EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 166
Report of the Committee of the Whole 182
Third Reading of Bills 182
Orders of the Day 182
Wednesday, October 27, 1999 142
23 - 1(3): Adoption of the Inuit Employment Plan (Ng) 142
24 - 1(3): Nunavut Literacy Council (Arvaluk) 143
25 - 1(3): Polar Bear Management (Kilabuk) 143
26 - 1(3): Y2K - Government of Nunavut is Ready (Anawak) 145
27 - 1(3): Council for People with Disabilities (Havioyak) 145
28 - 1(3): Team Nunavut Clothing for Arctic Winter Games 2000 (Anawak) 146
39 - 1(3): Single Time Zone (Puqiqnak) 147
40 -1(3): Recognition of Kugluktuk Volunteers (Havioyak) 148
41 - 1(3): NTI AGM Relocated to Iqaluit (Iqaqrialu) 148
42 - 1(3): Reconsideration Time Zone Change (Irqittuq) 148
43 - 1(2): Sanikiluaq's Opposition to Time Change (Kattuk) 149
44 - 1(2): Support for Time Zone Change (McLean) 149
45 - 1(3): Recognition of Elder Archaeologist (Nutarak) 150
46 - 1(3): Appreciation to Elders (Anawak) 150
47 - 1(3): Appreciation to Kimmirut Residents (Akesuk) 150
48 - 1(3): Innamariit Piqusingit Society (Kilabuk) 151
01 - 1(3): Difference between Tenders and RFPs (Thompson) 151
59 - 1(3): Disaster Compensation Policy (McLean) 153
60 - 1(3):Financial Services in Smaller Communities (Puqiqnak) 154
61 - 1(3): Sealskin Ties (Nutarak) 155
62 - 1(3): Dead Bowhead Whales (Iqaqrialu) 156
63 - 1(3): Consultations with Communities (Akesuk) 156
64 - 1(3): Vacant Positions in Igloolik (Irqittuq) 157
65 - 1(3): Contaminated Fuel (O'Brien) 158
66 - 1(3): Polar Bear Management (Iqaqrialu) 158
67 - 1(3): Cost of Living Increase for Income Support (McLean) 159
68 - 1(3): Lack of Aviation Fuel (Alakannuark) 160  69 - 1(3): Housing for Social Worker (Akesuk) 161
70 - 1(3): Health Board Deficit (Irqittuq) 161
71 - 1(3): Management of Polar Bears (Kattuk) 161
72 - 1(3): Credit Unions (Puqiqnak) 162
73 - 1(3): Deficits of Health Boards (Iqaqrialu) 163
05 - 1(3): Opposition to Time Zone Change (Clerk) 164
Bill 4 - An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act 164
Bill 3 - An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act 164  Bill 1 – Loan Authorization Act, 1999/2000 165
Bill 6 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 165  I.
Bill 6 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 165
Bill 2 - An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act 182
Wednesday, October 27, 1999  Nunavut Hansard
Iqaluit, Nunavut  Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Honourable James Arvaluk, Honourable Levi Barnabas, Honourable Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glen McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Mr. Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson.
Speaker (interpretation): At this time I would like to ask Mr. Irqittuq to say the opening prayer, please.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Irqittuq. Item number 2 in our orders of the day, Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 23 - 1(3): Adoption of the Inuit Employment Plan
Mr. Speaker it is a pleasure for me to rise today to inform members of the Legislative Assembly that the Inuit Employment Plan developed by the Office of the Interim Commissioner, has been adopted in principle by the Government of Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, as established in Bathurst Inlet, our government is committed to its obligations under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to ensure we build an effective, functional and skilled public service, which is responsive to the public it serves and increasingly representative of the population of Nunavut.
In keeping with the priorities established by our government, the Inuit Employment Plan ensures that we have a plan in place to help the government in creating a representative public service and, over time, lead to the development of a public service that is representative of the population of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is a very important article for Nunavummiut.
It stipulates that the Government of Nunavut is required to increase Inuit participation in the public service to represent the ratio of Inuit in the total population of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as a newly formed government we have already made progress, but we do realize that we face many challenges in achieving our goal of a representative public service.
Mr. Speaker, the IEP developed by the OIC contains a number of strategic initiatives to make it easier for Nunavummiut to gain positive employment with the government.
Such initiatives include working with the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth to develop on the job training and mentoring, a Nunavut Orientation and Language Skills program and developing Nunavummiut in every profession.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the initiatives proposed in the Inuit Employment Plan will have a key role to play in achieving our goal of a representative public service for Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 24 - 1(3): Nunavut Literacy Council
Mr. Speaker I would like to inform the members of the founding of the Nunavut Literacy Council.
