EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Department of Education intends to have surveillance systems in place in all our schools by 2006.
Mr. Speaker, the new surveillance system in Iqaluit schools has already proven its worth.
In two separate incidents, the perpetrators have been identified thanks to the closed circuit system and appropriate action taken. The system is working.
The Department of Education is aware of the importance of respecting privacy.
The new policy for surveillance was developed in consultation with lawyers, the government’s Access to Information Privacy (ATIP) coordinator, along with the RCMP.
Our goal is to protect school property, deter vandalism and other criminal activities, and enhance the safety of people using our schools.
Minister’s Statement 044 – 2(2): World AIDS Day 2004
I rise today to remind all Nunavummiut that this is World AIDS Day.
According to the United Nations HIV-AIDS programs, as of December 2003 there were 38 million people living with AIDS around the world.
Also, in 2003, five million people acquired HIV, the greatest number in a given year since the epidemic started.
In Canada, approximately 56,000 Canadians are living with HIV-AIDS.
The epidemic is concentrated in four jurisdictions: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
However, every jurisdiction has reported cases.
Mr. Speaker, in Nunavut there have been 12 reported HIV cases since 1987, two of these in recent years.
Given our very high rate of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, this is a strong indication that unsafe sexual practices continue, putting Nunavumiut at a very high risk for HIV infection.
World AIDS Day is a reminder to all of us that HIV is an issue for everyone.
Every one of us needs to take action to ensure that this epidemic gets under control.
HIV does not discriminate.
We need to treat those living with HIV with the care and compassion they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services will continue to raise public awareness and to cooperate and partner with other government departments and organizations to focus on the issue of HIV-AIDS.
We will strengthen health promotion activities to help prevent HIV and begin to break the cycle of blame and stigma for those living with HIV.
Minister’s Statement 045 – 2(2): Status of Inuit Employment – Government of Nunavut
I rise today to provide members of the Legislative Assembly with the latest staffing and Inuit employment statistics in the Government of Nunavut from April 1999 to September 2004.
Mr. Speaker, as of September 30, 2004, 2,639 out of 3,198 positions within the departments and boards of the Government of Nunavut were filled.
Of the positions filled, beneficiaries occupied 1,213 positions.
What these figures show, Mr. Speaker, is that the rate of increase of Inuit employed in the government is higher than the rate of overall growth of the Nunavut public service.
Mr. Speaker, this increase in the representation of beneficiaries in the public service is due to the measures that our Government has taken: we have raised the awareness of Inuit about the available job opportunities within the Government; the Priority Hiring Policy is in place and is applied in all hiring; we look for a combination of education and relevant experience when we recruit; and we will be working very closely with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, NTI, to achieve the goals of Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
We have come a long way since April 1, 1999.
We continue to build on our success stories and to learn form the experience of growing together.
Yet much more has to be done to achieve the 85 percent representation by 2020.
I am confident that together we can achieve the vision of Nunavut, “a government that is representative of the people it serves.”
Member's Statement 081 – 2(2): General Rate Application Increase
I rise today to tell you that it’s happening again.
Yesterday in this House, we addressed the issue of what numbers are out there in front of the public with respect to the General Rate Application.
Mr. Speaker, it has now come to light that commercial power rates in Iqaluit may now skyrocket by over 100 percent.
I remain outraged that inaccurate and misleading numbers were before the public for some weeks before the corporation came clean and revealed what they had known internally for some time.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, when the government wishes to disclose numbers that are favourable to its image, it is quick to bombard us with announcements, news releases, communiqués, and all of the other tools of public relations.
However, when it wants to keep things under wrap, you’ll hear an endless number of excuses, evasions, and disclaimers.
In the past, the government has been quick to issue news releases about the exact dollar figures awarded to specific companies for specific projects.
Members who were sitting in this House during the first Assembly will recall that this information was eagerly disclosed for certain capital projects.
Other Members, including myself, have been calling for a long time for the government to regularly and transparently report to this House information on where our public dollars are going when it comes to contracts.
Every single dollar that is awarded as a contract should be disclosed, in my view. To say that the amount of a publicly-funded contract and that the identity of what company or individual is awarded the contract should be secret is completely wrong.
By contrast, our national government now publishes this kind of information on the Internet for the entire Canadian public to see. Mr. Speaker, this sort of transparency can go a long way to enhance confidence in the integrity of a government’s practices. They call this practice proactive disclosure.
Later today, I will table just such an example.
It is up to the government to make a case that the kind of information that I tabled yesterday should be kept secret.
Mr. Speaker, there’s really no case at all.
We’ll be sitting again in a few short weeks, and I will continue to be a watchdog for the public’s money and will continue to speak up in favour of giving accurate information to our constituents.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Members’ statements. Mr. Netser.
