Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about his Holiness Pope Francis’ visit to Iqaluit on July 29, 2022.
I want to firstly thank Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. for their leadership in organizing the events.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut’s role in the papal visit included welcoming his Holiness to Nunavut and sending him off as he left Canada. Our involvement was guided by the leadership and vision of a group of residential school survivors.
According to our Elder advisors we worked to highlight our culture, language, and traditions during the visit. … read more.
Mr. Speaker,
After Christmas, I and several other Cabinet members took the opportunity to visit Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet. Most recently, as we headed to Cambridge Bay for the Kitikmeot Trade Show, I visited Taloyoak.
I thank regular members Alexander Sammurtok, Joseph Quqqiaq, Deputy Premier Pamela Hakongak Gross, and Minister John Main for their invitations and organizational help, as well as for the warm welcomes.
Mr. Speaker, our 25 Nunavut communities are spread out over more than 2 million square kilometres. Each of these communities, whether small or large, see themselves… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues about the support the Government of Nunavut has provided to communities in Eastern Canada who have been impacted by hurricane Fiona.
On Saturday, September 24, hurricane Fiona hit Nova Scotia, eastern Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The storm left many without power and tremendous debris throughout communities. Storm surges swept away homes. I was saddened to hear there were lives lost due to this historic, extreme weather event.
Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to those impacted by hurricane Fiona in… read more.
Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to announce the successful completion of the Nunavut Elders and Seniors Strategy.
When it comes to our Elders, time is running out. That sense of urgency is something that our government has heard loud and clear from Elders. We need to act now to make their lives better. It was with this urgency in mind that our government took on the work of developing an Elder and Seniors Strategy that addresses the needs of aging Nunavummiut.
We have 89 action items identified within the strategy. And, Mr. Speaker, I am truly happy to announce that we are taking immediate… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I’m excited to demonstrate our government’s commitment to Inuit employment at the highest levels of the public service. Each department and agency can now assign an Associate Deputy Minister to work as a core member of their executive team.
The new role is structured to enable qualified Nunavut Inuit to assume senior level responsibilities over time, and to gain experience and essential skills through a program of mentorship, structured teamwork and focused preparation. Each associate will shadow and report directly to the deputy head of a department or agency.
The creation of… read more.
Mr. Speaker, On May 5, ahead of the Northern Premier’s Forum, Premier Ranj Pillai, Premier R.J. Simpson, and I met with three federal ministers in Iqaluit. The meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair, and Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, as well as Parliamentary Secretary Yvonne Jones, were an opportunity to jointly discuss the needs of the North.
Minister Blair briefed us on the Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence, while Minister Joly updated us on the International Arctic strategy the Government… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long public service of Deputy Commissioner Rebekah Williams.
A Member of the Legislative Assembly for Quttiktuq from 2000 until 2004, Rebekah retired from a career with the Government of Nunavut, and was sworn in as deputy commissioner in 2019.
Originally from Arctic Bay, Rebekah lives in Iqaluit with her husband Glenn, and together they have children and grandchildren.
She spent many years working on the frontlines as a Community Social Worker, and as a Community Justice Specialist.
Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, Rebekah Williams was asked by Nunavut… read more.
Mr. Speaker, when we celebrate our territorial holiday this year, we will mark three decades since the Nunavut Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act passed in Parliament on July 9, 1993.
On that day, the Crown recognized Nunavut Inuit harvesting rights and land and resource management rights over 1.9 million square kilometres of Canada’s Arctic. Canada also formally transferred ownership of 351,000 square kilometres of land to Inuit.
Mr. Speaker, our land claim is with us every day. It determines the acts of government, the relationship between government and Inuit, and the role we play in… read more.
Mr. Speaker, Qulliq Energy Corporation is pleased to announce the approval of four indeterminate apprenticeship positions within the organization. This is a significant and timely step coming after the Inuit employment arbitration decision of March 25, 2023. It is a demonstration of QEC’s commitment to supporting the Inuit Employment Plan and increasing the number of Inuit employees within the corporation.
These apprenticeship positions will provide valuable training and experience to individuals interested in pursuing rewarding careers in the energy industry. Each of the four positions will… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate International Women’s Day. While this day commemorates the social, political, and economic achievements of women across the globe, it also highlights the ongoing work towards gender equality; to the need to break the gender biases in our society, and to the fight to stop violence and abuse towards women and girls.
On this day, I would like to recognize the strong, resilient, successful women in Nunavut who made and continue to make a difference.
I want to begin with our Commissioner, Eva Aariak. Ms. Aariak has had a distinguished career in politics… read more.