EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2 – Assent
Commissioner Hanson (interpretation): Members of the Legislative Assembly, please be seated.
Bill 4, Workers’ Compensation Act
Bill 12, Emergency Measures Act
Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes
Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2
The coming long weekend marks Remembrance Day. I would like to ask all members to join me in acknowledging the bravery and sacrifices of both our veterans and those who are presently serving this nation in our Armed Forces and particularly on Remembrance Day.
I am also pleased to take this opportunity to extend to all members my warmest wishes for the upcoming holiday season.
As you conclude your work here and prepare to your families and communities, I wish you all a safe journey.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Commissioner and Members.
Members, before we adjourn, I would like to thank our pages who are from Inuksuk High School, they have helped us a great deal.
Crystal Ropel, thank you.
Samantha Giroux, thank you.
Manu Maatiusi, thank you.
I would like to thank our Sergeant-at-Arms, Simanek Kilabuk, who worked tirelessly during the session, thank you.
And our interpreters, we thank you very much.
And, all our staff in the House, thank you.
I hope you will have a very safe journey when you go back to your communities and during the holidays have a good rest and be kind to others who are less fortunate and to the elders.
At this time, the Orders of the Day.
A reminder that all meetings for tomorrow are cancelled.
Orders of the Day for February 19:
This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 21:51
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Pages 2656 – 2689
Stephen Innuksuk
Opening Prayer 2656
Money Message 2656
Ministers’ Statements 2657
Members’ Statements 2657
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2664
Oral Questions 2665
Returns to Written Questions* 2684
Tabling of Documents 2685
Motions 2688
Orders of the Day 2688
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 2656
125 – 2(4): Notice of Budget Address (Okalik) 2657
275 – 2(4): Gold Medal Winners: Arviat Hockey Players (Alagalak) 2657
276 – 2(4): Whale Cove Liquor Plebiscite (Brown) 2658
277 – 2(4): Recognition of Peter Mannik’s Walk for Togetherness (Mapsalak) 2658
278 – 2(4): Outstanding Principal Terry Young (Tootoo) 2659
279 – 2(4): Meteorite Sighting at Arctic Bay (Barnabas) 2660
280 – 2(4): No Public Announcement on Rate Rider (Curley) 2660
281 – 2(4): Passing of Nino Wischnewski (Picco) 2661
282 – 2(4): Poor Quality Air at Sanikiluaq School (Kattuk) 2661
283 – 2(4): Governor General Northern Medal – Nellie Cournoyea (Aglukkaq) 2662
284 – 2(4): Showcasing Cambridge Bay’s Tourism Potential to the World (Peterson) 2663
357 – 2(4): Update on Repulse Bay Health Centre (Mapsalak) 2665
358 – 2(4): Status of Cambridge Bay Airport Expansion (Peterson) 2666
359 – 2(4): Qulliq Energy Corporation (Curley) 2668
360 – 2(4): Request for Proposal – Medical Travel (Tootoo) 2672
361 – 2(4): Fuel Subsidies to Municipalities (Barnabas) 2673
362 – 2(4): $242 Million Federal Funding (Alagalak) 2675
363 – 2(4): Process for Determining Number of Community Nurses (Simailak) 2677
364 – 2(4): Number of Vacant SAO Positions (Mapsalak) 2680
365 – 2(4): Release of Inmates Not Returned to Community (Kattuk) 2681
366 – 2(4): Treatment of Chronic Pain (Peterson) 2682
Return to Written Question 008 – 2(4): Meetings and Directives of Executive Council and its Committees (Clerk) 2684
158 – 2(4): RCMP “V” Division Annual Report 2006-2007 – The Year in Review (Okalik) 2685
159 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut Response to 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Information & Privacy Commissioner (Okalik) 2685
160 – 2(4): Hamlet of Sanikiluaq Motion on Nuiyak School (Kattuk) 2685
161 – 2(4): NAC Annual Report for 2006-2007 (Picco) 2685
162 – 2(4): Tobacco Control Act Annual Report 2007 (Aglukkaq) 2686
163 – 2(4): Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council 2006-2007 (Aglukkaq) 2686
164 – 2(4): Director of Medical Insurance Annual Report 2006-2007 (Aglukkaq) 2686
165 – 2(4): Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 (Aglukkaq) 2686
166 – 2(4): Nunavut Development Corporation Annual Report 2005-2006 (Netser) 2686
167 – 2(4): Business Plan 2007-2008 – Nunavut Development Corporation (Netser) 2686
