EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the minister had indicated earlier on in his response, he had indicated there is a space on the application where an individual would mark down whether they’re a full-time, part-time, or a seasonal harvester.
Does the rebate, under the program, differ whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or a seasonal hunter, or is it going to be the same for everyone?
First of all, when this was first originally established, we stated that only harvesters who earn at least 25 percent of their income from harvesting could get rebates.
What we’re saying now is that whether they’re a full-time, part-time, or a seasonal harvester, they would be eligible equally.
To prevent abuse from occurring, perhaps, an individual, who is not a harvester, and if an individual is not a full-time or a part-time hunter, the conservation officer would know that individual and whether this person is a harvester or not. So we have checks and balances there.
Everybody is going to get a rebate equally; whether they’re a full-time, part-time, or a seasonal harvester.
So we are looking for ways of how we can prevent abuse and we will also follow the Auditor General’s recommendations.
Question 464 – 2(4): Construction of Sanikiluaq School (Kattuk)
I didn’t quite finish with the Minister of Education in my earlier questions.
I wanted to update the minister that the designs were finished five or six years ago and a location has been selected. To me, the site work can be started this spring and construction can start in the fall. Will he agree with me that the construction can start this fall?
What I said was the project was tender-ready.
It hasn’t been tendered yet, so we have to wait to tender to go out to see who bids on the contract. I know the lot has been selected and I know that all of that information that we need in Sanikiluaq is ready, but we have to tender the project and we have to wait until the bids come in, and then we have to award the project.
I don’t know how long that timeframe will take and that’s why I suggested to the members that we should be able to do some site work in Sanikiluaq. It will push the project up from where it was last year into the budget.
We announced in the budget speech by Minister Tapardjuk that, indeed, that money would be forthcoming and we are trying to expedite that school.
Question 465 – 2(4): Support for Residential School Survivors (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, earlier in this session, my colleague from Rankin Inlet North posed a question regarding the level of support that the Department of Education was providing to former residential school students to receive their common experience payments.
The minister indicated that his department is assisting former students in securing information to obtain their records.
My question for the minister: can the minister clarify whether his department provides any other form of support to former residential school students from Nunavut?
Again, under the common school experience payout, which was a settlement with the federal government, there have been requests made through the Department of Education in Nunavut for help in getting information to prove the students were in school and we have helped facilitate that where we were able. Those requests have come through, as I said to the Member for Rankin Inlet North.
Other types of support mechanisms; maybe the member could clarify what he means by other types of support to the students.
For example, if there are issues because of the residential school and treatment, and so on, those types of activities usually occur through the auspices of our own Health and Social Services Department if there are mental health issues and so on.
So maybe if the member could clarify his question.
My first supplementary will probably clarify my first question to the minister.
To help clarify it; many former residential school students suffer from long-term mental health and other debilitating issues as a result of their residential school experience.
My question for the minister: can the minister clarify what specific counselling support or other related mental health services are provided to former residential school students in Nunavut?
I would like to thank the member for clarifying the question.
I think all members remember, a little over a year ago, we had an opportunity to meet with the Aboriginal Healing Group that were going around working with people across Nunavut who were part of the residential school program, and they outlined some of the things that they were doing at counselling services and so on.
At the same time, there are also counsellors who are travelling to the communities providing that type of support under the auspices of mental health and care.
Most of the students, for example, Mr. Speaker, who were identified would not to have counsellors from the Department of Education, but indeed, would fall under the Department of Health where necessary.
Again, there are other opportunities and avenues out to that; we have talked about including the Aboriginal Healing Fund and including the counsellors that are going around to communities.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had an opportunity to talk to an individual in the Kitikmeot who is working very closely with the survivors of residential schools.
He says he’s overwhelmed by the people coming to him for help and counselling, and he works with an organization, ironically, with the Government of the Northwest Territories.
He told me about an interagency group there that consists of the Department of Education, RCMP, the Healing Foundation, and other groups, and he says they provide a considerable amount of information and support to him.
As well, the survivors of residential schools have indicated that the Government of Nunavut does not have a similar Interagency Group with a specific mandate to address the counselling and mental health issues of former residential students.
So my question for the minister: can the minister tell this House whether his department works with other departments or organizations within the Government of Nunavut to address the specific needs of this group of Nunavut citizens?
