Routine Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I am happy to present a petition from Canadians regarding what has been going on in Gaza. They are quite concerned, for example, that the Geneva Conventions have not been respected. The petitioners, citizens and residents of Canada, call on the Government of Canada to do five different things: publicly and unequivocally reject the militarized aid model currently used in Palestine, dem…
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Uqaqtittiji, hunter and trapper organizations protect Inuit lands and wildlife. The environmental assessment process is not balanced. Mining companies have millions to coax Nunavummiut to extract minerals. Hunter and trapper organizations barely have enough just to participate. Article 5.7.13 of the Nunavut Agreement is not being fulfilled. Will the Liberals finally uphold their legal obligations …
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Uqaqtittiji, I will finish with the last two points: withhold Canadian funding from any entity or model that does not comply with principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence and humanity, and ensure that all Canadian aid to Gaza is delivered through internationally recognized humanitarian channels.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, rehabilitation can help because it helps people to learn new coping skills. It helps people to learn ways to deal with stress, and it helps to reconnect them with people who might be important in their communities. This includes having action plans to make sure that they have the skills they need to be reintegrated into society.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, first of all, we need to stop over-dramatizing what is going on in Canada and creating more fear among Canadians. I think that when there are crimes being committed, as I said in my speech, disproportionately, members are indigenous peoples. I highlight that because of what has happened in the past, such as the Conservatives making cuts to important programs like the Aboriginal Healin…
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Uqaqtittiji, the high cost of groceries makes life in the harsh Arctic more difficult. The discontinuation of the ICFI hamlet food voucher program hit Nunavummiut hard. People often ask for donations just to feed their family. This is a direct result of chronic underinvestment in Nunavut by both Liberals and Conservatives. I have written to the Minister of Indigenous Services. Will she respond wit…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I always feel privileged to represent Nunavummiut on any matter in this House. Today, I will be splitting my time with the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj. I speak as the NDP critic for justice. All Canadians want to live in safe communities protected from dangerous offenders, but three-strikes policies, such as those in the United States and the one in the Conse…
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Uqaqtittiji, I think that showcases why it is important to have more parties in the House than just two. As an NDP member, I miss many of my colleagues. We have lost opportunities for more intellectual conversations and for more conversations about what great solutions we need to see. Due to the election, we are seeing more of these extremist conversations in the House, even though it was still li…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Uqaqtittiji, Inuit such as Jesse Tungilik are brilliant. Jesse posted on his social media that an increased military presence in the Arctic will mean putting Inuit women at greater risk of sexual violence. He says that building a highway connecting Nunavut to the south will make human trafficking and the murdered and missing indigenous women problem worse and bring more hard drugs to vulnerable co…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, I am privileged to represent Nunavut in honouring the work of the Hon. Gail Shea. I did not know Gail personally. I send my condolences to her family, her friends and, I am sure, her wide-ranging community. One of the privileges that we gain as parliamentarians is how much we learn about Canada, Canadians and the hopes and strengths we see for our future. I have learned that Gail Shea…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, the Liberal government, a minority, which to me does not indicate that this is such a massive decision by all of Canada, has successfully pushed through legislation that would violate the rights of indigenous peoples. It does so first of all by the process of getting Bill C-5 through in such a fast-tracked way, but it will continue to do so because of the way the legislation is crafte…
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Uqaqtittiji, I completely agree that there is a huge problem with the bill, specifically because of its nature and being the one bill that would fast-track the violation of indigenous peoples' rights. I wonder if the member agrees. Will he vote against the bill so we can make sure indigenous people's rights are being protected?
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Uqaqtittiji, I am glad that my colleague touched on indigenous peoples in his speech as well. I think that by the brilliance of our colleague, the member for Vancouver East, the parties will now be able to vote separately on part 1 and part 2. I wonder whether the member can share with us what this opens up as an opportunity for the Conservatives who, during the debates, have been touting the prot…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, Nunavut has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada. Almost half of Inuit children, at 42%, go to school hungry every day, yet the Liberals recently cancelled a hamlet food voucher program, with nothing to replace it. The nutrition north subsidy does not reduce grocery prices. Meanwhile, the North West Company consistently reports hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. Will t…
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Uqaqtittiji, I am going to ask the member a similar question to the one I asked earlier with respect to Bill C-4. It seeks to amend portions of the Elections Act, which has nothing to do with affordability. I wonder what the member's thoughts are on that.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his election. Canada prides itself on being a country that respects people's civil liberties, but the bill proposes sweeping powers for authorities. Can the member share with us how the bill will protect people's civil liberties while ensuring that arbitrary decision-making is not being done by the authorities through the bill?
