EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
One of the core commitments of the government’s Tamapta Action Plan was, and I quote, “The Government of Nunavut will open a culturally-relevant substance-abuse treatment facility.”
Early in 2011, the government put out RFPs to establish residential addictions treatment centres in Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit. Unfortunately these RFPs were cancelled in April.
Can the minister clearly update this House as to whether there is still intent to establish addictions treatment centres in Nunavut during the term of this government?
Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Minister Curley.
Whenever a question is raised on this, I am usually happy to respond.
Many residents of Nunavut don’t have any support when it comes to dealing with addictions, such as alcohol and other addictions in their lives. Further, we are aware that when people are undergoing these challenges, the situation in their homes deteriorates and some people are completely demoralized and require assistance in dealing with their addictions.
Due to those reasons, in previous years, the funds approved via the O&M process will be used towards planning in this fiscal year. We are currently at the planning stage and the funds that the members approved previously will go towards deliberating on the kinds of addiction assistance programs we want to provide here in Nunavut.
Additionally, my former deputy minister and I spoke about these issues when we met and outlined the large amounts of funds expended to send addicts south for treatment since we don’t have a treatment centre in Nunavut. We have initiated the plans for this facility and our officials are deliberating on the options of how best to approach this challenge. I don’t think we were fully aware of the complexities involved.
This past winter, we spoke about this initiative, but we have been asked to work on plans only, so we are developing plans.
Nonetheless, I can’t ascertain whether the capital funds will be approved for the facility and I can’t answer that yet because it still has to be submitted to cabinet for review later on this fall.
For that reason, we are in the planning stages for this facility that is needed in Nunavut, especially one that has a foundation that is more welcoming to Inuit customs and practices. I concur with the statements made by the member.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I kind of get the reason as to why we have to await this facility.
What is causing the delay? Can the minister elaborate on what is the cause for the delay? Is it due to the lack of a facility or is it due to the high costs associated with constructing these treatment centres?
We are required to have a plan in place prior to construction. More or less like trying to establish a school with no furniture or curriculum in place, that is an impossible task.
They have to prepare prior to the establishment, such as developing a curriculum and developing an operational plan. They also need to develop and validate the number of staff required, along with the O&M funds to pay for their staff. These all have to be included in the plans.
This past winter and this summer, the mental health directors put out an RFP to determine some cost estimates if we were to develop a facility.
That RFP was published in the newspaper to determine our treatment needs here in Nunavut, such as a mental health facility, an addictions treatment centre, or healing facility.
We have to be familiar with the requirements because we need to present them to the cabinet as well as to FMB for funding.
This will be a multi-year program once established here, so we must have an idea of the annual operational costs and we have to remember maintenance costs as well.
Above all, when you talk about treating addiction, you need to have doctors who can diagnose the type of addiction and you can’t just grab a person off the street and say that they’re an alcoholic.
The assessment has to be made with the support of the doctors to work with people who want to be treated for addictions. The treatment has to be appropriate and we have to respect the people who want treatment.
We are being very meticulous in our planning since we were told that we need a comprehensive plan.
Further, we can’t just spend public funds without the background information and proper plans included.
We will attempt to implement these plans once they are completed and my expectations are that the plans will be completed by this fall.
I don’t consider the reasons as sufficient to delay treatment as there are existing facilities to treat and heal people within Canada and the NWT. When the lack of a facility is used as a reason, I find that inexcusable as we already have facilities in southern Canada.
Nevertheless, I want to ask the minister:  (interpretation ends) what other kind of initiatives has the minister and his officials considered for Nunavut-based addictions treatment?
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Yes, the preamble to your question surmises that this is just a simple process and that we can just proceed without any preparation. There are no funds identified within the budget that the members approved this winter that allows for the creation of a facility.
That is the number one obstacle we face.
Moreover, the Minister of Finance continues to reiterate his concerns about our deficit, which is currently approaching $50 million, so we have absolutely no room for a facility even if I wanted to create one tomorrow.
Secondly, the Auditor General keeps telling the Members of this House that we need to have plans in place for operations.
As a department, we anticipate that we will eventually have a facility in the Kitikmeot. We definitely need a facility in the Baffin region.
I can state unequivocally that we do support the principle of treatment as we have actual programs being funded by the federal government geared towards addictions treatment. As a matter of fact, some of the community wellness programs are running with this funding. They are funded to run those programs that they are capable of providing.
