EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, like all members of this House I don’t have to rely on hunting to feed my family.
I am one of the lucky ones.
But many of my constituents are not so fortunate.
They need to be able to purchase ammunition and they can’t do this until they get the proper paperwork from the federal government.
Mr. Speaker, members were encouraged last year when our Premier publicly co-signed a letter with NTI to the Prime Minister asking the Federal Government to be more sensitive to the unique situation in Nunavut and indeed, across the north.
I wonder Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister’s response could be tabled in this House.
Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the Government of Nunavut cannot control this system on its own, but I will continue to urge the minister to speak personally with his federal counterparts to at least make the decision makers in Ottawa aware that the situation is hurting families in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the problem with delays and backlogs could be partially addressed if the federal government could put more resources into speeding up the process of the applications for Nunavut residents, especially for those residents who depend on hunting for their livelihood.
Member's Statement 049 - 1(5): Support for Senior Citizens
First of all, I would like to compliment my colleagues who are wearing polar bear ties.
It must mean they don’t have polar bear issues to deal with in their constituencies.
Unlike me they are content.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about a very important group of people, our senior citizens.
Mr. Speaker, as you know in the Inuit culture our seniors are very important.
They are the keepers of our culture and they are our guides through life.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, our senior citizens often live on a small fixed income and are forced to struggle to make ends meet.
Mr. Speaker, every effort should be made to enhance the life of our elders.
One way that his can be done Mr. Speaker, is through encouraging retailers in Nunavut to provide our seniors with discounts at their stores.
In other parts of Canada, Mr. Speaker, several retailers have initiated programs for senior citizens such as Seniors’ Day where they are given discounts on their purchases.
I would like to call on the government to work with the retailers in Nunavut to implement a seniors’ discount program in their stores.
This is one small way that we can help our seniors to try to keep pace with our high cost of living.
Members’ Statements. Ms. Williams.
Member's Statement 050 - 1(5): Economic Impact of Polar Bear Quota Reduction
Today, I rise to speak about a matter that is of great concern to many of my constituents in Quttiktuq. I am referring Mr. Speaker, to the polar bear quotas and the recent reduction in the M’Clintock Channel.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, commercial polar bear hunts have far reaching economic benefits for the communities in my constituency.
It is not just guides that benefit, the entire community has the potential to benefit from the hunt.
Just as our ancestors have done Mr. Speaker, everyone gets involved in the preparation for a polar bear hunt.
Women prepare caribou clothing, others gather supplies and hunt seals to feed the dogs for the hunt.
This is one area Mr. Speaker, where our cultures and traditions blend well with more modern economic development opportunities.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, in the spring there will be over 40 hunters visiting the communities of Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay and Grise Fiord, with the average income for a hunt being 15 thousand dollars.
That means a considerable economic benefit for those communities.
(interpretation ends) As you know Mr. Speaker, there is a severe shortage of employment opportunities in my riding and my constituents are very concerned about the negative impact that a reduction in quota could have.
It is one less economic opportunity.
It greatly concerns me Mr. Speaker, that the future of the people in the Kitikmeot is so uncertain.
The fact that the government has to date only hinted at possible programs that may be implemented is unsettling.
(interpretation) I would urge the Minister of Sustainable Development to take into account of all the factors and impacts on employment.
May I have unanimous consent to finish my statement please, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement.
I would urge that the Minister of Sustainable Development take into account all the factors and impacts on employment, economic development and wildlife management when reviewing the polar bear quotas for my communities and provide those communities with specific economic development alternatives should the quotas have to be reduced.
Member's Statement 051 - 1(5): Selection of Chairs for Special Committee
I rise today to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly that the Special Committee to review the Official Languages Act has unanimously selected Ms. Rebekah Uqi Williams as chair and Mr. Donald Havioyak as co-chair.
Mr. Speaker, although all members will be extremely busy with the budget I would like everyone to know that we will be moving forward in the months to come.
Mr. Speaker, the Special Committee is very confident that Ms. Williams and Mr. Havioyak will do an outstanding job as we review the Official Languages Act.
I would ask all members to join me in congratulating Ms. Rebekah Uqi Williams and Mr. Donald Havioyak.
Member's Statement 052 - 1(5): Media Observations of Budget
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make some comments and observations on the 2001/2002 budget that was introduced yesterday in this House and the way in which the budget has been portrayed by the national media.
Mr. Speaker, we are already seeing words like crisis and mess being used by the media to describe our situation.
Mr. Speaker, all members of this House have tried to speak with one voice when it comes to making the case that federal investment is urgently required in a number of priority areas.
We reacted as one to the need to press our federal counterparts to make good on the Throne Speech commitments.
