EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
What does it mean to go to other communities?
The member is asking what it means to go to other communities.
We will be going back to the three regions and then from there, what the regions do is they give information to other communities in their region.
I would like the people of Pond Inlet. I’m sorry to the people of Pond Inlet that we were not considered for the survey at the present time.
It’s too bad.
But the three regions. You already did the survey on the three regions with respect to homelessness. I think there were 98 people.
What are you going to do after you find out from the three regions about homelessness?
Why are we just looking at the three regions in Nunavut?
Because we don’t have enough time. That’s why we go to the three regions.
What we do is by telephone we do a survey of people that are homeless, especially people that live in tents and shacks to find out what the problem is in each community.
Mr. Chairman, this is the first survey that we are going to do with respect to homelessness.
As a government, we will find out what other stuff that we have to do with respect to people who are homeless.
The smaller communities will be surveyed but we are looking at the three regions because they can communicate to the smaller communities.
From there we can give information to other communities as well as work with the various organizations with respect to people that are homeless that live in tents and in shacks.
For the people that do not live in the larger communities are not being involved or they are inconvenienced. It’s too bad that the government does not seem to be looking at the smaller communities.
When will you be finishing with the survey and when will you be giving us information in the House?
After we come back from the regional communities and do a survey.
There are 22 communities that we will be getting in touch with respect to homeless people.
Just to let the member know.
Perhaps I will ask this as a last question.
It seems that I am understanding that homeless people who are out there that the survey does not include those people who are homeless in the community.
I also understand that if I’m a boarder in someone’s home, and as long as I can remain a boarder in someone’s home, I am not considered homeless by our government. I understand that.
I also thank you for your response.
The other question that I have, Mr. Chairman, is that the survey that you did stated that there were about 98 homeless people in all of Nunavut.
Once you find out how many homeless people there are, how long are you going to do the survey? And how long after the survey is completed, will you reporting to the House?
The first part of the question is not true because that’s not what we’re saying.
As a government, we’re not saying what the member stated.
We have to tell the truth and what’s truly out there.
We will find out when we get the results of the survey.
Maybe I am misunderstanding because we don’t have same dialect.
I want to raise a point of order because she is calling me a liar.
I will not respond to that question.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I can ask you if I can make a point of order because she is telling me that I’m not telling the truth.
Chairman: A point of order has been raised.
Mr. Enook, what is your point of order?
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, in the Legislative Assembly, we cannot say that other Members of this House are not telling the truth. If I understand what the minister is saying, my point of order is that she is telling me that I am not telling the truth. That’s my point of order.
Ms. Ugyuk, you may speak to the point of order. Ms. Ugyuk.
The Member for Tununiq is saying that he thinks that the government is not taking care of the homeless and does not have care. I am saying that I don’t think his response is true.
Chairman: Ms. Ugyuk, you may speak to the point of order.
The translation did not come out clearly.
Can you please speak to the point of order, Ms. Ugyuk.
In relation to the question, the way we understood it is that it was not our belief as a government that we do not care about the homeless.
I would like to take a look at the Blues first.
Chairman: In the matter of judgment of interpretation, I will report back tomorrow.
We will continue with the questioning.
Still on this page D-4, I think we are still on page D-4.
I would like to go back to the employees of the Family Services Department; I should have asked more about that.
In reference to the community social workers, if I should not be asking about that right now then I can ask it in some other area.
However, I would like to ask what should their level of education be or would you rather ask this when we get into career development?
However, if you would allow me, then that is what I am now asking.
In relation to the community workers level of education; in order for a person to become an employee in that field there are various levels of employees.
They have different levels of education. They get their jobs depending on what specific things they should be responsible for.
They are identified in that manual.
Chairman (interpretation): Next in relation to the names on my list, Mr. Hickes.
I am going to stay with homelessness a little bit, if I may be allowed.
Mr. Chairman on February 26, 2013, the minister of the day responsible for homelessness made a statement that there are more than 1200 Nunavummiut in need of housing.
On March 14, 2013, during a Member’s Statement, the current Minister responsible for Homelessness, as a regular member, stated and I’ll quote, “While this figure may seem high, I believe that it does not come close to reflecting the true state of homelessness across our territory.”
Mr. Chairman, were the survey parameters of the recent study being done or the criteria of the survey different from the previous survey where the 1,200 number came from?