We have a program running already in Rankin Inlet and I believe one in Igloolik under the wellness programs, with support from NTI, so we have some local programs already.
Additionally, in Coral Harbour, a men’s group, Makiliqpuq, has been providing healing programs via these types of program funding, but we want to provide further support in the longer term, in conjunction with the other funds identified for the facilities. If the funds are approved, as I stated, it will be outlined in the proposal which we hope to present to the cabinet this fall.
We will be giving support to assist organizations like the one that exists in Coral Harbour, which would allow them to offer programming outside of their community.
If funding was available, I, too, would want to immediately create these facilities to meet our needs, but we have nothing available at this time.
Thank you for your responses. (interpretation ends) In September of 2010, I wrote the minister a letter in support of bringing mobile treatment programs to the two communities in my constituency.
Has the minister given any further consideration to implementing this type of community-based project, especially if the plans for Nunavut-based treatment facilities are now on hold due to not much funding and, if not, why not?
Yes, the correspondence you wrote has been forwarded to our mental health directorate in Cambridge Bay. They have reviewed the request and if there are any surplus funds, then we can consider that request for funding. We want them to continue to request funding.
As I mentioned earlier, the funds from the federal government are specific to aboriginal programming and this goes through our department. These funds can be geared towards this type of program.
If we had funds available for Coral Harbour’s men’s healing group to travel to the communities to teach local workers, as they have practical experience and courses under their belts… .
As we have seen in the past two years, the men’s group has been very beneficial. We will consider these types of requests and perhaps I can ask the group to contact you directly.
Question 112 – 3(3): Work Performed on QEC President’s House by QEC Employees (Schell)
Yesterday I tabled two pictures of work being done by Qulliq Energy at a residential home. My understanding is that this home is owned by the president of Qulliq Energy. Basically what was done on site was some landscaping and creating a retaining wall.
There was approximately 16 hydro poles used, four or five steel pilings, there was a QEC boom truck used, six employees were paid to do this work, and the majority of the work took place on Wednesday, May 19, and completed the following day.
Like I said, there were approximately six employees and it took them approximately 16 hours each for a total of 96 man-hours.
Normally when there’s work done by Qulliq Energy Corporation crew, it’s coded to a project or a budget.
My question is: was this job coded to a project or budget or was it personally paid for by the president of Qulliq Energy?
Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Minister Kusugak.
Unfortunately I can’t tell from this photograph whose house it is, but it doesn’t look anything like the president’s house. Maybe it is the president’s house.
I’ll have to take your word for it and I’ll have to take your word for it that the work was actually performed on that day because there’s nothing dated on this or (interpretation) I mean (interpretation ends) it’s not stamp dated. I would have to assume that the information you are feeding me is correct and I’ll have to look into it.
It doesn’t say anything on here. I cannot answer hearsay, Mr. Speaker, so I’ll leave it at that.
There’s nothing on here that says that work was performed, that there are 16 or 14 poles there, that there are six employees working on this, and that it happened on May or whatever date, as you suggest.
Mr. Speaker, there’s nothing on here that outlines that.
I would love to take your word for it, but I can’t, Mr. Speaker, so I’ll have to take the question as notice.
There’s nothing there. There’s no proof of anything there other than a truck with a boom on it and, I assume, poles.
I cannot answer all of those questions he’s asking. It’s just hearsay, Mr. Speaker.
Minister Kusugak, I understood that you have taken that question as notice.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I will have to because what he’s saying is hearsay, Mr. Speaker.
I don’t know if I can even take the question as notice on hearsay. So maybe you could guide me on which path we should go on this issue because there is nothing confirming anything.
It’s just allegations, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if it’s proper to take questions on notice on allegations. There are no documents on it.
Minister Kusugak, you can take any question as notice.
I would suggest that if the member who asked the question had more information to provide to the minister that he do that so that they can adequately look into the member’s concerns.
The question has been taken as notice, so we will move on.
Question 113 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Responses to Resolutions of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (Tapardjuk)
My questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Kusugak.
Last week, the resolutions from the recent annual general meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities were tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The association’s meeting was recently held in Rankin Inlet where they drafted these resolutions. Can the minister inform the House when the Government of Nunavut will respond to these resolutions that were tabled in the House?
I also thank you for your question.
The resolutions are dealt with by the entity that passed them.
