EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this provision should be removed from the legislation because I believe that mild physical correction of children is appropriate and in keeping with Inuit culture and tradition.
My question for the minister is this: will the government introduce a bill to remove this provision from the current legislation, yes or no?
I can only reiterate my previous response in that I cannot respond with a simple yes or no to this question as it is legally complicated in amending legislation or in introducing new bills to remove provisions.
This is not simple as it requires legal research and other studies that would be required, obviously, if we were to consider amending the existing legislation that the member referenced in this question.
What I can respond with is the legislation we are currently using is the Child and Family Services Act.
Further related to disciplining children, some areas can’t be changed regarding the language.
It is only if a child is at risk or in a worrisome situation that departmental intervention can occur using the legislation in those cases.
It is very frustrating for parents and elders in that the Child and Family Services Act has not been fully translated into Inuktitut.
Can the minister clearly explain why this law has not been fully translated into Inuktitut?
Mr. Speaker, let me ask this other question. We are currently under the GNWT legislation that was legislated way back then, and they were grandfathered to our territory and shipped via air cargo.
We are still using this antiquated legislation.
That is why I ask the minister: with respect to what Inuit are coveting here, why will he not support this initiative during his tenure as the minister responsible for that department?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Hon. Mike.
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Progress is slowly happening in terms of amending our legislation that was grandfathered from the Government of the Northwest Territories.
As we were originally under their government, when Nunavut was created, yes, most of the legislation was grandfathered in and we are well aware of that fact.
I will have to look into this issue, especially the legislation my colleague mentioned that has yet to be translated into Inuktitut.
I will have to look into that as to which language is used.
With respect to the legislation we are under and the amendment schedule, especially after the legislative review and a scheduled timeline for amending legislation, this is slowly happening. As well, during our current session, part of what the member alluded to touches up on his concern.
There will be amendments to the legislation. For that reason, there was a legislative review last year and the year prior, and we now have a schedule for amending certain legislation.
Nonetheless, with respect to his actual concerns of disciplinary context or the fact that the legislation has no Inuktitut version, I will have to research that to see if that is the case.
Question 681 – 4(3): Implementing the Inuit Language Protection Act (Okalik)
The Minister of Languages responded that the legislation will finally be in force by July 9 of this year.  The minister previously stated that it would be in force by April 1, 2016 and then later to April 1, 2017.
In his latest response he indicates that July 9, 2017 is when it would come into force. The legislation will finally be felt by Inuit once it is in force and used by Inuit who are unilingual Inuit speakers.
I wonder if this date is now concrete and not subject to further whims of the government.
This is in relation to the coming into force of the Inuit Language Protection Act.
As per my previous remarks on this issue, it is still being developed and thus the reason for the delays in the timeline.
I can tell the member, as he is already aware of and knows the complexity based on his past work on this side of the table, how difficult it can be to push forward initiatives that you want fast-tracked, but when several departments are involved, it leads to a back-and-forth exercise.
With that being the case, I can tell the member that the identified date and the other departments we are collaborating with have been informed, including our department and my deputy that we will be focusing on completing that by July 9 that he asked me about.
That is our target date and it will be when we will begin implementing that legislation.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we arrive at that date, I will finally believe him since this is the third time the target date for implementation has been set. I will be patient in waiting for the completion of this work.
However, there is also mention of the Inuit Language Authority in his response.
We haven’t heard much about this body and what work has been undertaken towards that goal.
If we are to retain the Inuit language, we have to ensure it catches up to our daily lives.
Just recently I was trying to recognize an engineer in Inuktitut. We don’t have a term for that in Inuktitut.
When are we going to have a full terminology in Inuktitut?
I know that the entity is supposed to recommend terms.
If I understood the member’s question correctly, I responded to the member earlier on by saying when the legislation would be enforced.
That’s the date as a government.
In our department we all know that’s the date we will be enforcing the legislation in regard to the protection of our language.
I am glad that it’s going to be effective July 9, but the Inuit Language Authority is the one that reviews and looks at how we can use more of the Inuit language.
I just used the word “engineer” as an example and there is still no Inuktitut word for that.
However, the Inuit Language Authority has been around for quite some time. When are they going to come up with terms that reflect today’s realities?
The Inuit Language Authority is an independent body and they also have a coordinator who does the programming.
They also make recommendations to the government. From there it’s up to the government to review their reports and recommendations.
