EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I do apologize, I don’t have a specific number that I can give the member on psychologists, but I do know that the services are available as needed.
We do our best to provide one-on-one counselling with mental health workers and psychiatric nurses in the community.
If it’s deemed necessary to deal with a psychiatrist or psychologist, then that would escalate the need where we would attempt to deal with it in the home community through professionals that would travel on a contract basis.
If necessary and if immediate need is identified, we would take the opportunity to send people down to seek those services in other jurisdictions.
The minister stated that he doesn’t have the statistics in front of him, but hopefully that information can be forthcoming at a later date either within this sitting or beyond.
Mr. Speaker, mental health issues can affect an individual’s personal health and well-being, their family situation, their workplace relationships, and even lead to problems with the law.
Will the minister commit to working with his cabinet colleagues to ensure that mental health issues are addressed in a holistic manner across all government departments?
One of the things that I did talk about in Committee of the Whole was the importance of dealing at a community level when we’re talking about health care in general but specifically with mental health.
Just an example of some of the community initiatives that we have put on, we deal with alcoholics anonymous, we support traditional dancing and drumming lessons, youth and elders’ programming, performing arts groups, and peer support with topic-specific support groups. Community-run initiatives can support an individual in their general well-being.
We work very closely with our community wellness coordinators. I believe I have mentioned previously that in the last few months we have gone through training programs with our coordinators where I had the opportunity to speak to two of the three regional groups.
I look forward to the completion of the community wellness plans, which assist us as a department to make sure that we’re allocating our funding to initiatives that the community feels valued.
Just some examples of societies that we work with right now are the Tukisigiarvik Society, the Pirurvik Centre, the YMCA, the Ilisaqsivik Society, and the Pulaarvik Friendship Centre, just to name a few.
We work very hard to make sure that mental health and addictions is used to help with parenting and relationship skills, anger management, coping skills, and traditional skill development.
In addition, like I had mentioned before, we do have mobile trauma teams that can assist communities, such as recent events.
We’re looking at sending in additional mental health workers and counsellors to be able to assist the community of Kugaaruk with their recent loss last night.
To specifically answer the member’s question, I do work with my cabinet colleagues regularly through our Quality of Life cabinet committee that I chair.
We’re always exploring different ways to make sure that we can roll out services in a way that is consistent across the territory and will continue to meet the needs of our residents.
Question 635 – 4(3): Old Nursing Station (Shooyook)
When I asked questions to the minister yesterday, apparently we had a misunderstanding, so I will provide further background to the minister.
When I investigated the matter via telephone, the local HTO stated that a building will become vacant shortly when the new health centre opens and the nurses move into the building.
The operations will be moved to the new building.
The HTO stated that there shouldn’t be any funding concerns as the HTO has funding available.
Is that building that is currently in use today owned by the Department of Family Services or the Mental Health Division?
Can you clarify that situation for me first?
If I understood the member’s question, I believe he is referring to the health centre in Arctic Bay.
Is it the health centre?
If it isn’t the health centre, when any government infrastructure owned and used by a specific department is no longer needed and the building is vacated, the government department that wishes to use the building first has to have it inspected. This applies to all buildings where a department has no further need.
If they no longer wish to own the building, then they can transfer the ownership of the facility to the hamlet for a nominal fee or it can be provided to the local hamlet.
If the minister is referring to the building no longer to be used, I am not sure when it will be vacated.
The HTO currently has no space in the office, but if that building is vacated upon the transfer of operations to the new health centre, the HTO stated that they will be moving into the old health centre and that there should be no funding concerns as they have funding.
Once the approval to transfer the building comes through, will this transfer go through the hamlet offices or will the HTO have to submit their own application for the building?
Can you provide some clarification on this matter?
I can’t tell the member what is going to be done with the building he’s talking about.
I have no idea whether the building he’s talking about is owned or leased by the government.
I can tell the member that if the department owns that building and no longer requires it, they would offer it to other departments first and if the other departments don’t want to utilize that building, then they would offer the building to the hamlet.
They would just follow the process that the government is using.
At this time I don’t know exactly who owns the building that the member is talking about.
When you have an opportunity, if you can let me know before the winter session is over, will you consult with me so that we can have the same level of understanding?
