EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
(interpretation) Instructors are Christian Hathas, who is across from me.
And Sid Parlor.
Also just started working as a family violence specialist is Margaret Walmer.  >>Applause
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak: Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to be first, but the minister beat me to it.
I have a constituent here too that I would like to recognize, Nancy Tagalik. As the minister indicated, she is a social worker here in Iqaluit recently. She is bilingual and that’s really something to be proud of for Iqaluit because we haven’t had a bilingual social worker for a long time.
Please help me welcome her in the House.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like one of the ministers that rarely recognizes people in the House, I would like to recognize one of my constituents from Gjoa Haven, Linda Hunter.
These individuals were recognized already, but I would like to welcome everybody to the Gallery.
From my community of Igloolik, I would also like to recognize Bobby Kadlutsiak.
They have attended courses. He was living in Cambridge Bay for quite a while taking courses and I’m sure that there are other individuals who go to other communities. He has now returned to Igloolik and he has been able to apply his training in our community.
I would like to welcome Bobby Kadlutsiak to the Gallery.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize a person from Amittuq, Maggie Amagoalik from Hall Beach. Welcome to the Gallery.
Question 254 – 4(2): Plebiscite on Alienation of Municipal Lands (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, one of the announcements that we made at our Full Caucus Retreat in Kugluktuk earlier this year concerned the holding of a plebiscite in 2016 concerning the issue of municipal lands.
In this plebiscite, Nunavummiut will be asked to consider the question of whether the current restrictions applying to the disposal of municipal lands should continue.
Can the minister indicate where his department is at in planning for this plebiscite?
My department is starting to go through the planning process regarding the 2016 plebiscite that will be held on the issue of municipal lands. We are currently planning and we will also be doing a consultation tour to the communities to make sure that they have all the information.
Can the minister indicate at what time of the year the plebiscite is anticipated to be held?
I’m hoping that it wouldn’t be like in July because most people won’t be in the communities.
The date has not been set yet, but we will be working with (interpretation ends) Elections Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you.
I’m just trying to find out what has been done here.
Can the minister describe what kinds of information will be provided to Nunavummiut over the next year that will help people to make informed decisions about this important issue?
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Before I answer her last question there, CGS is recommending that the plebiscite take place in April of 2016.
Going to your last question there, the question that’s going to be asked during this plebiscite is, “Do you want your municipal council to be able to sell municipal lands?” The information that we will be providing to the communities will outline the differences between whatever the result may be. It will outline the differences that each municipality will determine. (interpretation) Thank you.
Member for (interpretation ends) Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq. (interpretation) My apologies.
Question 255 – 4(2): Nurse Practitioner Position in Pond Inlet (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, since the beginning of this fiscal year, Pond Inlet has been fortunate enough to have a nurse practitioner based in the community.
This position has been invaluable and has saved the government thousands of dollars in medical travel costs.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Department of Health to continue in its efforts to provide more health services at the local level, such as dentists, doctors and other professionals. It saves money, it allows for continuity of service, and it is better for the overall health and well-being of the community.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the nurse practitioner project will be terminated this week, suddenly, and well before the yearlong commitment has been met.
Can the minister clarify what factors contributed to the decision to terminate this project and clearly explain how this decision was made?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleague for asking that question.
I don’t have the details for all of the communities in Nunavut in front of me all the time.
I’m telling my colleague that I will check into this. If that is the situation, I will look into it.
In Pond Inlet, we have eight nurses and six nurses are full time.
We understood in August that the two positions will be made available to fill the full compliment of eight nurses on staff. Right now, they have three temporary workers.
Maybe that nurse practitioner position was held by a temporary person, but I will check into this and get back to my colleague.
I find it interesting that when questions are asked on various programs, like the newly revised medical travel program, for example, the minister stresses that her department needs enough time, at least a year, to evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
My question is: can the minister explain why a project such as the nurse practitioner project in Pond Inlet, which was funded for a full year, is being terminated halfway through its implementation?
Who determined that the position was no longer effective and how did they evaluate its effectiveness?
I understand that you’re talking about the nurse practitioner position. The funding for that position was set to last until October 31. They are trying to find more funding to continue that position.
We have been doing financial planning for the larger communities to add staff to them with a nurse practitioner.
We’re trying to set this up. This program was supposed to be working in this fiscal year. We expect that the finances will be set up to the end of the fiscal year, which is the end of March.
