EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
For example, I have never been down to Sanikiluaq and I have no idea what the community is like.
I don't know what Sankiluaq's priorities are but the residents do.
Mr. Anawak is very correct when he made that statement.
The communities are the ones who know what they need and what they require at the community level.
The communities will be making five-year plans for their communities and they'll be asked to define their needs.
Do you need approval and then make re-adjustments or revise their plans and then give them what they need.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): We've said repeatedly that we'll always put safety and health issues at the forefront.
Using the communities as an example, they might say that their water truck is perfectly fine, they won't need one the next year but we'll probably have to talk to them again just using this as an example.
But the community might say that they need a grader or they would like to get another piece of heavy equipment for the following year so we can talk with the communities first of all.
Today I know that our employees in Cape Dorset, Rankin Inlet, Kugluktuk and also in Cambridge Bay are in continuous communication with the communities in regards to capital items and we are going to keep doing that.
Like I keep saying health and safety issues will make the final decision at the end of the day.
We'll talk with the communities first and at times yes, we cannot obtain what they need right away.
But our department deals with hamlet offices, recreational facilities, community freezers and so on.
We talk first of all with the residents so we'll make informed decisions and we'll know how we can appropriately allocate our finances.
We'd look at what would be most beneficial to both the community and to our department.
When the minister first made his comments, he said that he would work very hard on the safety issue and one thing that keeps coming up during his responses is the health and safety issues.
If there is a public facility and if it was condemned, could you replace that facility right away for health and safety reasons.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I don't think we have ever come across that but I think that Mr. Nutarak is using that as an example.
I'm sure if a building was condemned for health and safety reasons and if it was closed, I think what he's asking is if it would be replaced right away.
If we cannot come up with the required amount of dollars with the community, we can use a community hall as an example because that's the focal point of the community other than the schools.
When I talk about health and safety issues, we are also talking about community halls that are too small for the size of the community and especially in the winter when a lot of people go there and the flu tends to go all over the community.
We're well aware that some of the communities need larger community halls.
But I can't tell you if we can replace it right away but I do know that if it's an old community hall and they desperately need one, we can look for outside sources of funds so that the old community hall can be replaced.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): The minister, since he made the statement I truly believe that health and safety will be a priority for this minister's department.
I think that the way everybody thinks, no matter where you come from, we'd like to see a decrease in sicknesses and poor health.
Using Pond Inlet as an example.
Our arena has no insulation and it's used at minus 40 in the middle of the winter.
Is that a health issue because it's might affect the individuals who play hockey in that arena just as an example.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I almost froze my toe when I was skating up there during a hockey tournament and I'm well aware of what you're talking about.
Pond Inlet is one of the larger communities.
Well it's small if you're talking about southern standards but it's one of the larger communities in Nunavut and we know that we have to do something about the arena.
It's in the high arctic, which is a lot colder than the southern areas.
We're looking for money and we'll keep the member informed about progress.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Again, to health and safety issues, some of the communities have cafeterias or restaurants.
Using Iqaluit as an example, there are quite a number of restaurants in town.
How are they regulated.
I think that there are some restaurants that don't have the proper ventilation.
There's a lot of cigarette smoke and cooking fumes in there.
Is there anything you can do there.
Do they have regulations or can you write a letter to these establishments to clean up their act.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): We can only implement regulations on items that we deal with.
If the community feels that it's a concern then we can deal within our limitations of authority under the restaurants, it's under the jurisdiction of another department.
Under the health and safety requirements, if there's the possibility of an accident the Nunavut Government can deal with that.
We deal with community halls and we know that a lot of the community halls are too small for the community.
For instance Pond Inlet, Pangnirtung, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, perhaps we should deal with these health and safety requirements, perhaps the restaurants and commercial establishments, their health and safety requirements.
If there is a concern from the community then we can get it out to the public.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): When I went to Pond Inlet I talked to the people from my community.
When you speak you don't have very much to say, and I was just saying that the air in some of the public places, so I'm just mentioning these details.
We were talking about arenas yesterday.
I'd like to ask him, yesterday he said that when the hockey players are talented, we want to help them out more.
So I was going to ask him about that statement he made yesterday.
I don't know exactly what other statements that he did with that.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I think I was speaking in English when it was translated into Inuktitut.
I know the arenas in communities are one of main concerns for recreation and physical fitness activities.
That's why we are very proud of them, the hockey players.
We hear about them because arenas are very expensive to build and that's one of the reasons why we have a hard time getting arenas in all the communities.
For instance in Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord and also maybe even this member’s constituency, the arena needs to be improved.
We do want to have arenas in all of them and if there are some athletes that are in public view and some of these sports events are very popular for that reason, we would want to help them out of course for that reason.
