EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The restaurants were also full and there was no room for the Members to go for their meals.
The Members had to be billeted out and they had to stay somewhere else because the Hotels were filled with the construction workers.
What I am trying to say, Mr. Speaker, as the Nunavut Government I think we have to realize that Nunavut residents need further training and development to grab hold of opportunities in the communities.
There is a high unemployment rate in Nunavut, and most of our people are relying on Income Support and the Hotels are filled with construction workers.
I’m pleased to see the hotels making money from the construction workers and the construction workers spend money at the community level.
However, Mr. Speaker, we need to recognize the capability of Inuit people.
Member’s Statement 258 – 1(6): School at Age Five
I have a brief statement to make.
I have noticed that the students in Nunavut start kindergarten at the age of five and I don’t know where this originated.
I will be raising questions in regard to that during question period.
Member’s Statement 259 – 1(6): Economic Development in Non Decentralized Communities
The medal that I got, we are more capable than the ones that are wearing the different pins.
I rise today to address the needs of non-decentralized communities in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I have been talking this week about two issues that are of great concern to my constituents in Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay.
These issues relate to the closure of the two mines in the area and the uncertainty surrounding polar bear quotas.
Mr. Speaker, these issues are connected with what I see to be a lack of a clear economic strategy to address the economic development needs of smaller non decentralized communities.
Mr. Speaker, when the government released its Naujaat Challenge document last year, members were pleased that the document promised the government would publish a formal Nunavut Economic Development Strategy in November of this year.
Mr. Speaker, there are nine days remaining in November and I am anxious to see this strategy as I imagine all members are.
Mr. Speaker, members have consistently urged the government through such mechanisms as the Nunavut Development Corporation to focus more effort on economic development in smaller non-decentralized communities.
Mr. Speaker, in my communities, people are anxious about their future.
We need to show them that we have a plan.
Later today I will be asking the Minister of Sustainable Development whether he will be tabling the promised Nunavut Economic Development Strategy before the end of our sitting in Iqaluit.
Member’s Statement 260 – 1(6): Nunavummiut Highest Charitable Donations/Nunavut Fiscal Outlook
Mr. Speaker, more than likely at the appropriate time I will be asking for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide members of this House with an interesting comparison of two sets of numbers.
Mr. Speaker, each November around this time we learn from the Minister of Finance about the state of our government’s fiscal position.
Also around this time we learn about how generous the residents of Nunavut are in making charitable donations.
I’ll talk first about the good news.
Mr. Speaker, in both 2000 and 2001 I had the pleasure of rising in this House to report the fact that Nunavummiut are among the most generous donors in all of Canada when it comes to giving money to charity.
According to data released today by Statistics Canada, Nunavut had the highest median donation in all of Canada.
In the year 2001, the median donation here was $360, up from $340 in the year 2000, when Nunavut was also in top place.
Mr. Speaker, over 1.7 million dollars was donated to charity by Nunavummiut in 2001.
This is an increase of 15% over the year 2000, again, the largest increase in the country.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke last year about how this level of generosity was a testament to the good will and giving spirit of our constituents and our communities.
We should be very proud of our people today.
Now, Mr. Speaker, let us take a look at a more confusing set of figures and trends.
Last November’s fiscal update we were told that, “Nunavut’s short term fiscal situation has improved considerably.”
A few months later in April of this year, the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech informed us, “Nunavut’s fiscal outlook for the short-term is stable.”
Now, Mr. Speaker we are to understand from yesterday’s fiscal update as, “Nunavut’s short-term fiscal situation has weakened.”
Mr. Speaker, trying to figure out exactly where we stand is no easy task.
One day we were told to expect an operating surplus of 1.7 million for the year, and so we planned on that basis.
Members reviewed the Government’s spending estimates with this figure in mind.
A few months later we are suddenly in a deficit position to the tune of 74 million dollars.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Mr. Speaker, it would not surprise me at all if the numbers change like magic all over again in the next 3 or 4 months when we listen to the next Budget Speech.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, these fiscal conjuring acts probably leave all Members a little breathless with the speed in which Nunavut’s surpluses turn into deficits and then back again into surpluses and then back again into you know what.
That is why I think that we are all pleased when we heard a commitment in March of 2001, when our formula was renewed, that the Federal and the Nunavut’s Ministers of Finance would undertake a review of Nunavut’s fiscal circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, it is almost 20 months later and we are none the wiser about what is happening with this review.
Mr. Speaker, I agree that we are faced with the challenges of balancing competing needs.
That is why I have always pushed for spending on genuine needs in our communities and why we need to carefully examine projects to see if they are reasonable.
Mr. Speaker, two things are clear today.
