EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, it was my understanding in the past, one of the concerns raised by the DEAs was that they were provided with a document that was draft legislation without having any one there that was able to go through it and point out where some of the changes had been made, the differences between the old legislation and the new one.
To help explain these things.
They were asked at meetings to explain the meaning of what some of those changes were and why they were made.
I am just wondering if the minister plans in the spring, or in the fall, whenever these consultation meetings are being held, if he is planning on ensuring the resources are there, people to go along and assist the communities with that.
Would you be able to do that.
I appreciate the member asking this question again, because I do have to admit that on my first response, I missed out on an important date, regarding the work on the Education Act.
I would also like to comment on the consultations thus far regarding the Education Act.
I am a little puzzled because we had written to all the District Education Authorities, the 27 District Education Authorities, encouraging all DEAs to hold community consultations.
Indeed the copies were sent to the Chairs of the Council.
We also had meetings in the communities that again, provided feedback to the Department of Education on the Education Act.
Also regarding the Act, we had forwarded memos to the MLAs and received only three written replies regarding the content, or rather the timing of the review of the Education Act.
These were not convincing numbers.
The other, I will just give you an example of what happened, this was also in the community of Iqaluit, we are talking about the community of Iqaluit where radio shows were held and meetings were held with interested stakeholders on the education draft too.
Also in Rankin Inlet.
But the other dates that I had not replied to on the first question, was the working group are expecting to have their work completed on the Education Act regulations by the month of March, or shortly after that.
There is going to be circulation to the stakeholders but at that time, by June, we will want to have all the stakeholders be able to have a copy of the changes and the final recommendations being brought forward.
Right after the summer holidays, we want to give it enough time that more consultations can be done in the communities to allow adequate time for all the stakeholders to be involved.
We will be making sure that we mention the importance of these consultations at that time.
I would like to thank the minister for his very clear history of the process that has happened.
I was wondering when that was going to come out.
I would just like to mention, I asked the minister that when he sends out packages to all the stakeholders and all the MLAs and things like that.
The DEAs and the community organizations that were sent things, I remember that when we had an opportunity to go to Cambridge Bay and met with the Council there, the comments that they made was that they received this very large document for them to go through and they were told it was needed back in a week.
They didn’t have the opportunity, or they said forget it we don’t have the time to be able to do anything and so they didn’t do it.
But I would like to ask the minister, maybe in light of comments from the DEAs, how many of the DEAs responded and what type of feedback did they receive from those organizations.
From the 27 District Education Authorities, there were six community-organized meetings that provided feedback to the department.
I will also add that a further five of the DEAs responded having discussed the principles with the teachers, the staff and amongst themselves.
Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the information that you received from those DEAs and organizations, if the minister plans on sharing that information with the Members of this House.
From these responses we got back from the DEAs I would also add that there were other responses we got, from 23 resources with a long list, which I won’t go through today.
But to the question, if the department will provide the information that was brought to the department, I will have to check if that was going to be part of the process. If the minister responsible at the time set that up in the schedule and procedure, I would be happy to share that with the member.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to my initial question, I don’t believe the minister answered it, I don’t know if it was just with the other information that was also good to receive.
But he indicated that when the revised draft is done up that it will be again sent for consultation to the communities. In light of the lack of input received from the communities and organizations and the members, if especially at the community level, if they are concerned that they just get a document without any explanation or anything.
Will the minister ensure that there are people or resources there that can go through those changes with them, so that people understand the decisions and why some of those changes were made.
When we forward the recommendations and possible changes to the Education Act, we will make sure that it is clearly stated to all the stakeholders what the intentions are of us forwarding the review are. We will also make sure that we have a clear understanding with the people that we’re consulting that if they have any, if they require any clarification to make sure that this will be part of the communication process.
There will be no unnecessary delay in the process.
Question 005 – 1(5): New Aircraft Required
Mr. Speaker, in my community we have a plane going into Nattilikmiut area from Yellowknife.
First Air travels to Nattilik and people traveling to the hospital often take that airline when a patient is travelling to Yellowknife.
If the person is an elder they are often escorted by a child, by their child, their son or their daughter and when the flight is cancelled they often have to return to Yellowknife.
The flight that travels to the Nattilik area sometimes goes back to Yellowknife. We have confirmed in Gjoa Haven, we hear, the Mayor of Gjoa Haven and myself, we often do radio shows to get some information from the public about different concerns, they often talk about using a different airline to bring in patients from Yellowknife or to travel on medical.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, I don’t know if he is responsible for this area but I’d like to know how closely related they are with the airlines.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Transportation.