It was very good to hear when the hockey player from Pond Inlet was being recognized and also the one from Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I would like you all to know that I'm trying to work towards getting an arena for Pond Inlet.
I would like you to know Mr. Chairman, it was just one of the pilot projects in our area to see if hockey arenas were good for the communities.
So this was one of the first pilot projects that's the reason why it is all metal.
We can see that the pilot project was successful.
So it's been implemented throughout all the other communities.
Thank you for listening to my comments.
I don't have anything further to say.
Chairperson (interpretation): There's no question there, they’re just comments, we all just want to make comments, we all want support for our cause.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I'd like to move that we report progress.
I did not hear exactly what you were saying.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Havioyak made a motion, it's not debatable.
We always ask if everyone agrees.
If it's approved, I would like to thank the officials from the Department of Community Government & Transportation and we'll be seeing them in the following session.
Mr. Anawak on Monday, we'll see you on Monday, after the weekend, Thank you, have a good Sunday.
Please ask the Speaker if he is ready to enter the chamber.
Speaker: Returning to the Orders of the Day. Item 20.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Is there a seconder to the motion. Mr. Nutarak.
Thank you for seconding.
Meeting of the Management Services Board at 2.30 in the Tuktu Boardroom today.
Orders of the Day for March 19, 2001:
Members before we adjourn for the weekend, Tevi was one of the original pages on April 1, 1999 and it is very good to see you in the House.
We thank you for all your service.
Would you please stand up Tevi.
Members, enjoy the weekend. We will see you back here again on March 19, at 1.30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 2.05 p.m.
Monday March 19, 2001
Pages 692 - 748
Monday March 19, 2001 4
035 – 1(5): Formula Funding for our K-12 Schools (Kilabuk) 4
036 – 1(5): Year of the Volunteer – Activities in Nunavut (Anawak, Kattuk) 4
122 - 1(5): Recognition of Harold and Arlene Comber (Havioyak) 4
123 - 1(5): Cabinet Ministers Visit to Igloolik (Irqittuq) 4
124 - 1(5): Pond Inlet Celebrations (Nutarak) 4
125 - 1(5): Atanarjuat Film (Thompson) 4
126 - 1(5): Congratulations to Isuma Productions (Kattuk) 4
131 - 1(5): Impact of Labour Standards Act on NEU Negotiations (Tootoo) 4
132 - 1(5): Review of Fish Quota and Stock (Iqaqrialu) 4
133 – 1(5): Bussing Program Funding (Nutarak) 4
134 - 1(5): Kugluktuk Sewage Lagoon Road (Havioyak) 4
135 – 1(5): Aqvik Mine Cleanup (Williams) 4
136 – 1(5): Igloolik Health Centre (Irqittuq) 4
137 - 1(5): Review of Bussing Program (Iqaqrialu) 4
138 – 1(5): Repulse Bay Health Centre Addition (Alakannuark) 4
139 - 1(5): Input of Municipalities on 5-Year Capital Plan (Tootoo) 4
140 – 1(5): Closing Date for Igloolik Nursing Position (Havioyak) 4
141 – 1(5): Staff Housing Shortage (Tootoo) 4
142 - 1(5): Status of Airport Employees (Irqittuq) 4
013 – 1(5): Business Plans for Nunavut Development Corporation, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation and Nunavut Tourism (Akesuk) 4
014 – 1(5): Notice of Temporary Indemnification for NPC Board of Directors (Ng) 4
015 – 1(5): Response to Petition 3 – 1(5) (Clerk) 4
Bill 4 - An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act (Time Zones) - First Reading (Okalik) 4
Bill 5 - Loan Authorization Act 2001/2002 - First Reading (Ng) 4
Bill 4 - An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act (Time Zones) - Second Reading (Okalik) 4
Monday March 19, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would like to ask Mr. Havioyak to say the opening prayer please.
Speaker: Good afternoon, Premier, members.
Ulluukkut.
Returning to the Orders of the Day. Ministers' Statements.
Minister's Statement 035 – 1(5): Formula Funding for our K-12 Schools
I wish to inform members of an initiative underway by my department that we anticipate will have long-term benefit for how funds are distributed to our classrooms across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, the process I am speaking of is the re-examining of the funding formulas for our K-12 classrooms and I anticipate that I will be in receipt of this report by late spring.
This study will be the first step in giving us a more made in Nunavut approach, to funding our classrooms needs.
The present funding formula that we inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories is primarily a student number driven formula with some program components included.
This formula has been an ongoing source of discussion and debate by all of us here in the Legislative Assembly for some time now.
Mr. Speaker, I want to assure this House that in deciding how best to distribute funding to the classrooms we will review not only our present funding formula but we will also look at other models and talk to as many people as necessary to ensure our children get the greatest benefits Nunavut can offer in our class rooms.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kilabuk.
