EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I have one more question. There were a lot of questions when we had the minister in our committee concerning climate change and these two positions.
I have been the chairman of this committee now for about seven years and I have written many letters to various ministers for explanations on their budget items.
Every minister in the past has replied to me in writing within the time that was requested, except Minister Mike.
I wrote a letter on February 9 with four pages of questions asking for updates on this very subject that we are questioning today and asking him to reply before the winter sitting, which he did not do.
Then on February 29, I reminded the minister with another letter asking him for the response to my original letter.
I’m just wondering if the minister can explain why he refused to reply to my letter in the time that I required.
Although it’s almost done in regard to the questions that were asked, at this time, according to the work we’re doing, some of the questions have not been answered yet, but they are almost complete in the response letter that I will be providing. We need to do a bit of research on some of the questions that were asked.
I am not doing this on purpose.
I know that it is time that I provide a response to the letter, but there is a reason why the letter of reply is incomplete.
We wanted this letter even before we started discussing this budget and now we’re asking questions based on my letter.
Again the minister is saying he still doesn’t have a complete answer to all the questions that we have, and here we are passing his budget on this very subject.
I would just recommend that in the future, he be more timely in responding to these letters. It would alleviate a lot of the questions that we have during this process and maybe speed up the process a bit during our committee meetings.
I’ll just leave it at that as a comment.
He left it as a comment.
Following the list of names, Branch Summary.
Environment Program Management.
I have a question regarding the environment.
We live in a place with wildlife, caribou and polar bears that wander around.
I was wondering what your position is in regard to calving grounds. I know for sure that you know where the calving grounds are.
What are you going to do about the calving grounds?
I want to ask that question.
I’m not exactly sure about the purpose of the question. It’s about calving grounds, but I want to get further clarification on what the intent of the question is.
The reason I’m asking this question is that when the caribou population is reducing and then they start tagging them or either way they start working on the caribou.
That’s why I’m asking the question.
If you tag or tamper with the caribou, would that help reduce the population?
I’m asking that question because I would like to find that out.
My deputy minister, Mr. Nirlungayuk, will respond.
I also thank Mr. Qirngnuq for his question.
If I understood correctly, the caribou are surveyed annually through aerial surveys and they do an estimate through reconnaissance surveys. During the spring, they do a survey on caribou calving and also on the number of yearlings around April. We do a survey on the mortality rate of the calves.
These are various ways we do surveys on the mainland.
This coming spring in the Baffin region, we will do a survey and do an estimate on the mortality rate of the calves.
Those are the kinds of surveys we do.
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I understand what you are saying.
I’m asking a question about something my colleague alluded to regarding the concern of declining caribou populations.
It seems like the caribou population is a concern all over and I’m also concerned about it.
Do you have a safer way of surveying caribou or polar bears?
I would like an answer to this question, Mr. Chairman.
Deputy Minister Nirlungayuk will respond to that.
Mr. Nirlungayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Qirngnuq.
I believe we all know that when they started putting collars on polar bears, there was quite a bit of opposition and concern, but the Government of Nunavut doesn’t put radio collars on polar bears.
Although biologists apply to collar animals, it is not done in the Baffin region at this time, but they are requesting to do so.
Other surveys are conducted, such as on the Beverly Qamanirjuaq herd, and in other jurisdictions such as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.
The biologists have their own jurisdiction and they do collaring down there.
Moving on to another topic, I would like to know what your position is on using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit during surveys or harvesting.
That will be my last question. I would also like to welcome the minister and his officials.
If I understood your question correctly, in the Baffin region, for example, this has been the practice since there was a moratorium on caribou harvesting.
We have been working closely with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board on caribou management and brainstormed with them.
NWMB is responsible for determining the total allowable harvest.
Every time they provide recommendations, we have to approve them, if I understood the member’s question correctly.
Also with the surveys, it has to go through the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board as it is part of its authority.
With the Nunavut government and taking the Baffin region caribou for example, the regional wildlife organization, the (interpretation ends) Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board, (interpretation) and the impacted HTOs are involved.
We also involve elders who are experts on caribou when we’re collecting the information to recommend decisions.
These are the examples that we use in Nunavut and that’s what occurs when we have to deal with caribou management issues.
As government, we alone cannot make a decision on caribou management.
That’s how the process is, if I understood the question correctly.
Following my list of names, (interpretation ends) Program Management.
I just have a request for information.
Minister, as you stated earlier, all the communities in the Baffin will be visited before this proceeds.
My only question is: are all the communities in the Baffin region going to be visited? When are you going to do that? If the majority of communities don’t want you to do that, you won’t do it?
With regard to collaring animals and the survey, that’s what we’re going be consulting about.
There are 10 communities that are affected by the moratorium on Baffin Island.
All those communities will be consulted about the proposed survey and request to do collaring of caribou.