Member's Statement 082 – 2(2): Southampton Island Caribou Harvest.
I rise today regarding the Southampton Island caribou harvest.
Mr. Speaker, members will recall the GN’s announcement in May 2003 that the harvest utilized the world’s only European Union-certified portable abattoir.
Mr. Speaker, this was a good news story.
The caribou harvest creates about 70 seasonal jobs and brings around $700,000 into the local economy of Coral Harbour.
In addition, the harvest also supports Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Rankin Inlet with permanent jobs situated over there.
I am concerned, however, that a balance be struck between Economic Development and ensuring that the harvest is sustainable.
The harvest was originally planned to control the population of caribou on the island so that they didn’t overpopulate and destroy their own habitat.
Mr. Speaker, in September of this year, the GN announced an agri-food agreement with the federal government that provides up to $180,000 annually for commercial caribou and musk-ox harvests.
I understand that the GN has made a commitment to work with the community to undertake a count next spring to ensure that the harvest is sustainable.
Mr. Speaker, gaining EU certification was an expensive and difficult undertaking; it could take many years for the Coral Harbour Development Corporation to recover the capital costs of the abattoir and new cabins that were built for the harvest.
I urge the minister to work with the Coral Harbour Development Corporation to create more employment in the community by closely examining the viability of organized sports hunts and the development of processing facilities closer to home.
Member's Statement 083 – 2(2): Last Day of Sitting – Constituency Meeting
I am pleased to rise this morning on the last day of this sitting.
Like other members of this House, I am looking forward to returning to my constituency very shortly.
When I get back, I plan to meet with my constituents and local leaders to inform them of the work that we have done in this past session.
Mr. Speaker, during this session I have been very proud to have had the opportunity to vote in support of capital projects that will benefit my communities.
A total of 25 new housing units are scheduled to be built in 2004-05 in Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk.
This will benefit many of my constituents.
I also want to add my voice to those who have made it clear that the coming year’s construction must include real training and employment opportunities for local residents.
Mr. Speaker, as a member representing both a Kivalliq and a Kitikmeot community, I am in a unique position.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is requesting to have unanimous consent to finish his statement.
Mr. Mapsalak: Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that is the same in both communities is the need for economic growth and job creation.
Mr. Speaker, decentralization has not been the answer for my communities.
Over the past year, there has been significant mining exploration near Repulse, and I was very pleased to BHP Billiton and Committee Bay Resources make the effort to hire local residents.
Mr. Speaker, when we convene early next year for the budget session, I will be continuing to advocate for the needs of my constituents.
I wish everyone a good Christmas and holiday season, my colleagues and all Nunavummiut.
Member's Statement 084 – 2(2): Happy Christmas Holidays
I rise today to represent my constituencies of Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay, and Grise Fiord and to wish them good holidays.
It will be quite impossible to call other communities during the holidays.
Christmas time is very important to families and friends.
I am looking forward to going back home, and while I am there, at the same time I will hear from my constituents about what their concerns are, what their needs are, which I will be able to bring back to the House.
In closing, I want to wish all our interpreters, our staff, my colleagues and you, Mr. Speaker, a good Christmas.
We are looking forward to our safe return.
We’ll be able to start fresh and we will proceed well.
Member's Statement 085 – 2(2): Government of Nunavut Operations
First of all, my grandchild is not feeling well today.
I wish for him to get well.
They are watching, as well as my family and friends in Igloolik and Hall Beach.
I rise this morning as a member of this government, and ever since I have been here, I have promoted for Inuit to have their own government, whether they are hamlet councils, as long as the people know those bodies well.
In some communities there will be elections soon.
I have heard that our present mayor, Elijah Evaluarjuk, is not running again.
At this time I would like to inform my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach that I thank him and to say we have had an excellent working relationship.
I also want say that I will welcome the next mayor.
Mr. Speaker, people can only participate if they understand the operation of their own governments.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, my colleagues and Mr. Speaker.
The reason I am saying this is that people have to understand, in particular, the students who will join service in the public as well as private sectors.
As elected officials we select the ministers or who the leaders will be.
I have been fortunate to have been selected as a minister.
A lot of people in my community ask why I don’t raise many questions in the House.
As a minister, if I were to ask another minister, that wouldn’t look proper.
I want to say that I work closely with the ministers, and I am able to bring to them concerns that I have.
I want that to be understood.
Mr. Speaker, as we are developing, a lot of the time, as Inuit, we belittle ourselves all too much.
We are very capable...
... if we work together and if we show the same determination as our forefathers, then we can be like them.
It should be like that in Nunavut.
Elders’ committees are especially important; if they have any suggestions to make our lives better and to be patient and persevere in our ways.
We all know that during the Christmas holidays there will be a lot of families who will be missing their loved ones whom they have lost, and we want them to have a safe holiday.