I can’t reply on behalf of the Inuit Language Authority.
They are an independent body. They have their own coordinator and staff who work on the terminology or other programs, and so on. They also work with the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
We’re just waiting for the recommendations from the Inuit Language Authority and the terminology they come up with such as the one he asked about.
Question 682 – 4(3): Cancer Screening Programs (Mikkungwak)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, at the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, members passed a resolution to support the creation of the “Cancer Care Nunavut Society” to support the Government of Nunavut in its cancer screening programs.
Can the minister provide an update on how his department has worked with the Cancer Care Nunavut Society to address this issue?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for following up on behalf of his region.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I have checked with my officials since the motions were tabled last week or the week before and we’re not aware of any submissions of any proposals from the Cancer Care Society of Nunavut for any type of funding proposal.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, in its resolution, the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce noted that Nunavummiut are dying of cancer at more than twice the rate of people in southern Canada.
Can the minister explain how his department uses health and mortality statistics to prioritize the allocation of resources for programming in such areas as cancer or other high incidence diseases in Nunavut?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the member.
We’re always working very closely with not just Nunavut statistics but also with Canada statistics on chronic illnesses and where we should be prioritizing some of our programming.
As I had mentioned last week in Committee of the Whole, we have initiated a number of cancer screening initiatives.
Specifically, as I had mentioned, colorectal cancer rates in Nunavut are much higher than the national rate, so we have been finalizing a screening program for that type of cancer.
In addition we’re looking at different technologies and availabilities of programming for breast cancer screening.
One of the things I think that’s most critical is the avoidance of cancer, as an example. We work very closely with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer on smoking cessation strategies for cancer patients who smoke and also interventions so that it will stop this disease from even occurring in people.
We recently revised our cervical cancer screening guidelines and that has been distributed to frontline staff.
There are new education materials that are available through community health centres.
We’re also working with comparing cervical cancer screening guidelines with Ontario cervical cancer screening guidelines to identify further areas of improvement.
We’re in the process of updating, like I had mentioned, our breast cancer screening guidelines that are in place.
We realize that a lot of the information is outdated, so we’re updating that information.
We are working in a lot of concentrated areas of determined higher risk cancers in the territory.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the minister for his response.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize and appreciate that the Department of Health has introduced a number of specific cancer-related initiatives; as the minister indicated, the colorectal cancer screening program.
However, it is important that a broader strategy be developed to challenge this terrible disease in all its forms.
Can the minister describe what steps are being taken to develop and implement a broad spectrum screening, detection and treatment policy for cancer across Nunavut?
As I have spoken in the past, we have to make sure that we’re allocating our resources in the most efficient manner.
At this time the strategy is to aggressively approach known higher levels of cancer.
One of the concerns that people may not realize is that when you have a broad cancer screening process, there are gaps within the technologies that are available and false positives occur, which creates additional stress on people.
Sometimes procedures take place that turn out to not be necessary.
We have to be very prudent in our approach with cancer screening.
That being said, like I had mentioned to the member and I take it very seriously, it’s something I have talked about in the House before and I have talked to my officials.
We want to make sure that when we do a cancer screening program, it’s done to the best technologies and practices available.
Question 683 – 4(3): Pond Inlet Marine Infrastructure (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
The people of Pond Inlet are very much looking forward to the construction of the community’s new marine infrastructure.
As the minister is very much aware, her department’s 2017-18 capital estimates, which the Legislative Assembly approved last fall, included a further $2.0 million in funding towards this project.
Public consultations were recently held in Pond Inlet concerning the new marine facility.
Minister, let me ask you: for the record, can you indicate who represented the government at these consultations?
I also thank the member for hearing about that.
The staff went to Pond Inlet to discuss the concept design. This trip was organized by CGS and staff from the design team.
You can ask the Minister of CGS for more information. We had one person from our department go to Pond Inlet.
To date a number of geotechnical and environmental baseline studies concerning Pond Inlet’s new marine infrastructure have been underway.
For the record, can the minister confirm at what stage of the regulatory process these studies are at?
I also thank the member because he wants to know at what stage we are at.
CGS is currently working on the architectural part of the process with the communities in Pond Inlet and Iqaluit.
The CGS staff are starting to ask questions and have invited interested parties to hear what they liked and didn’t like about the marine infrastructure in Pond Inlet and Iqaluit.
