EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a very brief comment. The Chairman has mentioned all of our concerns from the Standing Committee in regards to the minister’s opening comments on page 3.
I’m glad that he put page numbers in his opening comments.
I’m glad he did have page numbers, on page 3.
The department is establishing a yearly of grant of $2 thousand for each of Nunavut’s elders and youth committees and at the top paragraph to promote Inuit oral history because I have been talking about this issue for the past 3 years because before all the elders die we have to start recording them.
We have to actually start recording them to prevent the oral history and the knowledge of the elders of how the elders have survived and what they have heard.
I’m very pleased that you will be working on this issue.
I know that we should have, back in the 1970’s when NWT got their first government established, we should have been dealing with this right away.
Only the researchers have been working on this issue and I do want to see adequate funding for this because there is quite a few number of elders and this is a very important task and its even though the elders die off even though our younger generations when they become adults so that they will know by using CD-ROMs.
Then we can look through the reports.
This has to be done as soon as possible and I do would like to see adequate funding provided for this program and also because this is an urgent case now and I’d do want to see you deal with it as an urgent emergency matter.
Yes, we our elders who have that knowledge are getting very old and also I had asked that question and some elders do write their memoirs or write their diaries.
A Pond Inlet elder resident Mr. Nutarak, writes his daily diary starting from the days when the missionaries first arrived and when the RCMP first arrived and he wrote down all the family trees of the residents of Pond Inlet.
I don’t know if he ever seen a tree but he’s made a family tree.
Starting from way back when and I do like to see that perhaps get a hundred thousand dollars funding for that.
That this hundred thousand dollars could be used by one PY and that individual has worked for many years collecting information that just an example.
And there are other people who are writing down their memoirs and yes we need to collect and record the oral histories.
Once these people are gone.
I don’t think we can get their knowledge by talking to their graves because the can’t respond because they’re no longer alive.
This is an urgent case now.
Mr. Chairman, many of us have regretted not knowing our oral history as to where we came from.
If there is no foundation, our children will never know, although they may know where Henry the eighth came from and where Martin Frobisher came from, they may know where Christopher Columbus but they wouldn’t know their own history.
Main Estimates for 2003-2004 and Business Plans, Mr. Alakannuark.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Although I do not have much comments to make, but I will make a brief comment.
I would like to thank your officials and staff for working with the Elders and the youth.
We do have many customs and traditions and values, even I am forgetting some of the traditions and I know some of the values and customs, but on calling your relatives traditionally like your in-laws and your cousins, your kinship is no longer being used traditionally.
The Elders know your body parts and they know the animals bones and body parts names.
Yes, even I have forgotten some parts of the names for these animals, but the Elders know all the names.
It is becoming very urgent now that it is time we have to start working on that, but I am very glad that and thankful that you are working on it.
I want to say a short comment in regards to the Department.
I am very pleased to hear that the Department is helping towards using initiatives in terms of grants and contributions, whether the youth are going down south to promote Inuit culture outside the territory.
So, I am happy to hear that this initiative is being done.
And as well, in the Minister’s opening comments, this $2 thousand dollar initiative is now in place, it was not in there before.
That is good to see, although it may be small, it is a start.
Perhaps, it was the day before, I commented on the Kugluktuk infrastructure from the Federal Government, but once that funding disappears, it suddenly would be a problem where to get that money from.
Perhaps, two-three years down the road, in our in advance if we plan where the youth were to get their funding in terms of their youth initiatives.
Perhaps, we can start planning on this right now.
As you know, if it is okay that if we get Federal dollars for youth initiatives, but it is not always the case, you know, year by year.
So, it is a concern for the youth, you know, when they want the programs, you know, to roll on a yearly basis.
So, it is a concern and I am wondering where the next dollars would come from for the youth initiatives.
What I am saying now is, it is fine, but in terms of the early contributions, if the Federal dollars are gone, you know, it will create a problem.
I would like to see that its in place on a yearly basis.
I have no one else on the list.
In the minister’s opening comments I was proud of the minister through his opening comments he mentioned and from hearing the different plans there is a big improvement from the beginning since 1999.
And we can really see good progress.
We as Inuit are starting to deal with our own problems.
Although slowly but surely, we are getting better results from the government and in encouraging Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the Health Minister also set up in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit coordinators for departments and the CLEY department is really answering to the requests for the needs and the increase in the budget is good to see and there should also be a consideration to even increase the funding even further for the department so that we can adjust the urgent needs to record elders history and different projects.
