EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In terms of three new MLAs representing, $1.4 million in our O&M budget, this bill will see us go from 19 MLAs to 22.
What I would like to do in terms of making my intentions clear is the fact that we hear all the time and we had the Budget Address talking about tightening our belts, and we are really strapped for funding.
This morning, we shifted money from a much needed heritage centre to help fund other projects. Again, a lot of times, we bounce back and forth between the needs that we have.
Over the summer, I watched globally and sort of watched to see what was happening in the United States. We seem to be following the same trend that they are in the sense that one of the things that they have done for years and years is increase their debt cap. We’re talking about and contemplating the idea of increasing our debt cap.
One of the other issues that they had was that their public service continues to grow and grow. Every year, when we are presented with new O&M main estimates, the public service does continue to grow.
We have been told, “We have a report. Let’s not throw this one away.”
To that, I’m saying two things. With what I’m proposing with my motion, I’m not saying, “Throw that work away.”
I’m not saying, “Redo the work.” I’m just saying, “Postpone it until the next Assembly, when we’re in a better financial situation to handle that.”
The other part to that is we have many reports lying around.
We have the Nunavut housing survey, which says we need close to 3,800 houses and we can’t seem to find the money to build those houses right away, yet we get a report from the commission saying that we need to increase the number of MLAs and we are able to make the decision to find that money.
The other thing we’re doing is we’re telling our employees to work harder. We negotiate collective agreements and we’re telling them that we don’t have the money to increase wages and in reality, we don’t. We don’t have the money to continue to increase wages.
As I mentioned before, we postponed the heritage centre by reallocating $6 million to other projects.
When we approve this Act, what we’re actually saying is that the Legislative Assembly budget will be increased by $1.4 million annually in the coming Assembly.
At the same time, it doesn’t include the capital expenses to change our Legislative Assembly to accommodate 22 members. If you look around this building, you can see that we’re kind of cramped both for space for MLAs and space for guests when they come to watch.
In terms of where this money will come from, we all know that it will come from other programs. It will come from other departments to help cover what we are about to decide today.
Again, I’m not saying, “Throw away the good work of the commission.” I’m not saying, “Don’t add new MLAs where legislated.” I’m just saying, “Let’s postpone it for the next Assembly.”
We’ve had our Premier talk about devolution and the potentials that are there for devolution once it comes online. We have O&M and PYs for seven people working towards devolution.
We’ve had our Minister of ED&T talk about the potential of jobs and revenue with mines and the revenue coming to the territory through that.
We’ve had the Minister of Environment talk about the proper management of our wildlife harvesting, coupled with opening new markets for the sale of these products as well as the fishing industry and the growth potential there.
We’ve had the Minister of Health and Social Services come before us and talk about streamlining services following the Auditor General of Canada’s report and streamlining finances there, which will translate into incredible savings for us.
We’ve had the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation come before us and say that with their new financial practices and the new board, there will be cost savings there.
We’ve had the Minister of Community and Government Services come before us and talk about the better planning of capital projects and the cost savings there.
What does this mean to us?
We’re on the verge of a huge potential for saving money and increased income.
With my motion, all I’m saying is we’re not there yet.
We have everything in place for a brighter future.
I’m saying I feel that we are in a very good position to move forward, but there are going to be a few tight years.
As the Minister of Finance has said, “We need to tighten our belts and be prudent with the funding that we have.” I think our budgets will be stretched very thin for the next couple of years and I think we need to think ahead.
I want money allocated to programs for my constituents, not for new MLAs.
Again I want to explain what I’m proposing. I’m proposing that we agree with what the commission report is saying.
I’m saying that we say the good work done by everyone in the commission has not been done in vain.
I’m saying, “Let’s accept this bill with the motion to put it forward.” I’m saying that 22 members are warranted, but we don’t have the financial resources at this time to handle it.
With everything that’s in place and working towards a vibrant future and working towards the Tamapta Action Plan in the next Assembly, we will be ready to handle this.
That’s what I’m saying, Mr. Chairman.
What I’m proposing is to defer the start date of this, to move it to the Fifth Legislative Assembly at a cost savings, at that time, of about $6 million, and do this when our territory is more financially sound.
To me, this is fiscal responsibility. It is the logical course of action.
Indeed, I think we all understand that here on this earth, life is not perfect and we cannot wait for everything to be laid out before we start on it.
Here in Nunavut, our people have a fairly hard life and I think we are all aware of that. Our ancestors depended on animals and they had to survive in one of the harshest climates. They could not wait for the weather to become nice and warm.
They didn’t procrastinate by waiting for better weather as they had to survive. There were times where circumstances did lead to easier times, but we don’t have that kind of choice in living here.
One of my analogies is that one can have fun putting together a jigsaw puzzle since you don’t have to make any pieces. All you do is find the right part and put it together.
However, some of us also make jigsaw puzzles with no intent to play the game.
By that, I mean that the Second Assembly’s electoral boundaries commission was given a mandate. Their original report was deferred since some of the recommendations were not conducive to implementation and their recommendations were not in line with their mandate.
Another reason for this deferral was due to the wording of the motion put forward by the previous Speaker, that it should be deferred or to not approve the report of the commission by way of this motion to strike out the Third Legislative Assembly and to replace it with the fourth.
We should have thought of that during our debate and maybe we should not have even established a commission and waited until the Fourth Assembly for a boundaries commission.
With that, I would like to say that we have already deferred it.
Some Nunavutmiut know that we have to strengthen this Assembly and we need further support by increasing the number of members.
One of the reasons is that there are people out there who are in dire straits. It is said that the government has too much power with respect to contracts or that hamlets are delegated more responsibility because businesses are disappearing.
We need more legislators who can bring new ideas to the table for the future of Nunavut.
Many people disagree with only government employees getting to do all the work.
That is why, and I can say this myself, we need further support. We have no roads going into the communities and very few people make comments or voice their concerns.
If we increase the number of representatives here, I think it would make it a lot easier. Possibly some of them will become ministers.
When anything to do with the government is blamed… . For example, as the minister, I said that if there was a board set up, funding would be much better. I think that I have to clarify that point.
There were financial experts in the communities outside the Nunavut Housing Corporation, but some of them couldn’t be assigned to fill vacant positions and that became one of the reasons why we faltered.
There was not enough financial information within the previous housing corporation.
We’re in a better position now, even though we didn’t increase the number of positions but filled the vacant positions.
I don’t know if having a board is going to increase revenue, but I know that scrutiny of the housing corporation is going to increase, as it should have been done in the past. There has to be oversight on this matter.
We can build houses, but the question is: are these houses affordable?
That’s one of the problem areas.
It’s easy to build houses for rent, but this has been given by the federal government to CMHC and it stated that these houses should be affordable to the people who are going to rent them.
I can get into details on the issue of affordability. Some of the construction costs, the operations and maintenance funding, come from CMHC. So that’s the kind of difficulty we run into when the federal government fails to provide funding.
I can speak to it better in English, but at this time, I’m speaking in Inuktitut and there might be a slight difference because what comes out will be written very clear in Inuktitut.
What I’m saying is that when the federal government gives us money for housing… .
Chairman: Excuse me, Mr. Curley.
This is just a reminder to please try and speak to the motion.
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) What I’m saying is that a lot of comments were made about finance, health, and housing.
With that, I know that we have to deal with it and no one needs to preach to me about it.
Mr. Chairman, we have the opportunity now to support this motion because we had deferred it already and there are people out there who are willing to support it.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley. (interpretation ends) To the motion.
In regard to this motion, I am definitely opposed to the idea to defer this issue.
My reason, Mr. Chairman, is that his reasoning is fiscal restraint, following the comments he made earlier.
I would like my constituents and the people of Nunavut to understand that this would not be put into force until 2013 or 2014.
We’re not talking about 2011 or 2012.