Minister's Statement 036 – 1(5): Year of the Volunteer – Activities in Nunavut
Two ministers will be speaking on this issue today.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind the Members of the Legislative Assembly that the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers.
To commemorate the value of Nunavut's volunteers, my department of Community Government & Transportation, has partnered with Minister Kattuk's department, Culture, Language, Elders & Youth and community governments to organize activities.
Our focus is to promote the benefits of volunteering to the individual, our communities and Nunavut as a whole and to recognize the contributions of Nunavut's volunteers.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the success of many activities carried out through my own department is due to the assistance of dedicated volunteers.
Search & Rescue operations, organized sports, and recreation and leisure events depend on the support of our volunteers.
My staff and I are very thankful for their help and hope they will continue to offer their skills, time and energy.
Mr. Speaker, in the coming months you will hear public service announcements about volunteerism, you will see posters in our official languages and volunteer kits will be sent to Nunavut communities to assist them to organize events to celebrate the International Year of Volunteers.
Special events are being planned to mark National Volunteer Week starting on April 22.
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to ask Minister Kattuk to complete this statement.
Together, Mr. Speaker, our departments will set criteria for, and supply the volunteer awards.
Nomination forms will be sent to the hamlets and nominee selection will be done at the community government level.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth will present each hamlet with two volunteer awards.
These awards will be presented to one elder and one youth in each community, that dedicate their time towards maintaining our culture.
This recognition is another small way we support and reinforce the sharing of our cultural ties.
Activities aimed at raising awareness of the importance of volunteers will take place throughout the year as we begin to implement the Nunavut-wide Volunteer Strategy, one of this government's key priorities.
The Strategy promotes the advantages of volunteering for the individual as well as the community.
By volunteering, people develop valuable new skills to use at home or at work.
They become more self-confident and self-reliant.
Volunteers contribute to community life in Nunavut in many ways.
Recognizing the value of our volunteers must become a daily mission and not just a once-a-year ceremony.
Minister Anawak and I would like to encourage all Members of this Assembly to show their appreciation for volunteers in their own constituencies and support volunteerism by attending events in their own and other communities.
Member's Statement 122 - 1(5): Recognition of Harold and Arlene Comber
First I would like to express my appreciation for the two ministers for the statement they just made.
On behalf of my constituents, I would like to convey some of the thoughts of my community. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of two of my constituents who have been active in suicide prevention initiatives in Kugluktuk.
In the fall of 1999, Harold and Arlene Comber arrived in Kugluktuk from Prince Edward Island.
Shortly after their arrival, they worked with the Hamlet of Kugluktuk to install a 24-hour suicide phone line in their own home.
Along with the other volunteers, they have been active in counselling people in crisis.
They also volunteered to operate our local radio station 1 hour a day, in addition to what they were doing here.
So in saying that Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say in the years since the "Hope Line" started up there have been no suicides in Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, Harold and Arlene will be moving away at the end of the month.
All the residents of Kugluktuk will be sorry to see them leave.
The Hope Line depends on volunteers Mr. Speaker, and I encourage members of the community to continue the valuable work the Combers have started.
Mr. Speaker, the effectiveness of the Hope Line in Kugluktuk clearly demonstrates that when communities pull together, suicide can be beaten.
I ask all members to join me in sending best wishes to Harold and Arlene.
Member's Statement 123 - 1(5): Cabinet Ministers Visit to Igloolik
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday we attended a meeting in Igloolik and three ministers attended, Kelvin Ng, Jack Anawak and Peter Kattuk.
The people of Igloolik were pleased to welcome the three ministers and were able to speak about their concerns to them in person.
I am pleased to know that these ministers will keep in mind now what they heard from my constituents.
So on behalf of my constituents in Igloolik, I would like to thank the three ministers for visiting.
Member's Statement 124 - 1(5): Pond Inlet Celebrations
I rise today since today is the very first day of spring, and I would like to tell a little story about Pond Inlet.
As people coming from Tunnuniq, we are always proud to see the sun come out. On February 6, 2001 Mr. Speaker, the Governor-General's husband John Ralston Saul was in Pond Inlet.
We lit a ceremonial qulliq and they spoke about our traditional way of using the qulliq for heat in the middle of winter.
The qulliq kept us warm and we used the qulliq to make water, to dry clothing and to cook meat.
Once the sun came out for the first time, they blew away the flames of the qulliq.
Every time they see the sun, they would know that at least they could dry their clothing outside and they could get warm by the sun.
They would celebrate the coming of spring and have celebrations and games in the springtime.
At the end, they sang a song called “Siqiniq Saqqimat”, the sun finally comes to Tunnuniqmiut.
After the dance, Petaloosie Atakalik made a presentation in which a carving was given to John Ralston Saul.
