EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
J-16. Curriculum and school services.
Total, operations and maintenance: $8,412,000.
Just a minute, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: Yes. Mr. Chairman. (Interpretation.)
I did have a question.
Earlier on, even though the parents, for their children to have sex education, have to sign a consent form….
I think they do this through the ages of children, for that matter, so the parents have to understand more.
A lot of them just sign it without even really knowing what it is for, especially for the adolescents, when they have to start taking sex education in the schools.
I just found out that it is optional. Unilingual parents…. They just go ahead and sign something without really knowing what they are signing.
They are able to educate their children at home, the adolescents, and it is optional.
Can you explain this to me, about the…. I am not talking about the pros and cons on this, but we should get more understanding on this.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Tagak.
I will recognize the clock and report progress to the Speaker.
Thank you, minister, and your officials, for being here today.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 21, on our orders of the day.
Chair, Mr. Netser
Chairman (Mr. Netser): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
Seconder? Any seconders?
Item 22, Third reading of bills.
Ms. Deputy Clerk.
Deputy Clerk: Meeting announcement for tomorrow: meeting of Regular Members’ Caucus at ten in the morning, in the Nanuq Committee Room.
(interpretation) Orders of the Day for Wednesday, May 27, 2004:
Speaker (interpretation): Just a reminder that Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated will be hosting a community feast at 6:30 tonight at Inuksuk High School.
There will be door prizes to be won.
If you do win a door prize, you will not have to file a disclosure form.
We will see you again at 6:30 this evening.
The House stands adjourned until Thursday May 27, 2004, at 13:30.
>>Session Adjourned at 18:00  Nunavut Canada
Thursday May 27, 2004
Pages 506 – 569
Opening Prayer 506
Ministers’s Statements 506
Members’ Statements 510
Point of Order 512
Returns to Oral Questions 517
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 518
Oral Quesions 520
Tabling of Documents 538
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 538
Report of the Committee of the Whole 567
Orders of the Day 568
Thursday, May 27, 2004 506
025 – 2(1): Nunavut Economic Forum (Simailak) 506
026 – 2(1): Nunavut Municipal Training Organization (Kilabuk) 507
027 – 2(1): Respecting Our Elders in Traditional Place-Naming (Tapardjuk) 508
028 – 2(1): Community-Based Wrap Around Process (Picco) 508
029 – 2(1): Made-in-Nunavut Language Legislation (Tapardjuk) 509
030 – 2(1): Final Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Ratified (Okalik) 510
107 – 2(1): Inuit Employment in the Communities (Mapsalak) 511
108 – 2(1): Student Financial Assistance (Okalik) 511
109 – 2(1): Congratulate Nunavut Students (Barnabas) 513
110 – 2(1): Housing Crisis in Nunavut (Netser) 514
111 – 2(1): Birthday Greeting (Tapardjuk) 514
112 – 2(1): Recognize Kugluktuk Youth (Evyagotailak) 514
113 – 2(1): Congratulate and Recognize Two Inuksuk High School Students (Picco) 515
114 – 2(1): RCMP Emergency Telephone Line (Curley) 515
115 – 2(1): Gjoa Haven Preschool Program Graduates (Aglukkaq) 516
116 – 2(1): Recognition of Youth (Kilabuk) 516
Return to Question 017– 2(1): School Safety (Picco) 517
115 – 2(1): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Tootoo) 520
116 – 2(1): RCMP Changing the Emergency Telephone Numbers (Curley) 522
117 – 2(1): Issue of Chesterfield Inlet School (Netser) 522
118 – 2(1): Aging Arctic Bay Health Centre (Barnabas) 523
119 – 2(1): Broughton Island School Issue (Arreak) 525
120 – 2(1): Status of Community RCMP Telephone System (Kattuk) 525
121 – 2(1): The Federal Northern Strategy Fund (Peterson) 527
122 – 2(1): Status of the Hardship Program (Tootoo) 529
123 – 2(1): Departmental Responsibility for the Nanisivik Mine Closure (Barnabas) 530
124 – 2(1): Broughton Island Air Terminal (Arreak) 532
125 – 2(1): The Annual Nunavut Municipal Performance Program (Curley) 533
126 – 2(1): Options for Economic Benefits from the Nunavut Fishery (Tootoo) 534
127 – 2(1): Support for Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord (Barnabas) 536
128 – 2(1): Employees at the Qulliq Energy Corporation 537
025 – 2(1): Response to SC to Review OLA Final Report Dec. ’03 - Next Steps Toward Made-In-Nunavut Language Legislation (Tapardjuk) 538
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Curley, can you please say the opening prayer.
