Mark Evaloarjuk

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Mark Evaloarjuk is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly March 1999, as MLA for Amittuq

Won his last election, in 1995, with 32% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 26th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two questions for the Minister. I will use Renewable Resources as an example, such as foxes and other wildlife. We heard briefly that there is a market for foxes, a lot more than seals. I wonder whether the Minister and his department have any kind of financial assistance to provide to the hunters or trappers. The new traps, the conibear traps, the quick kill traps, are supposed to be very good, but at the same time we found some problems using them, mostly for the larger animals. We have problems with getting larger animals because they tend to break the conibear traps. The old traps we used to have before, we were told not to use them anymore, but we are able to use those old traps again. Perhaps, would the Department of Renewable Resources be able to assist the hunters or trappers in acquiring the new conibear traps because they are really expensive? The old traps used to be a dollar a piece. They had some this winter at a store and they were $26 a piece. They are very expensive for those hunters that do not have any other income. They cannot afford to buy them at that price. I just wondered if the Minister and his department have any funding available to assist the trappers is purchasing those traps?

The other question has to do with the question from economic development. Sometimes there are a lot of people who do carvings, but they do not have anywhere to market them. Sometimes the Co-op does not want to buy them. The Northern Store does not want to buy them either. There should be assistance provided to those carvers who cannot sell their carvings because they have no other way to get any income.

The hunters usually get cash from selling their carvings, but if they cannot harvest and carve, they have no other income. There are also some communities that are without caribou and some communities have more caribou than others. Perhaps this could be traded between communities? Is there any assistance from your department to trade this meat between the communities? I have asked this question before. There is some rancid meat we usually trade between each other like walrus meat, which is a delicacy for our people. Some people mentioned they are not able to sell them but we always eat them. It is our delicacy and that is our way of providing food for ourselves. Would there be any assistance for intercommunity trading such as native foods like the ones I mentioned? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (Translation ends)

Question 462-13(5): Education Funding In The Baffin Region February 26th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide me with a date as to when he will have this looked into? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Question 462-13(5): Education Funding In The Baffin Region February 26th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me if he would be able to respond to the divisional board of education's request? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Question 462-13(5): Education Funding In The Baffin Region February 26th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I made a Member's statement and tabled two documents from the Baffin Divisional Board of Education. They wanted more funding to be used for teachers in the communities. The other document was from Pond Inlet district education authority about their concerns and the other document was to do with signatures. I know some Members have concerns dealing with education in the Northwest Territories. Can the Minister tell me if he would be able to provide me with answers about a petition that was coming from the Pond Inlet education authority? Thank you. (Translation ends)

Member's Statement 339-13(5): Notice Of Absence From The House February 26th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to inform the Members of the House and my riding that today will be my last day in the House. I had hoped to remain until the last day as February 27th, was supposed to be the final day. I had made prior commitments to attend the opening of the hockey arena in Hall Beach. During our Ordinary Members Caucus I made a motion to adjourn the House and return in the middle of March. It was defeated. My reason for the motion was that I felt that we are getting frustrated with the lack of progress and many questions being asked in the House which do not affect many of the people we represent. This morning, I heard through CBC radio that the public is no longer interested in hearing anymore on the unsigned note that has been discussed. The people in my riding feel there are more important issues that we have to deal with.

Mr. Speaker, if the session was to continue beyond March 3rd, I would have considered returning but that does not make economic sense considering the high cost of my travel. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, I hope you will give me the opportunity to second the motion to conclude today's session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Tabled Document 67-13(5): Pond Inlet District Education Authority Resolution Regarding Education Funding ShortagesTabled Document 68-13(5): Package Of Letters Supporting Pond Inlet Dea Resolution On Education Funding Shortages February 25th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table two documents. The first is a Resolution from Pond Inlet District Education Authority stating their concern with lack of funding for the teachers of the NWT. The second is a package of letters supporting the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Question 453-13(5): Relocation Of Hall Beach Power Station February 25th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister assure me that he could consider relocation of the site? Can the Minister also tell me what he would do if there were to be an accident in this community, for instance, if there was a fire in the power station and other buildings caught fire? What kind of measures would be taken as the Minister indicated that it would take millions of dollars to relocate this power station. What is he considering first, safety or money? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Question 453-13(5): Relocation Of Hall Beach Power Station February 25th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of NWTPC. Mr. Speaker, the residents of Hall Beach have a concern regarding the power station that is located right in the centre of the community. They had requested previously to the NWTPC and to the previous Minister to see if they would relocate this particular power station site. I am wondering if the Minister can tell me if they can relocate this power station to where it is not in the middle of the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Member's Statement 330-13(5): Special Needs Teachers - Funding Shortages February 25th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern with the lack of sufficient special needs' teachers in our Arctic communities. The NWT communities are experiencing difficulties in school operations, mainly due to the cutbacks in funding. There are more students enroled in school, but there are fewer teachers to meet the needs of all the students, not to mention the lack of teachers for special needs' students. There is little to no funding to support an Inuktitut curriculum or quality Inuktitut programs for the students.

The cost of living in the Arctic is much higher than anywhere else in Canada. This presents a large problem when government initiatives deliver budget cutbacks on living allowances, base salaries, vacation travel allowances and other allowances. The quality and experience in teachers that are needed are at a risk with all the cutbacks in funding. Fewer teachers will flow into the High Arctic if funding is continually cut, which means our young people will have a limited education. I believe that it is important for our children to have a good education. We need good teachers to provide that and if we start to take risks with our children's education, where will it stop? The effects will be felt throughout our communities for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling two documents at the appropriate time regarding this matter, showing concerns of the residents and the Baffin Divisional Board of Education with this ongoing issue. I hope that the Minister will be responding to the concerns they raise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

Committee Motion 28-13(5): Recommendation To Provide Fair And Equitable Access To Compassionate Travel February 25th, 1998

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a general comment, if I could. I know that the Department of Transportation is not in a business of dealing with or regulating the private airlines. With us living in the high Arctic and in regard to the price of freight that is sent to those remote communities, such as mine, the Pond Inlet people have been asking for an airstrip so they can get a larger freighter airline into their community. First Air goes from Ottawa and Montreal to the eastern communities into the Baffin region. They are the only airlines that service our communities. Using this as an example, I heard recently that if I ordered a skidoo from Montreal to Pond Inlet, it would cost in the neighbourhood of about so much a kilo. If I order from Montreal to Nanisivik, the same skidoo that weights the same weight would be half the freight I would have been charged. That is the reason why they would like to get a larger airstrip. This way would be cheaper. We just have First Air. That is the only airline we have that comes from Montreal, Iqaluit and from Iqaluit a 748 goes to those smaller communities. From Iqaluit to the rest of the communities, the smaller airlines go to those smaller communities. It is pretty far from Iqaluit to those smaller communities and the freight they charge, is a lot more. For that reason they have been wondering if they would be able to get an airstrip, so they could have larger aircraft taking those freights to the other smaller communities. They feel it would be a lot cheaper. I have been told it would be cheaper.

I just want the Minister and his officials to consider that request and Pond Inlet does not have sealift facilities as well. I mentioned before, Pond Inlet does not have a cove, an inlet or a bay for the ships to be able to port there. Freight is getting very expensive, especially when they are using a small aircraft. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (Translation ends)