We want to get good information about the females that produce calves because they are the only ones that multiply the population.
After the calves have been born, we have to keep track of them to make sure we have the right data and to make sure that the caribou are increasing in number.
The calves that were born during calving season last year are now yearlings and they are quite big now. We have to keep track of those as well.
We want to get a good understanding with the communities and to make sure everybody understands what the survey entails.
If everybody understands the reasoning behind the survey and study, I think we will get more support. Caribou decrease in number by natural means on their own.
An area that used to have many caribou hardly has any caribou now. Those 10 communities will be consulted.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you for answering part of my question.
Ten communities in the Baffin will be visited. When do you think they will be visited?
My other question was that if the communities don’t want you to do collaring, will follow their wishes or are you just going to tell the communities, “This is what we’re going to do now”?
Once we introduce the project to these communities, we will be able to get their opinions on what we want to do. I know that in the coming spring, the communities will visited for this purpose.
During the consultation of communities, we want to hear how they feel about this kind of study happening and see if they will approve it. That’s what we want to hear from them.
As Mr. Keyootak was saying, the collaring is criticized a lot by people, especially with polar bears and caribou.
When you hear from these 10 communities and you are told, “It’s better that you don’t do that,” you will decide not to do it after you consult with the communities.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): That’s the reason behind the community consultations that are happening.
We will follow what we hear from the communities and what they want.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Program Management.
When the minister was being questioned, he said that they plan to visit the Baffin communities to consult about caribou management.
People in the Kivalliq also have concerns about caribou.
Do you have any plans to meet with the (interpretation ends) Kivalliq Wildlife Management Board, KIA, (interpretation) and the local HTOs about caribou management?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Mr. Mallory will respond to that.
We had a biologist doing a round of consultations specifically about caribou in the Kivalliq last week and maybe even this week. I can’t remember the dates exactly, but this month.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) This incident just happened recently.
I’m just wondering if, by any chance, any of his officials from the Department of Environment has any plans in the near future to meet with the Kivalliq organizations like KIA, the Kivalliq Wildlife Management Board, and the local hunters and trappers associations from every community.
There are seven communities in the Kivalliq. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I also thank Mr. A. Sammurtok for that question.
The wildlife boards, the communities, and the government, as the Department of Environment, have an office in Arviat.
We work with the Kivalliq Wildlife Management Board. Whenever we’re invited, we go to address concerns because we need to be aware of them.
Every year, we meet with the (interpretation ends) Kivalliq Wildlife Management Board (interpretation) and we always approach them.
We are open for invitations as well. With respect to the (interpretation ends) Kivalliq Wildlife Management Board, (interpretation) as Mr. Mallory said, we just met with them. We always work with the communities, not just about caribou but about other things as well.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): He just stated that they are able to come when they are invited.
I think they want you to go down there.
Many letters were tabled in the government (interpretation ends) just this week (interpretation) that have to do with wildlife from Arviat, Baker Lake, and Naujaat and they didn’t like those letters about caribou.
Are you planning to visit this spring or summer?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, the Baffin survey study was just an example. I haven’t heard any requests to do a survey or study in the Kivalliq. There are no requests for any studies from the communities.
I have heard other concerns though, but we talked about the need to do a caribou survey in the Baffin.
We need to keep track of that and we have been asked to do that by the hunters in the Baffin.
We’re open to any concerns that they want us to study.
We can do that, but we haven’t received any letters asking for any studies from the Kivalliq, unless there is one I haven’t seen yet. That’s all.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity.
I am concerned about studies as well, although I understand it.
This is not the first time I have talked about animals.
I am talking against tradition now, but I have to do this and I have to take part in the work for caribou.
Our animals around here live in quiet, silent lands and they’re used to that.
As an example, the Baffinland Mary River project near Pinngurjuaq, way before I was born, it was a main caribou habitat.
When the rest of the land had no more caribou, the caribou used to migrate there.
After the Baffinland project started and the caribou started hearing the helicopter noises, they left the area and that’s the way it is now.
Mr. Chairman, with respect to the animals, as Inuit, we really hear that we have to follow what the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board tells us to follow because they are the ones that are tasked with protection.
With the knowledge that we have as Inuit today, we want Inuit to be considered more by the wildlife management boards.
I understand today that there is a good side to the studies because we don’t want our animals to disappear.
However, there is a “but.”
If we’re going to be in this situation where we’re going to be collaring these animals because we want knowledge, then our caribou will leave the Baffin if there’s going to be that kind of work happening around here.
Mr. Chairman, I have a great concern about this and that’s why I’m voicing it.
I am very concerned about it now because if we don’t want the caribou to decline in numbers, then the helicopter noise has to stop.
If the communities that you are consulting with are concerned about the helicopter noise, then you have to do what they say.