We are planning and working together to make sure that the nurse practitioner position can stay in the community because we have seen how effective these positions are.
It is no secret that the Department of Health struggles to recruit staff and meet health service needs in our communities. It is, therefore, not clear why the department would initiate a project that meets staffing needs, is cost effective, and, by all accounts, is very successful, only to pull the plug before evaluating its effectiveness.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask: what was the decision based on where this very important position is decided to be ineffective when the funding has already been approved for it?
Sometimes there is a lot of bureaucratic paperwork that needs to be done and I apologize if it had been set to October 31.
That was an error. It’s supposed to be set up to the end of March.
We’re planning to continue this to the end of March for the larger communities to make sure that the larger communities have a position like this and our plans will continue on this because they are effective.
Question 256 – 4(2): Government Revenues from Property Taxes (Mikkungwak)
Good morning to the people of Baker Lake and Nunavut.
Earlier this week, I asked some questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services concerning the issue of property taxes.
The minister suggested that one of my questions would be better put to the Minister of Finance, so I’m sure that he has the facts at his fingertips.
Mr. Speaker, the government’s most recent budget indicated that it expects to raise $3.1 million in property taxes and school levies during the 2014-15 fiscal year.
However, the recent increase in the regional base rates for developed parcels has resulted in increases in the assessed values of properties across Nunavut.
Can the Minister of Finance indicate what the total increase in property tax revenues is expected to be as a result of this change?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Mikkungwak for the question.
I was anticipating this question, so I had the information at my fingertips. The increase will be about $1.3 million higher than 2013-14.
Earlier this week, I spoke about the need to harmonize a number of matters regarding the GN’s programs and services.
Although the Minister and Department of CGS have certain responsibilities under the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, other responsibilities, including the setting of the mill rate, fall under the responsibility of the Minister and Department of Finance.
Can the Minister of Finance describe how the two departments work together to ensure a harmonious approach to the issue of property taxes?
The Minister of CGS and I have a harmonious relationship.
As the CGS minister said, it has been 10 years since there was a property value assessment.
The last one was in 2004.
They completed their 10-year assessment. The values went up on properties over the years, higher underlying values.
The Department of Finance, of course, sets the mill rates. We didn’t increase the mill rates for 2014; the mill rates stayed the same.
When the property values increased, we just applied the existing mill rates and of course, the property tax value assessments increased.
I should point out that it is not a very significant amount. It adds about $100 per year to the property tax that people have to pay outside of Iqaluit.
I think, on average, it’s about $264.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Mikkungwak.
I thank the minister for his responses.
Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the Department of Finance has set up a process for GN employees who live outside of Iqaluit to pay their property taxes through payroll deductions.
I applaud efforts to make life more convenient for our residents.
Can the minister indicate what other steps the government is taking in this area?
I’m not sure I fully understood the question.
If it’s just related to paying your property taxes, of course, our GN employees can do it through the process he has described.
The only other way I can think of is if you get your invoice in the mail, then you would write a cheque and pay the Government of Nunavut or if there’s a local office for the Department of Finance, I believe you can go into the Department of Finance and pay there as well.
Question 257 – 4(2): Swimming Pool for Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to Minister Sammurtok.
I have been directing issues that have been requested by my constituents for a long time relating to a swimming pool.
I have asked this question before in the Second Assembly and we have not seen one iota of anything resembling a pool.
My question is: have they given this any consideration whatsoever?
It would be of great use to the community.
Hon. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard the member’s question before.
Thusly, I can answer that the communities can put priorities on their own integrated community sustainability plans.
Swimming pools could be included in that as a priority and then prioritize their request to the government.
I have seen the priorities by the municipality and it has always been included year after year.
It has been a priority for many years.
I wonder what the reason is, as a swimming pool has beneficial effects for the residents.
Currently, people are swimming in lakes and occasionally drown. If the community had a local pool, with proper lifeguards, it would definitely alleviate the worry parents have when their children go swimming. I wonder how we can resolve this.
Perhaps the minister can elaborate on the reasons for the delay and the slow approval process. It is one of the most important needs of the community.
I agree with the member wholeheartedly that a community pool would be very useful and beneficial for the community.
Swimming pools could have programs.
