EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Absolutely, the four finalists will be receiving their awards as advertised. There’s no real delay in selecting the licence plate for Nunavummiut, it’s just a matter of dotting i’s and crossing t’s and going from there.
It has been noted that the NWT owns the copyright to the polar bear design and Nunavut’s ability to use it will soon expire. Can the minister inform this House when Nunavut will no longer be allowed to use the polar bear licence plate?
We had ordered enough polar bear licences to get us to the stage where we can roll out our new licence plates for Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve got to say that within ten days, that may happen, where we roll out our new design for the new licence plate for Nunavummiut.
Question 200 – 3(3): Support for Mental Health Issues (Aupaluktuq)
Mr. Speaker, in my statement yesterday, I spoke of the need for supports and resources to help Nunavummiut address mental health issues within their communities. Can the minister clearly describe what kinds of supports and resources are available to community-based groups and organizations to address mental health issues?
I think the member is quite well aware that in terms of the Nunavut government, the Nunavut government is about 11 years old.
Currently we are guided by the Mental Health Strategy that was tabled by, I think, the First Assembly of 2002.
That major strategy has now been considered by the Mental Health Division to actually create an action plan.
The various action plans so far that have been developed include the Suicide Prevention Plan as one of them. The other part of that component is the one that I alluded to with respect to the Family Violence Strategy.
An action plan is being developed right now and should be issued by the end of the year.
Hopefully by next year, it will be incorporated into a funded program so that it becomes again a part of the living document of the Nunavut government.
In terms of the other programs, we are also currently working on the Substance Abuse Program.
During the standing committee appearance that we had yesterday, I alluded to some of the facilities that are being considered. These have yet to be approved through the funding process that we have to go through in the government as a whole.
I am hopeful that we will be able to make some announcements with respect to treatment centres, including mobile treatment services that Nunavutmiut so badly needed.
So I think that we are making progress. Not all the services have been incorporated so far. Along with that, we have mental health nurses that are, in some places, based in Nunavut communities through the public health facilities.
I’m glad to know that. I’m sure the rest of the health care providers in Nunavut would anticipate the outcome and more or less updates as to what services we will be able to enhance.
The question I had asked was in regard to supports and resources available to community-based programs. Baker Lake has the Tunganiq Addiction Centre. We have exceptional people who are giving much of their time and have been asking for extra resources municipal-wise as well as territorially.
I look forward to further enhancement of the information being provided to our health care providers.
Mr. Speaker, one area that community-based programs often need help is in the management and administration of their organization so that they can continue to deliver services. Can the minister update this House on the type of assistance his department can provide to community-based organizations, such as wellness organizations, shelters, and others, to ensure that their management and administration procedures are in order?
I certainly will be prepared to update the House. I believe that during the winter session, a number of major initiatives will be available for further information.
One part of the program that the member alluded to is the Community Wellness Program.
These have been very well received by the communities. These wellness committees in communities work within their community to establish the kind of programs they want the department to fund.
I believe Baker Lake has been one of the successful ones.
In terms of the other services that the member is asking for, I’ll be prepared to announce in more detail once the cabinet has approved the sustainability and long-term funding for the initiatives that we have in our work plan.
We also have a men’s group in Baker Lake, a group of men who have genuine concern for the well-being of our young gentlemen as well as other areas in life and their contributions to society and their roles in our community.
With that, they have also addressed the fact that they needed to identify more relationships with professionals.
Mr. Speaker, the lack of social workers, mental health workers, and alcohol and drug workers is an issue that has been raised many times.
The minister has given several updates on the number of social positions that are filled across Nunavut.
Can the minister update this House on the number of mental health workers and alcohol and drug workers positions across the territory that remain vacant?
Yes, certainly, I will be prepared to do that.
At the moment, I don’t have that information, but once that information is available, I’ll be prepared to announce it.
I appreciate the minister’s response and I’m sure the rest of Nunavut would greatly benefit from this.
As we all know, aside from elders, our most impacting resources are health care workers and those who assist in providing well-being to society as well as our own territory.
The minister has indicated several times that he looks forward to providing updates in regard to the status of the strategy, and we look forward to the implementation of it as well.
With that, I would like to assure the minister that my colleagues and I will continue to provide communication, enquiries, as well as providing information to our communities.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Aupaluktuq. It’s just a comment.