I will look into the building that the member is talking about. I will then consult with the member and tell him as to who owns that building and whether the HTO can utilize it.
Question 636 – 4(3): Trades Training in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this sitting my colleague from Rankin Inlet South asked about the status of the Sanatuliqsarvik Trades Training Facility in Rankin Inlet.
While I fully support Nunavut Arctic College’s focus on providing trades training in a central location, it is also important to take advantage of other opportunities.
Can the minister provide an update on what trades training opportunities will be made available in the community of Baker Lake in the coming months?
I also thank my colleague for requesting that information.
I can say that on March 23, 2016 we worked with the mining company to do a training course on heavy equipment airbrakes and a class 1 driving course near Baker Lake.
To date those programs are held in Baker Lake. We work closely with Agnico Eagle Mines for pre-trades training and we also work with them on pre-trades at the mining site to prepare or plan for their career.
That is done at the mine site, not in the community of Baker Lake.
The Kivalliq Mine Training Society provides a lot of support on that and we work with them.
It is getting closer to that time of year when construction projects will get underway.
Can the minister describe what initiatives are in place to ensure that Nunavummiut who wish to get practical experience in trades training have opportunities to work on construction projects in communities such as Baker Lake?
I also thank my colleague for enquiring about this issue because we each represent and live in different communities. We do want adequate training provided at the community level.
There is a trade school in Rankin Inlet where they offer apprenticeship programs for carpentry and other trades.
Those are the programs that we have in that community.
We can provide pre-trades training through the community learning centres.
That is why we ask the communities every year what they would like to see offered.
If possible, we try to find out if the communities want trades training programs so that we can find and hire instructors. It depends on the number of people who are interested in taking that training in the community.
I recognize that the responsibility for “Nunavut Apprenticeship” falls under the Department of Family Services.
However, ongoing communication must occur between Nunavut Arctic College and Nunavut Apprenticeship to ensure that apprenticeship-related training is available to Nunavummiut who wish to become trained and certified in the trades.
Can the minister clearly describe how Nunavut Arctic College’s trades training facility works with the Nunavut Apprenticeship unit to identify opportunities for Nunavummiut to gain practical experience towards their apprenticeship certification by working on construction projects in communities such as Baker Lake?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Hon. Quassa.
Yes, we work closely with the Department of Family Services on the preparation of the programs and we prepare all community learning centres.
The program called G.R.E.A.T. for short is run by the Department of Family Services.
As I said earlier, (interpretation ends) pre-trades and trades (interpretation) training programs continue smoothly. This is specifically towards an (interpretation ends) apprenticeship (interpretation) program as that is the main goal of the program. To date this apprenticeship program is only offered in Rankin Inlet.
Part of the barriers we face with applicants from other communities who really want to be an apprentice is when no (interpretation ends) journeymen (interpretation) live in their community and the (interpretation ends) apprenticeship (interpretation) can’t move.
I am sorry I keep using English terms.
However, only certified journeymen can apprentice a person and most communities don’t have local journeymen.
This is what is slowing down the process, as barriers to (interpretation ends) apprenticeship (interpretation) requires the availability of certified journeymen. Although we want more apprentices, it is part of the reason why this process is so slow, as only certified tradespersons can take on an apprentice. That is the only way this can go smoothly.
Nonetheless, any community can offer the (interpretation ends) pre-trades (interpretation) program in their community, but only certified tradespersons can take on an apprentice.
Where they exist, they are an important asset. We are very grateful to the Department of Family Services for initiating the career pathways through the G.R.E.A.T. program.
Question 637 – 4(3): Nunavut Tourism (Angnakak)
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Last September the minister announced a major change in the role and responsibility of Nunavut Tourism. Her announcement indicated that Nunavut Tourism will “continue as a membership-based association that will focus on supporting its members.”
It also indicated that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will assume “responsibility for tourism development, marketing and research, visitor experience and visitor centre operations.”
Can the minister indicate when the new contribution agreement between her department and Nunavut Tourism that formalizes the new relationship between the two entities will be ready to be signed and tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
Yes, in September we did announce the restructuring of our support for tourism development. The changes clarified the role for Nunavut Tourism as a membership association.
The department will continue to work with Nunavut Tourism to achieve the goals set out in Sivumut Abluqta and Tunngasaiji: A Tourism Strategy for Nunavut.