There was drum dancing, even the children were drum dancing and the women with amautiks on had a running race and they stayed up all night.
After that ceremony, we had a prayer gathering.
I just wanted to point that out today and announce it because today's the very first day of spring.
I wanted to tell you about what we experience on the first day of sun.
Member's Statement 125 - 1(5): Atanarjuat Film
Paul Okalik's other name is Siqiniq and I think he was quite proud of it when the member for Pond Inlet made his member's statement.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and also congratulate the people who produced the movie called Atanarjuat from Isuma Productions.
Invited guests screened the movie last night, Mr. Speaker, the movie called Atanarjuat.
I have heard of this legend called Atanarjuat, which my mother knows very well.
I would like to say that the people who produced the movie did an excellent job.
We were very proud to see the film and at times it becomes quite emotional when you see how the Inuit were able to govern themselves and how they were capable of taking care of themselves.
We become so emotional because you understand what they were saying in Inuktitut in the movie.
They talked in the Inuktitut traditional way, not just through interpreters, Mr. Speaker.
To the people who produced Atanarjuat, I would like to extend my congratulations to them and also say that there are many other Inuit oral legends that the elders have.
I would like to urge the other movie producers to make other movies like the Avaalaq and Kaujjarjuk stories.
Mr. Speaker, my uncle’s son is named after Atanarjuat and we named him Atanarjuat thinking about the oral legend.
I'm very proud of the fact that this excellent movie was made.
Member's Statement 126 - 1(5): Congratulations to Isuma Productions
I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate Isuma Productions for making that movie.
In our community, many people have similar traditional knowledge as was portrayed in the movie.
On one of the Belcher Islands, we have an island called Kaujjarjuk. Our oral legends are quite detailed from around the islands.
In the islands where I came from, there are many stories that could be used for making movies.
So I encourage the Inuit movie producers and I'm sure that they will oblige.
I hope to see more of our oral history being made into movies and I wanted to congratulate them.
Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions. Item 5.
It's been a long time since I recognized somebody from my constituency.
Asenath is here and she is the daughter of our Sergeant-At-Arms, Mr. Arreak.
I was going to be first to recognize the individual before the Premier. I'd also like to recognize an individual who is from Pond Inlet but now lives in Iqaluit and she's the daughter of Joanasie Arreak, our Sergeant-At-Arms, Asenath Mablick, I would like to recognize her although she was recognized once already.
Question 131 - 1(5): Impact of Labour Standards Act on NEU Negotiations
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice, I believe, if it's not the appropriate direction to send it to he can forward it onto whomever he so chooses.
But I think I got the right place.
Mr. Speaker, last week the minister was asked about the Labour Standards Act, and looking at extending parental and maternity leave to meet what I believe is Bill C32 passed by the Federal Government to extend those benefits.
I'm just wondering, I'd like to ask the minister, he indicated last week that it would have an impact on the collective bargaining that's going on right now with the Nunavut Employees’ Union.
My understanding of the Labour Standards Act is that it applies to all employees so I'm just wondering if you could explain how that would have an impact on the negotiations.
Mr. Speaker, as the Human Resources Minister, the reason why it would have an impact is obviously through the collective agreement process that's under negotiation now as the members know.
They're back at the table on April 4 to 8.
So the maternity benefits are part of the collective agreement as it stands now with our employees.
I kind of figured it would get transferred over like that.
Mr. Speaker, the Labour Standards Act, which is where this policy or this piece of legislation would need amending, is something that is outside of a collective agreement.
Like I said, it's something that affects all employees, it's a minimum standard set for all employees in Nunavut.
So I am just wondering, does a separate piece of legislation dictate what the collective bargaining is. I would have thought that something like that, like any change would be a consequential amendment that would just be required and passed on.
Like I said that minimum standard is there, not just for collective bargaining but for all employees.
I still fail to see where it would have an effect, because it is a separate piece, it is a law, and I don't see how you can hold the law as something for collective bargaining. A law is a law and whether you like it or not, it is there to be followed.
So I would just like some clarification.
The member is right in that if there were changes to the Labour Standards Act it would have a ripple effect because our employees are governed by our legislation.
But the reason I brought up the issue of the collective bargaining process, members may recall that we tried to adjust our Northern Allowance outside of the collective agreement, and add additional money for the benefit of our employees and the union took exception to that. They said we were going outside of the collective bargaining process, moving in bad faith and so on and so forth.
So we are trying to respect the collective bargaining process, as it stands now.
We are at a critical stage with mediated negotiations due to take place, which in a week and a half from now, will really be a make or break as far as how far along we are going to go towards reaching an agreement.
So in the best interests of due process with the collective bargaining we are trying to let that process resolve itself before we move forward in other areas.