I think that people have become to misunderstand the present numbers. The numbers that we were talking about came from the housing corporation’s numbers initially.
The most recent survey is using a totally different methodology.
Would the minister be able to inform me of what those differences are?
I’ll have the deputy minister explain the differences.
I think the difference between the 2014 snapshot of three regional centres and some communities by phone that were surveyed was based on absolute homeless criteria. The 2014 absolute homeless criteria were different from the 2010 general survey that was conducted by the Nunavut Housing Corporation, which also used other criteria, including hidden homeless and also at risk of homelessness.
There is a difference between the criteria that were used in 2010 and also in 2014.
In the quote that I just quoted in the minister’s Member’s Statement from last year, she was saying that “it does not come close to reflecting the true state of homelessness.” Why would this survey be done where it would not reflect the true state of homelessness in Nunavut?
I can answer by saying that the first one we were using based its information on different parameters than the one we did.
If you will indulge me, I have another quote from that same Member’s Statement, and I quote, “It seems that the only homeless shelters within Nunavut are those provided for by independent societies with contribution agreements from the government. However, many community-based societies are run by volunteers who burn out and sometimes cannot keep up with the administrative burdens of running a shelter.”
Under the section of the Policy, Planning and Corporate Services Division of the minister’s department, how are they working to overcome these challenges and barriers for society-driven shelters?
In reference to what I said before, I can answer it in this manner.
The present department that I work with is basing their numbers on the absolute homeless.
However, we expect that eventually the problem in relation to homeless people, their problems will be addressed.
Mr. Hickes: My apologies if I wasn’t clear in my question. I was asking more on what kind of financial resources or human resources are being improved to provide shelter services?
As the member stated, this is a growing problem in Nunavut a year ago. In my opinion, I don’t think it will have gotten much better.
Chairman: Thank you very much, Mr. Hickes.
There is a homeless shelter in Iqaluit.
They are funded more now than they used to be.
The funding for that homeless shelter has increased compared to what it used to be.
I have stated that we will be going back to the communities outside of the regional centres.
We will be hearing more from them. We will be hearing them through our regional offices so we expect to be able to have more information. The gaps that are considered to be there.
Back when this member’s statement was spoken last year there was a news article that came out the next day. It was quoting the minister as a member.
It asked the justice minister if his department had collected any information on whether people who are removed from homes because of the Family Intervention Act find housing in the smaller communities.
I’m just wondering, many community-based societies are run by volunteers.
She mentioned some of the larger centres like Iqaluit that have shelters. But what is being done in the smaller communities to provide shelter services for people in addition to repercussions of the Family Intervention Act out of the basic homeless population?
In reference to the Act, it is under the Minister of Justice.
In terms of what I know personally, the people who work in the Department of Justice now have to work with people who become homeless after having been kicked out.
How their situation should be caused to be improved.
However, we do know that there are a lot of them.
We do know that. Thank you.
I apologize if I wasn’t clear in my last question. What is the Department of Family Services doing in smaller communities to provide shelter services?
There is only one facility in Iqaluit and I don’t know of any other community in Nunavut that has a facility like that.
So no other community has any societies that have applied for any type of funding under any shelter funding availability.
There are no homeless shelters in the communities.
However, in Gjoa Haven, we are starting to talk with them because they want to create one or start one in their community.
We have to work with them through our office in Cambridge Bay.
I was just going to go back to another quote that was provided to the media a little over a year ago that “After an extended period of time, these temporary homes can pose added risks to an individual’s health and well-being,” she said, and sometimes who have no home of their own also end up in southern cities.
What type of risks have residents of these shelters been exposed to?
That quote is still in use.
We always want to explain how we use the money that is given to us by the government and those people who don’t have adequate places to stay in homes or if that person becomes homeless through abuse and people who are in danger.
In the business plan on page 111, it talks about assessing the departmental team to “determine the existing array of skills and knowledge, identify key skill gaps and take steps to strengthen the team in the first year of operation.”
Now that the minister has been in her position for… .
I know it’s only a little over half a year. You’re only partway through that. What are some of the steps that you have taken to identify some of those skill gaps to date, and is that the purpose of some of the new PYs that were implemented into this budget?
I thank Mr. Hickes for asking that question.
The Department of Family Services considers it very important that they have to be fully aware and fully understand things that can cause us problems with Family Services.