Their first meeting was October 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
The Council held it's much anticipated founding conference in Rankin Inlet and featured plain language workshops as well as a gala evening hosted by Peter Gzowski. New board members from across Nunavut gathered on Friday evening for the first annual general meeting. Congratulations to the newly elected Board of Directors.
The Board was pleased to welcome Yvette Sokay from the National Literacy Secretariat, Human Resource Development Council to the conference to say a few words about the beginning of the Nunavut Literacy Council.
The Nunavut Literacy Council promotes reading and writing in the official languages of Nunavut through literacy programs and resource development as well as support to literacy projects and practitioners.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage members of the Legislative Assembly to become members in this valuable volunteer organization and support the council’s community based literacy projects.
Minister’s Statement 25 - 1(3): Polar Bear Management
Mr. Speaker I rise today to speak on an issue of great importance to our harvesters in Nunavut; the responsibility we have in managing two thirds of the world’s polar bears.
Polar bear management is a responsibility we share with the hunters of Nunavut and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
Two primary principles by which polar bears are managed in Nunavut are conservation and sustainable harvesting.
These principles are enshrined in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and they are principles by which our ancestors ensured we would have polar bears to hunt today.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the statistics I am quoting from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board are based on information that my department collects from hunters and from scientific research on polar bear populations.
The results of these studies are discussed with communities and used along with our Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as a basis for making management decisions.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, the handling of bears during research has raised questions about the impact of such activities on the bears themselves.
I take these concerns very seriously and I have directed my department staff to ensure our handling methods are closely monitored during each field session.
My Department of Sustainable Development has commissioned an external review of the effects of handling polar bears and the results of this review will be made public as well as my department’s responses to it.
Mr. Speaker, since becoming a minister, I have heard concerns from members of this legislature and individual hunters about the terms of polar bear management agreements between communities and the government that were first developed in 1996 and set out in memoranda of understanding.
The memoranda of understanding are now four years old and it is time to start examining their success.
Where necessary they will be revised to reflect the new information available to us.
This is a task that I expect will take several years to review properly.
I also want to say, while recognizing these memoranda of understanding are in need of complete review, these MOU’s are extremely important for the joint management of polar bears.
The memoranda of understanding serve to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nunavut as a whole is committed to the sustainable use of its’ wildlife resources.
But there are concerns about these memoranda of understanding amongst our hunters and I want to say today that these concerns have not gone unheard.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, we also must not forget that many of our bears cross provincial and territorial boundaries and international borders.
We cannot effectively manage our polar bear population without co-ordinating our activities with our neighbours.
So I have asked department officials to begin pursuing the development of formal management agreements with these jurisdictions.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I have also asked Department of Sustainable Development staff to begin working with the communities and Hunters and Trappers Organizations on developing a strategy to increase our public education on bear behaviour and to increase research on development of bear deterrents.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I reiterate my commitment to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into my department’s decision making.
Managing our polar bears in a sustainable manner can only be achieved by using a blend of the best practices of modern science and the extensive knowledge of our hunters.
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honour to be this government’s first Minister of Sustainable Development and to have the opportunity to put in place a management system for polar bears that is made in Nunavut by Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 26 - 1(3): Y2K - Government of Nunavut is Ready
As you are aware the millennium is coming in a few months and we all have concerns about the effect of the millennium bug, also known as Y2K.
Nunavut Emergency Services, under the Department of Community Government and Transportation have been working with the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments since early in 1999.
At that time the Territorial Emergency Response Committee, TERC, was formed with representatives of the Government of Nunavut departments and agencies and other concerned organizations such as the NWT Power Corporation, Northwestel, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Department of National Defence.
On April 1, TERC moved to include Nunavut Government representatives as well.
Deputy Ministers have assigned staff to ensure each Government of Nunavut Department is represented on TERC.
Each month they meet to discuss their progress on Y2K compliance.
The Federal Government along with the provinces and territories have produced several information packages.
Public information is also available through the internet.
Website addresses and other detailed information are available through Nunavut Emergency Services in the Department of Community Government and Transportation or one of the designated departmental representatives.
Nunavut is better prepared than many other jurisdictions to deal with any disruptions that may occur due to the millennium bug.
Due to our isolation, Nunavut is supplied annually with non-perishable goods and fuel.
The power corporation has assured us that there will be no unexpected Y2K related power interruptions.
Nunavut Emergency Services, the RCMP, the Department of National Defence and Northwestel have community contingency plans in place or being finalized.
The contingency plans include regular time communication checks with each Nunavut community to ensure no disruptions occur.