Minister’s Statement 025 – 2(1): Nunavut Economic Forum
Hon. David Simailak: Mr. Speaker, on May 3 and 4, 2004 the Nunavut Economic Forum held its first annual general meeting.
This important new organization has now begun its work on the implementation of the Nunavut Implementation Development Strategy.
Last week, we heard the Minister of Finance refer to the Nunavut Economic Forum in her budget address. Our colleague stated at that time one of the greatest challenges for this government will be to support and stimulate economic development and to ensure the private sector plays a greater role in our economy.
The government alone cannot drive the economy.
We can move forward only when we work in partnership and allow others to play leading roles.
The Nunavut Economic Forum makes this collaboration possible.
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any other jurisdiction in Canada that has brought together many different organizations, including the Inuit Organizations, all three levels of government, and the private sector, for the development of the economy that we have now done for Nunavut.
The Nunavut Economic Forum puts into practice what many before us have only been words, that we must all work together to support economic growth in this territory.
I believe that we can build an economic powerhouse in Nunavut, but this will be possible only if everyone with a stake in the development of our economy joins together to work towards this goal.
I would like to welcome Monica Ell as the first president of the Nunavut Economic Forum.
Also, I would like to recognize the rest of the board: George Bolander; Steve Cook; Johnny Ningeongan; Doug Workman; Alex Campbell; Hagar Idlout-Sudlovenick; Alex Taylor; and Pauloosie Keyootak.
I have every confidence that they will provide valuable leadership to move Nunavut’s economic agenda forward.
In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to reporting on their progress to this House, because together we will build a strong, self-reliant territorial economy.
Minister’s Statement 026 – 2(1): Nunavut Municipal Training Organization
I rise today to provide an update on the progress of the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization.
As members may know, the MTO was incorporated in February 2003 in response to municipal requests for more direct involvement in the delivery of training for their employees across the territory.
I am pleased to announce that in its first year the MTO was successful in fulfilling its mandate to provide municipal staff with the skills and knowledge that will ultimately contribute to excellence in program and service delivery across the territory.
Mr. Speaker, year-one accomplishments included:
The delivery of 65 training events in 21 communities, for 626 participants;
The signing of a memorandum of understanding with Nunavut Arctic College and Community and Government Services;
The publication of the first annual Nunavut Municipal Performance Measurement Report;
In co-operation with Nunavut Arctic College, the design for the municipal government program;
The design and development of the Nunavut Municipal Knowledge Network Web site launched in April of this year.
(Interpretation ends.) The MTO has been an excellent example of how much can be accomplished when people and organizations in Nunavut work together in partnership to accomplish common goals.
Minister Tapardjuk.
Minister’s Statement 027 – 2(1): Respecting Our Elders in Traditional Place-Naming
We all recognize the enduring relationship between Inuit and the land, and the importance of traditional names to the language, culture, and history of Nunavummiut.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is working to preserve traditional names for geographic places in Nunavut through its toponomy program.
There are lots of recommendations coming forward from communities, and we are working with elders committees and other stakeholders to identify traditional place names across Nunavut.
In a demonstration of our commitment to work with communities, we listened to the recommendation from the Cambridge Bay “Eniknigit” elders committee and will be submitting “Ekaloktotiak” as the traditional Inuinnaqtun name for Grenier Lake to the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
It is important for government to be receptive and have an open dialogue with Nunavummiut, especially our elders, when it comes to protecting our heritage and traditional names.
