EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. McLean: You’re a man of your word, so I’ll be holding you to it.
On page 11-11, Nunavut Tourism Core Funding, I’d like to thank your department for giving them that extra $1 million dollars a year.
That was supposed to go into hopefully the outfitters end of the deal.
Currently when Nunavut Tourism goes to sports shows around the world and in southern United States, do they take any existing outfitters with them?
I will look into that matter to see if they bring outfitters or tourism operators but I am aware, that recently, I wasn’t sure whether he or she was funded through the department or by him or herself.
There was one operator who went to a show.
I will look into the matter and if not, I will direct them to ensure they bring tourism operators or outfitters who are more aware of the land.
I’m glad that you said that Minister Akesuk because I don’t think that it should be just the organization that goes down there and promotes, they go down there and their old mandate was destination promotion, Nunavut.
We all know that individual tourism operators in Nunavut and the cost of going to a sport show are just horrendous.
So would you look into that and see also if they are assisting and taking some of the actual operators around there to promote their products.
If they aren’t, will you let us know?
Yes, I will commit to that because I think it’s important that these tourism operators need that exposure.
On page 11-17, Development Corporation.
I want to make a little comment first.
In Kivalliq, we have a very powerful, fairly biased small community’s opinion, regional personal, whether it’s Department of Sustainable Development Corporation or whatever department they hold.
Historically, Rankin Inlet became the economic development hub before Government of Nunavut was created.
In fact, at one time, Arviat wanted to become Area 7.
I think we heard about that, so that they could have a share.
There’s area five, area six in Rankin Inlet and they wanted to become area 7, so that they could have a share of economic development.
All economic development was going to Rankin Inlet.
In fact, it was funny, that when all the caribou in Coral Harbour were being legislated, or at least it became a policy to kill 6000 caribou but the meat plant was built in Rankin Inlet.
They had to import all the caribou from Baker Lake, Whale Cove, Chesterfield and mostly from Coral Harbour.
Any kind of product that is made today in your silver plate, caribou ribs and smoked etcetera, come from Coral Harbour.
I was very happy that the Chairman of the Standing Committee had said it was viable to build a meat plant in Coral, whether it is similar or same or different from Rankin Inlet, we do not really care.
We even had to kill, commercially ordered by the Government 5,000 geese last spring because of the over-population and that could also be produced in Rankin Inlet, I mean that in Coral Harbour.
I am really hoping that Nunavut Development Corporation will review all of the proposals, development proposals equally, fairly, unbiased, and look at the merits of all of these proposals, wherever they come from, Coral or otherwise because we have missed out on these things.
My question to the Minister is, are the development proposals from the Community Development Corporations, are screened by the President before they come to board, Development Corporation Board or all of the proposals are given to the Development Corporation Board?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): My have my ADM respond to that.
Ms. Keenainak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Because we are dealing with a board and their staff, typically, proposals are reviewed by staff; they do not go directly to the board.
I think that works in the organization, but the letters of instruction that were recently provided to the NDC President clearly indicated that there has to be increased activity in non-decentralized communities and that is after Cabinet direction.
So, proposals I reviewed, I reviewed our staff just like they do with us, like we provide a review and recommendation to the Premier and the Cabinet.
So that would work in the same manner.
It does not really matter if they are accepted or rejected or screened by, well, recommended for accepting them or rejecting them by the staff, but are they at least given to the Chairman of the board for their consideration with the recommendation for approval or rejection or only what is recommended for approval is seen by the board?
Yes, the board also needs to review these applications and proposals, because they would not have any agenda items if they did not have to review all of these applications.
What page are you on, Mr. Arvaluk?
And right here, Mr. Arvaluk.
In four years, there has been no large capital projects, especially for non-decentralized communities.
Where does the capital come from and where does it go now.
I understand and thank the Department of Sustainable Development for providing additional trailer freezers and things like that.
We’ll probably need more in Rankin Inlet because they’re always full.
If we are going to continue that kind of trend unless you decide to build a meet plant in Coral Harbour, one of the two.
I’m very interested in how the capital projects are planned and how they are distributed to non-decentralized communities.
Yes, what we do is we have not provided any more funding for that because we don’t have very much funding because of the Department of Education and Health and Social Services are the major budget holders in the Government of Nunavut.
We have to try and request funds from the Department of Finance or Financial Management Board.
We have not been given a proposal to see if they are requesting more for those facilities.