Currently we are still setting up the GN staffing under the new cultural tourism initiative.
Once those have been staffed up, we can allow for Nunavut Tourism to decrease their staffing unit.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The amount of contribution funding that the department provides to Nunavut Tourism is decreasing from a little over $3 million per year to about $1 million.
Can the minister indicate how this new amount was determined to be adequate for Nunavut Tourism to fulfill its new role?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Yes, Nunavut Tourism’s operating budget for 2016-17 will be cut from $3 million to $1,625,000, and then to $1 million from 2017-18 onwards.
This move will allow Nunavut Tourism to focus on advocacy for its members and direct marketing efforts primarily for its members’ benefit, the majority of which are already established tourism businesses.
The Cultural Industries Division (TCI) has assumed responsibility for tourism development, marketing and research, visitor experience, and visitor centre operations.
This money is doing the responsibility of the project and other expenses for the other fiscal years.
The restructuring was made due to the response to the recommendations that resulted from the 2016 standing committee’s review of Nunavut Tourism.
I don’t think the minister told me exactly how they got to a million-dollar budget, but I do want to speak to a little bit about the employees that you made reference to.
I guess it’s reasonable to assume that due to the result of the changes in the roles and responsibilities of Nunavut Tourism, can the minister indicate whether or not her department has agreed to fill these new positions with former employees of Nunavut Tourism?
Mr. Speaker, once the positions are advertised, Nunavut Tourism employees can definitely apply for those positions and based on their experiences and qualifications for that position, they will be considered.
Question 638 – 4(3): Justices of the Peace (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My questions are for the Minister of Justice.
As the minister will recall, in May of 2013 the previous Legislative Assembly passed Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Justices of the Peace Act, which included sections that provide for the establishment of Justices of the Peace Appointment and Remuneration Committee.
On July 29, 2016 these sections of the legislation came into force.
Can the minister tell us when we can expect to see the appointment of members to the Justices of the Peace Appointment and Remuneration Committee?
I appreciate the member for praising my memory.
As I will recall, I’m not even sure I was the Minister of Justice back in 2013, but nevertheless that’s a good question. I can tell Mr. Mikkungwak that the Justices of the Peace committee has been approved by cabinet and we do have members who are getting ready to get to work on that committee.
Can the minister tell us how his department and the Nunavut Court of Justice keep track of which communities do or do not have a Justice of the Peace position in the community?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, we have support persons that work at the Nunavut Court of Justice who interact with the court of justice and the Department of Justice.
A person who works in the court of justice keeps my deputy minister apprised. I am aware that there are two or three communities in Nunavut that currently do not have Justices of the Peace.
However, I’m also aware that the Justice of the Peace program makes provisions for... . If there are no JPs in the community, then other JPs in Nunavut are available to assist the community that doesn’t have a Justice of the Peace.
The Nunavut Court of Justice indicates on its website that there are three special designations that a Justice of the Peace may receive, including a designation to work under the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
Can the minister tell us today how many Justices of the Peace in Nunavut currently have a special designation to work under the Family Abuse Intervention Act?
I believe, under that Act, the Family Abuse Intervention Act, there are supposed to be 12.
We have five designated JPs and I was just checking up on this a few weeks ago.
I had an opportunity to speak to the community justice outreach workers and justice specialists at a conference in Cambridge Bay.
I have learned that we have a shortage in FAIA JPs.
I think we’re down to four. Don’t quote me on that number.
My memory isn’t that good. I think there are four or five.
My department is aware that we need to find people who could be FAIA JPs to support that program.
Hopefully with this new committee, they can recruit people who want to be FAIA JPs and make those recommendations to me and to cabinet.
Tabled Document 262 – 4(3): Director of Child and Family Services Annual Report 2015-2016 (Mike)
Today I am tabling the Director of Children and Family Services Annual Report 2015-16.
Bill 36 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 36, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Income Tax Act to maintain education and textbook credits in Nunavut as of January 1, 2017, which would otherwise have become unavailable due to amendments to the Income Tax Act of Canada. It also makes other miscellaneous amendments.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. All those in favour. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Opposed.
The motion is carried and Bill 36 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 42 – An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat South, that Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill increases the tax rate per cigarette and per gram of cigarette and other tobacco.
