Oral questions
Uqaqtittiji, Iqaluit residents are protesting high grocery prices. In Cambridge Bay, even with the subsidy of $7.39, 12 bruised oranges cost $26.76. No one can afford these prices. The North West Company is profiting from our tax dollars while Inuit families are going hungry. Will the minister accelerate the nutrition north review so that Inuit families can finally afford food?
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, Michael Janke from Cambridge Bay recently compared the prices of oranges and sugar. He found that oranges are more expensive than sugar and explained that this is why Nunavummiut choose to buy groceries that are junk food as opposed to healthy foods; it is cheaper. The Liberals love to brag about Canada's place among the G7 countries. They love to brag about its credit rating. Indeed,…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, the cost of living in Nunavut is grossly unfair. I have sought answers from the Minister of Indigenous Services and have not heard back. To my questions related to this late show, the minister has responded by citing the Canada child benefit. I am sorry. I have the wrong document. Can I have a quick minute?
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, families in Nunavut have so few economic opportunities that many families end up relying heavily on government programs. Many are on income support. Indeed, some have supplemental benefits like the Canada child benefit, which is not sufficient to meet the high cost of living. Even when the Liberals offer programs like the nutrition north program, it fails to feed families. Why? It is …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, in response to the throne speech, I asked if the minister would reverse the government's colonial approach or if indigenous rights would be violated. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations replied with promises about nation-building projects, a stronger economy and a stronger Canada. I do not see how Canada can become stronger when the rights of indigenous peoples are being violat…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I mentioned in my speech that there was a promise three years ago about that transfer, and more than half of the cases have not been transferred. We also need to question what would happen for processes that happen outside Canada as the bill relates only to offences happening within Canada. With the military police not investigating or prosecuting domestic offences, we must ask, will …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, it is clear that the Liberals have no concern for indigenous peoples and their rights. Their so-called consultations were nothing more than a publicity stunt to limit backlash. The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Assembly of First Nations and Métis nations expressed their concerns regarding Bill C-5. However, it was still rushed through to become law. At the same time, the Liberal govern…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I will start by sharing that the NDP supports Bill C-11. I dedicate this speech to the victims of abuse in the military, who deserve justice. Canadians who serve and have served in the armed forces and reserves deserve our respect and gratitude. Women, men, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, indigenous people and racialized minorities have all served in our military. Too many of the…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, the biggest change we will need to discuss at committee is the appointment of a victim liaison officer. At this point, the appointment process would remain with the commanding officer, which is not the form of culture change we need to see. To support victims, who would be most impacted by this legislation, we need to make sure that support for them comes from outside of the system th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, we want to see amendments regarding investigations or incidents that happen abroad. As we know and as we have heard, even domestically some investigations have victims from one territory and witnesses from other provinces or even abroad. There should be better supports to ensure that these cross-jurisdictional issues can be streamlined.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I welcome the new member to the House of Commons. We have heard from survivors that the government does not consider the transfer of cases to the civilian justice system enough. Many have argued that if, for example, a victim is from Alberta, an accused lives in British Columbia and witnesses to an assault are from Quebec, local police units are not adequately resourced or equipped to…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I appreciate the minister's presentation. We know the legislation is sorely needed, and we have noted that the victim liaison officer's position would be appointed through the chain of command. I wonder if the minister would be amenable to making sure this appointment is outside the chain of command so that victims can truly be heard.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I join this debate on Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, as the voice of Nunavut and as a member of the NDP. The NDP believes the federal government must take comprehensive action to fight the rising tide of hate in Canada. Almost 5,000 hate crimes were reported in 2024. Police-reported hate crimes motivated by race or ethnicity are up 19% from 2022. Yes, we need to combat hate, but w…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, as I said in my speech, we are in quite interesting times. The American influence is quite strong. As rightly pointed out, the “freedom convoy” was the biggest indicator of that. We saw how unsafe we all felt during the “freedom convoy” and how American influence seeped so deeply into Canadian discourse. We need to make sure that we continue to fund news like the CBC that gives us fac…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I am concerned about a lot of things. Being Inuk, I know that religion was used against me and my people to take my language and culture away, so my views on religion might not be the same as what is in my colleague's question. I know that when we are talking about making a better future for our children and our grandchildren, we need to base that on having faith in knowing that the d…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I am not too sure what the question is, but I will quote what one of the member's Conservative colleagues said: “It is time to jail the haters.” We need to be careful about what we discuss and do as lawmakers. We need to make sure we address hate by having discussions, public conversations, about why we need to support each other, not spread hate about each other.
Read full speech →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…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
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 →Oral Questions
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 …
Read full speech →Government Orders
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 →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…
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, 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…
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…
Read full speech →Government Orders
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?