Chairperson (interpretation): I have no more names on my list. 11-6, Program Development and Delivery, Total Operations and Maintenance, $31 million, 428 thousand dollars.
Carried. 11-19, these are just information items.
I’ve been waiting for 11-8, but I guess it was part of this program development and delivery.
I would like to have an agreement to back to 11-18. or 11-8.
Chairperson (interpretation): The member for Nanulik is seeking unanimous consent to go back to that page.
I don’t care about that.
I’m in agreement with what we just talked about in regards to the total Operations and Maintenance.
I would like to ask a question on, for information purpose. $154 thousand who was it suppose to be given to?
Operating results?
Closing Accounts receivable on page 11-18.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Can you hold on a second. 11-18.
Ms. Terryl Allan will.
The amount you want on page 11-18 is to do with our fur marketing fund.
Basically it’s the authorized limit of the fund is $900 thousand which means we can utilize up to the amount of $900 thousand in any particular year.
We’ve never gone to that limit yet.
It basically is an amount that we purchase our furs on consignment and then we turn around and then sell them it comes back into the funds.
The fund has changed.
The use of the fund changed over the last couple of years and we’re estimating that it will change again for fiscal year of 2003/2004 in that you can see the amount of receipts against the loans have increased from $350 thousand to $400 thousand.
That indicates that we’re actually anticipating purchasing more fur and selling more furs.
The amount of the receivables we have outstanding at any point and time which means we’ve purchase furs and we haven’t sold them yet.
We expect to remain relatively consistent at $154 thousand.
So at any point and time we have accounts receivable sitting on the books of $154 thousand which remains that we have furs out there at the auction that we have bought on consignment that haven’t been sold yet.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): That doesn’t really give it, I don’t really understand it yet.
What I’m trying to say is the open accounts receivables, does that mean that you bought some furs or hides at $154 thousand worth but you have not sold them yet?
Is that what my understanding is?
Because you have not sold them yet at the auction and advanced to trappers in the amount of before you sold them, is that the money, that $400 thousand is the one that you gave to the trappers?
Receipts of fur account loans; is that the money that’s borrowed from the Government or is that the money that you got from the government to be given to the trappers so once you sold the first one then you give that money to the government; the receipts for account loans.
Say for instance, if I got a fox pelt for $25 and then I give the individual $25 and when you $25 and then you sell it for $50, that $50 is not give, all of it is not given to the trapper.
You take the $25 off of the $50.
Is that what is means at the receipt of fur account loans?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Yes, that $900 thousand is always available, it has authorized our limit and it has to go back to the revolving funds.
Like your comparison about the $50 dollars and the $25 dollars, minus $25 dollars that was correct.
If we buy it for $25 dollars and you take $25 dollars off and give the rest to the trapper.
I talked about it in the previous years to see whether your Department can make an adjustment or like every year, we have to pay out the public income support of so many millions of dollars because we have to provide it for them.
But for the hunter who is trapping and who has traps and stuff like that, they go early in the morning and they do not come home until night time and he goes out every day to do his trapping.
And you are going to in turn take $25 dollars off of his and we wanted to be able to help the trappers, but now, they are working people and you are penalizing them.
When is it that the Department will be making sure that, I am just using that as an example?
$25 dollars is probably not that way today, but in the seal furs or hides or fox pelts, when you sell them, the money that you receive instead of taking away that little bit of money off from the trapper, you should just give the whole amount or if you sell it for 50 dollars, the individual, the trapper would get 75 dollars to keep him away from going to income support.
Like he could at least make two-thirds and just take one-third as a Government.
I am not just asking this question to the Department of Sustainable Development, it is all to the Departments such as income support people and Education and Health and Social Services.
When is it that you will be reviewing these trappers’ support?
Perhaps, if we can use the example of sealskins because they have different ways of being graded.
What they do is they follow the quality of the skin as well as wolf pelts.
If we were to sell them, the money would come back to the revolving funds because if we had a grading system for those four legged animals, we use 60% of the price of those four legged animals.
We have to do a review on those pretty soon and if we can do the same with the fox pelts, we could also review them as well.
So, what we can do as a Department is to review the way marketing fur.
When we were in Yellowknife that is the way it was done, because we wanted to help trappers.
We did not really want the animal rights was taking away so much opportunity for hunters, or trappers.
We did not have any funds left to do that.
We could not even help the trapper because of the low price of commodities.
What we should do is to try to help them economically, the hunters and the trapper by giving them with incentive, because they also have to provide for themselves such as providing ski-doos, and also some food for their families.
Mr. Chairman, I am glad to know that the Minister is seriously thinking about doing a review on the musk ox and the others, such as four legged animals.
The hunter, like myself, we know that there is a lot of caribou that have cysts.
We know that they are not dangerous to the animal but they are cysts.
There is a lot of cysts in those caribou now.
The caribou hunter in Coral Harbour said that the caribou go anywhere, because the caribou sniff the ground and every time they sniff the wolf feces, that is how they get the cysts.
That is what the biologists say.
Then we are saying because of the price of wolf pelts are very, very low, and they are one of the difficult animals to harvest.
I was wondering if you can support those harvesters?
You would support the Inuk, and also would be helping our caribou population.
Yes we can look into this how we can deal with this in the future.
Those a good suggestions and they could be beneficial to the Nunavut.
We’ll take his comments into consideration.
That page was already approved. 11-4.
Details of Expenditures, Total Operations and Maintenance, $35 million, 302 thousand.
Mr. Nutarak, did you have your hand up?
I am sure that you will complete this department.
He is appearing before the Committee because he is the Minister of Sustainable Development.
His officials are here and we will deal with the Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, he is the same Minister.
Are we going to let them continue on?
Or are we going to take a short break before we go onto the next department, while the Minister is preparing.
Chairperson (interpretation): Department of Sustainable Development, main estimates and business plan.
Do you agree that Department of Sustainable Development main estimates are complete?
I would like to thank the Minister of Department of Sustainable Development and his officials for appearing before us.
I would like to ask the Minister if he has closing remarks.
Do you have opening remarks for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I want to thank the officials and also the member.
Their comments and questions will be helpful to our department.
Chairperson (interpretation): Minister, for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, do you have opening comments.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee of the Whole.
The Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth deals with issues that are important to the future development of Nunavut’s culture and linguistic nature.
The strategies developed under Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s mandate will determine the success Nunavut has protecting Inuit language, culture and heritage.
(interpretation ends) Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s business plan reflects the work the department has done recently to restructure and build capacity will allow us to move forward with the development and implementation of the long term strategies required for the department to achieve it’s mandate.
Mr. Chairman, the official languages and services division, will coordinate all of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s language initiatives and is taking a lead on the development of the overall language strategy for the government of Nunavut.
The language strategy will ensure that Nunavummiut have access to their government in their own language whether that be Inuktitut, Innuinaqtut, French, or English.
Mr. Chairman, Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s community programs division, is the department’s direct link to Nunavut’s communities.
This division is working with Nunavut’s elders and youth to development strategies that will promote healthy communities.
As part of this effort, the department is developing a strategy that will benefit Nunavut’s youth; we recognise that it is the youth themselves who know what they need from us.
As a result, the department is currently undertaking extensive consultations with youth across Nunavut.
The wellness of Nunavut’s communities depends largely on the involvement of our elders.
It is the elders who can help the youth find their place in society by passing on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and promoting their pride in Inuit culture and language.
Culture, Language, Elders and Youth wants to build a bridge elders and youth.
We hope to create a youth cultural program that will bring elders and youth together in all Nunavut’s communities.
We want to facilitate the passing on of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit from generation to generation thus promoting community wellness and helping to preserve Inuit ways well into the future.
Mr. Chairman, one of the best ways to preserve and promote Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is through oral history.
I am pleased to inform the House that one of the department’s major initiatives for the coming fiscal year is to collect the oral history from elders across Nunavut.
The department is committed to ensuring that everyone of Nunavut’s communities have an active elder’s committee and youth committee, therefore, Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is establishing a yearly grant of $2 thousand dollars for each of Nunavut’s elders and youth committees.
In addition to this grant, these committees are eligible to apply for other funding under the department’s grants and contributions program.
The Community Programs Division is proactively advising hamlets, Nunavut’s elders and youth committees and others about these programs.
The division also has a new toll-free number for greater access: 1-866-934-2035.
We want to ensure that the department’s funding programs and services are accessible to all Nunavummiut regardless of their age or language.
Mr. Chairman, one of the most important initiatives of the Heritage Division is the Archaeology Program, which is essential to the preservation of important historical sites.
Each year, a number of excavations are organized across Nunavut.
These excavations uncover parts of Nunavut’s past and contribute to their protection.
Many of these excavations takes place at the request of communities and include local youth as part of the excavation team.
Elders are consulted for their advice and opinion on various aspects of their excavation.
The Heritage Division’s Toponomy program involves the research and re-establishment of traditional place names.
With the involvement of elders, Nunavut will be able to recapture the traditional names of many areas, and use the original names that were used by Inuit for generations.
Mr. Chairman, 2003/2004, the department received $500 thousand dollars for forced growth and initiatives.
As I indicated earlier, $50 thousand dollars of this funding is being dedicated to Nunavut’s elders and youth committees.
The remaining $450 thousand dollars is being dedicated to capacity building and the staffing of positions essential to the work of the department, which will ensure the minimum level of staffing required in order to proceed with the department’s most important initiatives.
Mr. Chairman, if the Government of Nunavut is ever to truly belong to the people of Nunavut, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit must become an integral part of government, and government must become an integral part of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
As a result, the department has allocated $300 thousand dollars to the establishment of the new Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
This council, made up of Nunavummiut with special expertise of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, will provide the Government of Nunavut with guidance for including and implementing for including and implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within the government.
Although the council belongs to all departments, the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will coordinate the council’s work.
Mr. Chairman, the challenge we face to preserve traditions and values that have endured for thousands of years, but which are now being seriously affected by the arrival of western popular culture.
Given the proper tools, I am confident that the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, with the help of Nunavummiut will beet the challenge and contribute to the building of a territory where people can live, work and play in any of Nunavut’s officials languages within a culture that respects Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit values.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Are you going to bring you officials?
Does the committee agree that his witnesses can come into the chamber?
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the Minister’s officials to the witness table.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome to the Witness Table.
I need the Minister to introduce his officials because I do not know both of them.
If you can introduce your officials please.
To my left, my Deputy Minister and also to my right ADM Anthony Saez, I was going to say, I apologize, I did not mention my Deputy Minister’s name, Leona Aglukark.
At this time, the time is ticking; I will ask the Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee, if he has opening comments.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be able to give the Committee opening remarks as we begin consideration of the 2003-2004 Main Estimates and Business Plans of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Later on, Members of the Standing Committee will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding these estimates.
Mr. Chairman, Members understand that this important Department has undergone major restructuring when it established three new divisions: Official Languages, Heritage and Community Programs.
Members are pleased that the Department is looking at its abilities and capacity to fulfill its mandated responsibilities.
Mr. Chairman, Members are pleased to see that the Department’s Main Estimates have increased.
Members have expressed the concern in the past that this is an important Department, but it always had the smallest operations and maintenance budget.
However, Members also noted that the majority of this increase is in the area of compensation and benefits.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, Members are pleased that the remainder of the increase is for the financial assistance of the projects that promote Elder and youth initiatives.
As this has also been an area of concern in the past, Members would wish to see more funds available for grants and contribution programs.
Mr. Chairman, Members look forward to hearing more about the Department’s Language Strategy, which is being developed to ensure that Inuktitut is the working language of the Government by the year 2020.
Members support this initiative.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee is very pleased about the department’s effort to collect oral history from elders across Nunavut.
This will be very valuable to our youth and to the educators in Nunavut.
We must ensure that we record the stories of our Elders before it is too late.
Mr. Chairman, the Committee looks forward to learning more about the creation of youth cultural programs that are intended to bring our Elders and youth together.
The Committee is aware that this department has funded a similar project in Kugluktuk.
Members look forward to hearing more about the Elders and Youth Strategies that are currently under development by the department.
Mr. Chairman, Members were pleased that the department is now providing an annual grant to Elders and Youth Committees in the amount of $2 thousand.
The Committee would like to be assured that communities will be made aware of how to access this fund.
Mr. Chairman, Members look forward to the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit that will be made up of Nunavummiut to implement Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within our government.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a major topic and is often brought up in the House.
Mr. Chairman, Members are also concerned about the slow pace of establishing the Elders’ Council.
Members would like to see a list of grants and contributions made by the department to be tabled annually in this House.
Members would like to see the Department ensure that groups and individual in all communities and regions have a fair chance of applying for funds from the department.
I am sorry I did not prepare to read this opening statement.
I anticipate that individual Members will raise their own comments and concerns on the department’s 2003-2004 Main Estimates and Business Plans.
I would like to close by reinforcing the comment made by Members over the past several years regarding the importance of ensuring that this department has the resources and tools necessary to fulfilling its important mandate.
Before we start each member has ten minutes for general comments. Every time we review each department, each member has ten minutes for general comments.