EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The department also will administer a $10.0 million subsidy this year to offset the impact on consumer utility bills of the fuel stabilization rider that will be introduced by the Qulliq Energy Corporation, to help offset the increasing cost of fuel.
This subsidy will protect all electricity consumers in all communities from the significant increase in rates that will result from the rider.
The department is continuing with efforts to strengthen financial management and capacity across all government departments.
This effort is enhanced by the recent establishment of the Crown Agency Council and Internal Audit Committee.
Efforts to strengthen financial capacity include the provision of financial training opportunities to 12 beneficiaries through the Financial Internship Program and other finance staff.
The 2004-05 operating budget for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs is $9.4 million.
This department will continue to work in partnership with NTI and the federal government in implementing and meeting the obligations of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Also, EIA will focus on improved opportunities for advancing other Nunavut interests with the federal government, particularly through the negotiation of a devolution framework agreement.
Mr. Speaker, this is the first budget that will be presented during this new government’s mandate.
It represents a new beginning in which we will build on the strong foundation that is already in place to address the challenges that remain.
Nunavut’s economic promise is vast and we are only beginning to explore and discover its real potential.
It is only through partnership and innovation that we will be able to fully access Nunavut’s promise —the promise that was delivered to us upon the creation of this vast territory.
All Members of the Legislative Assembly must work together to help achieve this.
There is much to be done and only through co-operation and understanding can we get there.
We need to come together in order to secure further recognition by the federal government of the challenges of infrastructure, housing, and social concerns within the territory.
By working together with NTI, Inuit organizations, other governments, and the private sector we can create an environment to stimulate economic development and create new sustainable opportunities for Nunavummiut, now and into the future.
I look forward to working with all Members of the Second Legislative Assembly in our efforts to achieve Nunavut’s full potential.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister for Finance, for your address.
Orders of the Day. Item 3.
Member’s Statement 052 – 2(1): Concern about Education Opportunities (Barnabas)
First of all, I would like to congratulate the Minister of Finance for her Budget Address; it is very good.
Today, I would like to speak on the issue of education.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a concern about the educational opportunities being provided to Nunavummiut.
More and more young adults are realizing that completing a basic level of education is their ticket to getting more training and education in the future, to getting a good job and to realizing their potential.
Mr. Speaker, many community-based Nunavut Arctic College learning centres offer adult basic education programs which help adults to learn or improve some basic but important skills.
These courses are often seen as the first step to entering other training programs.
In order for an adult to earn the equivalent of a High School Diploma, they need to pass some sort of assessment or test that shows that they have succeeded in achieving skills that are equal to those of a high school graduate.
In many Canadian jurisdictions, the general equivalency diploma, or GED, is presented to individuals who have successfully completed an assessment and demonstrated skill levels equivalent to achieving a High School Diploma.
It is not clear how the adult basic education program offered in Nunavut guarantees that Nunavummiut can earn similar equivalencies.
One major concern for adults in the Adult Basic Education Program is that the qualifications earned here in Nunavut may not be adequate for them to enter into training programs elsewhere.
It is important that our government offer the most appropriate and adequate opportunities for adults to receive education and training and be sufficiently prepared to re-enter the work force.
It is important that every effort be made to increase the workforce capacity within our territory.
At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions on this issue.
Member’s Statement 053 – 2(1): Thanks to Mamie Oniak and Jacqueline Shouldice (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: This afternoon I want to thank and recognize two individuals.
First, I want to thank Mamie Oniak from Kugluktuk who made the Kamiks for me; the tradition is to wear new kamiks on budget day.
She is a 69 year old elder from Kugluktuk.
I also want to thank the individual I had worked with in the past that gave me the kamiks when I left the public service.
The other person that I want to thank called me this weekend and said that she would be making me a pullover for budget day. And so on Monday afternoon, I received this in the mail and she is a very talented individual I know, a very good friend of mine and that is Jacqueline Shouldice.
Speaker (interpretation): Very nice.
Member’s Statement 054 – 2(1): Gjoa Haven Volleyball Tournament (Evyagotailak)
Today I rise to congratulate the volleyball team from Kugluktuk: Pauline Anablak, Melody Kuneluk, Mila Kamingoak, Lashawna Taipana, Pauline Bolt and my daughter, Doreen Evyagotailak.
I urge my colleagues to clap their hands for the team that went to Gjoa Haven for a tournament.
Member’s Statement 055 – 2(1): Government of Nunavut Summer Student Program (Tootoo)
I, too, would like to congratulate Ms. Aglukkaq on her first Budget Address and there are many good things in there. Also there is indication of precautionary things that will have to be taken into consideration over the next few years.
As well, I look forward to questioning the ministers on those areas.
I rise today to pursue concerns that have been raised with me by a number of my constituents.