What I think you are referring to are the resolutions that are specific to the department of which I am the minister. I believe that you’re asking about the responses to the resolutions directed to my department and whether they are being dealt with. Yes, the resolutions that ask for action are acted upon based on the type of action warranted and we deal with the resolutions once they are received at our offices.
One of the resolutions adopted by the Nunavut Association of Municipalities concerned the issue of municipal solid waste management, including old vehicles, another topic that many MLAs have raised previously in the Legislative Assembly. The resolution calls on the Government of Nunavut to provide the Nunavut Association of Municipalities with a copy of the report on options for solid waste management.
Will the minister be providing a copy of this report on the management of waste and old vehicles to NAM? I imagine that this report has been completed. I wonder when this report outlining the proposed waste management options and how they would attempt to remedy that challenge will be complete.
Can he commit to tabling it in the House?
Minister for Community and Government Services, Minister Kusugak.
These challenges associated with solid waste management in our communities just keep growing undeniably. In the past when we would burn garbage in empty 45-gallon drums outside of our houses, it seemed that we hardly had any garbage to dispose of. Today the problem is growing with more vehicles being brought into Nunavut.
Action is needed on municipal solid waste.
The report we requested has been submitted, but we have to review it and we have to work with different government agencies, such as the Department of Environment, and others within the government to work on solutions.
As a matter of fact, we are working with Environment Canada representatives as we review this huge challenge.
There are different types of solid waste in the communities. We need to clarify who does what and what is the best way to handle this challenge in the most cost-effective manner or if any improvements can be undertaken. After a thorough review of all components, it will be better to respond on the entire matter.
In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we are in the middle of completing that review.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for his comprehensive response.
Another resolution identified was regarding the Arctic Council. As we heard recently, there were signatories representing different countries and their governments and an agreement was reached on emergency search and rescue cooperation amongst the countries in case of an emergency or if a plane crashed. The organizations that provide emergency services in Canada, Greenland, America, and Denmark agreed on a cooperation agreement.
A matter that was raised by Hall Beach residents is that more training is needed for individuals involved in search and rescue missions or emergency response teams. I wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the minister can act expeditiously on this request for training of search and rescue volunteers.
I thank my colleague for raising that in his question.
Search and rescue or having to rescue someone in an emergency situation is not all search-related, mind you. Since January of this year, there have already been 75 emergency incidents in Nunavut communities.
There are different types of searches required, so the search and rescuers should be thoroughly trained to ensure they don’t endanger themselves while searching.
Search and rescue training is something that is continually worked on. We work with the Municipal Training Organization in providing training to local emergency responders.
Whenever there are courses being offered in emergency response, we offer the training, such as aircraft search patterns.
These are ongoing issues, so I can’t say what type of training is specifically provided on which dates, but we are continuously striving towards good training as we know this is a very important service provided by our local SAR teams.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Tapardjuk.
I also thank you for your prompt response.
An additional resolution was passed and I spoke to the need for morgues just last week as some of the smaller communities don’t have morgues for the recently deceased.
The community of Hall Beach presented a motion just recently on this matter. What I would like to know is which minister will be able to answer the requests for morgues as some communities lack them.
Can I be informed as to which minister will be able to respond to these requests for local morgues?
Your question is relating to a NAM resolution, so it could go to the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services, Mr. Kusugak.
Not all NAM resolutions are CGS related. Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, I will check within government to see who would most appropriately be able to respond to that question. I will get back to you at a later time, Mr. Speaker.
I will respond to your question that way. I believe you’re asking me which minister would appropriately answer that. I will get back to you on that one.
Question 114 – 3(3): Status of Government Liaison Officer Positions (Rumbolt)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Premier Aariak.
Mr. Speaker, last month, the government issued a request for proposals for the office space needed for the government liaison officer positions located in various communities.
Can the Premier indicate if office space for GLO positions has been leased in all communities throughout Nunavut?
Minister responsible for Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Madam Premier.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for your question.
All of these issues are currently being worked on, including the need for office spaces. To date, not all communities have identified office spaces.
More offices are being identified but not all communities have completed this, so they continue to work on this matter.
We all know that acquiring office space in smaller communities can be challenging at times.
Can the Premier update us today on which communities are still without office space for the GLO positions?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again thank the member for that question.
There are issues that need to be dealt with, such as the regional supervisor’s office that will be in Pond Inlet. Let me first speak to the position.