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[Member spoke in Inuktitut as follows:] ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᔩ, ᐅᖃᓚᐅᓐᖏᓂᕐᓂ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑕᒃᑲ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᒻᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖁᕙᒃᑲ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᓪᓗ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖁᕙᒃᑲ ᕼᐊᐱ ᓂᐅᔨᐊᕐᓱᒋᓪᓗ [Inuktitut text translated as follows:] Mr. Speaker, before I start speaking, I would like to wish my constituents and all Canadians a merry Christmas and a happy new year. [English] In the generous spirit of the season, I hope that, if you seek it, you will find unan…
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Uqaqtittiji, here is how a government question is asked. Hunters and trappers in Nunavut rely on their boats to feed their families. Three years ago, the current government promised a small-craft harbour for Arctic Bay. Three years later, the government has not delivered. This harbour would allow safer hunting and help keep our communities safe from threats in the Arctic. I have fought for this pr…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, before I became an MP, the word “solidarity” was just a word for me. After I became an NDP MP, I really learned the true value of what acting in solidarity means. I want to ask the member, in the House, because we have not been doing enough, if he agrees that we, as a country, have not been doing enough for what is going on in Gaza. I want to ask about how that solidarity needs to sho…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I recently sat on another committee, the status of women committee. It was studying a similar study on breast cancer screening. The topic was specifically on first nations' and indigenous peoples' screening. One of the discussions in the committee was to make sure that there is better access for and representation of indigenous peoples. I wonder whether the member agrees that, with th…
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Uqaqtittiji, my point of order is according to House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, and is to address repeatedly putting on the record information that is not accurate. I would like to ask the leader of the Conservative Party to withdraw and apologize for claiming that indigenous peoples, again, belong to the Conservatives. He needs to stop using terms that are possessive when i…
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Uqaqtittiji, the Chiefs of Ontario is calling for improved accountability of the non-insured health benefits program and access to mental health services. First nations and Inuit are not consulted or invited to participate when selecting cultural support providers for their communities. As a result, unqualified people with criminal records are being enrolled as service providers. When will the Lib…
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Uqaqtittiji, first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples continue to be killed by the RCMP. In less than a month, nine indigenous people were killed without consequence. The RCMP and provincial authorities must respond toward reconciliation. Indigenous peoples deserve justice. Victims and their families deserve justice. When will this government finally work with indigenous peoples and law enforcement …
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Uqaqtittiji, I rise knowing that today is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. I have heard that there are Jewish people who are in solidarity with the Palestinian people, especially with respect to the genocide that is happening in Gaza. I wonder whether the member can speak to the voices she has heard of Jewish people who support the call for the end to the genocide in Ga…
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Uqaqtittiji, people in Nunavut are desperate for relief from sky-high food prices. Infant formula is upward of $80. People even feel that every time there is Jordan's principle funding, the North West Company increases the price of food even more. People are pleading with the Liberals but all they offer is another study. When will the government stop supporting corporate greed and finally help to …
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Uqaqtittiji, three first nations children have died since January due to this government's non-compliance with Jordan's principle. The Liberals are actively fighting against the Human Rights Tribunal's orders and allowing first nations children to die while in care. There are over 40,000 Jordan's principle requests in the backlog. Liberals are not even trying to fix this. When will the Liberals st…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, the NDP asked for the GST to be removed from home heating. I wonder if the member can explain to the House why the Liberals did not listen to us and make sure this tax relief could be extended to people who have to pay a higher cost for home heating.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, Nunavut's birth rate is double the national rate, meaning there are a lot of expenses for Nunavummiut, including diapers and children's clothing. I wonder if the member can share with us what it will mean for Nunavummiut to know they will have some relief.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Uqaqtittiji, Inuit are strong. Inuit are still here. Inuit will thrive. James Partridge, Felix Shappa Taqaugaq, Trey Angoshadluk and Solomon Uyarasuk are a few Nunavummiut who have either been hospitalized or died while at the hands of law enforcement. I thank their families for sharing some of their stories with me. I grieve with those who lost their loved ones. I share their demands for justice …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, 11 of the 25 communities I represent have experienced boil water advisories this year. That is almost half. Even the UN special rapporteur slammed the government for ignoring its obligation to ensure clean drinking water. The Liberals have failed. Nunavut children, families and whole communities should not have to worry about drinking water. When will the Liberal government finally in…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the Indigenous Health Equity Fund for fiscal year 2024-25: (a) what are the details of all distinctions-based funding supports delivered to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, including the (i) name of the community or Nation, (ii) amount of funding delivered, (iii) program authority under which the funding was authorized; (b) what is the total number of applications for dis…