I am very concerned about this. I don’t want the animals to be bothered by collaring.
With the animals that you are going to be studying, I would like you do surveys by fixed-wing aircraft and not by helicopters. I don’t think you go to very low altitudes and I don’t mind that as much.
I’m expressing my concern and also support for you.
If you follow what the Inuit believe in, then we can realistically protect our animals.
This is basically information for you, but information is always useful.
If the Inuit are concerned and they don’t want your department to do collaring, would you be able to agree to that or are you going to push for collaring?
Please let me know that if the communities don’t want you collaring, then you won’t do so. Even if they don’t want you to collar them, will you end up collaring them anyways?
That’s what I would like to know. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank my colleague for voicing his concern.
It’s going to be the same response that I gave to Mr. Enook.
We’re going to do a consultation tour.
We will be talking to the communities about our department’s request to collar caribou.
If they don’t want it, then we won’t go ahead.
That’s why we are going to consult the communities.
We will be going to the 10 communities.
Once we conclude the tour, we will have to decide what we’re going to be doing.
Program Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $22,637.000. Agreed?
Chairman: Back to page I-3. Department Summary.
Environment. Detail of Expenditures. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $27,045,000.
Do members agree that we have concluded the Department of Environment?
Minister Mike, brief closing comments.
I would like to thank everyone here. It seems that it was a little bit difficult, but the environment is of importance to us.
We have an abundance of wildlife, both marine and terrestrial and in lakes.
We have a variety of species that could be economically viable.
We want to make sure that they’re managed properly.
I would like to thank you all. I thank you all for approving our budget and for your understanding and support.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the minister’s officials out.
(interpretation ends) We will now proceed to the clause-by-clause review of Bill 13.
I ask all members to go to Bill 13 in your legislation binder.
An Hon. Member: Yes.
Chairman: Bill 13, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017.
Committee Motion 004 – 4(3): Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017 (Peterson)
I move that subsection 3(2) be amended by striking out “$1,538,015,000” and replacing it with “$1,538,001,000.”
Chairman: Go to Schedule on page 2 in English and page 3 in Inuktitut.
One, every member has the right to speak once to the motion for a total time of 20 minutes.
We’re deleting $14,000 from the Department of Education as per earlier voting in Committee of the Whole.
Committee Motion 005 – 4(3): Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017 (Peterson)
It’s making a lot of work here for us, but moving on to the Schedule, I move that the Schedule to the bill be amended by:
striking out “$205,479,000” in Item 7, Education, and replacing it with “$205,465,000”;
striking out “$1,538,015,000” after “Total Operations and Maintenance” and replacing it with “$1,538,001,000”; and
striking out “$1,538,015,000” after “Total Appropriation” and replacing it with “$1,538,001,000.”
Clause 3 as amended.
Chairman: Do members agree to Bill 13 as amended?
Chairman: Do members agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 13 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 13 and would like to report that Bill 13 is immediately ready for third reading as amended and that two committee motions were adopted.
Bill 13 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Aggu, that Bill 13, Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2016-2017, be read for the third time as amended.
The motion is carried and Bill 13, as amended, is ready for assent.
Bills 10, 11, 12… .
Not those?
Clerk: Sorry, Mr. Speaker.
Motion 24 – 4(3)
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 16 – 4(3), this House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 16, at 10:00 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 20:00
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Pages 1728 – 1797
Opening Prayer 1728
Ministers’ Statements 1728
Members’ Statements 1731
Returns to Oral Questions 1737
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1740
Oral Questions 1743
Written Questions 1754
Tabling of Documents 1758
Motions 1761
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1766
Third Reading of Bills 1794
Assent to Bills 1795
Orders of the Day 1796
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 1728
100 – 4(3): Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation (Taptuna) 1728
101 – 4(3): NHC Moving Forward with Energy Efficiency Measures (Hickes) 1729
102 – 4(3): Arctic Indigenous Education Conference 2016 (Quassa) 1730
213 – 4(3): Iqaluit Fiddle Club Welcomes Youth Orchestra (Angnakak) 1731
214 – 4(3): Wife Recovering in Yellowknife (Qirngnuq) 1731
215 – 4(3): Congratulations to Donna May Kimmaliardjuk (Sammurtok, T) 1732
216 – 4(3): News from Daughter, Lucy (Mapsalak) 1732
217 – 4(3): Appreciation of Mothers (Akoak) 1733
218 – 4(3): The Importance of Nunavut Sivuniksavut (Joanasie) 1733
219 – 4(3): The Northern Youth Abroad Program (Enook) 1734
220 – 4(3): The Arctic Inspiration Prize (Hickes) 1735
221 – 4(3): Update on the Pangnirtung Fishery (Mike) 1736
Return to Oral Question 230 – 4(3): Amending Eligibility Criteria for Senior Fuel Subsidy (Mike) 1737