We are looking at the next general election, where the $1 million would be expended.
This present government and the ministers worked very hard to have ongoing negotiations with the federal government to supplement the monies.
I look forward and I believe that in 2013 or possibly 2014, the fiscal position of the government will improve. We can see that our financial situation is improving and that we’re reducing our deficit.
I look forward to 2013 or 2014, when the concerns we heard will not be there.
I would like to tell my constituents that we will improve and there will be two representatives for Igloolik and Hall Beach.
The mover of the motion is saying that it’s not going to be the case.
If we support this motion, it will not be effective until 2018-19.
I look forward to having two representatives in my riding at the next election.
I’m more concerned about my constituents who elected me to sit here. Their needs within the Nunavut government are very important to me and it’s up to me to voice them in the House.
We have a motion and I know that at the next general election, we will have two representatives. The concerns that were voiced or the reasoning behind it are of no concern to me because I believe in this present government.
The last speaker was very articulate on the question I wanted to raise, but I will proceed and ask the mover of the motion. He wants a deferral because of financial restraints.
I want to ask: if there was no change to the motion, when would the funding come into force?
Chairman: Qujannamiik, Madam Premier. (interpretation) I would like to remind you that when there’s a motion on the floor, you seem to be asking a question. When there’s a motion on the floor, you can make comments to the motion with no questions.
Question has been called. (interpretation ends) Mr. Elliott, your reply.
As the mover of the motion, I believe I have the last chance to say a few words about the motion that I’m putting forward, so I’ll take my opportunity to speak to the motion, speak to my constituents, and also speak to what I’m trying to accomplish with this motion.
It was sort of alluded to that I don’t believe in our government and I criticize the government.
I think there’s a fine distinction between the idea of criticizing and asking questions to try and elicit answers to figure out what’s going on within the government to hold the government accountable.
With that said, that’s a discussion for another day, but I would like to say what I was making with my comments in terms of financial management and proper financial management, properly setting up a board and all that. If anything was misunderstood in the way I was explaining my comments, what I was saying was we’re on the right track and everything is in motion.
By 2017, when we have different minds coming online, when we’re finding the benefits to these royalties coming in when devolution is on track, when we’ve had the realizations of these things happening, I think, if anything, I’m giving the Government of Nunavut a vote of confidence in terms of I believe what you’re saying.
I believe that we have better management of capital projects, we have better project officers managing those capital projects in our communities, and those savings will actually be of benefit and add to the extra revenues that we will have.
I just don’t think we’re there yet.
I know it has been said many times that things don’t happen overnight.
Again, we only have to look to what the Hon. Member for Amittuq has been trying to point out for the last two days about how the Government of Nunavut doesn’t always enforce Acts that are passed.
An Act that was passed in the previous Assembly, an Act that’s as important as the Language Act, isn’t actually enforced yet.
So to me, I’m correctly talking about… .
Chairman: Mr. Elliott, excuse me.
This is just a friendly reminder to try and speak to the motion as much as possible, if not all of it.
So again, I’m speaking to fiscal responsibility and the idea that in the future, we will be in a better position.
So with that said, I know they were also alluding to the fact that… .
Mr. Chairman, in my teachings that I received from hunters and elders, hunters do take risks, but they take calculated risks. They get up in the morning, they look at the weather, they analyze whether the weather is stormy or calm. If the weather is stormy, they postpone the hunt until the next day, when things are calmer.
With that said, Mr. Chairman, thank you.
That was quite eloquent.
Madam Eva Aariak.
Speaker: No, it’s defeated.
Chairman: I rely on these guys and I apologize, but the motion is defeated.
Okay, we go on, life continues, and we still have work to do. (interpretation) My colleagues, we will now go clause by clause.
My colleagues, if you can go to the Schedule.
The members agreed to part 2 of the Schedule, as amended.
Do members agree to the place names in parts 1 and 2 as amended?
At this time, I would like to call for a recorded vote on Bill 22.
Chairman: Do members agree to Bill 22 as amended?