Read full speech →Government Orders
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 →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his election. I wonder if the member has heard from the Nunatsiavut Government in his province and whether it has shared its concerns with Bill C-5 and how the bill would infringe on its rights.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
[Member spoke in Inuktitut and provided the following text:] 1948ᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐸᓂᖓᔭ’ᓈᖅ 12ᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᐊᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ Joan Scottieᒥᒃ Joan ᑎᑎᕋᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ “ᑕᒪᐃᑦᑎᓐᓄ ᐃᓅᓛᖅᐳᖓ − ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎ ᓲᖑᓴᕐᓂᖅ, ᓄᖑᓱᐃᑦᑐᓂ ᐅᔭᕋᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐱᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᖏᑦ” Joan ᓴᖏᓂᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᓴᐳᔾᔨᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᒥᒃ ᑐᒃᑐᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᔪᒃᓯᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᕗᖓ ᐸᓂᖓᔭ’ᓈᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑏᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᑦᑕᐃᓕᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᕈᓇᖅᑐᒃᑰᓂᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ. ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᕗᑦ ᓱᕋᒃᑕᐅᔪᒃᓴᐅᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋ ᐊᑏ ᐱᔪᒃᓯᓂᐊᖅᐳᒍ ᐸᓂᖓᔭ’ᓈ…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
[Member spoke in Inuktitut and provided the following text:] ᒨᓯ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᕗᖅ ᑕᓗᖅᔪᐊᕐᒥᒃ. ᑕᖅᑭᑕᒫᖅ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᖅ $1100 ᐊᑖᓂ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᐅᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔫᓯᐊᖅ ᐊᑐᕐᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓄᑕᖅᑲᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᑕᒫᖅ ᓂᕆᔭᒃᓴᖃᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ Liberalᒃᑯ ᓄᖅᑲᖅᑎᑦᑎᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᓂᖃᐃᓲᑎᓂᒃ ᓂᖀᑦ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᑐᓗᐊᖅᐳᑦ. Minister ᑲᔪᓯᑎᑦᑎᒃᑲᓐᓂᕐᓂᐊᖅᐹ Hᐊᒻᓚᒃᑯᓐᓄ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᔪᒥᒃ ᓂᖃᐃᓲᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓂᕿᑖᕈᓐᓇᖅᓯᒃᑲᓐᓂᖁᓪᓗᒋ? [Inuktitut text interpreted as follows:] Mr. Speaker, Mosie is a single …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Uqaqtittiji, I have a petition from 65 Canadians led by Doctors Against Genocide. The petitioners are calling for the implementation of the Geneva Conventions, as well as making sure that international assistance accountability act requires all Canadian foreign aid to uphold human rights and international legal standards. The petition is calling on citizens and residents of Canada to call upon the…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Uqaqtittiji, I would like to apologize in advance to the member. He did not really speak about what I am going to ask him in my question. Having looked at Bill C-4, which is supposed to be about addressing affordability measures, I have noticed that it has amendments to repeal sections of the Elections Act. I wonder how he feels about these repeals in the Elections Act, which seem to have nothing …
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…
Read full speech →Government Orders
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?
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that June is National Indigenous History Month. I hope we all take any opportunity this month to appreciate and learn about indigenous peoples. For my part, National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to remind parliamentarians that Inuit, first nations and Métis are brilliant. When indigenous peoples enter the path of forgiveness an…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, while the Prime Minister and the Liberal government are looking to get rich off first nation, Inuit and Métis lands, we are going to continue to be suppressed. This is what my biggest concern is with “one project, one review”. First nations, Métis and Inuit will not be able to give their free, prior and informed consent if it is fast-tracked, especially if they are being evacuated to …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his re-election. I did enjoy working with him at INAN. While his is such a good question regarding culturally appropriate services, I think the first thing that needs to happen is, at the very least, for basic services to be provided. As I mentioned in my speech, Nunavummiut are forced to leave. It makes it more difficult for Nunavummiut, for northerners, …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, when I was at INAN, one of the first things I always wanted to ensure that we did in our reports of our studies was to remind parliamentarians that indigenous peoples were in Canada before Canada was created, since time immemorial. Before colonialism, first nations and Inuit were taking care of these lands using their practices. During our management of it, there were not as many disa…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, I am going to ask a similar question to the one I asked another member regarding the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council. In the 2018 Parliament, they recommended that Canada work with them to increase capacity and community preparedness. In the indigenous and northern affairs committee in the 44th Parliament, we made a similar recommendation that they work with the National Counc…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the hon. member on her new role as a critic. In the 44th Parliament, I sat on the indigenous and northern affairs committee, and one of the studies that we did was on emergency preparedness. I encourage her to look at it when she goes back to her office. One of the recommendations that we made was for the federal government to work with the National Indigenous Fire Safe…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the minister on her appointment and her election. I am going to ask about Chief Monias from the Pimicikamak first nation, who, when the state of emergency was declared there, made remarks regarding the importance of treaty relationships, as well as making sure that, because of that treaty relationship, they have ready access to all ministers. The chief has since stated …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, the translation was not coming through in English.
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate you on your role as Deputy Speaker and I congratulate the member on her election. As the MP for Nunavut, I hear on a daily basis about the issues of the cost of living. As an example, a package of four corn on the cob is $15 in the community of Pangnirtung. That is how drastic and unaffordable it is. I wonder if the member agrees that to address the cost of living crisi…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Uqaqtittiji, I congratulate the member on his re-election. I always appreciate his speeches. The opioid crisis has unfortunately reached my riding of Nunavut as well, which is surprising because all the communities are fly-in communities. I wonder whether the member agrees that a way to address that in my riding is to have better screening facilities both at mailing ports and at airports as well?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, could you check to see if the member for Courtenay—Alberni is online?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Uqaqtittiji, I would like to thank very much the member for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation for sharing his time with me. I hope that this is the first of many collaborations to come. First, I thank Nunavummiut for electing me to represent and amplify their voices in this place. I thank my volunteers, contributors and staff for energizing my campaign. I thank my family, and a very special thanks to my…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Uqaqtittiji , I congratulate the member on his first term. We have had a quick conversation, and I think we will be able to work really well together. I think one way to make sure we can increase investments in the north is to help use NATO spending. If we are going to reach our 2% target, a way to reach it is to say that northerners need to be engaged in Arctic sovereignty and Arctic security. In…
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