There is going to be even more solution because this is a very new department.
We’re going to have to figure out ways on how we can preserve the Inuit culture and languages within the departments and governments and we’re going to need a lot more time to structure the departments and we are in the legislature and we have to all promote Nunavut made products as well also promote the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and as well, I’m really glad to see the respect that is being gained for Inuktitut languages and culture through this department.
I’ll leave my comments at that.
I’m just commending the department and I encourage them to keep working hard and to increase their budget.
I have no one on my list at this point.
We’re on page 8-5.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $2 million, 633 thousand.
Official languages and services.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $1 million, 826 thousand.
I’m really glad to see that section on page 8-6.
As youth today, the languages are quite difficult for young people now. For instance, its hard to try and remember all the terms in Inuktitut. Having forgotten a lot of the terms, we need to figure out ways of communicating, although it may not be the right way to say it but for instance, walrus terms, there’s puiviik, when in fact there are other meanings for that.
So, those are the types of things that we really need to teach in teaching Inuktitut language, as to have courses in Inuktitut and English terms when they’re taught in schools.
They should also always keep in mind, how do you say this in Inuktitut because as interpreters, or bilingual people, we always just try to be so efficient and we may not be saying it the right way, so we, I think should have more courses for interpreter/translators to come up with the right terms.
Yes Inuktitut terminology development has started.
Last year, they had a workshop on the Inuinnaqtut language and at this time, they’re working on the Inuktitut language terminology development for interpreters and language development.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Are you done?
On that same page, compensation and benefits, is there an increase in the number of PYs, is that why there is an increase in there.
Yes, there has been some restructuring within the department.
The divisions that were set up in heritage, langue services, youth and elders division, so in fact we had to set up new PYs for the division.
In the heritage division, heritage, language, elders and youth division.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Official Languages and Services, Branch Summary, total Operations and Maintenance, $1 million, 826 thousand dollars.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): I apologise, I guess 8-7 is further to 8-6, so my question is regarding they’re actually pretty accurate and there is no change or increases or decreases at all in any of the main estimates for traditional language promotion and protection, $100 thousand dollars and $200 thousand dollars for what looks like the same exact program.
The $100 thousand dollars on the top part can be accessed at $15 thousand dollars each and the one $200 thousand dollars are for grants and contributions that are $15 thousand dollars and over.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. 8-6 and 8-7 are the same.
These are just further.
Total Operations and Maintenance for Official Languages and Services, $1 million, 826 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Opposed? Carried. 8-8.
On page 8-8, part of my question is on 8-10 for the Nunavut Arts, Cultural, and Heritage Activities.
Culture and Communications Programs.
I would like ask a question regarding all those projects.
I am not too sure exactly whether these are for Grants and Contributions.
Are those for communities who would like to take on those projects, or organizations?
Who can apply for these funds?
On page 8-10, these are Grants and Contributions for the promotion of the Arts.
The $250 thousand is to encourage individuals, or organizations actively involved in the preservation.
On page 8-9, these are also Grants and Contributions for those projects.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. 8-8, Branch Summary, Heritage.
Total Operations and Maintenance, $2 million, 991thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Opposed? Carried.
Page 8-12, Branch Summary, Community Programs.
Total Operations and Maintenance, $1 million, 772thousand.
On page 8-15, the $2 million, 550thousand dollars allocated from the Federal Government for the Official Languages Agreement for Nunavut.
Is that for the French and Inuktitut languages?
Do you use 100 percent of that funding from the $2.5 million?
Or do you always have to ask for extra funds from the Nunavut Government?
Although that is not a part of 8-13 and 14, and 8-12, this is a separate information page, but I think that it is okay if we go ahead and discuss 8-15.
We distribute this fund and we always use up all the funds for the Official Languages Agreement and it is very well used by the Nunavut Government.
We always use it up and we do not usually need more than that.
Community Programs, total Operations and Maintenance, $1 million, 772 thousand.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. 8-15 is just for further information.
We will go to 8-4. 8-4.
Mr. Arvaluk had has hand up and I thought that you would call his name.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I apologize but it is just a question.
Nothing against anyone, regarding these Main Estimates regarding page 8-11.
Just a question for Grants and Contributions, it looks like new money of $100 thousand dollars for a Toponomy Program.
If I may ask, if you’ll allow me Mr. Chairman, can you please have them elaborate on that project.
Chairperson (interpretation): If that’s alright with the committee. Okay.
This Toponomy program to provide financial support to individuals and communities, amount of $100 thousand dollars.