Hon. Ed. Picco: First of all, Mr. Speaker, if the constituent of the member is having issues and so on with dealing with the issue around the common school experience and the residential school, we have support mechanisms within the government with the Department of Health and Social Services with mental health and mental health counsellors and so on. I’m sure that if that person came forward and made themselves known to the department, then we would be able to help them.
On a regular basis, Mr. Speaker, this communication is not only between the ministers on different aspects of different programs, roles and responsibilities within their individual departments, there’s also work on the ground in given communities. If there was a need, for example, for an Interagency Group, which we have in a lot of our communities and in most of our regions, then that opportunity is brought forward.
The individual I’m talking about actually works for the Government of Nunavut. He was expressing his concerns that his own department and the Government of Nunavut doesn’t have an interagency group to support his efforts and efforts of other people like him to help the residential school survivors, but he says he works closely with the Government of the Northwest Territories and they have all that support there, so he’s wondering why doesn’t the Government of Nunavut have it, and he is quite concerned about that.
My next question for the minister: can the minister tell the House whether the income support case management system identifies what income support clients are victims of the residential school system, and if so, would he consider directing resources from under the Income Support umbrella to address the specific needs of this group of Nunavummiut?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that there are a lot of socio-economic issues within Nunavut itself and we do have support mechanisms in place for Nunavummiut, not specifically just residential school people but also the Nunavut population in general.
So if those needs are made known to us, then we try to facilitate and we have an obligation, of course, Mr. Speaker, as a government to do that, and we will continue to do that.
Under the Income Support Program specifically, if someone, for example, was on income support, then they’re eligible for more range of programs and services. Specifically, when we deal with some of the issues around mental health, then those would be covered off by our sister department, the Department of Health and Social Services.
Members, I would like to remind you that Question Period is now over. Let’s move on with our Orders of the Day.
Returns to Written Questions. If there are none, Item 9.
My apologies, I’m wondering if we can return to Item 11.
Speaker (interpretation): Members, just to remind you, we’re now on Item 12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Committee Report on Bills 008 – 2(4): Status of the Review of Bill 6, the Proposed “Official Languages Act” and Bill 7, the Proposed “Inuit Language Protection Act” (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As the Chair of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, I am pleased to report to the House on the status of the standing committee’s review of Bill 6, the proposed Official Language Act and Bill 7, the proposed Inuit Language Protection Act.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee has now held two sets of public hearings on these bills. The standing committee would again like to thank all of the individuals and organizations that took the time to make submissions to the committee and appear before it.
The committee would also like to thank the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth for his recent public appearance before the committee, which was also held in this Chamber.
Mr. Speaker, these hearings were excellent opportunities for members to discuss areas of concern that have emerged during the standing committee’s review of these bills.
Mr. Speaker, language is a very important issue for all Nunavummiut, and it is important that we take the time to ensure that our legislation is as strong as it can be within the realities in which we operate.  Many people, especially unilingual elders, have been under the impression that the creation of Nunavut would result in the immediate transformation of all aspects of our government and society, including the provision of language services.
There is clearly a perception that once these bills have been passed, all services and information will be immediately delivered and available in the Inuit language.
It is important that our expectations be realistic while we remain committed to improving the services to our constituents.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut have great expectations with respect to these bills.
The standing committee recognizes the importance of these bills and how they will affect the future of our territory and government.
They must be given the fullest possible consideration.
Mr. Speaker, this House passed a motion last week to extend the period of time for the committee to continue its review of these bills.
I would like to thank all members for their support of this motion, which will allow the standing committee to move forward and continue its scrutiny of these bills in further detail.
The standing committee hopes to be in a position to make its final report to the House in the spring sitting.
With that, I move that the report of the standing committee be received by this House.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. Do the members agree that the report be received by the House?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The report has been received by the House.
Tabled Document 195 – 2(4): Letter from Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding Devolution (Okalik)
I am very happy to table the following document: a Letter from Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding Devolution.
Please bring the document to the table.
Tabled Document 196 – 2(4): Schedule for Student Loan Fund for Year Ending March 31, 2007 (Picco)
I am pleased to table the following document: Schedule for Student Loan Fund for the Year Ending March 31, 2007.