Mr. Speaker, I would imagine that I was not the only member to note with concern the Minister of Finance’s comments yesterday about the long-term risks of Nunavut’s political stability.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to learn that the federal Minister of Finance will be in Iqaluit next week.
I would encourage his host not only to show Mr. Martin the best that our community has to offer in the way of hospitality and attractions, but to take the opportunity to show him first hand and up close some of the very real problems effecting this community in terms of housing conditions, poverty, homelessness and decaying health care infrastructure.
These are problems that are prevalent in all of our communities, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as we go through the budget in the long weeks to come, I will continue to scrutinize those areas where I think priorities may be misplaced and continue to push for us to make good on our own commitments.
Mr. Speaker, I believe it is healthy for us to be honest in recognizing and acknowledging that the years of benign neglect are catching up to us, especially in the area of housing.
Mr. Speaker, there is indeed a mess to be cleaned up with respect to meeting the long standing needs of our communities and constituents.
Mr. Speaker, we have the energy, we have the mop, we have the pail and we have the water.
What we need now is to make sure that we get the soap to get the job done.
Member's Statement 053 - 1(5): MLAs vs. Junior Girls Hockey Game
I just want to let the members and the people that are here know there will be a very important event in my constituency happening on Friday here in the Iqaluit arena.
(interpretation ends) My fellow members will be joining me in putting on some hockey gear to take on the junior girls.
The challenge for this game arises from the last game we played here in Iqaluit over a year ago.
After some of the girls saw how wonderfully skilled we were during that game they decided that they could probably challenge us to a game.
So, in honouring my past record as having been the best ice kisser in some games, I've taken the liberty of calling our team the Legislative Ice Kissers.
I hope that my colleagues will live up to that name so I can be kept busy and go this coming Friday.
This will be a fundraiser for the junior girls who are just returning from Pelly Bay and I trust that everyone should be able to afford the $3.50 fee including the members that won't be playing.
I invite everyone to this game.
Member's Statements.
Member's Statement 054 - 1(5): Hall Beach High School Graduates
I rise today to recognize high school students from Hall Beach who graduated this past December.
They were Marlene Curley, Seepa Pikuyak, Gordie Anguillianuk, and Rena Irqittuq.
I congratulate those students who graduated.
Just to give a brief background in reference to the Irqittuq name.
We were named after the elder Irqittuq, which is the surname of my children.
My first child, my eldest child has graduated from grade 12 and is carrying on the good name of Irqittuq.
This is the first Irqittuq that has graduated and I'm sure that we will be seeing others following in her footsteps.
I also congratulate the other students and their parents.
Member's Statement 055 - 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit on Ancestry
Mr. Speaker, when I was a child there was an older lady in my camp where we lived and we used to call her Uqajuittuq.
Not too long ago in Rankin Inlet when I was stuck due to weather, I met a young woman from Baker Lake in a cafeteria.
We started talking about that woman and I asked her if she knew of other individuals.
She told me that the individual from Igloolik, the one we called Uqajuittuq, was named Panimeria and the namesake of Aime, the former mayor of Igloolik, my brother in-law.
What I'm trying to say is, Mr. Speaker, that individual Panimeria was from the Qainiq area and the Assiaqmiut area and they have relatives in Netsilik but he was living in the Igloolik area when I was a child.
This type of knowledge, the history of where we are from, these legends and all these stories will start to disappear.
I would like to thank IBC and CBC for their shows, Tausuniit and Sinnatsaut, as these programs promote this type of knowledge.
I heard in the past when I was growing up and going to school that Inuit families consisted of a father, a mother, 2.5 children and 1 anthropologist.
But my anthropology interest has been mostly for academic reasons.
I seek consent to conclude my statement.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Any nays.
No nays. Please proceed Mr. Arvaluk.
Thank you colleagues.
Today a lot of elders’ knowledge of past ancestry is being lost.
Anthropological information and museums do not always represent the actual migration of Inuit prior to the 1960s.
(interpretation) We all know Mr. Speaker, all these things that are not put on paper of what happened years ago will disappear forever if they are not written down.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage the Nunavut Government to be leaders in this and to provide some historical record of these things that happened years ago.
I would like to ask them or encourage them to do something like that, Mr. Speaker.
I know that the Inuit Cultural Institute and CLEY will have to get together to do this type of thing before it is forgotten and during question period, I will be asking those types of questions.
Member's Statement 056 - 1(5): Simon Tookoome
Uqaqti, it gives me great pride today to speak about a constituent of mine.
As you are all aware, I presented members of this House with a book this time last year in Rankin Inlet.
Simon Tookoome’s book, “The Shaman’s Nephew”.
Author and illustrator Simon Tookoome is the winner of this year’s Norma Flex Award for excellence in children’s non-fiction.