Minister’s Statement 028 – 2(1): Community-Based Wrap Around Process
I am pleased to announce that the Department of Education is looking at programs and services to support individuals and families, such as the wrap around process.
Yes, Mr. Speaker, a wrap around process. This is a process designed to build on existing strengths and enhance the capacity of community support networks.
The Department of Education received positive recommendations from aboriginal communities in both Canada and the United States to consider a community-based process known as the wrap around process.
The first step in our collaboration will be a meeting with representatives from government departments and experts in the wrap around process, on today and tomorrow here in Iqaluit.
The Department of Education recognizes the need for programs and services to be family-centred and community-based.
Community and family members should be invited to seek the solutions and care that allow individuals and families to heal.
The Department of Education is collaborating with the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Justice, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, and the RCMP to find solutions for individuals and families.
Minister’s Statement 029 – 2(1): Made-in-Nunavut Language Legislation
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, the protection and promotion of Inuktitut is one of the most important priorities of this government.
At the same time, being a territory within Canada, we are working toward protecting the rights of our English- and French-speaking Nunavummiut.
The Official Languages Act that Nunavut inherited from the Northwest Territories was not designed for the unique needs facing our new territory.
Nunavut needs new language legislation that recognizes Inuktitut as the majority language in the territory, while protecting the rights of English and French speakers.
A special committee of the first Legislative Assembly conducted a comprehensive review of the Official Languages Act we inherited.
They consulted with stakeholders and visited nine communities in Nunavut.
In December of 2003, the special committee issued its final report.
It contains 18 recommendations regarding made-in-Nunavut language legislation.
The Government of Nunavut wishes to thank the special committee for its extensive work reviewing the language legislation Nunavut inherited from the Northwest Territories.
The special committee’s final report provides the basis for the government to begin developing legislation that reflects the needs and aspirations of Nunavummiut.
The Government of Nunavut wishes to develop legislation that protects our languages and ensures that they continue to be spoken by our children, grandchildren, and the generations that follow.
At the same time, the government must balance the protection of our languages with other urgent issues, including health, education, and housing.
The pressures on the territory’s budget demand careful planning, with spending targeted on initiatives that will have the greatest impact in maintaining Nunavut’s languages.
To do this, the government requires a detailed analysis of what it will cost to implement the various recommendations of the special committee.
The government must also determine the staffing and training that will be required to make these recommendations a reality.
The Government of Nunavut would like to strike a working group with Nunavut Tunngavik to review the special committee’s recommendations.
This working group will be charged with conducting a detailed feasibility study of each of the special committee’s recommendations.
The working group will also be able to get input from municipal governments and the private sector on Nunavut’s future language legislation.
The special committee noted in their final report that there was little participation from these sectors in their review.
The government’s intent for the working group is to complete its work and table its final report by the spring of 2005.
This will form a major step toward made-in-Nunavut language legislation.
Later today, I will be tabling a document containing the timeframe suggested by the Government of Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 030 – 2(1): Final Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Ratified
I rise today to congratulate the Inuit of Labrador on the ratification of the final Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.
The federal and provincial governments have yet to ratify the agreement, but have committed to doing so.
This was the last outstanding Inuit land claims agreement in Canada.
With the signing of the agreement, the Labrador Inuit, like Inuit in Nunavut, can take control of their lives and their environment.
It is a great accomplishment, but this is not the end of the road.
The signing of this agreement will mark the beginning of building strong and healthy communities, self-reliance, and control and protection of the land that sustains Inuit lifestyles.
I want to again congratulate all Inuit of Labrador and wish them a healthy and prosperous future.
Member’s Statement 107 – 2(1): Inuit Employment in the Communities
(Interpretation ends.) I rise today to address the issue of Inuit employment in our government and communities.