Lastly I want to say to Anaanakuluk and Sakik and our elders in Igloolik and my wife Rachel, I want to wish them a Merry Christmas.
Member's Statement 086 – 2(2): Youth Empowerment Workshop in Kugluktuk
First of all I would like to say this today because this is our last day of sitting and Christmas is coming very fast.
We won’t be able to see each other during the holidays so I would like to wish everyone joyous Christmas holidays.
Also, to all our relatives, have good holidays with your children and your relatives.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to share with the House a good news story from Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, from November 15 to the 19, a Youth Empowerment Workshop was held in the community.
Thanks to the efforts of numerous residents, youth in Kugluktuk had the opportunity to participate in a valuable workshop with respected elders and mentors.
Mr. Speaker, the Community Justice Committee, the RCMP, and educators worked together to select youth for this event.
Guest speakers from different walks of life took the time to share their experiences and insights with the youth.
I want to recognize everyone who was involved in this event, especially Ernie Bernhardt of Kugluktuk Youth Empowerment.
I also want to acknowledge the financial support from the different companies and individuals that made this event a success.
Member's Statement 087 – 2(2): Holiday Season Wishes
First of all I want to say hi to my constituents in Arviat. (interpretation) They won’t be able to see us on TV, but I wish them well.
Since Christmas is coming, I hope they are preparing to make kamiks or mittens so we can all look well-dressed.
(interpretation ends) I want to say to you members that I will be remembering you during the Christmas season and in the new year.
I really wanted to be with you at a dinner, or something like that, before we leave, but I guess really don’t have the time for that kind of activity right now, because we are rushing to get home as Christmas is coming on pretty fast.
I am really, really pleased, especially you Iqalungmiut, that you have been welcoming my family and myself.
I felt at home here sometimes because having you as friends and working colleagues, I am very, very comfortable to be around the people of Iqaluit.
It is just pleasing to be around you people.
(interpretation) Please look after yourselves.
We will all go through difficult times, even at Christmas.
There will be activities like dances and stuff, all those things.
I want to see you again and I will look after myself, too, for the new year, so we can work together again.
Member's Statement 088 – 2(2): Happy Holiday Wishes
This is our final sitting today and Christmas is rapidly approaching.
A lot of Inuit in the communities will be having Christmas games, but in Sanikiluaq it might be slightly different, uniquely different, where the whole community is a team where there are eight rows of people.
The ministers know how big our recreation center is.
Maybe it’s about this size.
The space will be about this big in the middle because there will be people all around.
I want to wish everyone a safe, good Christmas.
And to Santa Claus, to that member, I want him to have a good Christmas too.
He will be coming around to round up some Sanikiluaq reindeer to pull his sleigh.
I want everyone to have a safe and happy Christmas.
We are close to some other communities; we are related to a lot of people outside of Nunavut.
For those people who have lost loved ones during the last year, even though it will be difficult at times, and I would like to personally mention Emily Epoo from Inukjuaq, I want her to have a safe, good holiday, even though you might not be feeling well.
We, too, have to look after ourselves.
Qallunaaruluk, Alacie Epoo and my mother Annie, I will be seeing you.
Alaralak, I believe it was in the 1970’s he was my instructor in training hamlet councilors in Coral Harbour.
I wish to give my greetings to Manitok and that Alacie wants to see you.
Member's Statement 089 – 2(2): Merry Christmas Wishes
First of all I would like to say hello to my constituents, to the RCMP member, who is probably watching the proceedings today, and also to all the little children of Nunavut and in my community and Broughton Island.
I would like to wish them a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
I think it’s a learning experience, watching the proceedings of the House.
Since this is the last meeting in 2004, I am very pleased that everything has gone well.
It’s a learning experience for the new members of the Legislative Assembly.
There have been some challenges.
I’m sure that I won’t be able to see the members during the Christmas holidays, so I would like to wish them and the people of Northern Quebec a very merry Christmas.
During the Christmas holidays, there will be a lot of activities in all Nunavut communities.
I wish everyone a safe holiday.
Please make sure that you take care of all residents, especially the elders and the children.
Member's Statement 090 – 2(2): Best Holiday Season
I said earlier this week that I will be hosting a constituency meeting in Apex. Mr. Speaker, that Apex meeting is at 7:30 tonight, and I look forward, as Mr. Tootoo commented earlier this week, to a good turnout.
Mr. Speaker, the work in the House as a minister, as a member of the Legislative Assembly, can be very stressful.
You are in the public eye and so are your families.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members the very best for this holiday season as well as to our staff and to all of our constituents.
It has been said that in politics, you can’t please everyone.
In public life you have to ensure that families come first.
They are really the foundation that we need to do our job in this House.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to take this opportunity to say, and if all the members would join with me in saying, that we wish the very best for Minister Kilabuk and his family over these last few trying days.