It was announced last month by the Toronto based Canadian Children’s’ Book Centre.
Tookoome won a prize of 10 thousand dollars cash and immediately…
…and immediately purchased a new snowmobile to go hunting.
Member's Statement 057 - 1(5): Iqaluit Taxi Strike
Mr. Speaker, this morning the taxi drivers and owners here in Iqaluit walked off the job in protest of current by-law negotiations to increase their cab fares.
First of all Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the hundreds of residents, visitors and people who depend on the taxi service should be held hostage by this type of action.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, I also understand that essentially the taxi drivers who are small business people need to make a decent standard of living.
Anyone who drives the roads in our community, realizes the cost of keeping a vehicle on the roads.
Combined with increased operating costs such as fuel prices and insurance, taxis can become a marginal proposition.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the drivers, the owners and our council to negotiate a fair deal that reflects and takes into account the innocent party in this dispute and that is the residents who depend on the service every day.
Member's Statement 058 - 1(5): Lost Voice and Inuktitut
Mr. Speaker, my sound is no good right now.
I am not going to speak too much in English but I can’t speak Inuktitut anymore.
I don’t know why.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu for trying.
If there are no further statements, we will move on to item 4.
I have not recognized anyone since we started so I am happy to recognize Naomee Alivaqtaq today.
She attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut Management School in Ottawa and is here with former classmate Neevee Hanson.
I would like to welcome them to the Assembly.
Naomee is from Pangnirtung and she worked at the Armalik Visitors’ Centre in Pangnirtung.
In last week’s issue of Nunatsiaq News, you may have seen the story of Natasha St. John, I would like to welcome her as well.
She was going to school at the Knud Rasmussen High School in Sissimiut.
Natasha went to school in Greenland on October 12, 2000 and she is on her way back to Arviat, her home community.
Mr. Speaker, she would like to also attend the Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa.
I would like to ask all members to join me in wishing them well.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery, especially Natasha who is from my community.
Her parents Don and Charlotte are very good friends of mine and congratulations, we are all very proud of you.
I want to recognize my younger brother Robert Havioyak.
I also would like to recognize Gordon Norberg who we have seen quite a bit in the NWT, he also used to live in Tuk.
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of relatives that I’m starting to find since I came over here so I would like to recognize an uncle of mine, Abraham Tagalik.
Speaker: Welcome to the gallery, Abraham.
I thought that Mr. Irqittuq was going to introduce me as his cousin.
But I would like to say also, at this time, a special welcome to the gallery to Solomon Curley, who is a constituent of Mr. Irqittuq, a long time friend of mine from Hall Beach who used to play hockey with me.
He tried to be as good as me and I think he is still trying.
Maybe he’ll come out to the game on Friday night and cheer us on.
Mr. Speaker, also sitting beside Solomon is an old friend of mine Mr. Abraham Tagalik, a well-known personality all over Nunavut, especially his voice from these days on the radio, welcome to the gallery too.
And Neevee Hanson, sitting next to the person introduced by Mr. Kilabuk.
Neevee also graduated from the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program in Ottawa and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate her.
I would like to say a special hello to Natasha who I understand can now speak some Kalaalimiutitut, who was over in Greenland studying.
I would like to welcome her to the gallery.
Mr. Speaker I would like to recognize a person in the gallery and say thank you to this person.
He took care of me, if you can recall when I was a Minister of MACA with the previous government, I dissolved the Enterprise Hamlet Council and I think the whole community was mad at me at that time.
I had to go to a meeting face to face with the community of Enterprise and I had to get help from the local RCMP.
I would like to recognize and say thank you to the person who took care of me at that time, Gordon Norberg.
Donald recognized him but I would like to thank him for helping me out.
Ms. Williams (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize three people from my riding that have been working for a long time and I’m very proud of the fact that they are still working and are recognized elders at the same time.
The first one is Seporah Kadluk Eranssen from Resolute Bay, she’s a court worker and also Tina Pauloosie, who is the school counsellor in Arctic Bay and Tagoonak Kavavow who works at the health centre in Nanisivik.
I also would like to recognize Gordon Norberg, who, when I went to Inuvik he was very friendly to us when we were very young people there.
If there are no questions, we can move on.
Question 034 - 1(5): Nunavut Heating Fuel Rebate
Mr. Speaker, in the minister’s statement earlier, the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation stated that there would be fuel subsidies made available to the people of Nunavut.
She stated that there were going to be some residents who will have to fill out forms to get a rebate.
When is that going to be available and for how long.
This 450 dollars is a one time payment.
Since we had an increase in fuel prices, this 450 dollars is just to cover the increase.
It is going to be a one-time lump sum payment and is designed to cover the increase from last November to this October.
Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Supplementary. Mr. Nutarak.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I am sure you will be giving us more detail on this heating fuel rebate when the minister’s department is in front of the Committee of the Whole.
What is considered a low and medium income homeowner.
The household income would have to be less than 125 thousand dollars, the combined income of two working spouses, for example.
If the income is less than that, you will be eligible for the fuel rebate of 450 dollars.
It would have to be a combined income of 125 thousand dollars or less.
Question 035 - 1(5): Seniors’ Discount
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Just today I made a statement about support for seniors.
I would like to ask the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth whether he will commit to meeting with the retailers of Nunavut to encourage them to implement a seniors’ discount program in their stores.
Speaker: I believe that question is for Minister Kattuk.
I would also like to thank the member for asking the question.
The stores or the retailers are not part of the responsibility of my department.
It is not included in the plans of our department to provide a discount program and we are not responsible for the retailers or discounts that they might introduce.
Mr. Speaker, I understand your response but I think that we as a new government and even though we are only two years old, I think it would be a good time to start looking to the future.
I could use an example of one day when I asked questions of people who have been in politics for a while for advice.
With that in mind, the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth should make the elders a priority.
Is it not possible to access funds from the federal government so that we can provide subsidies for these elders.
I think that is how you can go about it.
As the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and as the representative of the elders of Nunavut could you ask for a response from the federal government on this.
Just reminding the members again to keep your preambles as precise as possible to allow for additional questions from the other members.
To date, some department stores or retailers have provided discounts but in reference to the comments that my colleague is making I could find out what types of programs are available from the federal government and what types of subsidies we do provide as a government.
That is the only response that I can make at this point but I will consider your questions.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for saying that you will be looking into it.
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are given questions and concerns from our communities.
We will be here sitting at this legislature until the end of the month of March.
During that time will you be able to provide a response to this question.
Mr. Kattuk, I am not sure if there is a question.
Hon. Peter Kattuk: (interpretation): Maybe you could ask the member to clarify his question.
The minister said yesterday that he considered yesterday a holiday because nobody asked him questions for two days.
I can assure him that his holidays are now over and he’ll be working overtime.
Can you provide me a response to this question before the end of March.
Will that be possible and can he also make a statement that there will be a discount program made available to elders.
Can he do that before the end of the month of March, because of course, when I go back to my community, the same question will be brought up and they will be looking for a response from me.
I did state earlier that I took a two-day holiday because nobody asked me questions and thank you for making me work overtime.
I will take his question as notice.
Question 036 - 1(5): Status of GN Staff Housing Allowance
Mr. McLean: Ma'na Uqaqti. Uqaqti, recently Public Works officials on the radio were quoted in the media and the radio as saying that the government is looking at increasing the housing allowances that are provided to GN employees.
Can the minister provide further details about this initiative.
Mr. Speaker, on a Point of Order, I believe the member is referring to a broadcast that we don’t know about.
It hasn't been put forward before the House, so we can't really comment on that.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. I'll ask the member to clarify or re-phrase the question.
I'll re-phrase it to the point that, is the minister aware of her officials announcing on the radio about staff housing, increasing the housing allowance for GN employees.
Is the minister aware of it.
I don't listen to the radio very often and I'm not aware of that particular comment that was made on the radio.
I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker.
Question 037 - 1(5): Kugaaruk Stone Church Renovations
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Yesterday, I talked about the old stone church that needs restoration in Kugaaruk.
The Hamlet is requesting that the old stone church be restored.
Can the minister say yes or no to this request that was made by our hamlet for funding to do the renovations.
Speaker: I'll just ask the member to identify as to which minister he is directing the question.
Please identify the minister.
This question is directed to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth and it is in regards to the old stone church in Kugaaruk, which is in dire need of restoration.
The Hamlet has requested that the church be restored.
Can the minister respond to this question with either a yes or a no.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Alakannuark for your indulgence and I would remind the ministers if I or the staff didn’t hear the minister that the question is being directed at, I think it is only fair that I be allowed to ask the member to repeat.
Please bear that in mind.
I can respond to your question by saying that if the communities would like buildings restored or renovated they can ask the department or make a proposal for funding for these particular projects.
I would suggest that the community make a proposal if they would like to carry out such projects.
Oral Questions. Ms. Williams.
Question 038 - 1(5): Fuel Rebates for Tenants
I would like to direct my question to the Minister Responsible for Housing.
It is a very important program that the Nunavut Housing Corporation has, the homeownership program.
I would like to ask the minister about the subsidy program for homeowners.
For people that are renting from homeowners would those people renting be eligible for the rebate.
I am Ms. Thompson, not Mr. Thompson.
People who own their homes are eligible for the fuel subsidy program.