Although we anticipate no disruptions, the Territorial Emergency Response Committee will ensure we are ready in the event of any unforeseen problems.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of this committee for their hard work and for giving up their New Year’s Eve plans to ensure the safety of other Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 27 - 1(3): Council of People with Disabilities
I am pleased to advise the House today about the Council for People with Disabilities and the disabilities initiatives taken by our government.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has been working very hard in support of people with disabilities and we feel that there are several issues that should be brought to your attention.
(interpretation ends) People with disabilities continue to find themselves without equal access.
This causes isolation, lack of self-esteem and contributes to poverty.
People with disabilities want to benefit from the programs and services that government has to offer and want input into how these services can be best delivered.
(interpretation) A council was formed to provide a unified voice for people with disabilities and act as a lobby group for equal access.
This Council for People with Disabilities has also recently applied for society status.
There is not a high degree of public awareness in Nunavut about people with disabilities.
The Council for People with Disabilities and the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth are working together towards a number of goals.
The council has provided us with a number of recommendations I would like to mention.
(interpretation ends) These recommendations are to increase awareness and accessibility.
These recommendations are that government should work together to provide information, education, training, and employment opportunities for people with disabilities; to ensure access to housing is available for people with disabilities; to develop public awareness programs; to help eliminate barriers that people with disabilities experience in schools, work and community life; to make our public buildings and transportation accessible to people with disabilities; to provide government information in multiple formats and languages to ensure the maximum participation of Nunavut residents with disabilities; to ensure the provision of technology training and information in multiple formats for participants with disabilities in the Nunavut education system and workplace.
(interpretation) Presently the Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth has provided an initial contribution of 90 thousand dollars towards the formation of the council.
We have also initiated policy development to create programs and services for people with disabilities.
(interpretation ends) These initiatives are essential to avoid duplication and to ensure the most beneficial programs and services. Culture, Language, Elders & Youth will work in co-operation with the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure increased access to employment and training for people with disabilities.
I would also like to point out that as housing continues to be a concern for this territory, that people with disabilities are also included in the discussions.
(interpretation) Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is committed to using the advice and information provided by the council.
This will pave the way for ensuring relevant and cost-effective services, funding and access for all Nunavut residents with disabilities and we will do our best to help in this area.
Minister’s Statement 28 - 1(3): Team Nunavut Clothing for Arctic Winter Games 2000
I would like to ask the House to bear with me as I have never run a modelling agency, so bear with me.
(interpretation) I am very excited about the first Nunavut team that will participate in the upcoming Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in March 2000.
Close to 300 athletes, coaches, officials, and cultural performers representing Nunavut will attend this circumpolar event in Whitehorse.
This is our first chance to showcase an all Nunavut team at the Arctic Winter Games.
Our participants will wear items designed and produced especially for these games by T. Fox Graphics Limited of Iqaluit.
Today I am pleased to unveil the clothing that Team Nunavut will wear as they represent us at the upcoming Arctic Winter Games.
>>Minister displays clothing
(interpretation ends) These designs and colours are very symbolic and representative of our flag.
Let’s all wish our athletes, coaches and volunteers across Nunavut success and fun at the games.
I am sure that the athletes, coaches and officials will be proud to wear these uniforms.
Member’s Statement 39 - 1(3): Single Time Zone
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier of the Nunavut Government tabled a document on the single time zone.
Today Mr. Speaker I rise to thank him on behalf of the Kitikmeot and Natillingmiut.
I would like to appreciate and acknowledge the fact that we are going to have a single time zone.
Mr. Speaker, we felt that we needed a single time zone, Iqaluit was quite far from us and it being the capital, we now see that our concerns were considered.
We are happy to see a single time zone proposed.
Mr. Speaker our hours are so staggered in Nunavut it is hard to work together.
It is evident that once we get a single time zone, the regions will not all be happy, especially the Baffin Region. I would like to acknowledge the fact, Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Territory will now have a single time zone and this will help all the staff to work together.
On behalf of the Kitikmeot residents, I relay their appreciation of this, even though we live in a far away region at least the government can now understand our needs and we are so proud of the government and it is evident that Nunavut Government will consider communities, large or small, and will treat all of the communities equally.
Members’ Statement 40 -1(3): Recognition of Kugluktuk Volunteers
I rise in the House today on behalf of the people of Kugluktuk, the volunteers there.
They work towards improving the community and we recognize them for their hard work and the fact that they take their own time to help the community.
There are 36 people there that do volunteer work and they do all sorts of volunteering, in search and rescue, fire department, in recreation, and for the Hamlet of Kugluktuk.