168 – 2(4): Response to Petition 2 – 2(4) – Funding & Construction of Pond Inlet Arena (Clerk) 2686
169 – 2(4): Report of Integrity Commissioner to Speaker on David Simailak, MLA January 3, 2008 (Speaker) 2687
170 – 2(4): Statutory Requirements for Tabling of Reports and Other Documents February 2008 (Speaker) 2687
171 – 2(4): Correspondence to the Federal Minister of Finance Concerning Northern Residents Deduction Motion (Speaker) 2687
172 – 2(4): Pension Administration Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2007 (Speaker) 2687
173 – 2(4): Actuarial Report Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Retiring Allowances Act Funding Valuations as of April 1, 2007 (Speaker) 2687
174 – 2(4): Actuarial Report Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act Funding Valuations as of April 1, 2007 (Speaker) 2687
024 – 2(4): Adjournment for the Day (Barnabas) 2688
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
I would like to ask the Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Curley, to say the opening prayer.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Premier, Ministers, Members, and visitors.
Members, before we go to the Orders of the Day, I wish to welcome all of you back. Before we proceed with the Orders of the Day, I also would like to welcome our viewing audience. First of all, I would like to welcome the people who are watching us.
Members are aware that the Legislative Assembly has been working towards implementing our new broadcasting system.
Ultimately, as part of our live coverage, the first two hours of our daily proceedings will be broadcast in the floor language.
Viewers in communities will have a choice of languages for the evening rebroadcast.
As members will appreciate, this is an ambitious endeavour, and we are working hard to finalize the technical details of the system and install some remaining technical components and equipment.
For this week, our live broadcast will be in the floor language. I will continue to keep you abreast of what’s happening.
Members, we have a letter from the commissioner addressed to Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends)
Money Message
February 6, 2008
Mr. Peter Kilabuk, Speaker of the House
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, the passage of the following bills during the Fourth Session of the Second Legislative Assembly:
Bill 23, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009
Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008
Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008
Sincerely, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson C.M.,
Commissioner of Nunavut
(interpretation) Members, we will now be sitting with Stephen Innuksuk.
He just joined the Clerk’s Office and we would like to welcome him as our Clerk Assistant.
I welcome Mr. Innuksuk to the Gallery.
Minister’s Statement 125 – 2(4): Notice of Budget Address (Okalik)
Welcome to Iqaluit, my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to notify my colleagues that tomorrow, Wednesday, February 20, 2008, the Minister of Finance will introduce Budget 2008 on behalf of the Government of Nunavut.
This budget will outline our government’s financial priorities for fiscal year 2008-09.
Member’s Statement 275 – 2(4): Gold Medal Winners: Arviat Hockey Players (Alagalak)
I would like to state that I’m very proud of the peewee hockey players who played in Rankin Inlet because they won the gold for Arviat.
We’re so pleased in Arviat because these minor hockey leaguers are given an opportunity to be role models to their peers. So we’re very happy about this.
I rise today to express my gratitude because I was not here during the fall session and I was unable to come here due to my heart surgery.
I would like to thank all of the people in Nunavut who called me to wish me well and I would also like to thank the people who prayed for me and my family. I have wanted to state that in the House.
We would like to repay the people who wished us well and I also wish them all well, too.
Member for Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove, Ms. Brown.
Member’s Statement 276 – 2(4): Whale Cove Liquor Plebiscite (Brown)
Since I’m second to be speaking in Members’ Statements, I am very pleased to see my colleague here attending the meeting and we have full membership here. I am also very pleased that we’ll be seeing each other face-to-face again. Nunavummiut will be watching the proceedings.