On April 5, 2004, the government issued a news release in which it announced that this year’s GN Summer Student Program would be made more accessible.
This program is an important tool in helping our young people gain valuable job skills, while providing support to our departments in delivering programs and services.
The government’s own information on this program indicates that the target groups for hiring are land claims beneficiaries and Nunavut students.
It has come to my attention that many young non-beneficiaries, who are nonetheless Nunavut students, are being told by the Department of Human Resources that their applications are on hold until some undefined and unclear point in the future.
I’m not talking about people who have just stepped off an airplane.
I’m talking about young people who graduated from high school in Nunavut and whose families have roots here.
It’s simply unfair to young people to tell them that they can apply for a job, and then tell them that their applications are indefinitely on hold.
There’s a question of fairness and consistency here.
On the one hand, the government is telling people who make a commitment to Nunavut that they will be afforded opportunities to make a positive contribution to the territory.
On the other hand, they’re being told, in practice by the government, that their contributions are not welcome.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time this week, I will be asking questions of the minister on this issue.
Member’s Statement 056 – 2(1): Feast and Celebration of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Picco)
You and myself and some of the members, as well as NTI, elders, community members, and the former Chair of the International Negotiating Committee, Dr. John Bertunni, celebrated the entering into force yesterday of the Stockholm Convention of persistent organic pollutants with a traditional feast of seal, caribou, whale and char.
The Inuit Circumpolar Conference, or ICC, was a key advocate for this international convention to ensure that the security of our traditional food is in place.
ICC, in partnership with the National Aboriginal Health Organization, believed that there was no better way to celebrate than through a feast, here in Iqaluit, of the very foods that once were laden with the chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention.
Canada was a key participant in negotiating this treaty.
Canadian data, mainly produced through the very successful Canadian Federal Northern Contaminants Program, and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program of the Arctic Council, showed and demonstrated that many of the chemicals dealt with under the convention have been found at levels of concern in people and the environment, particularly here, with our Inuit.
This international agreement ratified by over 50 countries is an excellent example of the work done by and for Inuit through the Inuit Circumpolar Conference I want to single out the excellent Chair, Sheila Watt Cloutier.
This landmark agreement was the result of very tough and long negotiations.
While in Johannesburg, South Africa, Premier Okalik was able to lend support to the ICC and was mentioned last night for that support.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you and this House join with me in congratulating the ICC and Sheila Watt Cloutier for their good work on behalf for all circumpolar people.
Member’s Statement 057 – 2(1): Belcher Island and James Bay Issue (Kattuk)
I am very pleased to be here. I know that as Members of the Legislature we will be bringing up various concerns and issues.
I will want to talk about the Belcher Islands, and also James Bay.
For Sanikiluaq residents, with this new technology, we are now able to move around today, more than before.
We hear about the Belcher Islands within James Bay.
For that reason Sanikiluaq residents are concerned about the islands that are being argued about, and they will want to have the right of access. Therefore, at the appropriate time I will be addressing the appropriate minister in regard to this issue.
Member’s Statement 058 – 2(1): Fishing Derby in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk)
Yesterday, I rose to talk about turbot fishery development, but today I am very pleased and honoured to talk about the fishing derby in Pangnirtung —there was a fishing derby for cod.
One of the elders won the fishing derby and I would like to congratulate the elder.
For one cod he won $3,000.
Back to the Orders of the Day. Item 5. Returns to Oral Questions.
Honourable Louis Tapardjuk
Item 5: Returns to Oral Questions
Return to Oral Question 011 – 2(1): Summer Student Program (Tapardjuk)
The question was asked by Mr. Tootoo on Thursday, May 14 —Question 11 – 2(1).
I would like to provide a response to this question posed to me in the Legislature by the Member for Iqaluit Centre.
The question was regarding the Summer Student Employment Program and whether non-beneficiaries are waiting for employment.
Nunavut Land Claims beneficiaries are a hiring priority, consistent with article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
It is a normal occurrence that there is some waiting time for some non-beneficiary students.
The departments who apply for summer student funding are required to consult Department of Human Resources to ensure that all résumés for beneficiary summer students are reviewed and considered first.
After beneficiaries have been placed according to Article 23, non-beneficiary and other students are considered.
This review process, as well as the schedule of the summer student provisions comes to a small but not excessive delay.
Speaker (interpretation): Item 5.
Item 6. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to recognize Mr. James Eetoolook, first Vice-President of NTI from Cambridge Bay.
I would like to recognize Mike Vaydik. He’s the Executive Director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, based in Yellowknife.
I would like to recognize Pam Strand, she’s the President of Shear Minerals, we hear all about them doing work in Nunavut.
With her is Doug Willie, he does some consulting work for them.
