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NUNAVUT HANSARD UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 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 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ........................................... 2 Report of the Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................... 68 Third Reading of Bills ................................................................................................................... 68 Orders of the Day .......................................................................................................................... 68 A. Daily References Friday, March 12, 2021 ................................................................................................................... 1 B. Bills Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Environment – Consideration in Committee ..................................................................................................... 2 Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs – Consideration in Committee ..................................................... 36 Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee ................................................................................................... 63 Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Consideration in Committee ............................................................................................................................... 67 Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Third Reading ............. 68 Friday, March 12, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 1 Iqaluit, Nunavut Friday, March 12, 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 9:00 Item 1: Opening Prayer Speaker (Hon. Paul Quassa)(interpretation): Good morning. Before we proceed, can you say the opening prayer, please, Mr. Netser. >>Prayer Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, Nunavummiut. Those who are following the proceedings, welcome. (interpretation ends) Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, members, and good morning to the people of Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to proceed directly to Item 19 on the order paper. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed directly to Item 19 on the order paper. Are there any nays? There are none. (interpretation) We will proceed to Item 19. (interpretation ends) Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64 with Mr. Akoak in the Chair. In accordance to the authority provided to me by Motion 107 – 5(2), the committee will stay in session until it reports itself out. I ask the members to remain at their desks so that we immediately proceed with the Committee of the Whole. Sergeant-at-Arms. Friday, March 12, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 2 Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters Chairman (Mr. Akoak): Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, Nunavummiut. Welcome to the Assembly. Being a Friday, what are we doing this morning? Moo business! >>Laughter Thank you. I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, and 64. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Rumbolt. Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and again good morning. Mr. Chairman, we wish to commence with the review of the 2021-22 Main Estimates for the Department of Environment, followed by the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Legislative Assembly. If time permits, we would commence with the review of the supplementary Bills 60 and 61. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 59? Some Members: Agreed. Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Environment – Consideration in Committee Chairman: Thank you. Does the committee agree to let the officials appear before you? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Thank you. For the record, Minister Savikataaq, please introduce your officials and proceed with your opening comments. Minister Savikataaq. Hon. Joe Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Deputy Minister Jimmy Noble Jr., to his right is Nikki Nweze, the Director of Corporate Services, and to my left is Mr. Steven Pinksen, the ADM of Environment. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present my department’s proposed operations and maintenance budget for the next fiscal year, which is unchanged from 2020-21.The Department of Environment’s proposed budget for 2021-22 is $24.7 million. The Department of Environment continues to maximize the impact of allocated funds by engaging in collaborative partnerships with outside organizations. In 2020-21 we leveraged approximately $6.2 million from outside sources for various projects. This amount was consistent with funding secured in previous years and was applied to Friday, March 12, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 3 programs in all divisions within the department. We expect to be equally successful in obtaining funding from outside sources in the coming fiscal year. Avatimik Kamatsiarniq, or environmental stewardship, remains a key focus of the department, as does our commitment to recruiting and retaining a representative workforce. In the coming year we will continue to work to increase Inuit employment in the department. The department is recruiting various levels of trainee positions within the wildlife, research and environmental sections. Nunavummiut continue to see the impacts of climate change in our territory. We all understand that action must be taken to reduce and mitigate its effects. In the coming year the department will continue to work with the Government of Canada to implement the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and to finalize Canada’s newly drafted climate plan, ‘A Healthy Environment and a Healthy