Chairman: A recorded vote has been requested.
(interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) All those opposed, please stand and sit down when I call your name.
(interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is carried. (interpretation) Thank you.
(interpretation ends) Pursuant to Rule 62(2), does the committee agree that Bill 22, as amended, can be immediately placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Chairman: There’s a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
(interpretation ends) I want to, at this time, give my thanks to Mr. Speaker and your officials.
If you would like to do your closing remarks.
I’ll be quick. I think I recognize and respect all the debate that went on here today, and we appreciate everyone being able to put forward their views and in a respectful manner.
I would like to thank my officials who are here with me today, Ms. Kusugak and Mr. Orr, for drafting the legislation based on the report that they got from the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Again I formally thank the commission for the work that they did.
Just for the record, I had a little brief revisit over at that side of the room. It looks a lot better from this side of the room.
Continuing on with the orders of the day.
Mr. Enook: Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bills 14 and 22 and would like to report progress in that Bill 14 is immediately ready for third reading and that Bill 22 is also immediately ready for third reading as amended.
Mr. Speaker, in amending Bill 22, two committee motions were adopted.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2011-2012 – Third Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2011-2012, be read for the third time.
Bill 22 – An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 22, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut, be read for the third time.
A reminder that there’s a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation in the Nanuq Room and the time changed; it will now occur at two o’clock.
Orders of the Day for October 31:
This House stands adjourned until Monday, October 31, at 1:30 p.m. Have a good weekend.
>>House adjourned at 13:30
Monday, October 31, 2011
Pages 1486 – 1543
Opening Prayer 1486
Ministers’ Statements 1486
Members’ Statements 1490
Returns to Oral Questions 1492
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1493
Oral Questions 1493
Written Questions 1508
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1509
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters 1509
Tabling of Documents 1511
Notices of Motions 1513
Motions 1513
Revert to Item 3: Members’ Statements 1517
Revert to Item 14: Notices of Motions 1518
Revert to Item 16: Motions 1518
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1520
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1540
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1540
Third Reading of Bills 1541
Assent to Bills 1542
Orders of the Day 1543
Monday, October 31, 2011 1486
100 – 3(3): High Arctic Transportation Study (Taptuna) 1486
101 – 3(3): Update on Iqaluit’s 25 Kilovolt Upgrade (Kusugak) 1487
102 – 3(3): Early Childhood Education Funding (Aariak) 1487
103 – 3(3): Medevac Services - Kitikmeot (Curley) 1488
104 – 3(3): Nunavut’s Commercial Fishery Results for 2011 (Shewchuk) 1488
105 – 3(3): Qikiqtarjuaq Air Terminal Building Opening (Taptuna) 1489
145 – 3(3): Addressing Family Violence (Ugyuk) 1490
146 – 3(3): Northern Youth Abroad (Elliott) 1490
147 – 3(3): High School Graduates of Clyde River (Arreak) 1491
148 – 3(3): Apology for Conduct (Schell) 1517
Return to Oral Question 182 – 3(3): School Attendance Tracking System (Aariak) 1492
Return to Oral Question 193 – 3(3): Preparing Grade 12 Students for Post Secondary (Aariak) 1492
215 – 3(3): Nunavut’s New Food Guide (Elliott) 1493
216 – 3(3): Inuit Language Employment Criteria (Enook) 1496
217 – 3(3): Nunavut Emergency Management (Ugyuk) 1498
218 – 3(3): Complaints Process for Medical Misconduct (Tapardjuk) 1500
219 – 3(3): Number of Active Cases of TB in Nunavut (Elliott) 1502
220 – 3(3): Translation Bureau Independent of GN (Tapardjuk) 1503
221 – 3(3): Inuktitut Not a Requirement for High School (Elliott) 1505
222 – 3(3): Update on GLO Positions (Elliott) 1506
009 – 3(3): Enforcement of the Environmental Protection Act (Aupaluktuq) 1508
Committee Report 007 – 3(3): Bill 16, Annual Reporting Validation (Liquor Licensing Board) Act (Ningeongan) 1509