We would like to be able to order them to travel to those communities but we don’t really have a say on the routes that the airlines take.
But we are presently working on the transportation strategy and to respond to his question, I know that the businesses have become thin in his region.
So we are using the present airline schedules but I expect that there will be changes. I know that Kivalliq Air is the first airline to travel from Rankin Inlet to other communities and with that I know that later on we will probably need to see other airlines traveling through those routes.
But once the transportation review has been done we will be dealing with those concerns as they come.
Thank you to the minister for his response.
Mr. Speaker, I know that there is a review being done and our constituents will be expecting to see some changes, changes for the betterment for our people.
I understand that there's a review done but when people travel into Yellowknife, I'd like to know when that review might be completed.
Are we looking at it being done in a few months.
As a member, Mr. Alakannuark and I have experienced the same problems that our communities have been having, so I would like a response.
We are completing the review and it will be submitted to the House.
We have been approached by different airlines about having input into the review.
As the Department of Transportation there is only so much we can do but we will work with the airlines to make changes for the better.
When members travel, for instance the member from Kugaaruk, if he was to travel home he would have to go through Yellowknife.
With Iqaluit being the capital of Nunavut, we are going to have to look at routes going in and out of Iqaluit, and look at how we can better serve people travelling in and out of Yellowknife and other communities.
I know there are concerns regarding health, medical health travel, and as a member I know you could get that information from the patients and relay that information to myself or other ministers that are able to respond.
I know there are concerns with elders; elders have concerns as they end up travelling on medical and then have to stay in Yellowknife a few more days.
It's very hard on a person that might not have the money but we will be completing the review this year.
We will be waiting for the review to be done and I would like to thank the minister for responding to my questions and thank him for the work that he is doing to make changes for the better.
I would like, during those reviews, I would like people from our region to be involved.
Question 006 - 1(5): Update on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee
My question is directed to Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
My question is, can he update me on how the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit committee is doing, how is it progressing.
Speaker: Thank you. Minister.
In regards to the member’s question, we met the first time in January and set their next meeting for this month.
Speaker: Ms. Williams.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Since they have had the mandate to work on this project for quite some time, I would like to ask the same question to the same minister.
Have you made progress to implement Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in the government departments and programs.
The programs that are being planned for the Nunavut Government and also through out Nunavut offices will be implemented in the Nunavut Government through different departments.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit will be implemented in our future but to this date, the exact content of their report is not available.
Since they have just started their operations and their meetings, they have not really made any real recommendations so far.
The people in the communities have to be consulted along with the elders and other agencies.
Recently our elders were used by one of the departments.
There were two elders who were on CBC and they had two different points of view that they expressed.
I would like to ask the present minister when would elder Inuit knowledge be utilized properly, not just by using them for language.
Not just to make use of the language but use it as a real working tool that will be taken into effect.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): In regards to your question, I have no real answer to that question at this time.
The elders you mentioned did not come here for my particular department.
I can only say that throughout the Nunavut Government, we will be closer to the communities.
Be more responsive and be accountable to the communities.
Since the minister answered my question, I’ll rephrase it.
The government has not implemented any of the elders’ recommendations as of yet.
They would have to participate fully.
Is that what you stated.
In regards to her questions, we have no detail as to what type of programs will be used in the Government of Nunavut, but they are mandated to look at some programs that could possibly be used by the government.
That is all we have done so far.
Speaker: Oral Questions. Mr. Alakannuark.
Question 007 - 1(5): Income Support Regulations
My question is for the Minister responsible for income support.
What kind of income support program is being used.
Speaker: Is that a question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth or to the Minister of Education.
I apologize, I was not sure exactly what the question was.
Speaker: Mr. Alakannuark could you repeat the question for the minister.
The social assistance that is provided to the people in the communities, has there been a change to the social assistance policy since we became the Government of Nunavut.
Speaker: I believe the appropriate minister once and for all would be the Minister for Education.
The question from the member is about the income support review.
We still have to review the recommendations before we implement any changes.
I'd like to ask the minister when those changes to policies or guidelines, in which month and in which year would they be ready to use.
We are not really sure when we'll be having the new guidelines ready and we will let the members know as soon as we know.
Supplementary. Mr. Alakannuark.
Have you thought about approximately when those rules or guidelines will be dealt with or when do you expect them to be ready.