Tabled Document 197 – 2(4): Nunavut Fuel Tax Rebate Program, 2007 Annual Report (Tapardjuk)
I am pleased to table the Nunavut Fuel Tax Rebate Program, 2007 Annual Report.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Can we have that document brought forward to the table, please?
If there are none, Item 14. Notices of Motions.
Motion 029 – 2(4): Extension of Review Period of Bill 21 – Notice (Alagalak)
I give notice that on Thursday, March 6, 2008, I will move the following motion:
Now therefore I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre, that notwithstanding Rule 68(1), the period of time for the Standing Committee on Health and Education to report on the review of Bill 21, the Education Act, be extended for a further 120 calendar days. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Notices of Motions. Item 15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 6, 2008, that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act #3, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): I apologize; please wait a moment.
Thank you. Minister Tapardjuk, can you identify the bill number?
Bill 27 is already in our records. Can you please identify which number it is again?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): The Income Tax Act #3 and it’s Bill 27, (interpretation ends) An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act #3.
I just want to say to you that Bill 27 has already been introduced in the House.
We already have Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act.
Minister for Finance, Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 28 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 3 – Notice
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bill 28 is for An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act # 3.
It’s identified now properly.
>>House recessed at 15:13 and resumed at 15:43
Chairman (Mr. Evyagotailak)(interpretation): Good day. Thank you for coming back.
I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In the Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 23, 24, and 25. What is the wish of the committee?
We wish to continue with Bill 23 and the review of the Main Estimates for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, followed by the Departments of Human Resources and Education.
Are we in agreement we continue with the Main Estimates for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth?
Minister Tapardjuk, do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table?
Does this committee agree to bring in the witnesses?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort Minister Tapardjuk’s officials to the witness table.
On my immediate left is Phoebe Hainnu, the Deputy Minister, and on my immediate right is David Kolot, the Financial Comptroller in our department, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome, Ms. Hainnu and Mr. Kolot.
We concluded with F-6 yesterday. We will move on to (interpretation ends) Branch Summary. Community Programs.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Sorry, I have a question when we get to F-7.
Chairman: F-7.
On page F-7, under Community Programs, your main estimates for Grants and Contributions with regards to sports has increased by $13,000.
Is that due to additional requests under this line item?
The $13,000 is to offset the increase in costs due to forced growth, Mr. Chairman.
What is the status of implementing the recommendations from the Promoting Elders’ Needs Strategy, specifically: (1) Respect for Elders and Elder abuse, (2) Passing on Knowledge, and (3) Elder Committees?
These are the categories, mainly for identifying the June 2006 World Elders Abuse awareness, and that was our starting point.
In September of that year, the participants were involved in meetings via teleconference. August of 2006, several of our elders took part in meetings hosted by the Department of Health and Social Services, NTI, Department of Justice, as well as my department was involved on how to deal with elder abuse.
Mr. Chairman, here are some of the items we have dealt with as to date. At this time in our department, we have an elder on staff who is documenting traditional Inuit laws, and obviously, these will have to translated into English.
To date, CLEY has been training elders to teach the younger generations for well being or other traditional practices.
Due to these and other initiatives, we are still working on several matters along with trying to implement some of the recommendations, especially how we can better protect or how we can better utilize our elders.
Our elders are not being taken care of as we are starting to get into the ways of the Western society, so what we’re trying to do is get them back into the society.
We are working on how elders in their communities can be taken care of and how their knowledge and wisdom can be incorporated into programs for communities.
For that reason, we are working towards the values and knowledge of the Inuit and meet more often with elders so that we can have peace for Nunavummiut. Therefore, what we are working on is continuing on this program, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Barnabas: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the benefit of the Kitikmeot region, what is the status of collecting oral history from the Kitikmeot communities?
Last year, I think we identified which community is going to be used to collect oral history. Kugaaruk is one community where we have started collecting oral history in the Kitikmeot region and we are also going to be collecting oral history from Kugaaruk and Gjoa Haven this year.
We will also be collecting oral history from the Kivalliq region in Repulse Bay, Arviat, and Coral Harbour.
At this time, we are just collecting oral history and taping the traditional knowledge of the elders, especially our traditional customs.
We’re going to concentrate on Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk this year, Mr. Chairman.