They say that they learn a great deal when they’re viewing the proceedings and they’re kept abreast of what has been happening with the proceedings. On behalf of Nunavummiut, I wish the proceedings to go well and to use our authority wisely.
The reason why I rose today is that in Whale Cove, on February 11, there was an election for an alcohol plebiscite and they wanted to have controlled liquor. The community of Whale Cove is very pleased to have that occur.
We have heard that we’ll be on live broadcast so I send all residents of the communities of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet my greetings and I would also like to say hello to all of them.
I will also try and represent all of them to the best of my ability and I encourage them to keep calling me.
Member’s Statement 277 – 2(4): Recognition of Peter Mannik’s Walk for Togetherness (Mapsalak)
First of all, I would like to say that I am very pleased that our constituencies are able to watch the broadcast and I wish them a wonderful day.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, I rise today to acknowledge an individual who has moved to Repulse Bay, Peter Mannik, who is originally from Baker Lake.
He started walking a little bit over three miles every year starting on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
This is the third year that he has been doing this in an attempt to make the smaller communities more focussed on love and compassion and less on arguments and fighting amongst people.
I would like to acknowledge him, and on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, I congratulate Peter Mannik, who had been walking over three miles annually, even when the weather has been extremely cold. He has been accompanied by his small son.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, I would like to acknowledge Peter Mannik.
Member’s Statement 278 – 2(4): Outstanding Principal Terry Young (Tootoo)
I welcome everybody back.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals of 2008.
Mr. Speaker, Terry Young is the principal at Inuksuk High School here in Iqaluit.
He has been working in this community for the past eight years and prior to that he worked in your community of Pangnirtung and Cape Dorset.
Mr. Speaker, Terry Young is the type of person who really makes a difference in the lives of our students and in our communities. He is a dynamic leader who not only takes an active role by visiting every classroom every single day, but is also involved in after school activities such as sports and theatre.
Mr. Speaker, the Outstanding Principal honour is awarded every year by the Learning Partnership, a non-profit organization that offers support to Canada’s public schools.
This year, Terry Young and 32 other principals across Canada received this award and later this month they will meet up for a leadership training program at the University of Toronto.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Young on this award, and I do believe that we all feel that we are very fortunate to have a dedicated individual such as Mr. Young in our schools and in our system.
Member’s Statement 279 – 2(4): Meteorite Sighting at Arctic Bay (Barnabas)
I would also like to welcome all Nunavummiut. I would also like to welcome my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, on February 17, something strange occurred in the High Arctic. My constituents saw a strange flying object in the sky.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to state that there have been some concerns raised over this. They were concerned about this dead satellite that the United States wanted to shoot down but I don’t want my constituents to be concerned about that.
I want my colleagues to know that this object was a meteorite and this flying object was seen by many people in my constituency and also in Mary River.
This flying object was also seen by residents of Greenland.
So I just wanted to raise and explain this situation to the constituents who were concerned. It occurred on Sunday at seven o’clock in the morning. They saw this light and there were different colours coming from that falling object.
We were quite concerned about the dead satellite that the United States wanted to shoot down.
Members’ Statement. Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Curley.
Member’s Statement 280 – 2(4): No Public Announcement on Rate Rider (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today, first of all, to say how happy I am that our constituents will be listening to the live broadcast for two hours during the session and I also welcome the people who are viewing the broadcast.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all the members, I am requesting support.
Just last month, we had lost a young person in Rankin Inlet. We send our condolences to this individual’s parents, grandparents and immediate family.
We were very proud of this young person who had passed away and we struggle with the loss today. This was felt very much by the community of Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to state while the government is listening that we have to be visible to Nunavut, not just with speeches but with Acts and bills and the processes involved.
On October 31 I asked the Minister of Energy whether the energy cost will increase or not.