Social workers are committed to the learning materials.
Under the status under that quote that I made from the business plan, it talks about various training initiatives that are underway across the department to help address gaps that have been identified. Can the minister let the committee know what some of those training initiatives are?
We’re putting together things that can improve our work and also improving our correspondence, and also the private and confidential matters being properly archived, and also following policies properly, more training for social workers, and income support for food.
They’re trying to digitize the whole Income Support Program, and education about nutritious food, and how they learn more about handling food and stuff through computers.
My final question. Hopefully, my final question, it all depends on the answer.
Also on the same page of the business plan, on page 111, the third bullet down talks about assessing the adequacy of resources to provide the programs and services to achieve the mission statement of the department.
In the status it has “the department completed this assessment and is working collaboratively with other government departments to secure the resources needed to achieve the department’s mission.”
Would the minister be able to elaborate on the status for the members, please?
If I understand your question correctly, the heads of Family Services would meet to decide what direction they want to go to. What the mission and proper tools to use for social workers.
That’s how I can respond to you.
I thank the minister for the response regarding social services.
I’m sure there are other programs and services in the department. Maybe if she can elaborate a little bit more on the other services provided by her department.
The department has undertaken the work required to identify its financial policy, information data, administrative and human resource needs, and will continue to work collaboratively with other government departments to develop a plan to address shortfalls in these key areas.
Mr. Hickes: I can actually remember this will be my final question under this category.
Would the minister be able to let us know which departments that she’s collaborating with under which programs?
I don’t see the light when it comes on.
The different groups that we work with are Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on poverty reduction, custom adoption groups, the Department of Health, Department of Finance, and the Department of Education. The wildlife organizations are not involved.
Following my list, Mr. Shooyook.
I have a very short question. Thinking about this I’m starting to understand things. What you counted were the people who actually don’t have a place to sleep?
People who have to sleep outside or somewhere else. People who don’t have anywhere to stay at all. People who have to stay in shacks are the absolute homeless.
We also consider people who have a place to stay but they are just waiting for a home. Although they have a place to stay they don’t have their own place.
In our area I don’t know of anybody like that. There may be people in that situation, so I understand now that the work you did was to identify those people who are absolutely homeless. According to what I understand, the people who have places to stay or places to sleep are not really as worrisome as those people who are absolutely homeless, who have to stay in shacks and tents.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If you could understand the poverty reduction program. We are putting together a five-year plan for poverty reduction.
One of the causes of poverty is homelessness. I think people have a hard time connecting the two. Right now we don’t have any policies telling us how to handle people like that.
I hope you understand me, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I would like to first ask, under D-9, the grants and contributions of the department in it’s main estimates show that contributions for homelessness initiatives will be doubling from the previous year.
I would like to know how this money will be allocated for 2014-15.
That is generally handled by the Department of Health and it is moving to Family Services. The shelters for homeless people are funded in total of $300,000.
The one in Iqaluit operations it costs $700,000 to operate it. That figure is lower than the actual operating costs. The $400,000 is added to the operation of that facility.
I would also like to thank the minister for her response. I will move on to another topic. On the payment for rent, the rent scale was amended on the Third Assembly.
Has the Department of Family Services noticed that since the rent scale has changed, has it had an impact on Inuit? Do you see more people trying to obtain work because of the rent change?
I’m not sure if they had done a review or analyzed but I’ll have my deputy minister respond to that question.
If I understood the question correctly, the Nunavut Housing Corporation and their units that they are responsible for they are responsible for the rent scale. Every time the rent scale changes or if any price change such as for electricity and heating fuel and for providing services of the unit.
Every time there is a change, the recipients of income support have to follow the change.
Yes, the amount of funding we use changes when there are changes in anything like that.
Do I understand then that the amendments for rent scale because of that there are more people looking for jobs… previous income support recipients are now looking for jobs because of the rent scale amendment?
We are trying to find the figure.
Can we get back to the member with the information before the session is over?
In your business plan on page 111.
Moving on to another topic I just want to get further clarification on the last bullet. Review the implementation of social services transformation plan.
Can you elaborate further on the Social Services transformation plan details?
Chairman (interpretation): Although this was asked, I would like to ask Minister Ugyuk if she would like to respond to that question.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman.