Finally, I would like to recognize my old friend Hugh Wilson from Miramar Mining.
Prior to getting elected, that was to negotiate with Hugh on an Inuit Impact Review and Benefit Agreement, so it’s good to see him here, pun intended.
I would like recognize Laimiki Kakkik, he’s an elder.
The elders have been reduced in number, but fortunately he is able to be here.
Usually it is very rare that I get a chance to recognize a visitor, and that was my opportunity.
Honourable Paul Okalik
I would also like to recognize this individual from Grise Fjord: my older step-brother, Mr. Kakkik. And also, there is an individual here from my constituency: Simanek Kilabuk, our Sergeant-at-Arms, his wife, Hannah Kilabuk.
Also, those two that I’ve been working with for quite some time for well over 20 years, during the land claim’s negotiation —it will be the 20th anniversary this coming February: Raymond Ningeocheak and James Eetoolook, welcome to the Legislature.
Although the Premier had recognized this individual, I, too, would like to recognize Mr. Raymond Ningeocheak. He lives in Rankin Inlet.
He is very supportive of Inuit and we’d like to appreciate him.
And also, I would like to say that Mr. Ningeocheak, we can learn from him during the election campaign.
I think we’re all aware Raymond is very well known by all people of Nunavut.
It gives me great pleasure today to introduce a couple of people to the Gallery.
First of all, sitting behind Mr. Barnabas, the well known international hockey star, we’re very pleased to have him in the Gallery today.
He is well known internationally as well as here in Nunavut, in the capital, and has played with me. And he’s a lawyer, an entrepreneur, recently a father, and a Member of the Nunavut Power Implementation Committee.
We’re very pleased to have him today, Mr. Brad Favel.
Next to Brad is one of our well known residents of Nunavut, long serving Member of this House, a friend of mine from a long way back, a person I love debating on different issues on this and that, the Honourable Manitok Thompson.
Behind me, to my immediate right, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to the Gallery —no stranger to the Members of this House— Mr. Johnny Mike, a person with a boat bigger than mine, a motor, faster than mine.
But he does not have the courage on the water that I have and that’s something that he’s going to be working on later on this summer.
I would like to recognize visitors in the Gallery.
I’m pleased to draw the members’ attention to the presence in the Gallery of 10 parliamentary interns from the House of Commons.
These young parliamentarians are participants in a prestigious national program.
They are in Iqaluit this week for a study tour.
The participants are, I have to apologize I might mispronounce your name: Simon Bailey, Shantona Chaudhury, Clare Demerse, Jeremy Geddert, Andrew Macdonald, Chi Nguyen, Cloë Rowbotham, David Sandomierski, Adam Waiser and Eli Walker.
They are sitting over there, and I apologize for mispronouncing your names.
Although this individual was recognized earlier by the Member from Iqaluktuutsiaq, I want to recognize James Eetoolook, from Taloyoak.
And Mr. Peterson, I want you to know he’s from Taloyoak.
Going back to Orders of the Day. Item 7.
Question 046 – 2(1): Medical Boarding Home Leases (Curley)
Yesterday we learned from the Auditor General that the government signed not one, not two, but three different lease agreements for the Winnipeg medical boarding home before settling on a deal.
We’ve now learned that the documents continue to be missing, such as the proposals, and that the first two of the three leases signed did not have proper approval.
My question for the minister is: what steps has her department taken to make sure that this kind of poor management will not take place again in relation to the Government of Nunavut’s arrangements with medical boarding homes?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Brown.
In regard to Mr. Curley’s question, just recently they were negotiated and they were approved.
The approval was not proper and the Auditor General did not like the approval process. So I think that is how I understand it in regard to the Winnipeg boarding home.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, since I understand the government process, the Department of Public Works was responsible for the lease and negotiations, and the cabinet agreed that all the lease agreements go through public works.
In the past that was the process, but now it has to go through community and government services.
Why did they do that to health and social services during the negotiations?
I would like to ask the minister —I want a commitment or reassurance that this won’t happen again.
Will the Department of Community and Government Services be responsible for the lease agreements?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Yes. I will direct them to do so.
Question 047 – 2(1): Status of Negotiations on the Belcher Islands (Kattuk)
During my Member’s Statement —I would like to ask my question since I asked it during my statement to the Premier.
For quite some time we’ve been dealing with the islands, especially Sanikiluaq residents have been hearing about the concerns about the islands.
So when we were dealing with the islands, I’m sure the Premier remembers Sanikiluaq residents are still concerned.
In regard to the waters surrounding the Belcher Islands and the islands that belong to the federal government —Crown islands— and that Nunavut owns part of those islands, for that reason I would like to ask the Premier about the issue of islands.
The Cree of James Bay are now negotiating with the federal government in regard to those islands.
