Mr. Speaker, Katujjiluta identifies Elders and “aging with dignity in Nunavut” as a key priority area. Our mandate promises to develop a comprehensive Elder and senior care strategy with broad input from Elders, families, communities, and partners.
I’m proud to announce, Mr. Speaker, work is underway towards a Strategic Action Plan for Elders in Nunavut. We have contracted Iqaluit consultant Mary Wilman to work in tandem with the Iqaluit-based company Lichen Consulting to do this review. We aim to complete the new framework by December. Elders groups are being engaged at regional gatherings… read more.
Mr. Speaker, It was my pleasure to welcome my Northern counterparts, Yukon’s Premier Ranj Pillai and Northwest Territories’ Premier R.J. Simpson, in Mittimatalik from May 6 to 9 for the annual Northern Premier’s Forum.
In our meetings we discussed shared priorities, including Arctic security and sovereignty, disaster preparedness and response, critical infrastructure gaps, housing needs, and the health and well-being of Northerners.
I want to thank my friend, Levi Barnabas, the Vice President of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, as well as Minister Karen Nutarak, Mayor Joshua Arreak and the… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share that on February 7th, I met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford for a bilateral meeting in Ottawa.
Nunavut is reliant on our southern neighbours for goods and services. This is especially true for specialized healthcare we cannot provide in our territory.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my friend Premier Ford for vocalizing his support for Canada’s Territories at a national level, as together the provinces and territories negotiate healthcare funding with the federal government.
Premier Ford has never been to Nunavut. I have invited him to visit Iqaluit at his… read more.
Mr. Speaker, in April I had the privilege of accepting invitations from two members to visit their communities. I am so grateful to members Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk and Kugluktuk MLA Bobby Anavilok for sharing their home communities with me.
Mr. Speaker, I believe there are few things more important for a politician to do than to meet with and listen to their electorate. There is no replacement for in-person connections.
In both Sanirajak and Kugluktuk, I met with the housing associations, district education authorities and the hamlet councils. I visited students in their schools, where… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that Cabinet met with our federal counterparts in Ottawa on May 1st and 2nd for a set of meetings we called Nunavut on the Hill. Our ministers promoted the priorities of Katujjiluta in meetings with over 15 federal departments, including Health, Justice, Housing, Infrastructure, and National Defence.
Mr. Speaker, on May 2nd I met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and we discussed our efforts to build more housing, bolster healthcare, engage on Arctic Sovereignty and Security, and transfer authority over Nunavut’s lands and waters through devolution. The… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge our frontline workers and service providers. They were the heroes who kept us going in difficult times. I also want to speak about the various supports the Government of Nunavut provided during this latest wave of COVID-19.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s municipalities played an essential role in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our territory. Four million was allocated to municipalities to provide support for critical local services.
Community stations, which are essential to keeping Nunavummiut informed, received an additional $375,000 for ongoing… read more.
Today, Mr. Speaker, I stand here to extend thanks to my colleagues and counterparts, as well as the federal government and outside cybersecurity experts, for their generous support and guidance in bringing most of Qulliq Energy Corporation’s information technology operations back to a functional state. As many of us are aware, QEC was hit with a cyber-attack in January 2023, shutting down access to critical data and applications. In response, QEC and the Government of Nunavut’s Community and Government Services Information Management Information Technology department immediately began… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues the very constructive discussions that took place during the Northern Premiers’ Caucus, on February 3.
Mr. Speaker, the territorial Premiers meet annually at the Northern Premiers’ Forum to advance northern interests, discuss issues of common interest and concern, and develop made-in-the-North solutions.
Mr. Speaker, this was my first Northern Premiers’ Forum as Premier of Nunavut. Our meeting focused on key northern priorities such as infrastructure, housing, the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and climate change to name a few.
Mr… read more.
Mr. Speaker,
Each year, Canada’s premiers recognize the efforts made by a member of their province or territory to promote literacy. In Nunavut, we ask residents to nominate someone who champions the use of Inuktut. This year, I am presenting Nunavut’s Council of the Federation Literacy Award to Jeena Kadlutsiak of Igloolik.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Kadlutsiak is a Kindergarten to Grade 3 teacher at Ataguttaaluk Elementary School. She is implementing Inuktut language curriculum in all her classrooms. She was a member of the team responsible for producing Nipittiavait Inuktitut. This is a phonics,… read more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the meeting I had with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, and Yukon Premier Sandy Silver.
As you know in March, Premier Cochrane, Silver, and I sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister outlining our concerns over Arctic security and sovereignty. We noted that any decisions regarding the Arctic should be made in consultation with the people of the North. In addition, we outlined the need to invest in social infrastructure to strengthen our communities considering… read more.