I haven’t heard yet as to exactly what they did in Pond Inlet because that was a very recent trip.
I think the minister and I are talking about two very different things, so I will talk to her outside of the House.
I have one more question regarding the department’s capital plan.
It indicates that $8.0 million will be budgeted in the 2018-19 fiscal year towards Pond Inlet’s new marine infrastructure.
For the record, can the minister confirm when tenders for the construction of the facility will be issued?
To start the process for the summer of 2018 in Pond Inlet, if it’s approved, we need to go through the regulatory bodies first.
We’re slated to have this project done by the fall of 2019.
Question 684 – 4(3): Parenting Programs (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to receive the Department of Family Services’ latest update on its progress towards addressing the Auditor General’s follow-up report on child and family services.
I note that the department will be delivering the Inunnguiniq parenting program facilitator training for community social services workers and community organizations.
Can the minister provide further detail on what this program will cover and how it will encourage parents to choose healthy parenting options?
As the Department of Family Services we consider this very important ever since the government announced that it’s critical to do something about the suicides in Nunavut in 2015.
The action plan indicated that the Department of Family Services has two main things to do about this and parenting was one of them that the department has to take on.
To date the Department of Family Services has gone to the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre.
They had to do research on this to make a four-part course on parenting and how it can be taught through a training program.
The parenting program is part of the strategic plan that states that the Department of Family Services will be following it and social workers in the communities have to follow it, as well as the organizations that fall under the department. They will be given directions on what to do with parenting programs.
That’s where we’re at right now, Mr. Speaker.
I was also trying to find out what options will be provided to parents regarding healthy living. I don’t think he provided the details on that.
I didn’t hear any reference to the contents.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the aim of the Inunnguiniq Parenting Program is to provide a new level of support for good parenting practices.
Can the minister describe what other parenting programs are offered by his department and how many Nunavummiut have participated in those programs to date?
With respect to parents, as per my prior response, the programming is being reviewed by Qaujigiartiit and I want to speak to that.
New parents are now able to access baby boxes through the Department of Health.
That program has begun. It includes all the things a baby requires and parents have been informed of this new program.
With respect to returning or implementing past knowledge, all relevant knowledge pertaining to parenting, cultural training is useful in our lives in this age.
It includes the need for healing for the participants and families.
It also includes family or community-based programs for parents to learn proper parenting skills and child rearing practices.
This has been started.
I can’t indicate how many participants there have been as I don’t have the information at the moment.
I also note from the department’s latest Quality Protects Action Plan, which the minister referred to, that the department, in collaboration with the Ilisaqsivik Society, will also be delivering parenting and community engagement training for community social services workers.
Can the minister provide an update on how this program differs from the Inunnguiniq Parenting Program in its delivery and expected outcomes?
With respect to his question about the Ilisaqsivik Society, we were informed that the program we wanted to pursue can’t be offered through them because their work schedule is too full at the moment if we were to use that organization.
The Ilisaqsivik Society offers programs in the area we are discussing.
The program can benefit Inuit as their society offers programs using Inuit culture and traditions. The Inunnguiniq program was offered to them. We are not breaking off our ties with Ilisaqsivik, but they only informed us of their unavailability at the moment.
At this time we still want to work with the Ilisaqsivik Society on how to offer the Inunnguiniq program and how the department can learn more about this program. We have not stopped the process; only that there is a limit on their programs.
With respect to the Inunnguiniq programming with the Ilisaqsivik Society and how the Department of Family Services can get more information on it, the work will not stop now. They just don’t have room for it right now.
As I stated, I’ve had the parenting program reviewed to see how our social workers in the communities can be taught about parenting.
After they finish that, I expect that a plan will be put together at the end of this month.
That’s our position right now.
Question 685 – 4(3): Gjoa Haven Mould Inspections (Akoak)
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Inuit, community of Gjoa Haven, (interpretation) and my relatives. (interpretation ends) Hello, Inuit.
When I say, “Hello Inuit,” it means the people of Nunavut, so it’s everybody.
My question is to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
I’m just going to refer to the returns to oral questions that he had earlier.
In there it states that 271 units were identified under mould remediation and assessments, and that he said that it was for all of Nunavut, the whole territory. When you say that, did you do assessments for the communities in the Kitikmeot also?
I will refer to my community of Gjoa Haven.
In regard to my colleague’s question, the assessment was for all of Nunavut and they assessed 245 housing units.