What is the status of the negotiations on these islands to date?
At this time we are unsure of when the negotiations will be over, but I would like to inform the member that I would like those people negotiating to follow the mandate that they are supposed to follow in regard to their negotiations, and they have to follow through with the guidelines of the negotiations for the sake of the people of the Belcher Islands.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Kattuk.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response, Mr. Minister.
But I would like to get some more clarification.
Is the minister saying that the people of Sanikiluaq will be signatories as well to the agreement?
Is that what the Premier is saying?
There was an agreement that they signed in 1993, and it is in regard to the zones one and two, which is the Hudson Bay area and the treaty agreement.
There will be a protection of the people of the Belcher Islands. And if the negotiations were to go ahead, I have asked them to have a representative from the Nunavut Government at their negotiating table.
Speaker (interpretation): Your second supplementary, Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Kattuk.
If I remember correctly that zones one and two in the Hudson Bay area —the people from the southern part on the Salliq area are under, around the James Bay is where the Dene are.
I am asking whether the people of Sanikiluaq are going to be signatories in this agreement so that their hunting area is protected.
Looking at the agreement, it states that zone two is part of James Bay and all the Inuit hunting areas are protected.
It is in the agreement, and like I said, we will make sure that the people of Sanikiluaq have a voice in these negotiations.
Question 048 – 2(1): Senior Management at Qulliq Corporation (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Energy and it concerns the Auditor General’s Report that was tabled yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, I spent two or three hours last night reading it before the hockey game.
Fortunately, I enjoyed the hockey game.
Most of the concerns in the Auditor General’s Report —most of the problems attributed to the Nunavut Power Corporation— seem to be geared to lack of management.
I wonder if the minister could commit today to telling the House that he is hiring senior management with expertise in operating utility companies.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Simailak.
Yes, I can say that most of the senior management have changed, including a new president of the Qulliq Energy Corporation who is a former deputy minister of the Government of Nunavut.
So, yes, senior management has changed.
Can the minister tell the House today if Nunavut Power Corporation is continuing to hire consultants to correct their accounting, billing, other areas, and to reconciling its accounts?
Hon. David Simailak: I can say that we now have three full time accountants working in the Baker Lake headquarters office.
Can the minister tell the House if the approved board of directors has an appointed outside director with a strong knowledge of financial management and accounting to advise his members on the board of directors?
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) We are going to need many new board members this summer or in the fall. (interpretation ends) Many new board members will be recruited over the next several months.
That should be in place by the fall of 2004.
And yes, experience and skill and technical knowledge will be top criteria for board selection.
Question 049 – 2(1): GED Course Curriculum (Barnabas)
I made a Member’s Statement earlier, and I will ask the question that concerns adult education.
Can the minister inform us what kinds of curriculum are in place for GED testing in Nunavut?
The GED is a general equivalency diploma.
It is put in place for individuals who never had, for whatever reason, the opportunity to complete grade 12.
If you haven’t completed grade 12 and you go back to an upgrading program to be able to receive a certificate that demonstrates that you have the academic capability to meet the grade equivalent, then you have to write a battery of exams called the general educational development tests, or the GED.
Mr. Speaker, in that case a person who writes those exams and is successful in getting a GED —that diploma then is recognized by most post-secondary institutions and most employers.
Can the minister clarify what measures are in place to insure that high school equivalency qualifications earned in Nunavut meet the same standards as similar qualifications in other jurisdictions?
I can assure that member that any Nunavut resident who writes the GED program does the studying of tests, and so on, associated with GED, then that GED is recognized across the country.
So, the standards and criteria are the same in Nunavut as they would be in Alberta, or British Columbia, or Ontario for a GED.
Can the minister update this House on what initiatives are underway to improve or increase services being offered to young Nunavut adults who would like to earn basic education qualifications?
One of things that we’ve done over the last several weeks is to appoint a new administrative officer for GED.
That person will be instructed and entailed to deliver your programs and services throughout Nunavut for our staff in education for the GED.
Question 050 – 2(1): Senior Management Bonuses - Qulliq Corporation (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Energy and the Nunavut Power Corporation.
As my colleague indicated earlier, yesterday in the Auditor General’s Report, it was revealed that despite the fact that the Power Corporation has lost millions of dollars and is plagued by severe management problems, senior management received $670,000 in bonuses during the first two years of operations.
This information —I was looking at it last night, too.
On exhibit 6.6 on page 40, on unique costs for the first two years, my question for the minister, I guess, is: what are the Minister and the Board of the Energy Corporation doing to ensure that people are no longer being rewarded with bonuses for failure?
That seems to be what happened here.
They’re losing millions of dollars and not reporting it accurately, and yet they’re still receiving bonuses.
So I would like the minister to clarify that.