Although Mr. Hickes had asked that question earlier on that Family Services or Social Services are trying to enhance their transformation plan for Nunavummiut and according to the meeting minutes of the review of Family Services or Social Services, the Auditor General’s Office had audited Social Services on how we can provide improvements for policies for youth and children, and we’re looking at how we can improve those.
Also, we will start working on the child and youth representative.
We’re now starting to establish that program and it’s part of that.
Although we’re not responsible for it, we are going to participate and be involved, and that’s my understanding.
The Department of Family Services will work together with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to work on the social services provision.
Thank you for allowing me to ask the question that was already asked.
I should start listening to the proceedings more carefully.
My last question is in regard to your opening comments. The department is going to have 16.5 PYs. Which branch or division will they be in your department?
I’ll have Mr. Awa respond to that question.
Although the department has been established, I can say that we’re still not complete in establishing the department. There are still some programs and services that we’re still missing and that we require.
Also, we still need some programs and services to be transferred to the family services department. As I stated before, we would like to finish the transfer of those programs and services to the Department of Family Services.
In regard to the six PYs, if they’re approved, I can say that we require four social service workers in Igloolik and almost two for home care, as well as one more social worker position and others that we would like to see. However, to respond to your question, these are the six positions that I have just identified.
I’m sorry. I came up with a couple of more questions.
In the priorities listed on page 112 under 2014-15, the fourth bullet down talks about contributing to the development and implementation of GN’s Human Resource Strategy.
Would you be able to inform the committee here on what contribution the Department of Family Services makes to that development?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I can’t remember which bullet he said.
Also on the same page, the next bullet talks about working with Nunavut Arctic... . Sorry. The fourth bullet in the priorities for 2014-15.
Fourth bullet on the priorities, page 112.
The Department of Family Services is taking steps to address resource shortfalls that come along with the establishment of the department in April, 2013.
Achieving the intent and goals of the department is challenging due to the inadequate resources that accompany the restructuring initiative.
The department has undertaken the work required to identify its financial policies, information data, administrative and human resources needs, and will continue to work collaboratively with other government departments to develop a plan to address shortfalls in these key areas.
The next bullet states that you’re working with Nunavut Arctic College to develop career path training for the various professions within the Department of Family Services for positional qualifications to lead to more successful employment opportunities.
What talks have you had with the Nunavut Arctic College? What specific professional designations are you looking at coordinating with the college?
We’re now starting to meet with the Nunavut Arctic College. We just recently held a meeting with Peter Dudding of Nunavut Arctic College in Cambridge Bay to strengthen the training program so that we can enhance it for the Department of Family Services. We dealt with that during our meeting with Nunavut Arctic College.
There was an official coming from the Nunatta Campus in Iqaluit, and also Cambridge Bay Nunavut Arctic College officials.
We discussed this matter because we want to have a good training program for the Department of Family Services.
On the same page it talks about the senior management team prioritizing the department’s inventory of legislative work and to develop a plan to advance the work on this privatization.
In the status on the previous page in 111, it states that “the department has developed the inventory for legislative needs, and are working on prioritization.”
I understand that prioritization may not have occurred yet.
Can we get a description of what is contained in the inventory of legislative needs for your department?
This question was answered a little while ago, but the custom adoption legislation is one and we have not changed some other legislation.
I’m not really sure exactly which legislation will be done, but poverty reduction is one that we are thinking about.
Under career development, we have the Apprenticeship Act and Regulations, Student Financial Act and Regulations, child and family services, custom adoption, and food security.
One final question; when you talk about the apprenticeship division of your department, how many PYs are in that division currently?
Can you wait while we look for that information?
We will get Mr. Kolot to respond to that question so you can get the numbers.
Chairman: Thank you. I will allow Mr. Kolot.
Mr. Kolot: Thank you for the question.
The apprenticeship division was recently transferred over from the Department of Education to the Department of Family Services.
I believe in our current staff compliment we have a registrar of apprenticeship trades and training, and a supervisor of apprenticeship trades and occupations. Those are two PYs that have come over with the apprenticeship.
Mr. Hickes: I promise this is my final question, Mr. Chairman.
Are both those PYs located here in Iqaluit?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): For clarity, I’ll get Mr. Kolot to respond to that question.
One of the PYs is in Iqaluit and the other one is in Arviat.
I don’t have any more names. Family Services. Branch Summary.
Corporate Management. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $6,831,000. Do you agree?
I make a motion to report progress.