For instance, is it in year 2002 or further on beyond that.
If I'm not mistaken, I will have to check my department, it should be in a few months.
I will let the members know as soon as the guidelines or the policies have been looked at. Perhaps, it will be in a couple of months.
Question 008 - 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee Membership
I am not sure where to start.
It must be because I have not asked a question in a long time.
There are a lot of questions that I would like to ask of the ministers.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Firstly, I just want to him to say welcome to him this afternoon to the House.
He mentioned that there's a working group or task force working on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I just wondered what the membership is comprised of, how many Inuit are there and what's the number of people in that group.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth. Mr. Kattuk.
The members on the committee are from the Nunavut Government and the NSDC and representatives from NTI.
Mr. Speaker, on the committee or task force that we are speaking of, what kind of questions would they be asking the Inuit.
Are they going to be going through the communities, visiting them, having community tours. Are they going to be interviewing elders, taping them or what.
They will be directing their efforts towards Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the government.
To see exactly how they can implement Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Also, the Inuit from the communities that use this Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit will be interviewed and those are the ones that are being targeted with this task force.
Oral question. Mr. Tootoo.
Question 009 - 1(5): Update on Number of NDAP Clients
Nice to get this many chances to ask questions during question period, thanks to my honourable colleagues.
My question Mr. Speaker, is for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
During the last session the minister indicated their homeownership program, I believe at that time, had achieved roughly half of what they were targeting for delivery. I believe it was around 21 clients.
I am just wondering if the minister can update us as to how many more clients they were able to assist within that program since then.
I am sorry that I do not have that figure right now.
But I do know that we have helped over 1090 homeowners in Nunavut who have received some form of assistance under our programs over the years.
I am just looking at my information here, I have quite a bit of information.
I said that I was confident we would reach our goal of assisting 42 homeowners with this program.
When my budget comes and I am doing a report of the last year’s budget I will have a better idea but up to that date I had committed that we would be able to assist 42 new homeowners with that program.
Mr. Speaker I believe the target was 42 and I was just wondering if the minister indicated that she did not have the number of clients that they were able to help as of October.
I would like to ask the minister if she would be able to provide us with that information as soon as possible.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Housing. Ms. Thompson.
I think I said that already, that I would be providing that as soon as possible, the number of homeowners we have assisted with this program.
Mr. Speaker maybe I could ask for clarification from the minister.
I heard two responses.
One when the minister indicated that she would provide a report on those numbers during her budget report the first time.
The second time she indicated that she would provide the numbers on that program out of this past year’s budget as soon as possible. So I guess I am just looking for confirmation of getting the numbers of the NDAP program from this current year as soon as possible.
Hopefully prior to the department coming before Committee of the Whole.
What I was saying is that when I do my budget the members will be able to see how many clients we have helped with this program.
I guess, as soon as possible means around that time.
But, if the member wants us to provide how many clients we have up to today, we can provide that.
But at the same time I’ll be repeating myself tomorrow or the next few days before the budget comes or the day my budget comes in.
If there is an urgent matter about this program, if the member wants it tomorrow I can provide it.
Time is up but Mr. Tootoo has one final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
The minister seemed to ask me a question and sure, I’d love to see those numbers tomorrow if possible. That would be great.
Speaker: There was no question, it was a comment.
Item 8: Petitions
Petition 001 - 1(5): Gjoa Haven Time Zone
Mr. Speaker I have a petition in regards to the time zone issue.
There are 39 signatures, and I will be directing questions about this to the Minister of Community Government.
Speaker: Item 8.
Moving on to Item 10.
Orders of the Day for February 22, 2001:
Third Reading of Bills  Orders of the Day
This House stands adjourned until February 22.
>>House adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday February 22, 2001
Pages 34 - 42
Rebekah Williams
Website: www.assembly.nu.ca  Table of Contents
Thursday February 22, 2001 4
005 - 1(5): Notice of Tabling 2001-02 Budget (Ng) 4
006 - 1(5): Proposal to Hunt Polar Bear by Harpoon (Akesuk) 4
009 – 1(5): Effects of Kitikmeot Polar Bear Quota Cuts (Puqiqnak) 4
010 – 1(5): Congratulations to Rebekah Williams (Ng) 4
011 – 1(5): Encouraging Youth (Alakannuark) 4
012 - 1(5): Coral Harbour Commercial Caribou Harvest (Arvaluk) 4
013 - 1(5): Rescue In Pond Inlet (Nutarak) 4
014 - 1(5): Iqaluit Street Names (Tootoo) 4
015 – 1(5): Responsibility as MLA (Iqaqrialu) 4
016 – 1(5): Commercial Fishing in Amittuq Region (Irqittuq) 4
017 – 1(5): Kitikmeot Regional Games (Havioyak) 4
018 – 1(5): Polar Bear Plate Hockey Tournament (Anawak) 4
Thursday February 22, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
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, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O'Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker: Good afternoon Premier, members.