Question 201 – 3(3): NHC Operations (Ell)
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. He’s a popular minister because housing is a very important issue.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, on January 20 of this year, the minister issued a news release titled “Nunavut Housing Corporation Restructuring Strengthens Operations.”
It indicated that the Nunavut Housing Corporation would relocate its finance division from its headquarters offices in Arviat to the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s directorate office in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate how many of these positions are currently filled?
I’m prepared to provide the detailed information. I am aware that at least 50 percent of the positions have been filled.
There are yet to be two more positions.
I was briefed the other day that that will be announced shortly, but in order to provide the very detailed information, once I have that information, I will announce it again.
Before the session is over, I’ll try and get an updated version of the briefing that I had about a week ago, but I will be prepared to provide additional information once I have it.
During the June sitting of the Legislative Assembly, the housing corporation amended its legislation to allow for the creation of a board of directors as another means to improve its governance structure.
Has the minister appointed members to the housing corporation board of directors and, if so, who has been appointed?
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you. That is an excellent question.
Last winter when there were meetings everywhere, we were reminded that the housing corporation needs to be constantly monitored and that it needs proper management.
Under my responsibility, we restructured the governance structure and senior management. A report was submitted and approved by cabinet.
I will make more announcements tomorrow on the seven finance positions that were moved from Arviat to Iqaluit.
I can say that cabinet has approved the new board of directors and at the appropriate time tomorrow, I will be advising you who were appointed.
On November 27, 2009, the Nunavut Housing Corporation tabled its response to the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts.
One recommendation was to “work with Local Housing Organizations to address the issue of rental arrears.”
The Nunavut Housing Corporation’s response was that “a number of measures to address the issue have been identified and will be implemented.”
The NHC also indicated that “Calculation of the precise amount of current arrears due to each LHO, the NHC Chief Finance Officer will develop a detailed procedure for collection of arrears by each LHO.
An overview of this procedure will be available to all tenants, so there is no question of the LHO’s authority.”
Can the minister clarify if these have been implemented and will be table a copy of this collection procedure on arrears to this Legislative Assembly?
Hon. Tagak Curley: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, rental arrears collection is one of the top priorities of the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
That particular file throughout the previous years, in my view, has not been treated as one of the priorities, but we are treating it as one of the important files.
The current administration of the Nunavut Housing Corporation is developing the program aspect of it and putting in more support to engage all our local housing authorities to get serious with establishing procedures and we’re working with the LHOs throughout Nunavut.
There has to be a proper system developed and in place so that individuals with serious arrears are not immediately taken out of their house, but payment schedules would be worked out with those in difficulty.
So it’s something that we take seriously and I look forward to announcing further exactly the nature of the program that the Nunavut Housing Corporation is developing once I have it.
Another recommendation made by the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts to the housing corporation was concerning its requirement to table its annual reports in a timely manner.
The minister tabled the housing corporation’s 2009-2010 annual report on September 28, 2011.
Can the minister explain what the housing corporation has done to improve the timelines of its reporting?
Yes, I believe we have made progress. We at least have one annual report that we have yet to conclude, but I look forward to making that report available to all members.
I don’t want to promise a date, but I believe before long, that report will be tabled, if not this session but in the winter session or so.
Question 202 – 3(3): Probation Services across Nunavut (Ugyuk)
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the majority of sentences for crimes against a person result in a period of probation instead of custody in jail.
Recent statistics show that in 2009-2010, more than 1,500 adult criminal court cases were completed in Nunavut.
If the pattern holds true, then more than 1,000 of those convicted will be put on probation and not serve jail time.
Can the minister update this House on how often criminal sentences result in probation in Nunavut and how many Nunavut residents are currently on probation?
I thank Ms. Ugyuk for the question. She’s asking for some very detailed data.
If my memory is any good today, I believe currently there are over 1,000 individuals on probation in our 25 communities.
We do have 18 probation officers working in 11 communities and we’re in the process of hiring or creating four more for other communities.
With respect to how many individuals are sentenced to probation, I would have to get back to you on that information.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) In his return to Written Question 8 – 3(2) posed by my colleague from Quttiktuq, the minister listed a number of rehabilitation, counselling, and education programs that are offered to adult offenders in territorial custody.