Return to Oral Question 244 – 4(3): Search and Rescue Contribution Policy (Savikataaq) 1737
Return to Oral Question 256 – 4(3): Repatriating Nunavut Elders (Mike) 1738
Return to Oral Question 259 – 4(3): Departmental Vacancies (Savikataaq) 1738
Return to Oral Question 274 – 4(3): Nunavut Food Strategy and the Niqittiavak Committee (Mike) 1739
288 – 4(3): Collective Bargaining (Angnakak) 1743
289 – 4(3): Funding for Arena Upgrades and Repairs (Mikkungwak) 1744
290 – 4(3): Government Presence in Non-decentralized Communities (Mapsalak) 1745
291 – 4(3): Meeting with DEA of Cape Dorset (Joanasie) 1748
292 – 4(3): Alternative Energy Solutions (Okalik) 1750
293 – 4(3): Senior Fuel Subsidy (Joanasie) 1751
294 – 4(3): Senior Fuel Subsidy (Mikkungwak) 1752
007 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut Responses to the Resolutions Adopted at the 2014 and 2015 Annual General Meetings of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (Angnakak) 1754
008 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut Presentation to the Canada Transportation Act Review (Mikkungwak) 1754
009 – 4(3): Economic Activity, Tax Revenues, and Tax Rebates (Okalik) 1755
010 – 4(3): Annual Fuel Purchases by the Government of Nunavut (Sammurtok) 1757
011 – 4(3): Services and Benefits for Out-of-Territory Dialysis Patients (Sammurtok, T) 1757
115 – 4(3): Correspondence from the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization (Enook) 1758
116 – 4(3): Petition – Kimmirut to Keewatin Air (Joanasie) 1759
117 – 4(3): Department of Justice 2014 Minimum Wage Rate Annual Report (Peterson) 1759
118 – 4(3): Nunavut Law Foundation Annual Report December 31, 2014 (Peterson) 1759
119 – 4(3): Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board Annual Report 2014-2015 (Peterson) 1759
120 – 4(3): FPT Ministers of Justice and Public Safety January 21, 2016 (Peterson) 1759
121 – 4(3): Family Abuse Intervention Act Annual Report 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 (Peterson) 1759
122 – 4(3): Nunavut Victims Services Annual Report 2014-2015 (Peterson) 1759
123 – 4(3): NHC Contracting and Procurement Activity Report March 31, 2014 (Hickes) 1760
124 – 4(3): NHC Contracting and Procurement Activity Report March 31, 2015 (Hickes) 1760
125 – 4(3): Director of Child and Family Services Annual Report 2014-2015 (Mike) 1760
126 – 4(3): Summary Report on Phase 1 of an Operational Audit of Government of Nunavut Programs, October 2015 (Taptuna) 1760
127 – 4(3): QEC Annual Report 2014-2015 (Hickes) 1760
128 – 4(3): Correspondence to NTI Vice-president James Eetoolook (Okalik) 1760
129 – 4(3): Outstanding Statutory Tabling Requirements (Speaker) 1761
023 – 4(3): Addressing the Needs of Elders (Angnakak) 1761
006 – 4(3): Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2016-2017 (Peterson) 1782
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2015-2016 – Consideration in Committee 1766
Bill 11 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2015-2016 – Consideration in Committee 1775
Bill 12 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2016-2017 – Consideration in Committee 1780
Bill 15 – An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act – Consideration in Committee 1783
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 4, 2015-2016 – Third Reading 1794
Bill 11 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2015-2016 – Third Reading 1795
Bill 12 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2016-2017 – Third Reading 1795
Bill 15 – An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act – Third Reading 1795
Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, my fellow Nunavummiut. Members, ministers, (interpretation ends) Premier, (interpretation) and our visitors, welcome to the House.
Minister’s Statement 100 – 4(3): Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide my colleagues with an update on the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation.
As you are all aware, we are committed to fully participating in the newly established Inuit training corporation with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on the executive committee.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the training corporation is to provide funding and other support for training and initiatives and also to provide skills and qualifications to enhance the preparedness of Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation will provide unique opportunities previously not available to the beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in the area of education and training in our territory.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the Government of Nunavut as the Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs alongside Minister of Education and Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Paul Quassa.
The Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation held its inaugural meeting on January 19, 2016 here in Iqaluit, where we planned for distinct opportunities for Inuit to attain higher education and training to strengthen our territory’s workforce.
I look forward to providing regular updates as we strengthen plans in these areas.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to continuing our important working relationship with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated through the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation.
Minister’s Statement 101 – 4(3): NHC Moving Forward with Energy Efficiency Measures (Hickes)
I am pleased once again to address energy efficiency efforts underway in Nunavut, this time at the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC).