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NUNAVUT HANSARD UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 IQALUIT, NUNAVUT Hansard is not a verbatim transcript of the debates of the House. It is a transcript in extenso. In the case of repetition or for a number of other reasons, such as more specific identification, it is acceptable to make changes so that anyone reading Hansard will get the meaning of what was said. Those who edit Hansard have an obligation to make a sentence more readable since there is a difference between the spoken and the written word. Debates, September 20, 1983, p. 27299. Beauchesne’s 6th edition, citation 55 Corrections: PLEASE RETURN ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE CLERK OR DEPUTY CLERK Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Speaker Hon. Paul Quassa (Aggu) Hon. David Akeeagok Joelie Kaernerk David Qamaniq (Quttiktuq) (Amittuq) (Tununiq) Deputy Premier; Minister of Economic Development and Transportation; Minister Pauloosie Keyootak Emiliano Qirngnuq of Human Resources (Uqqummiut) (Netsilik) Tony Akoak Hon. Lorne Kusugak Allan Rumbolt (Gjoa Haven) (Rankin Inlet South) (Hudson Bay) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Minister of Health; Minister Deputy Speaker and Chair of the responsible for Seniors; Minister Committee of the Whole Pat Angnakak responsible for Suicide Prevention (Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu) Hon. Joe Savikataaq Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Adam Lightstone (Arviat South) (Iqaluit-Manirajak) Premier; Minister of Executive and Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister of (Cambridge Bay) John Main Energy; Minister of Environment; Minister of Community and Government (Arviat North-Whale Cove) Minister responsible for Immigration; Services; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Minister responsible for Indigenous Hon. Margaret Nakashuk Energy Corporation Affairs; Minister responsible for the (Pangnirtung) Minister of Culture and Heritage; Utility Rates Review Council Hon. George Hickes Minister of Languages; Minister (Iqaluit-Tasiluk) Craig Simailak responsible for the Nunavut Housing Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial (Baker Lake) Corporation Management Board; Minister of Justice; Minister responsible for Labour; Minister Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik Patterk Netser responsible for the Workers’ Safety and (Iqaluit-Sinaa) (Aivilik) Government House Leader; Minister Compensation Commission of Family Services; Minister Calvin Pedersen Hon. David Joanasie (Kugluktuk) responsible for Homelessness; Minister (South Baffin) responsible for the Status of Women Minister of Education; Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Cathy Towtongie (Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet) Officers Clerk John Quirke Clerk Assistant Law Clerk Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Production Stephen Innuksuk Michael Chandler Michel Albert Innirvik Support Services Box 1200 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Website: www.assembly.nu.ca Table of Contents Opening Prayer ................................................................................................................................ 1 Ministers’ Statements ...................................................................................................................... 1 Members’ Statements ...................................................................................................................... 7 Oral Questions ............................................................................................................................... 10 Tabling of Documents ................................................................................................................... 27 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ......................................... 28 Report of the Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................... 73 Orders of the Day .......................................................................................................................... 74 A. Daily References Wednesday, March 3, 2021 ............................................................................................................. 1 B. Ministers’ Statements 565 – 5(2): Impacts of COVID-19 on Wildlife Research (Savikataaq) .......................................... 1 566 – 5(2): 2020-21 Nipivut Virtual Youth Leadership Conference (Joanasie) ............................. 2 567 – 5(2): Donation of Elisapee Ishulutaq Collection (Nakashuk)................................................ 3 568 – 5(2): Agnico Eagle Acquisition of Hope Bay Mine (Akeeagok) .......................................... 3 569 – 5(2): Therapeutic Justice Program Launched in Arviat (Hickes) .......................................... 4 570 – 5(2): Youth Initiatives Funding (Sheutiapik) ........................................................................ 5 571 – 5(2): In-territory Health Service Enhancements (Kusugak) .................................................. 6 C. Members’ Statements 817 – 5(2): Appreciation of Whale Cove Becoming COVID-19 Free (Main) ................................ 7 818 – 5(2): Services for Elders (Kaernerk) ..................................................................................... 8 819 – 5(2): Protecting Our Oceans (Qirngnuq) ............................................................................... 9 D. Oral Questions 1189 – 5(2): High-income Tenants (Lightstone) ........................................................................... 10 1190 – 5(2): Staff Housing (Angnakak) ........................................................................................ 12 1191 – 5(2): Delays in Obtaining Driver’s Licences (Netser) ....................................................... 14 1192 – 5(2): Transportation for Clients at Continuing Care Centres (Kaernerk) .......................... 15 1193 – 5(2): Economic Recovery Plans (Simailak) ...................................................................... 18 1194 – 5(2): Nunavut-based Mining Workforce (Main) ............................................................... 20 1195 – 5(2): Marine Management (Qirngnuq) .............................................................................. 23 1196 – 5(2): COVID-19 Vaccinations for Pond Inlet (Qamaniq) ................................................. 25 1197 – 5(2): Funding for Home Renovations (Towtongie) ........................................................... 25 E. Tabling of Documents 356 – 5(2): 2019-2020 Annual Report from the Chief Electoral Officer (Speaker)...................... 27 357 – 5(2): Pension Administration Report as of March 31, 2020 for the Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act (Speaker)................................................... 27 358 – 5(2): Financial Statements as of March 31, 2020 for the Retiring Allowances Fund (Speaker) ................................................................................................................................. 27 359 – 5(2): Financial Statements as of March 31, 2020 for the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund (Speaker) .................................................................................................... 27 F. Bills Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Education – Consideration in Committee ................................................................................................... 28 Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 1 Iqaluit, Nunavut Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Members Present: Hon. David Akeeagok, Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak, Hon. George Hickes, Hon. David Joanasie, Mr. Joelie Kaernerk, Hon. Lorne Kusugak, Mr. Adam Lightstone, Mr. John Main, Hon. Margaret Nakashuk, Mr. Patterk Netser, Mr. Calvin Pedersen, Mr. David Qamaniq, Mr. Emiliano Qirngnuq, Hon. Paul Quassa, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Hon. Joe Savikataaq, Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik, Mr. Craig Simailak, Ms. Cathy Towtongie. >>House commenced at 13:30 Item 1: Opening Prayer Speaker (Hon. Paul Quassa)(interpretation): Good day. Before we proceed, can you say the opening prayer, please, Mr. Qirngnuq. >>Prayer Speaker (interpretation): Good day, Nunavummiut who are following the proceedings. Please feel welcome once again. First of all, I want to say that I send my condolences to my fellow residents of Igloolik. I love you. Let’s proceed. Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Minister of Environment, Mr. Savikataaq. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements Minister’s Statement 565 – 5(2): Impacts of COVID-19 on Wildlife Research (Savikataaq) Hon. Joe Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the people of Arviat, I say “Good day” to you and I empathize with you during the COVID outbreak. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the impacts COVID-19 has had on the Department of Environment’s Wildlife Research Program. Restrictions on entry into Nunavut and on travel within Nunavut led to the cancellation or delay of most wildlife research projects during the spring and summer of 2020. My department is committed to prioritizing previously cancelled projects that are important to communities and will proceed with conducting these projects in the 2021 field season based on available funding and if COVID-19 restrictions allow. Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 travel restrictions also impacted my department’s ability to plan and proceed with important in-person consultations with hunters and trappers Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 2 organizations and other co-management