I would like to begin by saying that we have made progress since the days when we felt that our lives were completely under control of outsiders.
We have come a long way since the days when we had no say whatsoever in our own future.
Since Nunavut was created in 1999, progress has been made.
We now have Inuit in positions of senior responsibilities in our government and we are proud of that fact.
However, more work needs to be done.
For example, when my constituents travel to the medical boarding home in Winnipeg, they want to be treated with dignity and respect.
They want to be able to communicate with the staff in their own language.
They want the assurance that the services being delivered were developed by the people who come from our culture.
In our communities we should be doing all we can to provide training opportunities for local residents to assume positions in government.
The services that are provided to our residents should be delivered in the language spoken by the people receiving them.
I am pleased to see that the government is supporting the work of such boundaries as municipal training organizations.
We need to do everything possible to ensure that our municipal and territorial governments are staffed by Inuit who have been provided with education, training, and experience to do the job.
The government’s own statistics show that we need to do more.
In two communities that I represent, Inuit represent less than half the total Government of Nunavut positions.
Mr. Speaker, we can do better.
Member’s Statement 108 – 2(1): Student Financial Assistance
I feel I should speak out on the issue of student financial assistance, which we offer to our students throughout our territory.
The added assistance that we have created for Inuit is in response to a lack of resources that we as Inuit have received in the past.
I do not, in any way, shape, or form, feel any guilt whatsoever for trying to help my fellow Inuit to catch up with the rest of the population in getting the best education possible.
We need look no further than our own government for this very apparent discrepancy.
We are Inuit.
We represent 85 percent of our population but make up 45 percent of our workforce.
I am committed to making a difference, particularly for Inuit.
We are so far behind in employment and education levels in our territory.
That is what we are trying to do by supporting them.
We are trying to make it part of the contribution to our territory.
By the numbers of Inuit students that are choosing to study and improve their education levels, we appear to be heading in the right direction, and I am very proud of my fellow Inuit who are taking on the challenge of pursuing a higher education.
To somehow twist this very positive effort that we are trying to carry out, or say that we are discriminating, is not an accurate reflection of this wonderful program.
Non-Inuit students in Nunavut that choose to pursue post-secondary studies receive more support than they would if they were studying in southern Canada.
The students are provided with forgivable loans that are not available to other students in southern Canada.
As the Minister of Education stated yesterday, the amounts could perhaps be reviewed for this program.
However, Mr. Speaker, as long as the Inuit in this territory remain behind in employment and education levels, I can be counted on to make sure that we will continue with these positive programs that will truly make a difference in the future.
I wish to raise a point of order on Mr. Okalik’s member’s statement.
He is implying that some members of this House are saying that we are twisting and implying that the program is discriminatory.
That is something that is a rule for the debate of this House that the members cannot do. And, if the member would like to refer to the Hansard or ask the Speaker to refer to the Hansard, in no way, shape, or form was any implication made as far as discrimination on the program, just for clarification on how it works.
Speaker (interpretation): A point of order has just been made in the House in regards to the member’s statement made by Hon. Paul Okalik. Did you want to make a comment, Hon. Paul Okalik?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there were some issues around that we were discriminating against non-Inuit by having more support for Inuit students, so that is what I was referring to.
Speaker (interpretation): We’ll make a ruling on the subject after reviewing the Hansard.
Member’s Statement 109 – 2(1): Congratulate Nunavut Students
I rise today to recognize the efforts of some of Nunavut’s finest students and to congratulate them on their successes.
Student teams from both Arctic Bay’s Inuujaq School and Resolute Bay’s Qarmaktalik School participated in a recent bridge building competition that was held across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
I’m very proud to announce that the Resolute Reactors who came from Resolute Bay, including Peter Amarualik, Cathy Idlout, Dennis Idlout, Solomon Idlout, Leia Kadluk, Pillipuusi Iqaluk, and Norman Nunngaq, took first place in this very challenging competition across the north.
I would also like to recognize their coach, Earl Grother, for his support.