Minister, please call me Chair, not Mr. Speaker.
Does the department anticipate spending all of its 2007-08 Grants and Contributions budget before the end of this fiscal year?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, we will be using the entire funding allocated for the 2007-08 fiscal year, Mr. Chairman.
How does the department evaluate the success of its Grants and Contributions programs?
It’s obvious that they have to make a report if the monies are utilized. The individuals or entities that use those monies have to report back on how they used the monies and if they were beneficial.
Not all communities are the same with regards to how they spend the monies and how beneficial it was.
I know how the monies are used in some of the communities. At times, we ask those individuals or entities how it was beneficial to use those monies.
For example, they might get elders to take the young people out on the land to teach them and we ask those individuals or entities how it was beneficial to them.
After we have consulted with those entities, they would make a report. I’m aware, Mr. Chairman, that through the local radio stations, we hear a lot of things or programs where the youth are taken out on the land or out caribou hunting.
We also get feedback from the participants about how successful the program was and what they have learned. Those are also in the report.
It’s obvious how the grants and contributions we give are spent by different communities. I can say, Mr. Chairman, that some communities are not as successful as the others.
Some individuals do not write reports nor do they have receipts of the monies that they had spent because we have asked some of them.
But overall, we are dealing with all the issues in regard to grants and contributions to the communities if the monies are spent on what they were intended for, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This will be my last question in regard to the youth as they fall under Community Programs. (interpretation ends) What is the status of renewing the Youth Identity Development Strategy?
We are going to be sending some youth from Nunavut Tunngavik and the outlying communities this coming week.
We’re doing a planning strategy for the youth and how we can deal with them.
What we will expect is what kind of services are geared towards the youth.
That’s going to be happening next week and only after that workshop can I respond to his question, Mr. Chairman.
F-7. Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I would also like to welcome you, Mr. Chairman, the minister, and his officials.
Looking at the Community Programs, it’s directed towards the elders and the youth and helps them in their efforts to promote Nunavut’s culture and heritage.
First of all, I would like to ask the minister: what is your department doing to promote Nunavut’s culture and heritage? Which department is responsible for promoting and protecting our heritage?
Is it up to the government or is it up to the Inuit themselves, for instance, through Inuit organizations?
I’m asking you that question because I would like to know which department is responsible for that. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Under Pinasuaqtavut 2004-09, base for Inuit culture. It’s clearly stated.
We will have to do some fund-raising.
As that’s the case, as the second government, elected officials, we have a goal, as the CLEY Department, to take the lead in implementing Inuit societal values within the government departments. For this reason, under Pinasuaqtavut, we had also identified that the Inuit should start feeling that this is their government. Inuit should understand we are the government of the Inuit and not a foreign culture.
The Inuit, especially the elders, have to know about the programs. For that reason, we would like to see a government that is more culturally relevant and have policies that are understood by Inuit.
That’s the only way that Inuit out there will start to believe that this is their government and that’s why the Department of CLEY has set up the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit entity to run the programs.
The various government departments have had meetings to brainstorm and identify the pieces of legislation.
For example, the Public Services Act is being reviewed by the department to see if the government needs to do some more work on getting more Inuit employed and we have invited the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee to participate.
We understand that our department is there to promote Inuit culture and heritage, but we do have entities within the government and they have committees who work on the policies and the policies we will be created.
Inuit are the government of this territory and that’s why we have to implement Inuit societal values within the government system, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) I would like to ask another question to the minister in regard to Inuit culture and elders.
Have you had any discussions within the government or other organizations in each region on how different programs are set specific tasks?
Have you had negotiations or have you considered setting aside a pot of money that would be used to accomplish these tasks?
Are some of them split up?
If that’s going to be the case, what would the department think?
I get confused between Mr. Chairman and Mr. Speaker at times.
Just for your information, I’m not calling you “Mr. Speaker” purposefully but I did mean to say “Mr. Chairman.”
Mr. Chairman, in regard to the question about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, we definitely have to get together and I agree with the member wholeheartedly.
In 1998, there was a conference in Igloolik where they had representatives from each of the communities, the elders, the youth, NTI, and others. At that time, we brainstormed about what should be included within the government and when the Government of Nunavut was established, that was recognized.
After that conference, we had not had an opportunity to meet again.