When it comes to deciding whether Nunavummiut are generous and responsible supporters of our communities, the numbers speak for themselves.
When it comes to where our Government stands with the public purse, things are as clear as mud.
Member’s Statement 261 – 1(6): Hiring Local People for Jobs
I would like to make a statement in regards to, as our colleague Manitok said, about the capabilities of the Inuit.
It has been known for some time now that people are imported from the South to work up in the North, whether it be on the roads, or Airports, sewage lagoons.
For those major projects they even bring up their own drivers for vehicles, these can be taken by local people who are capable of doing the jobs, they are capable of driving, and those jobs are just more or less stolen from these people.
Allen Kilabuk and Allen Qamokaak are from Nunavut and they teach driving airbrake vehicles. We have a problem because we don’t have an institution where they can go to school.
Some people go to Fort Smith but it’s too far and this has to be remedied as soon as possible by our government so that the people who don’t have heavy equipment licenses could get them.
More emphasis should be put on this because they are not even recognized as they don’t have licenses, this should be dealt with, and this is very important.
Member’s Statement 262 – 1(6): Queens Medal and Visit: Thank the People of Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, today many of the members wear very proudly her Royal Highness’, Queen Elizabeth the II, 50th Golden Jubilee medal.
Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, as a member of the Church Lad’s Brigade, I wore a 25th Anniversary Medal of her Royal Highness.
How time flies.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the good people of Nunavut who put their best foot forward during the historic visit of her Majesty and his Royal Highness, Prince Phillip.
Mr. Speaker, months of planning by the legislative staff, our community schools, students, teachers and parents, and many volunteers helped make the visit a resounding success.
Mr. Speaker, in my conversation with her Majesty, she complimented our community as well as our new legislative assembly building.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask you, Mr. Speaker, who did an excellent job of hosting her Majesty and the Prince as well as Mr. Chrétien; I would ask that Mr. Speaker, you and this House join with me to thank the people of Iqaluit and the many volunteers who helped ensure the success of the Queen’s historic visit to Nunavut last month.
Member’s Statement 263 – 1(6): Greetings to Family
I would like to let my constituents know I will be travelling to Pangnirtung and I’ll be back on Sunday or Monday if I don’t have too much work to do.
For some of us we have been away from our homes for quite a while so I’d like to say hi to my wife Rosie, my daughters Lyn and Jenna, and Joseph and Kevin in Qikiqtarjuaq, I’d like to say hi to the people of Pangnirtung, I will be seeing them when I get up there.
Member’s Statement 264 – 1(6): Applaud Cape Dorset Co-op and Print Shop
I’d like to applaud the residents of Cape Dorset and I rise today to applaud them.
In 1959 the print shop opened and they’re widely known all over the world, the prints.
It has been 43 years since the print shop opened and I’d like to applaud the Cape Dorset Print Shop and their employees for successfully delivering those prints.
Member’s Statement 265 – 1(6): Hockey Tournament
I would like to remind my constituents that we will have a hockey tournament, and play against the women’s team.
We’ll probably be beaten, but if you wish to watch our game, it starts at 5:30 tomorrow.
Member’s Statement 266 – 1(6): Help Promote Inuinnaqtun
First of all I wanted to say that, I want to give greetings to the people in Kugluktuk.
I rise today to once again draw the attention of this House to a situation I continue to find extremely frustrating.
I want to help promote our language, Inuinnaqtun.
Even though I have raised the issue many times, it is still the case that documents, legislation and other items of business that are tabled in this House are not available in Inuinnaqtun.
(interpretation ends) As native speakers of Inuinnaqtun, in the communities of Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, as citizens of Nunavut, Inuinnaqtun speakers should have the same access to the government processes as all other Nunavummiut.
For example, Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Health and Education recently conducted a community consultation on Bill 1.
Even though the Bill was introduced in the assembly over seven months ago, we are still waiting for the Inuinnaqtun version.
How can we expect Inuinnaqtun speaking Elders to properly participate in the consultation process if they do not have a document that they can review?
Mr. Speaker, I find the situation unacceptable.
I strongly urge the government to ensure that every document or piece of legislation that passes through this House Mr. Speaker, be provided in Inuinnaqtun as well as English, Inuktitut and French.
Before we move onto Item 4, just a reminder to the members that according to the House rules, your rules, number 36 (3) (b), a member’s statement must confine itself to one matter and one matter only.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognise an employee of mine Martha Panikak who is my constituency assistant with the red parka.
She is very capable and she’s also the Deputy Mayor of Whale Cove.
She has done other various jobs in Whale Cove and I would like to say thank you to her.
She has been helping me represent my community of Whale Cove.