He said he will not increase the price of energy and he told us that the price was decreased but the minister didn’t state that we will increase the cost of energy through a fuel rate rider of 6.40 cents tomorrow.
Before the end the day on October 31, the Cabinet had decreed it to be in effect for the rest of the year, even though there was no public announcement to Nunavummiut.
I believe that Nunavummiut will want to know more about the rate rider; it seems like the rate rider is permanent and it seems to be continually approved annually by the Cabinet.
At the appropriate time, in order to get clarification, we would like to request the Minister of Energy to reply adequately.
Member for (interpretation ends) Iqaluit East, Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 281 – 2(4): Passing of Nino Wischnewski (Picco)
Members of this House were certainly saddened to learn that since our last sitting, a long-term hard working senior employee of our government died very suddenly.
Mr. Nino Wischnewski appeared before the Members in this House shortly before his passing in the Committee of the Whole with me to discuss Bill 13, the Energy Efficiency Act.
As members know, Mr. Speaker, Nino worked in various capacities within our government, including with EIA and later transferring to the Energy Secretariat.
Nino’s dedication, hard work, and love of Nunavut was evident, Mr. Speaker, every day when people came across him, worked with him, and they spoke with him.
Nino had a great sense of humour and was a very dedicated family person and a husband and father.
Mr. Speaker, Nino was instrumental in the foundation of Ikummatiit, our Energy Strategy that has been tabled before our House.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the members, I’m sure, of our House, we would like to take this opportunity, our first public opportunity since our last session, to wish the very best to his wife, Heather, and their family on the very sudden passing of Mr. Wischnewski.
Member’s Statement 282 – 2(4): Poor Quality Air at Sanikiluaq School (Kattuk)
I rise today in regard to the concerns that my constituents have.
First of all, I would like to smile at my grandchild; he was going to watch.
Mr. Speaker, education is very important to our children.
In my constituency, they close down the school for too many days because of the quality of air within the school.
At our session this last fall in November, I asked the minister and up to now, nothing has changed.
They still close down the school because of the quality of air and maybe because of the ventilation system.
So during the sitting, I will be asking the Ministers of Education and Community and Government Services in regard to the school. That will be my concern during this session.
Member’s Statement 283 – 2(4): Governor General Northern Medal – Nellie Cournoyea (Aglukkaq)
First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for being able to allow all people in Nunavut to see us, hear us, and participate in our proceedings today. They are much closer to us today.
I would also like to welcome all of the members here.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my warmest congratulations to Nellie Cournoyea on being awarded the Governor General Northern Medal.
Mr. Speaker, the Governor General Northern Medal was created in 2005 to recognize the contributions of outstanding northerners.
Past recipients of this award include Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, of Iqaluit. The Governor General announced Nellie’s award on January 30 of this year.
Mr. Speaker, Nellie Cournoyea needs no introduction to the Members of this House. For over 30 years, Nellie has been a leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of all northerners, NWT, and Nunavummiut.
As the first female Premier of the Northwest Territories, Nellie advanced many issues of concern and was a strong supporter of Nunavut’s aspirations. In fact, I believe Nellie was the Premier at the time when our Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was signed here in Iqaluit.
As the Chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nellie continued to work for the better future for the north. I am also pleased to note that Nellie will be inducted into the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Hall of Fame tonight at an event in Toronto.
Mr. Speaker, Nellie’s career and life stories are an inspiration for me and to my constituents. She has shown what hard work and perseverance can achieve. So on behalf of Nattilingmiut, I want to offer my congratulations to Nellie and I ask all members to join me in congratulating Nellie Cournoyea for achieving the national recognition she so deserves.
Member’s Statement 284 – 2(4): Showcasing Cambridge Bay’s Tourism Potential to the World (Peterson)
First of all, I would like to welcome my constituents back home in Cambridge Bay, Bathurst Inlet and Bay Chimo, and also the Kitikmeot region and all Nunavummiut to the proceedings today.
Mr. Speaker, today is our first sitting day of 2008 and I am pleased to rise and share a good news story with the House.