The position has been set up and we expect the office to be operating this month. (interpretation ends) It will be up and running within the month.
(interpretation) Additionally, the vacant GLO positions in the non-decentralized communities are being prioritized.
The member should be aware of that because I have mentioned it before. (interpretation ends) The first four GLO positions in Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Hall Beach, and Qikiqtarjuaq have closed in terms of the ads on that.
The GLO positions for Resolute Bay, Coral Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet closed on June 3, so those have already closed as well.
The process has not been completed yet as I speak and I will be happy to keep the member and the members posted on the progress of the office locations.
I think the Premier got ahead of me with my next question, but I was trying to only find out at this time which communities do not have office space.
I will get back to you on that specific question. There are seven offices that will be closing soon. I will be happy to get back to him in terms of exactly which communities.
The Premier may have answered this question in part in her previous answer, but I will ask it anyways. I also noticed that job advertisements have been posted for a number of GLO positions in the Kivalliq region. Can the Premier indicate, for the benefit of all members, what the schedule is for filling all of these GLO positions throughout Nunavut?
This is also a really good question.
We wanted to fast-forward the identification of offices, but we found that we needed more information and required more research on which offices are available and which communities still need to look for office space. There were different aspects that needed review.
At this time, some have been completed while others are still looking for office space.
I cannot immediately answer the question with respect to the timeline. I believe that is what he wants to know, when space will be available.
Once I have the information, I will relay it to the member as it becomes available.
Question 115 – 3(3): Kivalliq Boarding Home (Aupaluktuq)
I would like to direct my question to the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley.
The regional health centre in Rankin Inlet has been very active recently and I would like to commend the director of the Kivalliq Health Centre for her good work. A number of physicians have been travelling to Rankin Inlet for clinics and Kivalliq patients are able to travel to the community for tests and appointments instead of being required to travel south.
However, there is no dedicated boarding home for medical clients travelling to Rankin Inlet.
Can the minister clearly describe what the current boarding arrangements are for medical patients and their escorts who travel to Rankin Inlet for medical services?
Moreover, going back to the time when the building was being built in Rankin Inlet, as well as the facility in Kitikmeot, we wanted them constructed concurrently. At that time, we weren’t in cabinet. I believe the one in the Kitikmeot went ahead as it was first.
We handed the project over to the federal government quite a while ago prior to my becoming a minister. Over the last two years, the funds would have come from the federal government through the Non-Insured Health Benefits program. The funds were made available and it was used to add to the new facility built in Iqaluit.
However, with regard to the Kivalliq, they were unable to release the funds and we have been unable to come to an agreement. We want to push forward with this project if we were to be supported and we prefer that it be built. We cannot proceed with the project ourselves because it’s the federal government’s responsibility to provide funding for boarding homes.
We will continue to request more funding and keep pushing for the Rankin Inlet facility.
Initially, the two projects were to be done in unison. However, the funds were never transferred to the Nunavut government from the federal government for the other project.
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister.
You had responded to this question earlier, but I will again ask the question as this is a different session.
Patients travelling to Iqaluit from the Baffin communities have a beautiful new 90-bed boarding facility to accommodate them. There is also a dedicated facility in Cambridge Bay for Kitikmeot region patients.
You responded to this question earlier, but I’ll ask it again. Mr. Speaker, can the minister update this House on whether or not his department has considered a standalone boarding home for Kivalliq patients who travel into Rankin Inlet for medical services and, if not, why not?
Yes, we have made this a priority.
Your question is beneficial as it adds value and from what we hear, the need is increasing. I have heard that the day clinic, when it became operational, many people have started to use that service. In fact, I will continue to provide reports on how many patients we would have sent out to see specialists are now coming into a centre where the specialist is, and this is something we can be proud of.
I will continue to urge and request the federal government to look at the increased use of the hospital in Rankin Inlet by the residents of the Kivalliq and when I have something to report, I will do so. However, as the minister, I will continue to urge the continuation of this practice.
Mr. Aupaluktuq, this is your second supplementary question.
Just for the record, as a formality, I would like to ask this: will the minister commit to considering a standalone medical boarding home in Rankin Inlet for the next capital plan?
I thank the member for making a statement on that.
As a government, I think that depends on… . At least 85 percent of our budget revenues are from the federal government. We need to be real cautious with that one once we start spending capital expenditures of that amount, the few that we have.