These included programs such as “Alternatives to Violence,” “Men’s Group,” “Substance Abuse Program,” and “Psychological Services.”
Can the minister update this House on what programming is available to individuals who have been convicted of a crime and are sentenced to probation, and how these programs are delivered?
Mr. Speaker, it’s no secret that in Nunavut, in the communities, when an individual is released and reintegrated back into the community and works with their probation officer, as my colleague, the Minister of Health, has indicated, there are difficulties in providing counselling programs to individuals.
Some communities do have programs.
For example, in Cambridge Bay, they have the wellness centre that offers a variety of courses, alcohol courses, anger management, and there are some other communities as well.
It’s very difficult.
We encourage individuals at least to check in with their probation officers and, where possible, our probation officers can recommend courses and programs to the individuals if they’re aware of them.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The minister has provided statistics regarding the number of Nunavut men and women who were incarcerated and had reoffended.
Does the minister’s department keep track of the number of Nunavut men and women who were on probation and reoffended and, if so, would he be willing to table those figures in the House?
Mr. Speaker, again it’s no secret that there are individuals in our communities who reoffend and who do go back to jail.
There is a high recidivism rate in Nunavut for a variety of reasons.
I believe there have been written questions in the past asking for those statistics.
I even recall as an MLA myself I asked a written question like that.
I believe our staff does keep that information.
I can’t promise that we can table it in the House during this sitting, but I’ll ask our officials to prepare that information for a future sitting.
We think about our communities because want help for them to prevent that kind of thing and that is why I asked the question.
(interpretation ends) On page 27 of the Tamapta Action Plan, it states that, “During this mandate, the Government of Nunavut will develop a comprehensive Crime Prevention Strategy based on Inuit societal values and involving Nunavummiut in efforts to reduce the need for intervention by the justice system.”
Can the minister update this House on the progress of this strategy and when members might expect to see it tabled in the House?
I thank Ms. Ugyuk for her diligence in reviewing Tamapta.
Yes, the Department of Justice has worked with the RCMP. I believe I mentioned that there’s a pilot project underway in six communities in Nunavut. We retained a consultant with a vast amount of experience in crime prevention.
She went to all six communities, four here in the Baffin, one in the Kivalliq, and one in the Kitikmeot, and met with community groups, I participated in the one in Cambridge Bay, to develop specific community action plans.
The RCMP and the Department of Justice continued to work with the communities to implement some of the recommendations that came out of the community action plans. We hope to use that information from the results for territory-wide crime prevention. I’m also aware that the RCMP themselves have hired a number of key positions in the RCMP and a crime analyst position, which is a person who can analyze specific crime trends in various communities in Nunavut to assist the RCMP and communities to identify possible crime trends in their communities, and then they can target the methods to address the crime that may be occurring in the communities.
I am also aware that the justice committees and hamlet councils are all working very closely in the communities.
Hopefully, before the end of the term of this House, we may be in a position to provide some information to the House.
Question 203 – 3(3): Adult Learning Policy Division (Elliott)
My questions are for the Minister of Education, the Hon. Eva Aariak.
Yesterday, in the Minister’s Statement, she talked about the support for adult learning.
The minister spoke of the establishment of a new division with the director of career development services and adult special projects that would help coordinate policy development and service delivery more effectively to better serve the needs of adult learners.
Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the minister could explain how this division is different from that of the mandate of Nunavut Arctic College.
Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Madam Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for raising that question.
The division has identified the plans for the adult learning and career development program, which were introduced some time ago.
There are courses established for various programs and future careers.
In this strategy, the adult education curriculum, including the mature grad project, identifies these items.
However, the adult learning strategy is not appended to this program. (interpretation ends) The adult learning strategy has not yet been provided with the necessary resources to implement the recommendations. (interpretation) This was meant to provide assistance to the program.
Does this new division that was created by your department work with Nunavut Arctic College?
Yes, it is extremely important to offer these programs for the general public here in Nunavut and having an open dialogue is very important. That is the case here.
For the person who was hired to work in this division, where is the division housed? What specific community?
Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Madam Premier.
I don’t want to hazard a guess. Once I have the information, I will get back to the member.
What determining factor or factors qualify someone as an adult learner?