I just want you to recognize them for their volunteer work.
Every year in Kugluktuk there are going to be awards given out.
Member’s Statement 41 - 1(3): NTI AGM Relocated to Iqaluit
Today I rise to make a statement about Nunavut Tunngavik who was going to have their annual general meeting in Clyde River but, due to weather factors, they weren’t able to make it.
I would like to thank Nunavut Tunngavik for planning to have their annual general meeting up there.
This morning I went to see the NTI annual general meeting and there were a lot of people there.
Clyde River’s name was on the written documents and I was very proud that they recognized Clyde River.
Due to weather problems they weren’t able to go up there and I am sure that they will be having an annual general meeting there some time in the coming years.
Member’s Statement 42 - 1(3): Reconsideration Time Zone Change
Mr. Speaker this is an issue that I brought up earlier but I would like to do so again.
I am very glad the people of Kitikmeot are going to have one time zone.
I am happy for the people of the Kitikmeot area.
I am also glad that we are proposing one time zone, but I would like the members of the Legislative Assembly to reconsider because the people of Baffin are going to have a difficult time.
We would at least like to propose moving one hour back so there would be uniformity across Nunavut.
There is a large population in the Baffin area and the reason I am bringing this up is because there have been quite a lot of petitions sent to the House regarding the proposal for the one time zone.
Some of the cabinet members I know are supporting this issue because they were told to.
I know that we will go back one hour because of the daylight saving time.
The people out there are not confused about going back one hour because of the usual daylight saving time.
This is very well understood by the people.
But the problem we have in the Baffin is that we are going back two hours, one hour for daylight savings time and one hour to create one time zone.
The people are very well aware of that, we are getting a lot of documentation, there are advertisements, notices and so on going to the outlying communities.
I would like to be given enough time to consult the people of Baffin because I am very well aware that people out there were not consulted.
This issue was brought up by the Association of Municipalities but the communities themselves were not given the opportunity nor were they consulted about this proposal.
I am very glad that we will have one time zone but I would be more pleased if we would go back one hour and the Kitikmeot would go ahead one hour to create a single time zone for the whole Nunavut area.
We are not opposed to this idea, it is just the two hours that I am opposed to.
Before we make any further comments and before we go to the next statement, I would like to remind the members that you have two and a half minutes to make members’ statements.
Member’s Statement 43 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq's Opposition to Time Change
We don’t want to be talking about this same issue forever but I feel the need to say something about the single time zone.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Sanikiluaq, that I represent, do not want to go on to central time because in the community many of the residents are harvesters.
We also have a lot of school children.
If we go back by two hours it is going to effect the harvesters, the hunters and the students.
The people of Sanikiluaq are opposed to going back two hours.
We are not opposed to the single time zone proposal but there has to be a compromise.
What we are proposing is that Keewatin stay on the same time, Kitikmeot go forward and Baffin go back one hour.
That would be a compromise that would suit everyone for the whole of Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 44 - 1(2): Support for Time Zone Change
It is with great pleasure that I stand today and speak about the time zone.
Finally, we are going to be truly united in Nunavut.
Rather than having three different times in Nunavut, we are going to be able to pick up the phones and call our friends in the Baffin and in the Kitikmeot at the same time.
There will be no more confusion for the older people when they want to contact the capital and have to worry about times.
So today Mr. Speaker, I truly applaud the one time zone for Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Ma’na Mr. McLean.
Member’s Statement 45 - 1(3): Recognition of Elder Archaeologist
I could talk about the single time zone too but I would like to touch upon another issue.
An elder from Pond Inlet used to be involved in searching for archaeological artifacts.
This person would go out with an archaeologist for many years on digs and I am proud to say that this evening this elder will be recognized by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. during their AGM.
If you would like to see the presentation I invite you to go to the ceremony.
It is about time this elder is finally recognized.
We will be writing a letter on behalf of the Legislative Assembly and this House.
Member’s Statement 46 - 1(3): Appreciation to Elders
I am very proud because we talk about elders and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and implementing those into the government.
But we never seem to fully recognize the people who have worked extremely hard, for example the elder that the member for Pond Inlet was talking about.
In my riding there are two people I would like to recognize and I am sure I will be making statements now and then in the future about recognizing these volunteers and the people that worked so hard with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, the Inuit languages, their hard work and efforts and they never seem to be properly recognized.
They have worked very hard for many years in advancing and teaching Inuit traditional skills and learning.
I would like to recognise Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar who have worked extremely hard to date in preserving and promoting the Inuit traditional activities and languages and we never seem to give them proper recognition.
I will write a letter to the two elders who were mentioned.