed out quite well and as I stated in my earlier statement there has to be some kind of order and there has to be a unity in Cabinet.
As I stated earlier if there isn’t we could have chaos and we can’t afford to have chaos.
We have to make sure that the decisions that we make are the best decisions that we think possible and as I stated earlier too it’s up to us as regular Members to question the Cabinet as my colleague from Qamanittuaq would say it’s up to us to hold them accountable and make sure that they are making the best decisions possible for us.
That’s the role of a regular Member.
In the system that we operate in, it is our system; it’s the system that we have.
Mr. Speaker I believe it was last March we made amendments to our Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act; again there was an opportunity where we had to make changes to our legislation for us.
Just yesterday in this House Mr. Speaker, one of the Ministers was indicating that we no longer use standards from the NWT because they were no good for us, that we use our own standards now.
Those are examples of how we are doing things differently.
I also believe that, sure I’d like us to be done a lot quicker than we are going right now but I don’t believe that we should rush into decisions and make changes just for the sake of making change.
We have people who have entrusted us to make sure that we make the best decision possible and the only way to do that is to make informed decisions.
And you need to do your homework before you make any decisions.
I believe as I said earlier that that is what Cabinet and this Assembly is striving for and working towards as a whole and I look forward to the day when we get there.
Some of the people said we are not perfect; well I don’t think anyone is perfect but regardless of whether we like it or not, this is the system we have and it’s the system that we operate under and that’s it.
Some guys were saying, you know, age and wisdom are things that go hand in hand; well, that is not always true.
I would like to tease some of my friends there about.
But, my grandmother had told me, one of the things that we have to be very proud of as Inuit is that, we have come so far is something.
I believe we have come as far as we have and it have accomplished as much as we have by putting aside our own personal differences and working towards what is best for everybody.
That is what the negotiators did and that is what we are here doing and that is how we survived for thousands of years.
So, I said we have to count on our Government, our Cabinet to speak as one.
I think it is vital to the operations of Governments and I think that is it.
We will now vote to the motion.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Speaker, I would like to call for a recorded vote.
Speaker (interpretation): There is a request to have a recorded vote.
At this time I will state your names and ask you to stand up if they are in favour of the motion.
All those in favour, please stand up.
Mr. Havioyak, Mr. Tootoo, Mr. Havioyak. I apologize, if you would please stand up again, Mr. Havioyak.
Mr. McLean, Mr. Havioyak, Ms. Williams, Mr. Nutarak. I did look inside of the room, Mr. Picco. Mr. Akesuk.
Mr. Ng. Mr. Okalik. Mr. Kattuk. Mr. Kilabuk.
To the motion, opposed, please rise.
When I state your name, please be seated.
Mr. Alakannuark, Mr. Irqittuq, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Iqaqrialu, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Anawak.
To the motion are 11.
Opposed to the motion are 6.
Mr. Speaker, in accordance to rule 46, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Qamanittuaq that this House adjourn for the day.
Speaker (interpretation): The motion is in order and it’s not debatable.
Orders of the Day for Monday, March 10th, 2003:
Bill 28 and Bill 29
We have concluded for the day and will resume our session on March 10, 2003 at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 14:37 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Monday March 10, 2003
Pages 2433 - 2472
Opening Prayer 2433
Ministers’ Statements 2433
Members’ Statements 2437
Returns to Oral Questions 2447
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2448
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2468
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 2469
Notices of Motions 2469
First Reading of Bills 2470
Orders of the Day 2471
Monday March 10, 2003 2433
116 – 1(6): Anti-tobacco Activist in Iqaluit (Picco) 2433
117 – 1(6): Nunavut Teachers’ Conference (Kilabuk) 2434
118 – 1(6): Sealskin Sales and Production (Akesuk) 2435
119 – 1(6): Income Support Information Campaign (Kilabuk) 2435
120 – 1(6): Dry Cargo Contracts (Kattuk) 2436
373 – 1(6): Education System Concerns (Iqaqrialu) 2437
374 – 1(6): McClintock Channel Polar Bear Moratorium (Puqiqnak) 2438
375 – 1(6): Caribou Hunt at Coral Harbour - Waste of Antlers and Hooves (Arvaluk) 2439
376 – 1(6): Appreciation of Ottawa Medical Boarding Home Staff (Williams) 2440
377 – 1(6): Expected Priorities of Budget Address (Tootoo) 2441
378 – 1(6): Cost of Living Increase (Alakannuark) 2442
379 – 1(6): Inauguration of Air Labrador (Picco) 2442
380 – 1(6): Kivalliq Dry Cargo Contract (Thompson) 2443
381 – 1(6): Long Travel with Air Canada for Session (Nutarak) 2445
382 – 1(6): Fundraising for the Dog Team Races (Irqittuq) 2445
383 – 1(6): Decentralization Employment Plans for Baker Lake (McLean) 2445
384 – 1(6): Bad Fuel in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk) 2446
385 – 1(6): Mining Sector Training and Jobs (Havioyak) 2446
Return to Oral Question 333 – 1(6): Assistance or Funding for Soapstone Carvers (Akesuk) 2447
378 – 1(6): Updates on PPD Transfer to Baker Lake (McLean) 2450
379 – 1(6): Igloolik Representative on McClintock Channel Study (Iqaqrialu) (Puqiqnak) 2451
380 – (6): Undertake Study or Setup Task Force on Drop-outs 2454
381 – 1(6): Update on Social Worker/Probation Officer Position at Resolute Bay/Grise Fiord (Williams) 2456
382 – 1(6): Funding Assistance for Dog Team Races (Irqittuq) 2457
383 – 1(6): Medical Information – Medivac Patients (Nutarak) 2458
384 – 1(6): Plans for Assistance for High Cost of Living (Alakannuark) 2459
385 – 1(6): Mining Sectors and IIBAs (Havioyak) 2460
386 – 1(6): Economic Development Agreement (Tootoo) 2462
387 – (6): Rules and Procedures for Removal of Executive Council (Iqaqrialu) 2465
388 – (6): Tannery Assistance for Sewers (Wiliams) 2467
012 – 1(6): Bill 22 – An Act to Amend the Securities Act (Iqaqrialu) 2469
077 – 1(6): Letter from Gjoa Haven HTO Re: Moratorium (Puqiqnak) 2469
018 – 1(6): Extension of Mandate of Special Committee to Review The Official Languages Act – Notice 2470
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Young Offenders Act and other Acts in Consequence – First Reading 2470
Bill 29 – An Act to Amend the Nunavut Power Utilities Act and Certain Other Acts in Consequence – First Reading 2470
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Hon. Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Puqiqnak, Hon. Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would like to call on Mr. Alakannuark to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 116 – 1(6): Anti-tobacco Activist in Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you a very special visitor to the gallery.