The other person beside her is Leah Inutiq who is known by the members and I would like to welcome them to this House.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to welcome to the gallery a constituent of mine, an old family friend, Lizzie from that wonderful community that Mr. Iqaqrialu calls home, Kangituraapik.
I like to say Kangisuraapik and he usually corrects me.
Also, Leah Inutiq who works for Minister Thompson, and another constituent of mine who’s been meeting with me over the last several weeks and has written several very interesting papers on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, I’m sure he was quite interested in Mr. Iqaqrialu’s earlier statement and how we can incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the Department of Health & Social Services.
He’s with us here today, a constituent of mine and a friend working for the Department of Health & Social Services, Mr. Andrew Tagak.
Question 259 – 1(6): Heavy Equipment Operator Training & Certificates
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement I spoke about the problems being encountered by those drivers that don’t have a certificate.
Some of them try to get heavy equipment operators certificates.
Would it be possible to have this in the education system?
In various communities of Nunavut, we have heard this numerous times as members of the legislature and we have felt that the people have to be taught or given training in heavy equipment operating.
They have to take more training in various areas. There is no institution to teach these things and we understand that we need to get some training in place for those heavy equipment operators.
Mr. Speaker, Yes, I understand the response of the Minister and I thank her for the response.
Currently they take training in Fort Smith.
We encountered a problem last fall and we still have a problem and I’ve spoken to someone that takes heavy equipment operator courses.
They have to take training in Fort Smith for many months to get their license to operate the heavy equipment.
That school is in the NWT and I don’t think they’re very happy to be going to NWT to take that kind of training.
I think there should be a school in Nunavut for these things. Would you be able to bring a school to Nunavut for Heavy Equipment Operators’ courses?
I will try my best to try to get a training program for heavy equipment operators and I know Mr. Speaker, that there are quite a few people here that live in Nunavut that are certified. People such as Yvo Airut can give training to those heavy equipment operators and he lives in Rankin Inlet.
Also, there is Solomon Voisy, who lives in Nunavut that could provide that type of training and I’m pretty sure there might be some more people in other communities in Nunavut. I will speak with my staff to see what things we can plan for that kind of training.
There are also various types of training that you can take and following the driver’s manual that has been created here in Nunavut.
It has been directed at the people of Nunavut for them to take their drivers’ training.
So, as well we will revise that driver’s manual to make it appropriate for the people of Nunavut.
Yes, I thank the minister for her response, hopefully this will bring about a solution, and it seems like, according to the minister’s response that this can be accomplished.
Hopefully, you will be able to have that in place soon.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) as the minister responsible for motor vehicles I have asked my staff to revise the driver’s manual so that it will be easier for Nunavummiut to get their driver’s license.
I was very glad to hear the MLA from Baker Lake talking about a project, the gold mine near Baker Lake which will be beneficial to Keewatinmiut.
What we will be doing as a department is seeing where we can help to train people so that they are preparing themselves for mining in the regions and this is one of the areas that my department will be looking into; how we can train heavy equipment operators.
So we are already initiating some of these issues to the benefit of local employment.
So, yes we will do something about getting licenses for heavy equipment operators through a training program that can happen on the road or in the communities.
Question 260 – 1(6): Fiscal Review of Formula Financing Agreement
Earlier in my comparison of numbers I mentioned something last March when the Minister of Finance from the Federal Government was here and Minister Ng and he both signed and renewed our formula financing agreement.
They’ve committed to undertaking a review of that formula.
I’d like to ask the minister if he could update this House as to where things stand with that review.
There has been a considerable amount of work done to the extent that there is a preliminary report that’s been prepared, mainly by Nunavut Finance Officials.
One thing that has to take place, as members recall, there was a shift of responsibility at the federal level with Minister Manly being appointed the new Finance Minister.
And in the federal system, when a minister takes over, he reviews all the initiatives within the department to see whether or not he would support those continuing initiatives.
So in the initial meeting I had with Minister Manly, the fiscal review was on the agenda.
I discussed it with him at that time on whether or not he would want to see us finish off the work that has been undertaken.
And he committed to that affect.
So work continues.
The next step now, Mr. Speaker, is to have a federal finance official review the preliminary report, prior to some closure in the respect of a presentable report that would go to both the ministers.
Mr. Speaker, I’m quite relieved that the new minister of finance is still continuing to pursue that avenue.
Too bad we didn’t have that success with some of the other decisions that went on at the federal level.
Mr. Speaker, the minister had indicated that there is a preliminary report that has been prepared by his department and it has gone to his federal counterpart in Ottawa.
Would the minister be willing to provide a review to the members of this House so they can have an idea of what’s in that report and what kinds of things are expected?
First of all I would like to clarify that I didn’t say that it’s gone to Ottawa, to any Federal Finance Officials.