However, as I stated before, if an actual request has been made by a municipality, the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee (interpretation) exists that could prioritize items of this nature and it would be dependent on the availability of financial resources.
Do I understand then that they don’t consider this a priority at all, that the Nunavut Community Advisory Committee does not consider this a priority?
It has been included in their annual capital requests.
The minister does not consider that anything they could consider as a priority.
I can answer in this manner that we haven’t received the decision from the Nunavut Community Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Once we have received it, we will find out soon.
Question 258 – 4(2): Culturally Appropriate Support for Foster Care Providers (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, I was recently contacted by a constituent who has some very serious concerns about social services and the lack of support for foster care. My constituent has been advised by the local social services worker that they will be adapting policies and practices from Ontario when dealing with children in the social services system.
This is very disturbing since already far too many children who are apprehended are sent to the south and away from their culture. We should not be adopting southern systems in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if she can explain why social services workers are using policies and procedures from a southern jurisdiction when all the studies and reports and the government’s own legislation states that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit must be taken into consideration when implementing the law.
At this time, since the question is specific to an individual, I can’t respond to it.
Actually, it is tied into the mandate of her department, which is what I was asking about.
However, I want to now direct this question to the minister, Mr. Speaker. It is extremely important that Nunavut’s social workers receive the appropriate cultural and social awareness orientation. Can the minister clarify what kind of cultural orientation is provided to social workers who are hired from outside of Nunavut and how she ensures that they provide social services appropriately?
My colleague wants to understand what type of Inuit cultural orientation the social workers receive.
Earlier this morning when the social workers visited the Gallery, they were here taking training courses on child welfare issues. We also work with our colleagues at the Department of Culture and Heritage on Inuit societal values or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit inclusion into the training program. That is the type of training that is offered.
There are many challenges facing foster parents and foster families when trying to provide a safe and caring environment for children who have been apprehended.
Can the minister describe what kinds of culturally relevant programs and services are made available to foster families and how they can access them?
My colleague raises many questions about whether or not cultural training is offered to the foster parents. At least that is how I understood it.
When the social workers look to place children in foster care, they first look at the best possible solution, whether it is with the child’s relatives or with foster parents.
When foster parents request assistance from the social worker, they work to resolve the issue.
Question 259 – 4(2): Stopping Suicide (Sammurtok)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, according to information provided by Nunavut’s chief coroner and reported by the media earlier this month, over 50 children have committed suicide since 1999.
Can the minister describe what specific steps her department is taking to stop our children and youth from harming themselves and their families in this way?
Every suicide is a significant loss to our territory.
This year, as of October 8, 2014, 20 people have died by suicide in Nunavut.
Health continues to work closely with and supports the partners it has, Embrace Life Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the RCMP, and GN departments, such as Justice, Education, and Family Services, in the implementation of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan, which we extended for a year this summer.
We are in the process of looking into what steps we have taken and how we can move forward.
Clearly, our government needs to be more proactive in addressing the mental health issues that are affecting our children and youth.
Will the minister commit to training and hiring more mental health workers and other health workers who can focus on preventing suicide amongst our children?
As we know, we are currently also working on a mental health and addictions framework for action.
In this process, there will be an implementation plan for the Nunavut Addictions and Mental Health Framework that was created in 2002 and have linkages to the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy. Health plans to finalize the framework for action during this current fiscal year.
The children’s group home in Rankin Inlet has been closed down. The facility will become a mental health transition house.
Apparently, one of the reasons for changing the focus of services at this institution is because of the high rate of suicide in the region.
Can the minister clarify whether there will be specialized services at this new facility to focus on youth suicide?
Expanding mental health service capacity in Nunavut is a good investment, which will result in reduced expenditures for out-of-territory services, such as improved outcomes for patients.
For the plan that we are moving forward as a department in proposing to re-profile the vacant children’s group home in Rankin Inlet to a mental health residential treatment facility, this building will be expanding mental service capacity in Nunavut.
There will be a residential mental health capacity and the patients that will be requiring psychiatric assessment and stabilization will be for everyone.
Question 260 – 4(2): Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table (Savikataaq)
Last month, a meeting of the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table was held in Baker Lake.
This forum brings together representatives from Nunavut and Manitoba to discuss issues of mutual concern to our jurisdictions.
Can the minister update the House today on the discussions that took place at last month’s meeting in Baker Lake?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I say “good morning” to my fellow Nunavummiut. I would also like to thank my colleague for the question.