I’m just asking for information purposes if you could elaborate.
I’m pleased to see it there, but if you could have them elaborate on what this new monies is exactly for.
Can the Minister please explain it?
This is a program that we are happy to do.
It’s to provide names for hunting places outside of our communities.
This is what the program is about.
This is for putting traditional place names on the maps.
By looking at all the lands outside of you community and then using their traditional names of the hunting grounds.
Chairperson (interpretation): These are the last parts of some of the department, second last one.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you very much.
There’s a place name here in Iqaluit.
Iqaluit used to have names outside their community.
It states that, it was really good that Iqaluit people were given some money to put in traditional names for the areas outside of Iqaluit.
The Minister stated that this program is for the preservation of traditional place names outside of the communities.
Who can access those funds?
Can the 26 communities access funds from this fund.
So, for instance, there are 25 of them that want to access funds from this program.
Would they be able to access it or what’s the limit that a community can access?
Yes, I can clearly understand your concern because if all the 26 communities ask for fund for this I would have to ask for additional funds or they may have to wait for the next fiscal year.
There are usually an elders council in the community or elder’s committee and if they want to access the funding to do preservation of place names, then they could work with my staff and they would kind of find out what areas they want to do and then that’s the amount of money they would be provided with.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): That is good to hear.
I would like to commend the department for starting this program.
I’ll tell you a little story.
I was asked to go get some people from this outpost camp and I knew their traditional names around Pond Inlet area.
They all had their traditional names in Inuktitut.
It doesn’t matter what the land looks like.
They all have traditional names.
I was asked by a young person to go get these individuals from the outpost camp.
So, he gave me the name of the lady, name of the place, and I took off and I looked around everywhere and that was the first time I’ve been there.
It wasn’t the first time I’ve been there.
There was these Qallunaaq that were there at that I have to go get.
I believe that the traditional names of places should be called in Inuktitut with their original names or original titles.
My question is, has this been advertised to the public in Nunavut or is it already well known by the people in the community or by the elders committees in the communities.
We will be advertising it to the people in the communities but we wanted to be able to provide this and then advertise to the communities in Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Going back to page 8-4.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $9 million, 222 thousand.
In this page I don’t really have a question but something of a comment about the culture the Department of Culture, Language and Elders and Youth are dealing with the elders and the language and the culture of elders and young people and all Nunavummiut.
NWT bought about the HTOs and then they made a mistake and they wanted them to be able to look after or manage their wildlife in their communities.
That has always been not our tradition.
Our tradition has been is hunting and to manage our wildlife and to be spiritual with the animals.
That’s the belief of the Inuit people and they have to be able to use up the whole animal.
We have to think about like for the future and for the benefit of our children, we have to be able to teach them the value of wildlife.
Like we use it for clothing, we use it for tools, we use it for food.
You have to be able to believe in those things.
You have to believe in it to in order to use it all.
Can you as a department talk with the Minister of Sustainable Development like perhaps take that wildlife department to Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and the wildlife management, we would be able to like, hunting is a very big part of our culture.
So, if that wildlife division could be given to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, that would be that we would have a better system.
Like, it is part of the culture of the Inuit and I feel that the issue be given to the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, if I will be the Minister of Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and Sustainable Development I would be happy with that.
But we have to, as Executive Council Members, we will have to review that before we make a commitment to that.
Perhaps, if the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee could probably look into it as well along with the Executive.
Chairperson (interpretation): Detail of Expenditures, 8-4, Total Operations and Maintenance, $9 million 222 thousand, agreed?
Do you agree that the Department’s Operations and Maintenance of Culture, Elders, Language and Youth is done?
Chairperson (interpretation): I would like to thank the Minister and I would also like to thank your staff for being able to attend.
Do you have any last comments?
And I would also like to thank my staff and thank the interpreters for being able to assist us today.
Legislative Assembly Budget is the next one.
Just before we start that, maybe we could break for about five-minutes while everybody is preparing.
Five-minutes break.
>>Committee recessed at 20:12 p.m. and resumed at 20:24 p.m.
We will be dealing with the Department of Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker and his officials, would you like to come to the witness table.
Mr. Speaker, could you call your officials to the table.
Does the committee agree that his officials come to the witness table?
Sergeant-at-Arms please escort them in.
Do you have your Opening Remarks, Mr. Speaker?
Speaker: Mr. Chairman, just for the record I want introduce so that everyone knows.
John Quirke, the Clerk of the Assembly.
