Hunter Tootoo

[NHL Retirement, November 7th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker,

[Member spoke in Inuktitut]

[English]

I want to recognize a great Canadian, and, full disclosure, he is my cousin.

Jordin Tootoo learned to play hockey in our home community of Rankin Inlet. He played four seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings before joining the Nashville Predators in 2003, becoming the first Inuk to play in the NHL. After 13 seasons, Jordin has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Jordin has faced struggles in his life. He lost his older brother to suicide. He conquered an alcohol addiction that threatened to end his playing career. He has turned those experiences into opportunities to promote mental wellness and suicide prevention. He has always given back to Inuit and indigenous communities and now will have more time to focus on his work with indigenous youth.

Jordin is an inspiration to all indigenous people, and indeed, to all Canadians. He has shown us that one can find success in life, even in the face of tough challenges, and how to help others find their way.

Jordin's Inuk name, Kudluk, means “thunder” in Inuktitut. Long may he roar.

[Housing, November 5th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker,

[Member spoke in Inuktitut]

My question is for the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. This is in follow-up to my question last week. I do not believe that the minister grasped the severity of Nunavut's housing shortage.

Yes, $240 million has been allocated. It sounds like a lot, but it is over 10 years. That is 48 new houses per year for the entire territory, which is less than two per community. This is a crisis. Overcrowding is contributing to high rates of youth suicide and tuberculosis. No Canadian should live like this.

I ask again, will the minister take immediate action to work with the Government of Nunavut to solve this crisis?

[Housing, November 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Canadians would be horrified and embarrassed to see the third world conditions that many people in Nunavut are living in. Our housing shortage has reached a crisis point. Overcrowding is contributing to high rates of youth suicide and tuberculosis. The housing allocation in the last budget does not even begin to address the current crisis or meet the annual labour force growth.

Will the minister immediately increase funding to alleviate this crisis and work with the Government of Nunavut on an appropriate allocation for the 2019 budget?

[Elections Modernization Act, October 29th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply, with this member voting no.

[Elections Modernization Act, October 29th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply and will be voting yes.

[Elections Modernization Act, October 29th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply and I am voting no.

[Elections Modernization Act, October 29th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I agree to apply the vote, and will be voting no.

[Indigenous Affairs, October 16th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

In 1993, Canada signed the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Article 24.3.1 required Canada to develop and implement procurement policies to support Inuit-owned businesses. Not supporting these businesses is a barrier to building a sustainable economy for Nunavut.

A court settlement in May 2015 required Canada to have these policies in place by July 31, 2016, yet it has not. Why has the government not honoured its legal obligation, and when will it do so?

[Nunavut, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, in Nunavut we share a vision that we can build a sustainable economy that will support our community, create job growth, reduce our dependency on Ottawa and put our standard of living on par with Canadians in the south. To do this requires substantial investment from the federal government to address urgent needs in four critical areas: food security, community infrastructure, housing, and skills and employment training. Only once these needs are addressed can we truly begin to build a sustainable economy.

The government is taking steps in the right direction. Since I was elected, over $1.25 billion in funding has been announced, and it is nice to see a renewed interest in improving our quality of life. However, the funding is slow in finding its way into our communities and is often spread out over a number of years, minimizing the impact.

In this session of Parliament, I will be focusing on these areas. I look forward to consulting and working with my colleagues on finding solutions for a brighter future for Nunavut.

[Economic Development, October 2nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker,

[Member spoke in Inuktitut].

[English]

My question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs. The minister is aware of the request to fund a feasibility study for the Kivalliq hydro fibre link. It is my understanding that a portion of this funding has or will be approved shortly.

This Inuit-to-Crown project is critical and supported by all mayors of the Kivalliq region. It will provide the region with a green source of energy and help Nunavummiut in its quest to build a sustainable economy.

Will the minister commit, as he did to stakeholders, to finding the remaining funding for this important study, which would lead to transformative change for Nunavut?