EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Baffin Divisional Board of Education Members who are here in the Gallery.
Please welcome Members of the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, because I used to be a Member of their Board.
Recognition of the visitors in the Gallery.
I would also like to recognize the Sergeant at Arms.
These students of the Sergeant at Arms, Simon Nattaq, they are in Grade 8, he was supposed to have taken them out for cultural inclusion training, but of course Simon Nattaq had to be here to help out with the proceedings.
But he did invite the Grade 8 students.
I would like them to stand up, so they can be recognized.
Speaker (interpretation): Please Welcome.
I would also like to remind you, because we’re all new, we have to state the name of each person that we're recognizing, we cannot make two recognitions at the same time.
Mr. Premier and myself would like to recognize a person who has been a member at the negotiations of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
He was with us for a long time in the Baffin Region.
The president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association Pauloosie Keyootak is here, please stand up so we can recognize you.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to our Session, Mr. Keyootak, welcome.
Mr. Irqittuq.  Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
They are members of my constituency, two of them. I believe they are Members of the Baffin Divisional Board of Education and the Baffin Health Board. I would like to recognize the two members Timuk Qamukaaq and Joe Ataguttaaluk.
Please stand up so we can recognize you.  >>Applause.
Speaker (interpretation): Please welcome to our meeting. Recognition of visitors in the Gallery.
Mr. Kattuk.  Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would also like to recognize Sanikiluaq resident Walter Audla.
Please stand up so we can recognize you.
Speaker (interpretation): Please welcome Mr. Audla.
I would also like to recognize a member of my community and also from my constituency.
Mr. Jose Enuarak and his colleague there, please stand up so we can recognize you.
Speaker (interpretation): Please welcome to our meeting.
Hon. Donald Havioyak (interpretation): For myself I would like to recognize a person from my constituency, John Kumak, who is also an Inuinnaqtuun interpreter.
Speaker (interpretation): Please welcome Interpreter Kumak.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): I would like to recognize a long time resident of Salliq who use to be here when I was a child.
Nana Curley who now lives in Hall Beach.
Since Kitikmeot is very far away I don’t have anybody from Kitikmeot area, but I would like you to recognize Philip Woos, who is one of our translators originally from the Kitikmeot area.
We have Betty Brewster, who will be one our interpreters originally from the Kitikmeot area.
Betty, please welcome.
Mr. Tootoo: I’d like to recognize two elders from my Constituency, Inuapik and Iqaluk I’d like to stand and recognize them.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you please welcome to the elders of Iqaluit and I would also like to welcome Mr. Erkidjuk who is usually here during our proceedings.
Please recognize the visitors in the Gallery.
Mr. Akesuk
Mr. Akesuk (interpretation):. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to recognize people from my Constituency the Member of the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, Simigak Suvega and Mr. Mangitak.
Welcome to the members who stood up.
Recognition to the visitors in the Gallery.
Ovide Alakannuark.
I would like to recognize all the people in the Gallery, whether they're youth, elders or middle aged, because of course they are all at the same level as myself.
Jobie, Mr. Nutarak, I apologize.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize David Qamaniq from the Baffin Divisional Board of Education if he would stand up please.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Nutarak.
Welcome David.
Recognition visitors in the Gallery, Mr. O’Brien.
I don’t have anybody from my home community, but since everybody's doing it, I do see two individuals that should be recognized.
Dan Cain of Canadian North, and Gilbert Normandeau of First Air.
I don’t know their titles, but they're sort of like the grand poobas of their companies.
>> Laughter.
Applause.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. O’Brien, welcome to the Gallery.
Return to our orders of the day, Item # 7.  Before we start Oral questions, I wish to inform the members that yesterday when people were asking questions we cannot make statements that concern one person in particular.
If we’re going to be asking a question concerning one person, I’m going to stop the question. I have been a Member of the Legislative Assembly for a number of years now, but I have to remind myself that we cannot ask questions to a Minister who is not present.
For example, yesterday I named the Ministers that were not present. And of course I made a mistake yesterday when I let the questions proceed to a member that wasn’t present. If you have a question you can direct the question to the Premier if the particular Minister is not present in the House.
I just wanted to make the clarification. We’ll return to Item # 7 Oral questions. Mr. O’Brien.
Item 7: Oral Questions
Question 15 - 1 (2): Affirmative Action Policy
My question is directed to the Premier and just wondering if the Premier can give us an update as to what the status is on our Affirmative Action Policy.
Speaker (interpretation): The question is directed to Premier Mr. Okalik.
If you would stand up please.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): The question is for the Minister of Human Resources.
Kelvin Ng
Mr. Speaker the question relates to the Inuit Employment Plan and is one of the things we are following up on.
We’ve got the report from the Government of Northwest Territories now, and the Government of Nunavut through the Department of Human Resources will be working with our partner in trying to formulate the Inuit employment plan for proceeding on.
Of course our goal is to maximize the employment of individuals from the Nunavut area.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Second question Mr. O’Brien.
Mr. O’Brien: Thank you Speaker.
I realize that we are very new into our mandate here.
I wonder if the Minister could tell us exactly, or roughly when we could expect the policy and the details.
Mr. Ng
Mr. Speaker, first of all we have to assess what's there and take an assessment now on the levels of the employees throughout the Nunavut public sector.
That is on the stream and so I can say that we’ll probably have more information by the time the budget goes before the House.
I don’t know specifically right now, I can’t address the time frame, because of course every body knows all the Departments have been right now focussing on trying to get the main estimates done to give all the Members an opportunity to deal with the overall financing of Nunavut in this current year.
Oral questions Mr. Tootoo.
Question 16 - 1 (2): Status of Memorandum of Understanding with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
My question is directed to the Premier. As the chair of the Standing Committee on Ajauqtiit which has responsibilities for issues related to the Land Claim, I was very pleased to hear in the Premiers' Sessional Address that the Government is working towards signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Nunavut Tunngavik.
I would like to ask the Premier, if he could advise the house today as to the status of these discussions.
Speaker: Mr. Okalik.
We are very committed to meeting regularly with NTI.
We received correspondence from NTI not too long ago about trying to initiate an agreement with them on how we are going to deal with each other.
We are trying to work on a response.
Currently they have a political accord with the prior government, the Northwest Territories Government, which will expire on June 30.
We are hoping to conclude an Agreement prior to that time.
Second question Mr. Tootoo.
Thank you, would the Premier commit to providing a draft to the Standing Committee on Ajauqtiit for review and input prior to the agreement being signed.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Well I don’t know how exactly we can conclude it.
I don’t have the time line right now and depending on when the Committee is sitting, we don’t want to hold up the agreement if we have to wait for the Ajauqtiit Committee and if they're not around that might delay a signing of the agreement.
So I don’t know how we can proceed with that but we’ll make efforts to provide what we can.
I think that Mr. Tootoo’s question has been answered, do you have any additional questions?
Question 17 - 1 (2): Required Qualifications for Government Positions
I didn’t hear you properly the first time.
Mr. Speaker I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Finance.
Regarding the new jobs that are being created by the Nunavut Government and new hires that will come into play.
What kind of qualifications are you looking for in the new hires that you are hiring?
Are you going to require them to have a bunch of credentials?
Premier, if you prefer to answer I will allow you to answer.
I know the question is more directed to the Minister of Human Resources.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Mr. Speaker, I believe the question is more directed to the Minister of Human Resources.
Speaker: Mr. Ng.
There's a lot of different positions throughout government of course, and the qualifications for each job are different.
I think what’s important to recognize probably, and again when the Department of Human Resources comes before a Committee of the Whole with the budget, we can probably get in to some more detail about what the expectations are, but I think what's important to recognize is not so much the qualifications that we're looking at as the ability of an individual to be able to carry out the functions within the job.
That’s the main focus of what we are trying to do in order to expand the work force to be more representative of the people that government serves.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Mr. Irqittuq do you have any additional questions?
Oral questions Mr. Iqaqrialu.
Question 18 - 1 (2): Construction of Road to Keewatin
My question is directed to the Premier.
The road that we were talking about yesterday in Keewatin.
My question; is that road viable for all of Nunavut, would it benefit all of the residents of Nunavut?
We have no highway whatsoever in Nunavut from Southern Canada.
I think that once we have a highway anywhere in Nunavut I think that it can benefit all the residents of Nunavut, in terms of cost savings.
I think it can benefit everybody in Nunavut.
Mr. Iqaqrialu second question.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Also my supplementary question will be that the building of this highway is going to be very expensive and there's going have to be feasibility studies done prior to the construction of the road.
The funds that will be expended for the study, would that come from Nunavut Government budget?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation) : Yes thank you Mr. Speaker.
I cannot answer the details at this time as we are still in the preliminary stages of discussions.
First of all we will be talking to people who will be directly impacted by the construction of the road, and we're still having preliminary discussions with the Federal Government.
We don’t know the details at this time.
Speaker (interpretation):Thank you Mr. Premier.
Do you have supplementary questions Mr. Iqaqrialu?
Thank you, oral questions, Mr. Kattuk.
Question 19 - 1 (2): Federal Firearms Control Legislation
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation) : Thank you Mr. Speaker.
My question will be directed to the Premier.
As a Hunter in Nunavut, all the hunters are experiencing difficulties in terms of trying to obtain firearms for hunting.
My question is what is the government planning to do with the new gun law?
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): We are still trying to come up with a plan, what kind of action we are going to be taking about the gun law.
Yukon, NWT and Alberta went before the courts to challenge the legislation.
The bill is currently before the Supreme Court of Canada and we are still exploring different ways of approaching this new law.
Mr. Kattuk do you have any additional questions?
Oral questions, Mr. Alakannuark.
Question 20 - 1 (2): Promoting the Sale of Furs
My question is directed to Sustainable Development.
What is your Department doing about trying to raise the prices of fur, seal skins, fox furs, etc.?
Is your Department doing anything to promote the sale and better prices for furs?
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Kilabuk
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker and regarding especially seal skins.
Our Department in the coming year will be working on that and we are trying to introduce uniform pricing for all furs and skins. Our Department has been working very hard to restore prices for fur and we are committed to continuing this line of work.
We want to keep working on that but we also have to look at different ways how we're going to do that, so I cannot provide you with any firm plans at this time.
Speaker (interpretation): Do you have any other questions Mr. Alakannuark?
Question 21 - 1 (2): Funding for Outpost Camps
My question is directed to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
My question has mainly to do with the outpost camps.
The funding has been cut for outpost camps and now that we have a Nunavut Government, is the Government going to be providing more funding for the out post camps?
Mr. Kilabuk.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation) : Thank you Mr. Speaker.
The question has to do with outpost camps.
We’re talking about small outpost camps and the funding that was identified and it’s still being carried out.
My Department is currently looking at the program and how we can improve upon that.
So we are currently looking at that and once that work has been done, we’ll give you the information.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Kilabuk.
Question 22 - 1 (2): Status of Legislative Assembly Building
Mr. Speaker my question is to the Minister to responsible for DPW. When is the Legislative Assembly building going to be completed?
Ms Thompson.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: (interpretation) Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker, the new building is not yet ready, and I think we all know that.
I don’t think it is going to be ready until next fall.
We may be able to use it in the Fall Session.
We have to make some changes to the design of the building.
There is still some major work to be done in that building, so I expect that we might be able to move in at the end of September or early October.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Thompson.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister can tell the House whether or not we are actually paying lease payments on this building now.
Hon. Manitok Thompson: (Interpretation). Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I will have to find that information and pass it on to the House.
Speaker: Thank you Minister Thompson.
Mr. O'Brien.  Mr. O'Brien: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure this is appropriate or not, but I wonder if it would be possible for members to actually see the leasing arrangements for the assembly building.
Speaker: She took it as notice, so she will answer you when she has time.
Oral questions. Oral questions.
Orders of the Day.
Item Eight.
Item 9, Returns to Written Questions.
Item 9.
Item 10, Budget Address.
Replies to Budget Address.
Item 12, Petitions.
Petitions.
Item 13, Reports of Standing and Special Committees.
Item 14 , Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Item 15, (Translation) Tabling of Documents.
Item 16, Notices of Motions.
Yes thank you, Item 17 Notices of Motions for first reading of Bills.
Item 17, Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills.
Item 18, Motions.
Item 19, First Reading of Bills.
Item 19: First Reading of Bills
Bill 1 - Appropriation Act 99/2000
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit West, that Bill One, Appropriation Act 99/2000 be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Item 20, Second Reading of Bills. Mr. Ng.
Mr. Ng: Point of Order.
Mr. Speaker I believe you missed calling for the vote on Item 19, First Reading of Bills.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Those in favour of the Motion, First Reading of Appropriation Act 1999/2000.
Motion is carried.
Item 20, Second Reading of Bills.
Item 20 Second Reading of Bills.
Item 20: Second Reading of Bills
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member from Pangnirtung that Bill One, Appropriation Act 99/2000 be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of Nunavut to make operations and maintenance expenditures and capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31/2000.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question is being called.
All those in favour?
Item 20.
Bill One Appropriation Act 1999/2000 has had it’s second reading.
Item 21, Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.
I would ask Mr. Puqiqnak to take the Chair.
Item 21: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Chairperson (Mr. Puqiqnak): Thank you.
The committee will now come to order. We have
Bill One approved, Appropriation Act 1999/2000 for consideration.
What is the wish of the Committee.
Mr. O'Brien?
Mr. O'Brien: Thank you Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair it is the wish of the Committee that we report progress.
Chairperson: There is a motion to report progress.
(interpretation) All those opposed?
(interpretation ends) I will now report progress.
Item 22: Reports of the Committee of the Whole  Speaker: Mr. Puqiqnak.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation) Mr. Speaker your committee has been considering Bill 1 and would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
All those in favour. Motion is carried. Orders of the Day, Mr. Clerk.
Item 23: Orders of the Day
Mr. Quirke: Mr. Speaker, at three o’clock this afternoon, at the Navigator Board Room, Regular Caucus Meeting,
Orders of the Day for Monday May 17th.
Minister's Statements
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Notice of Motions For First Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole on Bills and Other matters,
- Bill One, Appropriation Act 1990/2000.
Speaker: (Interpretation) Thank you Mr. Clerk.
I now recess the House until Monday at One thirty in the afternoon.
>>Assembly adjourned 11.20 am.
DAY 4
MONDAY, MAY 17, 1999
Pages 62 - 115
Ministers’ Statements 28
Returns to Oral Questions 28
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 28
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 28
Report of the Committee of the Whole 28
Monday May 17, 1999 28
7 - 1 (2): Elders Passing (Okalik) 28
8 - 1 (2): Western Premiers' Conference (WPC) (Okalik) 28
9 - 1 (2): North American Fur and Fashion Expedition (Kilabuk) 28
10 - 1 (2): Repatriation of Inuit Artifacts to Nunavut (Havioyak) 28
25 - 1 (2): Congratulations to Baker Lake Graduates (McLean) 28
26 - 1 (2): Sympathy to Bereaved Family (Anawak) 28
27 - 1 (2): Appreciation's to Constituents and Members (Arvaluk) 28
28 - 1 (2): Recognition of Elders (Puqiqnak) 28
29 - 1 (2): Sympathy for Bereaved Family (Iqaqrialu) 28
30 - 1 (2): Appreciation's to Constituents and Youth Council (Kilabuk) 28
31 - 1 (2): Good Luck to Whale Hunters (Kattuk) 28
32 - 1 (2): Appreciation's to Constituents, Good Luck in Fishing Derby (Irqittuq) 28
RETURNS TO ORAL QUESTIONS
1 - 1 (2): Question 3 - 1 (2) Incorporating Inuit Culture into Government (Havioyak) 28
23 - 1 (2): Improving Airline Schedules (Puqiqnak) 28
24 - 1 (2): Clyde River Power Plant (Iqaqrialu) 28
25 - 1 (2): Arena for Kimmirut (Akesuk) 28
26 - 1 (2): Regulations on Sale of Country Food (Alakannuark) 28
27 - 1 (2): Accommodations for Igloolik Doctor (Irqittuq) 28
28 - 1 (2): Airport Heavy Equipment Training Program (Mr. Kattuk) 28
29 - 1 (2): Invitation to Pond Inlet for Minister of Education (Nutarak) 28
30 - 1 (2): Gym for Pelly Bay (Alakannuark) 28