Before we start the proceedings today, I just want to give you an advance notice that we will be watching the weather very carefully as it may be necessary to close the session today.
We will be advised by the staff in the next short while.
Minister’s Statement 005 - 1(5): Notice of Tabling 2001-02 Budget
Mr. Speaker I’d like to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly that on Tuesday February 27, 2001 that I will table the Government of Nunavut’s 2001-2002 fiscal year budget.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Ministers’ Statements. Mr. Akesuk.
Minister’s Statement 006 - 1(5): Proposal to Hunt Polar Bear by Harpoon
In recent weeks there has been a great deal of television, newspaper and radio coverage on a proposal to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to hunt a polar bear with a harpoon.
In a letter to the Member from Uqqummiut this week, copied to all other members, I outlined the reasons why I decided that this hunt should not proceed.
(interpretation ends) I would be pleased to meet with any member who wishes to discuss this decision in greater detail.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise this House that on Friday last week, February 16, I met with the President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Mr. Paul Quassa, and the Chairperson of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Ben Kovic.
We met to discuss the events of the last month, and to discuss how our organizations can work more closely together on these important issues.
This was a positive and productive meeting, with a focus on the future.
As members know, NTI, NWMB and our government are currently working on the consultation process for a new Nunavut Wildlife Act.
It is within these consultations that we hope the very important issue of harvesting methods is discussed and debated by Nunavummiut and that the resulting legislation reflects the experience, wisdom and practicality of our hunters.
(interpretation) Later in this session, I will be making a statement on our approach to consultations on the Wildlife Act, and the proposed schedule.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker I appreciate the very practical and positive approach that the President of NTI and the Chairman of NWMB brought to our meeting last week and I assure members that this will be the approach we take as we sort through the challenging process of building the made in Nunavut Wildlife Act.
Member’s Statement 009 – 1(5): Effects of Kitikmeot Polar Bear Quota Cuts
A recent survey of Kitikmeot polar bears said the number of bears has declined and therefore the Department of Sustainable Development has told the people of the Kitikmeot that the quota should be cut from 32 to eight polar bears for the region.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, our quota has been cut.
This year, 2001, when the quota has been used up there will be no more hunting due to this new quota.
Mr. Speaker, this cut will greatly affect many Kitikmeot hunters that use polar bear hunting for traditional sports hunts by dog team.
The cut will adversely affect the income that was generated through this activity.
The people that like to eat polar bear meat will miss that facet of their life and the new quota will affect the people that sell the skins.
In the near future, we would like this quota issue to be resolved.
I will be directing questions on this issue to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
Member’s Statement 010 – 1(5): Congratulations to Rebekah Williams
On behalf of all my constituents I would like to congratulate Rebekah Williams on her election victory, welcome her to this Assembly and state that I look forward to working with her along with all my other colleagues as we move forward in representing both our constituencies and Nunavummiut.
Member’s Statement 011 – 1(5): Encouraging Youth
I am pleased to rise today with all the MLAs here today and all the ministers that are present here in the year 2001.
I hope that this year that we can work closely together.
At times we will have difficult decisions to make but at this time, I would like to thank everyone for being here.
I would also like to mention that there are more young people here in Nunavut than at any other time and I want them to look forward to the future and be aware that they have to live a very difficult life because of the changes in their lifestyle.
Member's Statement 012 - 1(5): Coral Harbour Commercial Caribou Harvest
I just came back from Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet.
The people of Coral Harbour are busy with the commercial caribou hunt and in the middle of February they harvested enough caribou to prove that this year’s hunt will be successful.
They have harvested over 1 thousand caribou so far.
The amount that they could sell is set by weight but I believe they will be able to successfully catch enough caribou to last the year.
They have a quota of 6 thousand caribou on Southampton Island but with only one buyer, there will be a surplus.
Member's Statement 013 - 1(5): Rescue In Pond Inlet
Mr. Speaker I want to speak about some members of my community of Pond Inlet.
At the end of August there was a boat trip to Mount Deer.