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With regard to contaminated sites and waste sites in Nunavut: (a) what is the full list of all contaminated sites and waste sites for which the Government of Canada is responsible, broken down by (i) location, (ii) responsible federal department or agency, (iii) date on which the site was first added to the inventory of sites, (iv) priority level, (v) stage or status of remediation; and (b) what a…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
[Member spoke in Inuktitut as follows:] ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᐅᖃᖅᑎᑦᓯᔩ ᐃᒃᐸᒃᓴᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖁᑎᒋᓚᐅᕐᒫᒍᑦ ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊ ᐊᓯᐅᑎᑕᐅᒋᐊ− ᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐊᕐᕕᓐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᒥᓱᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᓕᒃᓯᓯᐊᖅᓯᒪᕗᒍᑦ, ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᓇᐃᓈᖅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖅᓱᒋᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᕙᒃᑲ ᓲᕐᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔩᑦ ᓘᑦᑖᑦ ᓴᓇᔩᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑏᑦ ᑭᐱᓐᖑᐃᔭᖅ− ᑎᖃᐅᖅᓯᐊᒻᒪᕆᑦᓱᑕᓗ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖓ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᓯᕕᒃᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᒃᓚᖃᑎᒋᓚᐅᕋᒃᑭᒃ ᐃᓄᒐᐃᑦ ᐱᓐᖑᐊᖃᑎᖃᖅᓱᑕ ᓄᐊᑐᕐᓐ ᕼᐊᐃᔾᑯᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᖁᔭᓕᕙᒃᑲ ᐱᔪᒃᓯᑎᒃᓯᕙᒻᒪᑕ ᑐᓴᕐᓈᕋᖅᑎᒍᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖓ ᔮᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᖓᑦ ᒥᐅᕆ ᐅᐃᓪᒪᓐ ᐲᑐᕋᔅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐅᐃᖓ ᓘᑲᓯ ᐊᒥᓱᒃᑲᓐ…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
[Member spoke in Inuktitut as follows:] ᒫᓐᓇᓵᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᓃᓐᖔᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᑕᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᒨᓵᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᓚᐅᖅᓱᓂ ᐊᑐᑦᓯᐊ− ᖏᒻᒪᑕᒎᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᐃᒥᑦᓯᐊᕙᒻᒧᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑲᖅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᑎᓕᐅᕆᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐊᓯᔾᔩᒋᐊᖁᔨᒻᒪ− ᕆᒃᓱᓂ, ᐊᓱᐃᓪᓛᒃ ᓕᐳᕈᓪᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᓐᓲᕙᑎᕝᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᓕᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᑕᐅᑦᓯᒃᑯᑦ ᑐᓂᓯᔾᔮᓐᖏᓚᑦ ᓇᒻᒥᓂᖅᓱᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᕐᓂᒃ ᓈᒻᒪᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐋᒃᑳᑲᑕᒃᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒻᒪᑕ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕆᐊᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᖅ C-61 ᑕᐃᒃᑯᓇᓐᖔᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᒃᑯᓃᓐᖔᖅᑐᓂᒃ, ᖃᖓ ᒐᕙᒪᑐᖃᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕈᓐᓃᓂᐊᖅᐸᑦ ᑲᓐᓲᕙᑎᕝᑯᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑭᕋᖅᑐᕈᓐᓃᕐᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓪᓚᓂᒃ [Inuktitut …
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Uqaqtittiji, it is my first time rising in the House today and I would like to acknowledge that it is International Inuit Day. I hope everyone enjoys this day. There is a community in Nunavut called Kimmirut that just had a four-day power outage. As winter is coming quite soon, a lot of people were quite concerned about their well-being because of having no power in that community. I wonder if the…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, more and more indigenous people are still dying at the hands of law enforcement officers. Despite urgent calls to save lives, the Liberals have done nothing. I grieve with the Inuit family in Salluit, Nunavik after their son Joshua was killed. We need justice for twins Joshua and Garnet Papigatuk. We need more de-escalation tactics and indigenous-led crisis response teams. When will t…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to government contracts with healthcare agencies to serve rural and remote Indigenous communities at Indigenous Services Canada, broken down by fiscal year, since 2017-18: (a) what is the total number of contracts signed; (b) what are the details of all contracts signed, including the (i) agency contracted, (ii) value of the contract, (iii) number of healthcare practitioners provided, …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, it is another injustice and another day in court for the Liberals. Two Ontario first nations are suing the government for its discriminatory underfunding of fire services in their communities. With climate change and aging infrastructure, first nations are at a higher risk. Instead of wasting more time in court, will the Liberals stop their discrimination against first nations, truly …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I would like to acknowledge that we have another settler MP in the House. What I have heard so far is