Speaker: The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
The motion is carried and Bill 42 is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
[Consideration in] Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 32, 33, 34, and 35 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:12 and Committee resumed at 15:36
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 34 and the review of the main estimates for the Department of Education and, if time permits, the Department of Community and Government Services.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 34?
Chairman: I would now like to ask the Minister of Education if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I would like to have officials with me here.
With me to my left is (interpretation ends) Deputy Minister Kathy Okpik (interpretation) and to my right is Heather Moffett, Director of Corporate Services.
You can now proceed with your opening comments.
I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) Education. Directorate.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $3,900,000.
Education on page G-5.
Policy and Planning. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $2,076,000.
The special committee to review, which I was part of, the Education Act tabled the final report on November 5, 2015 and following that, the department completed its own series of consultations and evaluation of the legislation.
Will any amendments to the Education Act be proposed during the term of this Assembly and, if so, when will the bill be introduced?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The amending bill will be introduced during the life of this government per recommendations of the special committee.
I expect that the introduction will be placed during the winter 2017 sitting this month, (interpretation) it is March 1 today, (interpretation ends) with enough time for the bill to reach second reading before the final day of the sitting and that’s where we are.
Again, I’m anticipating the first reading to be hopefully on Tuesday (interpretation) of next week.
Your 2017-2020 draft business plan also indicates that a multi-year strategic plan will be developed to guide the future development of the department and the implementation of the Education Act.
Can you describe what specifically will be addressed by that work plan?
As per my earlier remark on the proposed bill, I will be introducing the legislation to the House.
Once it has been introduced, it will show that kind of detail queried about.
However, what I can state here is that we will be looking at the subject the member raised in her question, such as our employees and (interpretation ends) staff training, (interpretation) including training funds for our local DEA members.
The coalition of DEAs and the local DEAs will be kept informed of developments.
Furthermore, it will include such things as the language of instruction.
It is obvious that this aspect, which I can’t translate properly into Inuktitut, relates to (interpretation ends) regulations (interpretation) that will be developed fully, as per the member’s question on the details.
You talk about the Day Care Act in your business plan of 89 and child care obviously has been an important topic for me, just looking at the need that we have, especially here in Iqaluit anyhow, for additional child care spaces.
Your business plan indicates that a comprehensive review will be done on the Child Day Care Act.
What consideration is currently being given to addressing the need for more daycare spaces across Nunavut?
Will any capital funding be available to establish new daycares?
On that issue, the Special Committee to Review the Education Act reviewed child care to date.
The department is presently working on two areas. As I mentioned, it’s in two parts.
The first area is the feasibility study on whether kindergarteners will be in class all day and they will review how that would be set up.
For the second area, I’ll speak in English if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The second area was the completion of an options paper to discuss the current state of child care in Nunavut as well as contributions to various government departments and agencies. Certainly the paper is now amongst the various government departments that I have indicated.
We will be conducting a thorough needs analysis on demand for child care across the territory. We will collect and maintain records which speaks to the level of need, including but not limited to wait-lists, list of vacancies, vacancy rate, early learning child care programming, address local child care shortage by promoting and supporting the establishment of new child care spaces, work with ELCC centres and non-profit organizations to reduce the administrative burden associated with establishing and running ELCC centres, review and evaluate subsidy programs and amend if necessary to increase uptake, and develop and implement ELCC employee initiatives to retain existing employees and attract, certainly, new ones.
Again, the department has completed a preliminary review of the Child Care Act by conducting cross-jurisdictional research on a number of early learning and child care related topics. The department will use the Education Act and the Inuit language Protection Act as instruments in helping shape the Child Care Act. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I’m interested to hear more about the demand for child care that you have done an assessment.
Is that something that you could share with us in the House?
Before I answer the question, currently the assistant deputy ministers are reviewing that.
It’s at the ADM level right now and once they’re done with it, it will go to the deputy ministers.
We have to follow a procedure before we reach that stage on the issue we’re discussing right now.
That’s where we stand.
Once it has been completed, I’ll be able to table it very soon. I can’t exactly say when but soon.
Does the department have an idea on what the wait-list is like for Iqaluit for child care?
This is rather complicated.
We have to look at different factors before we come up with a number.