Mr. Speaker, the tourism sector of our economy holds great promise for the future. Nunavut has the potential to become one of the world’s top destinations for such activities as sport fishing and ecotourism.
Mr. Speaker, the economic development office of the Municipality of Cambridge Bay has recently entered into a partnership to welcome the popular television show The Dimestore Fishermen to our community later this year.
Mr. Speaker, Cambridge Bay is excited at the prospect of having our community and its surrounding natural attractions showcased to the world. Our pristine waters and magnificent fishing opportunities are an outdoor paradise.
Mr. Speaker, I have risen in this House on a number of occasions to highlight the need for strategic investments that will support our economic development initiatives. The tourism sector relies on modern and reliable transportation infrastructure.
Cambridge Bay continues to call for improvements to our airport’s runway which will strengthen the community’s position as the gateway to the Kitikmeot.
I was pleased to note that the GN has recently signed a framework agreement with the federal government under the Building Canada Infrastructure Plan.
I continue to urge our government to vigorously push for much needed investments in Cambridge Bay’s transportation infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, a dynamic tourism sector can be environmentally friendly, job creating, and economically sustainable. Cambridge Bay looks forward to welcoming the world.
Speaker (interpretation): Before I recognize anybody, at this time, I am happy to recognize Mr. Paul Dewar, who is a Member for Ottawa Centre with the NDP opposition, and I would like to welcome him to the Gallery.
It gives me great pleasure today to introduce into the Gallery Mr. Kirt Ejesiak. Kirt’s a well-known business person and a nominee for the Liberal Party of Canada for the upcoming Federal Election for MP.
I also wanted to thank Kirt, Mr. Speaker, very quickly for coming to our constituency meeting last night in Apex. We had some really good discussion and debate there and I look forward to talking to Kirt at some point or later on about that meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome him to the Gallery.
I would like to recognize the residents of Baker Lake and I hope everything will go well.
I would like to welcome my younger son sitting behind me who is visiting Iqaluit but works at Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Baker Lake office.
He is also on the hamlet council and he was recently elected as Deputy Mayor of Baker Lake.
I would like to welcome my son, Craig.
I would like to recognize my older brother, Paul Irngaut, who is with the NTI Communications Department.
My apologies. Item 5.
I don’t think there’s anyone else. Item 6.
Question 357 – 2(4): Update on Repulse Bay Health Centre (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the minister will recall that on November 8, a motion in this House was passed without opposition to move the Repulse Bay Health Centre Project forward in the department’s Five-Year Capital Plan, with construction to begin in 2009-2010.
Can the minister provide an update today on what has been done to bring this project forward in the capital plan?
Within the next couple of weeks, I hope to have an announcement in the House on those projects.
As members know, recently our Premier and the Minister of CG&S signed an agreement for $232 million with the federal government.
We hope to make some adjustments to the current Five-Year Capital Plan of the Government of Nunavut to address the capital plans for not just Health but the various departments for this coming year, and I hope to have some announcements for the member during this sitting on those initiatives.
I think the minister is well aware about the poor condition that the Repulse Bay Health Centre is in.
There’s no backup generator and I think that has been like that for a whole year.
We have the most outages in Repulse Bay and there has been no improvement to the situation.
I don’t think that it’s going to improve anytime soon.
I think it’s quite urgent to move this project forward because they’re using a generator right now that’s very small for the size of the building.
The Taloyoak Health Centre Replacement Project indicates that it will be able to proceed in 2008-09 because it will be duplicating the design for the Repulse Bay Health Centre. Could the minister clarify whether the Repulse Bay Health Centre will go ahead?
Please keep your supplementary to your questions as short as possible.
I will have the Premier respond.
We will do all we can to make sure that this project goes ahead.
We have to make sure that there is an emergency generator available.
We know exactly what your concern is and this government will do all it can to make sure that there is an improvement in this situation.
We have been informed about that for I don’t know how many years now.
We keep looking forward year after year and there has been a delay each time.