I think we should all be impressed at what these students can achieve when they put their minds and effort into it.
Earlier this school year, a group of students from Resolute Bay’s Qarmartalik School went on an expedition trip to Ottawa and visited the company that specializes in building boats.
Using their traditional knowledge and demonstrating traditional technology, those students designed and built a 15-foot “qajaq” during their visit.
The “qajaq” was then shipped back to Resolute Bay and presented to the district education authority for display in the newly renovated school building.
The students of Qarmartalik School are no strangers to the most modern technology, either.
In March of this year, students had an opportunity to meet and speak with a group of scientists that work in Canadian space research and were on their way back from Eureka.
Reports from these scientists show that they’re also impressed with these students.
I hope that there will be future jobs from this interaction.
I would like to recognize the hard work from the school principal Brian Manning and for his support and dedication to his students.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues.
This hard work has provided many varied and different learning opportunities for the students at Qarmartalik School.
Most of all, I would like to praise the students for their approach to learning and encourage them to keep working hard to follow their dreams.
Member’s Statement 110 – 2(1): Housing Crisis in Nunavut
It does not look like we are going to be heading home on time, but that is okay.
(Interpretation ends.) Many of my colleagues have raised today the issue of the housing crisis in Nunavut, and today I want to rise to add my voice to that.
I am encouraged by the recent efforts of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to lobby the federal government on behalf of Nunavummiut.
I believe that all Nunavut organizations need to work together to make the federal government truly aware of the severe housing crisis in Nunavut.
The federal government seems to be blind when it comes to our housing needs.
Inuit of Nunavut are losing out on federal payments because we do not qualify for funding under aboriginal initiatives.
I am frustrated, and my colleagues are frustrated, and Nunavut people are frustrated as well.
It is estimated that more than three thousand Nunavut housing units are required to meet the current needs.
This big figure does not address continued growth.
This figure does not address the number of housing units that require extensive renovations and-or replacement.
I urge the minister of housing to continue working to bring this issue to light with the federal government.
Mr. Taparjuk.
Member’s Statement 111 – 2(1): Birthday Greeting
When I became a government minister… you cannot do your job properly unless you have some good support from your staff.
It is Diane Iyerak’s birthday today, and I would like to say happy birthday to my staff.
Member’s Statement 112 – 2(1): Recognize Kugluktuk Youth
I rise today to congratulate a couple of boys from Kugluktuk who are going to Philadelphia. The two young students were asked to play in lacrosse league in Philadelphia and they will be coming home at the end of July.
I want to recognize a couple of individuals: Adam Kikpak and Kyle Aviak. They will be travelling today to Philadelphia.
Other individuals that are going to play lacrosse in Edmonton are Randy Hinarnuk, Luke Ayaligak, and Kenny Augona.
They will be going to play lacrosse in Edmonton and will be returning to Kugluktuk in July.
I am seeking support from the House to congratulate these young people who are participating.
Member’s Statement 113 – 2(1): Congratulate and Recognize Two Inuksuk High School Students
Two Inuksuk High school students and constituents of mine in Iqaluit East have been named as the Nunavut recipients of the 2004 Millennium Excellence Awards.
Mr. Brendan Doherty is the territorial award laureate and Alex Solski is the local laureate.
This year, the Millennium Foundation received over 7,000 applications from across Canada.
Applicants are judged under leadership, community involvement, innovation, and academic achievements.
Brendan and Alex are co-presidents of the Inuksuk student council.
Both are volunteers on the help-line.
They serve on the youth advisory panel and are both active in sports and music in their school.
This winter they, along with their rock band Ivory Hail, held a benefit concert in which they raised over $2,000 for the Stephen Lewis AIDS Foundation.
This past weekend they helped organize the 30-hour famine to fundraise for World Vision.
This fall Brendan will be attending Trent University to study international development, and Alex will be studying criminology at the University of Windsor.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you and this House join with me to congratulate these two young people on their recent successes.