Mr. Speaker, on September 18, they held a meeting for the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table in Baker Lake. They discussed various issues.
Our department represented the Nunavut government. There were delegates from Manitoba as well. The mayors of the Kivalliq were included and they took part.
People from Churchill also attended.
We met and discussed various issues. Some members of the cabinet attended the round-table meeting.
My department attended the round-table meeting in Churchill, Manitoba, and these issues are still being discussed.
They established a committee for the highway or hydro line.
They worked on those issues and they updated each other. That’s what the meeting was about in Baker Lake.
As the minister will recall, I have consistently identified two issues that require attention: the development of a road between Manitoba and the Kivalliq and a hydroelectric power transmission line between Manitoba and the Kivalliq.
Can the minister describe what progress has been made on these issues?
As I stated earlier, they discuss various issues.
In regard to his question about a road between Manitoba and the Kivalliq and hydroelectric power transmission between Manitoba and the Kivalliq, we discussed those topics at the meeting.
They did a feasibility study.
They hold round-table meetings annually with Manitoba and the Kivalliq. The responsibilities and work they have to do is increasing, so they had to discuss the details of managing and coordinating to the Government of Manitoba. Through the Nunavut government, we would provide funding.
They have discussed those matters.
We continually discuss those matters every time we hold a round-table meeting. They will start dealing with that.
In regard to, for example, a winter road, we’re looking at ways it would be more cost-effective compared to an all-weather road.
We reviewed all those issues. Also in regard to energy, power lines from Manitoba to Nunavut transecting the Kivalliq region includes the various considerations we need to take. This includes the mining sector and their possible involvement.
There were many issues brought up for discussion.
There will be a working group struck for that, as currently they are only dealing with the future road connecting Manitoba to Nunavut, which this government will be heavily involved in and we are on the committee.
Furthermore, the hydroelectric power line issue will be sent to this committee, of which we are a part. We will be managing this as well.
My expectations are that a second round table will be held in Manitoba. If I recall the schedule correctly, I believe the Hudson Bay round-table meeting will be held in Winnipeg.
I thank the minister that they’re working on this.
I would just like to ask the minister if, at the next meeting of the round table, the working group for the road and the working group for the power line are going to have a detailed report with costs and a timeframe, whether either one of the projects are feasible.
Yes, we have realistic expectations about the matters the member asked about and of the issues being discussed by the Hudson Bay round-table delegates.
They are extremely busy on these two issues.
During the next meeting, we expect that the reports will be ready for presentation from them.
Question 261 – 4(2): Municipal Lands Plebiscite (Hickes)
I would like to delve a little bit deeper into one of the questions my colleague asked a little bit earlier. It’s regarding the municipal land transfer plebiscite.
A little over a year ago, before I was an elected member, I brought the topic up at a City of Iqaluit public meeting and at the time, no one at the meeting was even aware that this plebiscite was an option and forthcoming to Nunavummiut.
I would like to ask the Minister of CGS and I have mentioned this to him in the past that with the land plebiscite with a 20-year window from the NLCA, we’re actually going into the 21st year before this plebiscite is going to occur.
I have expressed a little bit of disappointment in the past that with the 15 years of the Government of Nunavut’s existence, this wasn’t on the radar a little bit sooner.
One of the things that concerned me was the wording that he said is going to be on the plebiscite with regard to allowing municipal lands to be sold.
My question to the minister is: how is that process going to work?
Members of the public who have leased their land, if they paid the land lease costs, that is there to recoup the capital costs from the municipalities to pay the land lease off.
If they’re going to be selling the land, are residents who have property on lots with land leases going to have to pay anything over and above the legal land transfer title costs?
The officials from the Department of CGS responsible for this issue held a meeting from March 25 to 27, 2014 to initiate the planning towards the (interpretation ends) plebiscite (interpretation) on municipal lands.
However, to date, we are still in consultations with the communities and we plan to tour the communities to ensure they are fully cognizant of the effects of this plebiscite on their operations.
While I appreciate that there are ongoing consultations, the Government of Nunavut has had 15 years of existence to plan for this.
How are the members of the public going to be given information so that they can make an educated and informed decision on whether to vote yes or no on it if the government doesn’t even know the position that they’re going to be promoting? I would like the minister to clarify that.