not a lot of willingness from the Conservatives to talk about experiences of indigenous peoples, including the lack of reference in his intervention regarding indigenous people, indigenous people's rights and the lack of investments that we continue to suffer. We have great indigenous…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, when the Liberals inherited the government from the Conservatives some years ago, the conditions that indigenous peoples were in were quite deplorable, and they have not improved that much since the Liberal government was elected. I will give a basic example of how corporate greed is being supported by this Liberal government. The Liberals keep the nutrition north program going, which…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, Nunavummiut are prevented from thriving because of the lack of doctors and the lack of access to health care. The Conservative leader wants to cut health care, but Conservatives would have nothing to cut as the Liberals have not invested enough in Nunavut. The Prime Minister has failed on his promises to deliver the health care people need. When will the Prime Minister invest in the h…
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Uqaqtittiji, indigenous peoples represent 20% of unhoused people in Canada. The CEO of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services states only 0.2% of all funding to end homelessness is going to indigenous peoples. This means thousands will be living out in the cold this winter because of the Liberals and the Conservatives who voted against any funding for indigenous housing. When will the Liberals end th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, the more I learn about this bill, the more I see how important survivors of violence in the military are. I am sure that it is already very traumatizing to have to serve in the military, especially in today's society, globally, with all the violence that we are seeing. In particular, with survivors of abuse within the system itself, it makes me quite concerned that there are still a l…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I thank the member for her passion. This is an important piece of legislation that requires such seriousness, especially thinking about the survivors. We have heard that survivors say that the bill was not thought through well enough, especially for survivors. I wonder whether the member could tell us whether the Conservatives would agree at committee to extend the study so we could m…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
[Member spoke in Inuktitut and provided the following text:] ᐅᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ, ᖁᐊᖅᓵᖅᓯᒫᓪᓚᓚᐅᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑕᐅᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᓅᓯᓐᓂ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᕗᖅ ᐃᒫᑎᒋ ᒪᑭᒪᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᖏᑉᐳᖓ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖓ ᔮᓂ ᓂᖏᐅᙵᒥᓐ ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᕐᓂᒃ ᖃᐃᑦᑎᓯᒪᓚᐅᕋᕕᑦ. ᒪᒥᓴᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᒐᓱᒃᑐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᒃᓯᓐᓄ ᐅᖃᖅᐳᖓ, ᐊᑏᑐᖅ ᓴᖏᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᓯ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓯᓐᓄ. Robin, ᕌᐱᒻ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᕙᒋ, Lloyd ᓗᐃᑦ ᓇᒡᓕᒋᕙᒋ. ᓴᖏᓂᖅᓯ ᐅᕗᓐᓂ ᐱᔪᒃᓯᓕᖅᑎᑦᑎᑲᓐᓂᕋᓯ ᖁᔭᓕᕗᖓ Bruce Oake ᒪᒥᓴᕐᕕᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ Scott Oake ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᕋᓯ. ᐋᖓᔮᕐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᒥᒃ, ᖃᐅᔨᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖓ ᐱ…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, Nunavummiut still have the highest levels of food insecurity in the country. My home territory has the highest number of children going to school and to bed with empty stomachs. Mothers are not eating enough so their children can be full and grow up healthy. These conditions are by design of the federal government. These conditions do not happen by accident. These conditions are on pu…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association released a report on child poverty in April 2024, and its report showed that those dollars are not working because children are still in poverty. The close to $100 million that you mentioned in your response is going to corporate greed. Your government's data on the nutrition north program—
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I apologize. The government's data on the nutrition north program includes prices and the subsidy paid for some products. Since the voices of constituents are not enough, I will cite a researcher. Nicholas Li is one of just two or three researchers who have confidential access to that data. In April, Nicholas told APTN that when he last checked, there was a lag in the data reporting. …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Uqaqtittiji, Johannes Rivoire sexually abused Inuit children in Nunavut for years. Canada refused to charge him for 30 years and he died protected. The daughter of the late Marius Tungilik has asked the RCMP for his file, but it refuses to release it. The government must honour families, especially those who suffered during residential schools. Will the Minister of Public Safety provide the docume…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, I always admire my friend and colleague, the member for Winnipeg Centre, for her vision and great advocacy in ensuring that indigenous peoples' human rights are being upheld, something we do not get to see very often, which we all know is part of the reason we are having this emergency debate. One of the things that I keep wondering about is what accountability looks like for these pe…
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