Let me say this first. My colleague, having been in the field of adult education, knows that he has to be sensitive with respect to this area.
All of us here have learned a lot as adults in new areas. We learn on a daily basis, even as adults.
Therefore, the programs that are geared towards adult learners are focused on people who are no longer in high school and who are not employed. When they have reached the age of majority, they are considered adults.
This program does not disqualify any individual so long as they are not in high school.
It’s obvious that we are also learning on a daily basis.
Question 204 – 3(3): Process of NNI Appeals (Enook)
Good afternoon to the residents of Pond Inlet and to all our fellow Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Yesterday there were questions asked on the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Policy.
I just want some clarification from the minister. If there is a problem or when an appeal is made and the appeals board makes a decision, does that decision become public?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member from Tununiq for that question.
Once the process has been completed, yes, the recommendations from the appeals board will be made public.
Maybe if I ask the question this way. When the appeals board has contemplated an issue, do they include their reasoning? Would that also include what changes were made?
My question is: can the details be included or is the decision only made public?
Once a quasi-judicial board has completed their process, the information there and whatever recommendations they do make become public.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Taptuna. (interpretation) Are you finished?
Question 205 – 3(3): Language Requirements for Business under Languages Act (Tapardjuk)
I also would like to direct a question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, the Hon. Taptuna.
Section 3 of the Inuit Language Protection Act speaks to private businesses and the fact that they have to provide services in the Inuit language.
Some of the services include documentation or requests for proposals and actual services, such as sales clerks.
The Government of Nunavut has stated that they would assist the private sector in complying with the legislation. In the strategy that had been announced titled “Uqausivut,” which was tabled in June 2011, it states that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will collaborate with the Department of CLEY to determine how to assist businesses and when the requirement for the private sector to provide Inuit language services will become mandatory.
Mr. Speaker, what I would like to understand is when we can expect this service to be provided in Inuktitut, especially for the unilingual people who are unable to speak English, under the Inuit Language Protection Act.
I would ask if you could clarify which minister you are asking because you started off saying the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation for this report, but your question was in regard to services being provided by the businesses and that would be the Minister of Languages.
So if you could please clarify.
Thank you. Mr. Tapardjuk.
In the report called “Uqausivut,” it states that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will work on the strategy to provide Inuktitut services in partnership with the Department of CLEY.
Assuming that the minister would be looking after the business sector and other business services, I was trying to ask him a question.
My question was directed to the Minister of ED&T based on that action item that these two departments would work together.
That is why I asked the question, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you for the clarification, Mr. Tapardjuk.
The department, of course, is going to be abiding by the Language Acts with the assistance of the Department of CLEY.
Mr. Speaker, we also talked to the private businesses out there through the Qikiqtaaluk Chamber of Commerce and other entities that are out there within other regions.
We also have programs that assist small businesses in marketing and that can be included in changing their signs to include Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and French.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the same document, it speaks about the Department of Economic Development and Transportation working with CLEY and the Languages Commissioner. It states that “The Department of Economic Development and Transportation, in collaboration with CLEY and the Languages Commissioner, will provide plain language information and guidelines to private sector bodies on how to do business in Nunavut in the Inuit language.”
Has this work been completed? Do you now have guidelines to offer to the businesses to show them how they can offer Inuit language services? That’s what I would like to find out, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the department is working with consultants and working with other partners out there, including the regional chambers of commerce and the private industry.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that information in front of me at this time, but I surely would get back to the member and the House of how far this policy-making is for small businesses and entrepreneurs to abide by the Language Acts.
In the same page, it also states that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will review small businesses and their operations, including how they will be able to comply with the Language Acts, specifically for signage outside their businesses, and how they could best comply with the legislation, especially in strengthening the Inuit language.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask when this policy will be tabled so that we can notify our constituents when they can be served in Inuktitut either in the retail stores and others.
When can we expect to see that?
Mr. Speaker, we understood that these small businesses would have difficulty in getting Inuinnaqtun signage, French signage, and syllabics. So that’s why I mentioned that we do have programs to assist them in that.
We’re working with our partners out there, the regional chambers of commerce of all three regions, to determine how we best do that.
Once the work is complete and the strategy is completed, I’m sure they would table the strategy.