And we say hi to him and wish him the very best.
Return to OQ 079 – 2(2): Number of Probation Officers in the Communities
I want to respond to the oral question asked by Member Peterson on the issue of probation officers in the communities: “Can the minister inform the House how many communities currently have community corrections personnel and how many do not?”
The following eight communities have the Department of Community Justice Corrections Officers: Iqaluit; Pangnirtung; Pond Inlet; Kugluktuk; Cambridge Bay; Baker Lake; Rankin Inlet; and Arviat.
Question two: “Could the minister clarify how many social workers currently also provide probation services in their communities?”
The following 14 communities have social workers from the Department of Health and Social Services that provide probation services on behalf of its subjects: Qikiqtarjuaq; Cape Dorset; Sanikiluaq; Clyde River; Kimmirut; Repulse Bay; Whale Cove; Chesterfield Inlet; Igloolik; Hall Beach; Coral Harbour; Gjoa Haven; Taloyoak; and Kugaaruk.
The following four communities would normally be serviced by social workers as well, but those positions are currently vacant.
Probation services in these communities are provided by the regional supervisor for correctional services, from my Department of Justice in Pond Inlet, and also by Department of Justice in Pond Inlet in conjunction with the local RCMP detachments: Arctic Bay; Nanisivik; Resolute Bay; and Grise Fiord.
Question three: “Can the minister describe the following working relationships between his department and the Department of Health and Social Services for the direction and compensation for social workers who are providing probation services?”
The social workers provide probation services in the communities where the volume of work would not justify the expense of a full-time probation officer.
There was an agreement set up, prior to division, between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice for Health and Social Services to provide probation services through the social workers.
The Department of Justice provides the probation training to all social worker-probation officers.
Return to OQ 084 – 2(2): Government Hiring Practices
This question was asked by Mr. Curley on November 25, 2004.
I am responding to a question that he raised regarding the competition for the shipper-receiver position with Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board.
The shipper-receiver position was advertised by e-mailing the full text to all Government of Nunavut employees in the Keewatin region, as well as faxing it to all Government of Nunavut departments, to the agencies, and Inuit organizations.
This position was also advertised the Kivalliq News and the competition closing date was October 29, 2004.
The screening was performed on November 3, 2004.
In total there were 48 applicants; 19 applicants were Nunavut Land Claims beneficiaries and 29 were non-beneficiaries, and 5 Inuit candidates were screened and invited for interviews.
The screening criteria for the position included the following: to have grade ten; one or two years’ experience in the warehouse or transportation industry; experience in selecting and or packing related to waybill processing, invoicing, or other forms in a computerized environment; basic knowledge of Word and Excel; and the ability to work independently.
I don’t have the Inuktitut words for Word and Excel.
The interviews were conducted on November 5, 2004.
None of the five candidates passed the interview that requires a pass of 60 percent.
The selection committee unanimously agreed to re-advertise the position at a later date in the hope that they would be able to recruit a qualified beneficiary.
Department of Human Resources staff have had discussions with several of the unsuccessful candidates and applicants who were screened out, to provide them with feedback on their resumes and interviews in general.
This will allow them to better prepare for any future competitions.
In closing, I would like to provide you with current staffing statistics in the Kivalliq region for 2004.
In this year, there were 30 competitions completed for 41 positions.
Of the 41 positions, there were 32 Inuit, or 78 percent, hired; 4 non-Inuit Nunavummiut were hired, totaling 9.75 percent, and 5 non-Inuit from the South were hired, totaling 12 percent.
The Department of Human Resources will continue to work with the Government of Nunavut departments to facilitate job competitions to ensure a fair and unbiased hiring process.
Return to OQ 022 – 2(2): Renewing Eye Doctors' Contract
I apologize, I have a cold this morning.
(interpretation ends) This is a return to the oral question regarding the renewal on eye doctors’ contracts, asked by Mr. Arreak on November 17, 2004.
I thank the member for his question concerning the eye doctors’ contracts.
It is important to know that the Government of Nunavut is responsible for delivering vision care services to beneficiaries under the non-insured health benefits contribution agreement with Health Canada.
The current contracts for eye testing are with two providers: the Ottawa Eye Institute covers the Baffin Region and Stratton Region Health Authority covers the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq Regions.
Both of these contracts have been extended to March 31, 2005.
There is a joint committee comprised of staff from Health and Social Services and Health Canada to deal with all aspects of the non-insured health benefits contribution agreement, including vision care services, to determine if a better service delivery model can be developed.
(interpretation) The next one is in regards to public housing allocations, asked by Mr. Alagalak on November 22, 2004.
(interpretation ends) The Department of Health and Social Services has no formal role in the establishment of waiting lists for the allocation of public housing units.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation is responsible for public housing.