Mr. Speaker, as to my colleague’s community, I don’t have that information in front of me. I can get back to the Member for Gjoa Haven at a later time to see if it has been assessed or if there is a plan to assess where Gjoa Haven is at. I can’t answer that right now.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can you also give me information on whether my community is one of the four worst communities?
If he can give me that information also.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to find out how they put the categories or levels 1, 2, and 3.
What does that mean to the listening public?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As to the first question about his community, yes, I can get back to the member once I have the information about the mould remediation project and see where Gjoa Haven is at. I can get back to him.
As to the second question, he referred to levels 1, 2, and 3.
For mould at level 1, there was a training program for local housing organization employees and our employees to deal with that mould.
For the units assessed as level 1 contamination, we are determining what equipment is needed for that assessment.
Normally level 1 contamination can be handled by the local housing authority employees and they were taught how to do that properly.
I can’t really tell you the details about it.
It just means that with level 1 mould, local housing organization workers can do the cleanup.
However, for the levels 2 and 3 mould categories, they will have to put out an RFP to contract companies that can handle levels 2 and 3 mould.
It will be dealt with through contract. I can’t give you any details about what the differences are in levels 1, 2, and 3 mould, but I can get more information on it from my departmental staff and get back to the member to see why levels 2 and 3 need to be done by a contractor.
Like anything else, smaller communities don’t have contractors.
In dealing with levels 2 and 3 mould remediation, you would probably have to fly someone in.
Can you tell me how long of a wait it would be for a contractor to come in to fix up the problem if you consider levels 2 and 3?
The RFP for level 2 mould remediation, if I understand his question properly as to how long the wait would be for it to be dealt with by a contractor, I can’t respond to that.
It could be a case-by-case situation depending on how much work will need to be done and depending on the number of units the contractor would have to work on.
I can’t respond to that right now.
Question 686 – 4(3): Public Service Leadership (Angnakak)
My questions are for the Minister of Finance and they concern the issue of leadership in the public service.
I am pleased to note that the Government of Nunavut recently issued an invitation for applications to encourage Nunavut Inuit and residents of the territory to apply for senior level leadership positions in the government.
This application process is being undertaken in cooperation with the executive search firm called Phelpsgroup.
I believe that is how you say their name. The deadline for applications was January 31, 2017.
Can the minister indicate approximately how many applications have been received?
All I can tell Ms. Angnakak is that some applications were received, and I don’t have the number.
I thank the minister for his great response.
Many of my constituents are public servants who work very hard every day on behalf of the territory.
While I applaud the government for such initiatives as long-term service awards, I would also like to see us show even more leadership with respect to encouraging and generating good ideas.
Is the minister open to creating a recognition program for the public service that encourages employees to generate specific ideas for ways to improve the delivery of programs and services that don’t require budget increases or cuts?
Yes, it’s a good idea. I have posed that before.
Mr. Speaker, I think there is a process through Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs for employees to put suggestions in. In fact last summer I put a suggestion in that I thought would save the government several million dollars.
I was kind of kidding that if I could get 10 percent of the savings annually, it could be very beneficial to me.
Yes, all kidding aside, public service employees are the focus on the frontlines. They’re working in our offices in our communities.
They often have many good ideas and suggestions that I think their supervisors and ourselves could benefit from or provide better services to Nunavummiut.
I would encourage employees to do that and I thank Ms. Angnakak for bringing that up.
I thank him for his kind response.
Mr. Speaker, I fully understand and recognize that the relationship between unions and employers is sometimes going to be adversarial. That’s the nature of the system.
However, I do think that we should try our best to show leadership whenever possible in terms of reaching agreement whenever possible.
Can the minister indicate how often he meets in person with the leaders of the Nunavut Employees Union and the Nunavut Teachers Association?
Speaker: The Hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Keith Peterson.
I personally don’t meet and sit down with those individuals.
I see them here and there at airports or around town. We chitchat. I see them at events.
I do have officials who regularly meet with our union colleagues to sort out any issues that we may have with the employer-employee relationship.
We encourage that. It’s something that is beneficial to the Government of Nunavut and to our employees if we have a good working relationship with our union representatives.
Question 687 – 4(3): Tidal Energy Study for Iqaluit (Okalik)
I have a question for the minister next to me regarding his responses from the energy corporation.
They did a wind power generation study here in Iqaluit.