Committee Report 008 – 3(3): Bill 17, Write-off of Debts Act, 2011-2012 (Ningeongan) 1510
Committee Report 009 – 3(3): Bill 18, An Act to Amend Several Acts for Constitutional Validity (Spousal Benefits and Obligations) (Ningeongan) 1510
Committee Report 010 – 3(3): Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act (Court Rules) (Ningeongan) 1510
Committee Report 011 – 3(3): Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act (Ningeongan) 1511
129 – 3(3): Procurement Activity Report for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 (Kusugak) 1511
130 – 3(3): Contract Activity Report for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 (Kusugak) 1511
131 – 3(3): Lease Activity Report for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 (Kusugak) 1511
132 – 3(3): 2010-2011 Qulliq Energy Corporation’s 10th Annual Report (Kusugak) 1511
133 – 3(3): Career Development Strategy from 2009 (Aariak) 1511
134 – 3(3): F/P/T Report on the Western Premiers’ Conference in Yellowknife, NWT June 20 to 22, 2011 (Aariak) 1511
135 – 3(3): F/P/T Report on the Northern Premiers’ Forum in Yellowknife, April 27 to 28, 2011 (Aariak) 1511
136 – 3(3): F/P/T Report on the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Meeting in Yellowknife June 28, 2011 (Shewchuk) 1512
137 – 3(3): F/P/T Report on the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Meetings held in Iqaluit, August 31 to September 2, 2011 (Shewchuk) 1512
138 – 3(3): Photographs of Pond Inlet Marine Conditions (Enook) 1512
139 – 3(3): Article from the Vancouver Sun: Medical Records of 430 Vancouver Patients May Have Been Compromised (Elliott) 1512
018 – 3(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Tapardjuk) 1513
019 – 3(3): Rejection of the Report of the Integrity Commissioner Concerning the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Baffin – Notice (Elliott) 1513
018 – 3(3): Extended Adjournment (Tapardjuk) 1513
019 – 3(3): Rejection of the Report of the Integrity Commissioner Concerning the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Baffin (Elliott) 1514
020 – 3(3): Censure of the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Baffin – Notice 1518
020 – 3(3): Censure of the Member of the Legislative Assembly for South Baffin (Elliott) 1518
Bill 16 – Annual Reporting Validation (Liquor Licensing Board) Act – Consideration in Committee 1520
Bill 17 – Write-off of Debts Act, 2011-2012 – Consideration in Committee 1522
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend Several Acts for Constitutional Validity (Spousal Benefits and Obligations) Consideration in Committee 1526
Bill 20 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act (Court Rules) – Consideration in Committee 1529
Bill 23 – An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act – Consideration in Committee 1532
Bill 16 – Annual Reporting Validation (Liquor Licensing Board) Act – Third Reading 1541
Bill 17 – Write-off of Debts Act, 2011-2012 – Third Reading 1541
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend Several Acts for Constitutional Validity (Spousal Benefits and Obligations) – Third Reading 1541
Bill 20 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act (Court Rules) – Third Reading 1541
Bill 23 – An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act – Third Reading 1542
Bill 13 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2011-2012 – Assent 1542
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2011-2012 – Assent 1542
Bill 15 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2012-2013 – Assent 1542
Bill 16 – Annual Reporting Validation (Liquor Licensing Board) Act – Assent 1542
Bill 17 – Write-off of Debts Act, 2011-2012 – Assent 1542
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend Several Acts for Constitutional Validity (Spousal Benefits and Obligations) – Assent 1542
Bill 20 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act (Court Rules) – Assent 1542
Bill 22 – An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut – Assent 1542
Bill 23 – An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act – Assent 1542
Before we get started, I would like to ask Mr. Curley if he could lead us off with a prayer, please. Mr. Curley.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley. (interpretation ends) Moving on in the Orders of the Day, Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 100 – 3(3): High Arctic Transportation Study (Taptuna)