That’s a preliminary report that we’ve planned on presenting at the official’s level right now to review; a preliminary report prior to putting in some form of presentable fashion to the two ministers, myself and Minister Manly.
But in respect of the member’s question about having an opportunity to review, I certainly have no problems with that.
It’s just a matter of timing and a presentable form.
Mr. Speaker, I apologise if I misunderstood the minister and his comments there.
I do appreciate the minister saying he would be willing to provide us with some type of presentation on it.
On the timing thing, I was just wondering if he could give us some kind of indication as when we can expect to have that report in a presentable form so that a presentation can be made to the members of this assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I will commit to speaking with my officials to see what is available right now and I’m willing at any time, thought it depends on what the members would want in particular.
We could have a rough analysis, a presentation of what’s been done to date and what information we have.
Or if he wanted to wait for a more finish product, I’m not sure.
But I can certainly, like I said, speak with my officials and get back to all the members in respect to that.
Mr. Speaker, that word final comes too soon during question period.
I’m sure all members would agree with me on that.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gesture by the Minister to do that. I believe he indicated he’d be willing to share information with us even if it’s before and that way, members can be made aware of it and may have some suggestions or input into it rather than just some departmental staff that are working on it without any input from the members of this assembly.
The more we can look at it and understand what’s in there and hopefully we can all work together and try to make sure that things we need are in there and I hope it would be valued input in that process. Is the minister is willing to look at doing something like that?
We are always looking for input from the standing committee or members in any form whether it’s formal or informal.
Question 261 – 1(6): Need for Air Terminal in Gjoa Haven – Letter
Mr. Speaker, briefly, in the decentralized communities, the gymnasiums and community health centres, I’m sure if I had mentioned that it would’ve been more appropriate.
Usually the public utilities that we have at the community level are quite small so I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Transportation if she has received the motion from Gjoa Haven Hamlet council, in regards to the need for an air terminal building.
I have received a letter from the Mayor of Gjoa Haven Hamlet council and also I have received a resolution from the Gjoa Haven Hamlet council in regards to a need for a new air terminal building. I do have the documents already.
When does the minister expect to know whether the funding will be available for a new air terminal building in Gjoa Haven?
We were working with the federal government officials, along with the minister for transportation, and I’m trying to obtain some funding in regards to access roads, and for the terminal buildings.
We had to send a list of small air terminal buildings; we had to send our list of priorities to the federal minister.
So in doing the research we now know which communities needs air terminal buildings as a priority.
We were considering Gjoa Haven and the federal minister had approved that as the Gjoa Haven air terminal building in Gjoa Haven was so old and deteriorated. At this time the hamlet council has responded and they’re very glad to see their new air terminal being considered.
My officials were working with the Gjoa Haven Hamlet Council since the federal minister had also approved the new air terminal building and we had been waiting to hear from the Hamlet council about their wishes.
We understood from the Gjoa Haven Hamlet council that their air terminal is small and too old and so the new air terminal building will go ahead.
The municipal council has approved it and in the contribution criteria it stated that their air terminal was too old but at that time the federal minister had requested a letter from the local Gjoa Haven Hamlet Council and we will be working on the construction of the new terminal building in Gjoa Haven.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I also would like to thank the minister for responding to the concerns of our community and also I would like to thank her for working with the federal government to obtain the new air terminal building.
I would like to ask a supplementary question to the minister.
Usually the airports take care of cargo and they usually need a fridge, we need space at the air terminal and our air terminal is quite small and we run out of space right away.
The luggage gets in the way and we literally run out of space.
I would like to ask the minister, I apologize, Mr. Speaker; there is no space such as a garage or storage space for the terminal.
So, I was wondering if you have already, if you considered having a storage space at the terminal.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): We have not worked on the design as yet.
Once the design gets underway they will be working with the local community.
I don’t know how the design is going to look, but they’ve already written a letter on what they’d like to see in the terminal. Once we get to the design stage we’ll work with the hamlet council.
Is the Department of Transportation considering extending the old air terminal or are you considering building a new air terminal building?
We are considering constructing a new air terminal building in Gjoa Haven.
Question 262 – 1(6): Traditional Methods of Treatment – Incorporate IQ
In relation to my Member’s Statement about using traditional methods of treatment; I am sure that he will not be able to respond to some of my questions, so I will be asking questions about something he can respond to.
You usually get Nurses from outside of Canada and we usually recruit certified Nurses from outside of Canada.
I am sure that this creates problems at the community level.
You know last spring that you and I went to Qikiqtarjuaq and the community was quite concerned about their Nurses.
We appreciate having community Nurses and I don’t want to put them down.
As we all know that the Nurses who come from outside of Canada do not properly service the residents of the community in some areas.