This woman is an activist and an inspiration.
A woman, who has brought attention to one of the deadliest, yet most insidious of all workplace hazards, so let me introduce to you Heather Crowe.
Heather joins us here as part of her cross-Canada campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Crowe has never smoked, yet she has lung cancer as a result of the second-hand smoke she was exposed to during her 40 years as a waitress.
As a result the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board accepted her insurance claim in compensation for workplace exposure to second-hand smoke.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Crowe in a selfless act of courage is using her illness to raise awareness so that others won’t face the kinds of dangers she was exposed to during her working life.
Mr. Speaker, while in Iqaluit, she will meet with various groups to discuss issues around second-hand smoke and will make a public presentation at Inuksuk High School.
Mr. Speaker, she is accompanied by Dr. Neil Collishaw of the Physicians for Smoke Free Canada.
Mr. Speaker, at lunch today, we had an opportunity, the Members, the Mayor of Iqaluit, the Deputy Mayor of Iqaluit and many of the councillors to talk about the proactive stand against second hand smoke.
And the good work, the leading edge work that this government has done on anti-tobacco programming and hopefully in the next two weeks, anti-tobacco legislation.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself as Minister of Health and Mr. Ng, responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board, we really would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Crow for bringing her message to Nunavut and to thank her very much and God speed to her on her message of heartfelt sincerity and courage to the young people of Nunavut.
Welcome to the gallery Ms Crow and Doctor.
Welcome to Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 117 – 1(6): Nunavut Teachers’ Conference
I would like to welcome you all.
Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to announce the 2002/2003 Teachers’ Conferences being held in the three regions of Nunavut.
It is expected that most of the approximately 600 teachers in Nunavut will have participated in the four regional conferences by the time they end.
Teachers who work in various communities organized the conferences.
The dedication and hard work that our educators put into these conferences are examples of the extra work they do for our students during their own time outside school hours.
“Katinngaaqtut”, which was held in Baker Lake in the Kivalliq region during the week of February 17 to 21, 2003.
Guest keynote speaker, Hetty Van Gurp spoke on the theme of “Peaceful Schools”.
“Atauttimut Havakugut”, which was the theme for the Kivalliq region held in Cambridge Bay during the week of February 24th to the 28th.
The keynote speaker was the well-known scientist and environmentalist, Mr. David Suzuki who spoke on the theme of “The Sacred Balance”.
Ms. Linda Millar addressed the theme of “Children and the Media”.
“Tusartuut”, was the theme for the Northern Baffin region conference held in the week of March 3 to 7 in Resolute Bay.
Nunavut’s Language Commissioner, Ms. Eva Aariak, addressed the theme of “Language, Culture, and Education”.
Mr. Speaker, the South Baffin region’s convention is being held this week in Iqaluit with “Tausiiqatigiit” as the theme.
Keynote speaker, Zebedee Nungak of Nunavik will address the theme of “Inuit Language, Culture and Schools”.
We also have Dr. Gordon Neufeld who addressed the theme of “Reaching Out to Kids”.
Nunavut’s Languages Commissioner, Ms. Eva Aariak addressed the theme of “Language, Culture and Education”.
Minister’s Statement 118 – 1(6): Sealskin Sales and Production
And Good afternoon colleagues and people out there in TV land.
Mr. Speaker, I rise toady to announce that my department operates a program called the Fur Price Program.
The objectives of this program are to introduce Nunavut sealskins as a sustainable by-product of traditional harvesting practices.
Since we started this program, the auction sale price for Nunavut sealskins increased from less than $20 in the mid-1990s to the current price of more than $60 per skin.
I am pleased to advise my colleagues today that as a result of our efforts, we have experienced another exceptional year of sealskin sales.
At the December 2002 Fur Auction held in North Bay Ontario, sales figures surpassed the $500 thousand mark.
Nearly 10,000 skins were sent to auction.