A thirty-two year veteran of the Government of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
And also on my left, your right, Steve Pollock, the Director of Corporate Services.
Mr. Chairman, if it is alright I will proceed with some brief Opening Remarks.
It is a pleasure for me to appear before the Committee of the Whole today to present the 2003-2004 Main Estimates for the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to begin by thanking the Members of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit for their comments and input into the Assembly’s budget over the past year.
I look forward to Members’ questions and comments today.
Before getting into the detail of this year’s proposed budget for the Legislative Assembly, I would like to take some time to account to you today for our performance over the past year, and look ahead to our work to come during our final year in office.
Over the past year, the Office of the Legislative Assembly has worked to support Members in the development of the Legislative Assembly’ statutory base.
As Members know, we have successfully introduced and passed a new Integrity Act, a new Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, a new Elections Act, a new Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act and new amendments to the Retiring Allowances Act.
I am pleased to tell you that over the past year, the Assembly has kept fully up-to-date in meetings its statutory tabling requirements for annual reports and other documents.
At present, over 50% of the positions in the Office of the Legislative Assembly are staffed by beneficiaries.
We successfully held the fall 2002 decentralized sitting of the Legislative Assembly in Pangnirtung.
Staff will be in Baker Lake in early May to prepare the groundwork for the spring sitting of the Assembly.
As we enter our final year in office, elections readiness and transition issue will become increasingly important.
Work is well underway in getting the operations of Elections Nunavut up and running.
Members may have seen the ads have already been place in Northern newspapers to recruit retuning officers for the general election.
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is working to staff up her office in preparation for the work ahead.
All of us remember what it was like during the first few weeks after we were elected to the Legislative Assembly.
Over the coming months, we will be asking Members for their ideas how to best deliver the orientation and transition program for the Members of the Second Assembly.
I would like to turn now to the detail of our proposed expenditures for 2003-2004.
The 2003-2004 budget will be the fifth budget since the new government took office.
In 1999-2000, our very first set of Main Estimates budgeted a total of $13 million, 151 thousand for the Legislative Assembly.
Five years later, our 2003-2004 Main Estimates project total expenditures of $12 million, 989 thousand.
I would like to draw you attention to a few highlights from our expenditure plans for 2003-2004 budget.
You will note that our estimates have dropped from 2002-2003, primarily because of the one-time cost associated with the new supplementary retiring allowances plan have now been paid.
Because the next general election will be held during the next fiscal year, in February of 2004, the budget for Election Nunavut has been increased by $1.2 million.
This will be the first general administered entirely in Nunavut, under the new Elections Act.
I would like to again like to thank the Member over the last number of years, and I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Speaker, welcome.
I would, at this time, call on the Chairperson of the Committee of Ajauqtiit, Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Alakannuark.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be able to give the Committee’s opening remarks as we begin consideration of the 2003-2004 Main Estimate and Business Plan of the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Later on, Members of the Committee will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding these estimates.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, has had an opportunity to meet with the Speaker and his staff.
The Speaker was able to give an update on the Assembly’s proposed expenditures.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee is pleased that the Legislative Assembly continues to be fully up to date in meeting its statutory tabling documents and expects this to continue.
The Committee notes that the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut has been very transparent about tabling the implemental cost of its decentralized sessions.
Mr. Chairman, with the general election set for February 16th 2004, the Committee looks forward to a smooth transition from the first to the second Legislative Assembly.
The Committee is pleased that the Chief Electoral Officer is working hard to be prepared for this election.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, the Committee is also pleased that the Office of the Legislative Assembly has plans to orientate new Members as well as having a transition program for that second assembly.
The Committee would suggest that orientation for new Members, especially unilingual Members in such areas of the rules of the Assembly, using computers and email, and accessing Members’ services.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee continues to be pleased with the artwork that is showcased in this Assembly.
The Committee encourages the Assembly to ensure that all communities have an opportunity to have their artists’ works on display.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee commends the Assembly for establishing its own network domain.
Members also appreciate receiving assistance in the Inuktitut on IT issues.
I anticipate that individual Members will raise their own comments and concerns on the assets of the 2003-2004 Main Estimates and Business Plans.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, deputy chair of the standing committee.
I have repeated this a few times but each member has 10 minutes for their general comments.
We’ll move onto 1-5.
On page 1-5, Contract Services, $1 million 90 thousand dollars is that for the Hansard.
I can’t believe we spent this much money on contract services.
Food is a very small part of it Mr. McLean.
But the contracts are cleaning, security, warehouse leasing, broadcasting and Hansard.