NUNAVUT HANSARD UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 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 ...................................................................................................................... 6 Oral Questions ............................................................................................................................... 10 Tabling of Documents ................................................................................................................... 29 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ......................................... 29 Report of the Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................... 92 Orders of the Day .......................................................................................................................... 92 A. Daily References Tuesday, March 9, 2021 .................................................................................................................. 1 B. Ministers’ Statements 589 – 5(2): Joint Planning and Management Meetings for Territorial Parks (Savikataaq) ............. 1 590 – 5(2): Igloolik’s New School, Iglulik High School, Opens (Joanasie) ................................... 2 591 – 5(2): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Resources (Nakashuk) ........................................................... 3 592 – 5(2): Nunavut Essential Workers Wage Premium Grant (Hickes) ........................................ 3 593 – 5(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation Paperless Billing Update (Ehaloak) .................................. 4 594 – 5(2): Online Professional Development Programs for Public Servants (Akeeagok) ............. 5 C. Members’ Statements 845 – 5(2): Mary River Project (Qamaniq) ..................................................................................... 6 846 – 5(2): Full-time Doctor for Baker Lake (Simailak) ................................................................ 7 847 – 5(2): Chesterfield Inlet Housing Needs (Towtongie) ............................................................ 8 848 – 5(2): A Reminder That We Must Never Give Up (Sheutiapik)............................................. 9 849 – 5(2): Love for Our Daughters, Mothers, Sisters, and Grandmothers (Kusugak) ................. 10 D. Oral Questions 1228 – 5(2): Full-time Doctor for Baker Lake (Simailak) ............................................................ 10 1229 – 5(2): Tourism Initiatives (Akoak) ..................................................................................... 11 1230 – 5(2): Mental Health Support during Pandemic (Qirngnuq) ............................................... 14 1231 – 5(2): Polar Bear Management (Rumbolt) .......................................................................... 16 1232 – 5(2): Mary River Project (Qamaniq) ................................................................................. 18 1233 – 5(2): Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions in Arviat (Main) ................................................. 20 1234 – 5(2): Kugluktuk Sewage Lagoon (Pedersen) ..................................................................... 23 1235 – 5(2): Legal Services Board (Angnakak) ............................................................................ 24 1236 – 5(2): Support for the Arts and Crafts Sector (Angnakak).................................................. 26 E. Tabling of Documents 366 – 5(2): Child and Family Services Act Annual Report 2019-2020 (Sheutiapik).................... 29 367 – 5(2): Correspondence from Victor Sammurtok School (Towtongie) .................................. 29 F. Bills Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Family Services – Consideration in Committee ................................................................................................... 30 Bill 59 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2021-2022 – Justice – Consideration in Committee ............................................................................................................................... 58 Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 1 Iqaluit, Nunavut Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Members Present: Hon. David Akeeagok, Mr. Tony Akoak, Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak, Hon. George Hickes, Hon. David Joanasie, Hon. Lorne Kusugak, 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. Thank you, Member Qirngnuq. We say “good day” to Nunavummiut. We once again welcome those who are listening to the radio broadcast and watching the televised proceedings of your Members of the Legislative Assembly. Continuing on. Ministers’ Statements. Minister of Environment, Mr. Savikataaq. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements Minister’s Statement 589 – 5(2): Joint Planning and Management Meetings for Territorial Parks (Savikataaq) Hon. Joe Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the people of Arviat, I say “good day” to you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the ongoing work in our territorial parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Speaker, joint planning and management committees provide advice and recommendations to the Government of Nunavut on all aspects of the planning, establishment, operation and management of territorial parks. The Department of Environment has had to adapt to the operational challenges of travel restrictions and limitations on social gathering since the onset of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, over a dozen joint planning and management committee meetings have taken place across the territory since last summer. Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Nunavut Hansard 2 Mr. Speaker, this has been accomplished through a mix of socially distanced in-person meetings, teleconferences, and online platforms that allow for virtual meetings and screen sharing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff at the department for their continued dedication to the joint planning and management process, and all committee members for their ability to