31 - 1 (2): Access Road in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 28
32 - 1 (2): Hall Beach School Addition (Irqittuq) 28
33 - 1 (2): Assuming Obligations of the Office of the Interim Commissioner (Tootoo) 28
34 - 1 (2): Nunavut Government Decentralization (McLean) 28
35 - 1 (2): Capital Projects for Broughton Island (Iqaqrialu) 28
36 - 1 (2): Consultation Process on Capital Plan (Tootoo) 28
REPORTS OF SPECIAL AND STANDING COMMITTEES
Report 1 - 1 (2): Community Empowerment & Sustainable Development, Review of Departmental Business Plans 1999/2000 28
Report 2 - 1 (2): Government Operations & Services, Review of Departmental Business Plans 1999/2000 28
COMMITTEE MOTIONS
1 – 1 (2) : Citizen Engagement in Budget (Akesuk) 28
2 – 1 (2): Formula Financing Agreement (Akesuk) 28
3 – 1 (2): Prior Consultation on Major Bargaining (Akesuk) 28
4 – 1 (2): Mid Year Progress Report (Akesuk) 28  Monday May 17, 1999
Monday May 17, 1999
Speaker (Mr. Levi Barnabas): Before we begin I would like to ask Mr. O’Brien to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Please be seated. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. O’Brien.
Ministers' Statements 7 - 1 (2): Elders Passing
I would like to inform the members of the passing of Tagak Curley’s mother, our elder Agiaq Curley, who passed away on May 15, 1999 in Arviat.
Agiaq Curley was a long time resident of Coral Harbour and lived in various Nunavut communities before moving to Arviat.
Our prayers are with Tagak Curley who worked hard for the creation of Nunavut, and his family as they mourn the loss of their mother.
The Legislative Assembly, we have already written a letter of sympathy to the family.
Ministers' Statement 8 - 1 (2): Western Premiers' Conference (WPC)
On May 12, 1999, I mentioned that I would be attending the Western Premiers’ Conference.
I will be leaving today and returning on May 23, 1999.
Amongst many other important issues the WPC will be dealing with things such as, Health, Finance, Transportation, Children, and the challenges that they face.
Upon my return and after discussions with Cabinet and with the full caucus in Baker Lake, we will be ready to decide whether we join the WPC or other Premiers’ organization.
In my meetings in Drumheller, Alberta, I will also talk with my Territorial Colleagues about a Pan-Territorial Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U).
If we agree about signing an M.O.U. I will invite the Premiers of the NWT and the Yukon, to Nunavut to sign and M.O.U. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statements.
Ministers' Statement 9 - 1 (2): North American Fur and Fashion Expedition
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I would like to reply to a comment that was made on May 13, 1999 by Glenn McLean, member from Baker Lake.
Mr. McLean was kind enough to acknowledge my participation in the North American Fur and Fashion Exposition, held earlier this month May 5th. To 8th. 1999.
Speaker (interpretation): Please sit down.
I apologize, it was my mistake, you may go ahead and do your Ministers' statement Mr. Kilabuk.
I’ll go on from where I left off.
First, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member for Baker Lake for his generous remarks.
The North American Fur and Fashion Exposition provided Nunavut with an opportunity to show our pride in our hunters, and the importance of our sealskin by-products.
I was proud to be there, to represent our people, and to speak about the importance of sealskin and other furs to our way of life.
Mr. Speaker, I have no hesitation about educating the public outside of Nunavut concerning the sale of our by-products such as sealskins.
I believe it is our job to educate people about seal hunting in Nunavut.
It is our job to stand up for our culture.
I am not at all reluctant to further educate lobby organizations, with the facts to further promote our lifestyle and culture.
In Nunavut, Mr. Speaker, our use of wildlife is today, as it always has been, sustainable.
Our seal hunt is a humane harvest.
And every part of the seal we hunt is used – for our food, and for our clothing.
This is our tradition.
This is our culture.
Our people have the right to continue this way of life, and to hunt seal for their livelihoods.