EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would suggest that it’s not going to be unusual to see a class “D” estimate for some of these projects because they were likely introduced into the plan as a class “D” estimate.
Once the project is underway, such as this one, it cannot be class “D” anymore; we know the price.
It would be de facto a class “A” estimate, but as members know, the binder is very thick.
It would be a lot of work, perhaps too much work, to go back and change all those estimate class numbers from a “D” to an “A,” especially when we’re talking about carryovers as opposed to new projects.
We will take a look at it and see if we can enhance the process, and we will see you this time next year.
I see Baker Lake’s new middle school. In reviewing the substantiation sheets, it’s in the planning stages now. My question here is: are the planning stages already underway and when do they anticipate to have the planning stage completed?
I will refer that question to the Minister of Education.
Hon. Paul Quassa: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) We have identified this issue in the substantiation sheets.
Perhaps I should preface it by stating that to date, both the schools such as the Rachel…how to pronounce it? The Rachel Arngnammaktiq School provides kindergarten to grade 5 classes and it currently sits at about 74 percent capacity.
The Jonah Amitnaaq High School currently sits at 76 percent capacity.
We have maintained that once a school surpasses 85 percent of their capacity or higher, we would commence the plans to construct a new school. At this time, as per my previous mention of the 85 percent threshold or (interpretation ends) utilization (interpretation) of the school, this triggers the process for planning a new school.
As of this date, based on the figures we have within the substantiation sheets, it is now at the (interpretation ends) preplanning (interpretation) section, which is still in effect until fiscal year 2017-18.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Corporate Services. $23,475,000.
I don’t have too many questions on this, but I would like to get some clarification first on Cape Dorset’s new high school. I know that there have been some delays with respect to this and it’s in the design phase. One of the things was that the location hadn’t been selected for the new school.
Can I get a brief update on where things stand with it? Has the land selection been identified with the new school?
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the location was identified previously.
According to the plans we have, it would remain sufficient by using portable classrooms that are being shipped up. Further, it lists the date when the project would commence and we keep reiterating that it will probably be completed by the year 2018. That is what we have continued to identify.
With respect to the location, it has been identified, but the community will be visited later on to discuss the design phase of this project. Our officials will travel to the community for that.
Can he clarify if he’s talking about the portables or the new school?
I was asking about the new school.
I stated that the portables we identified will be coming in this year’s sealift.
That was the only thing I was talking about.
The money we have identified for the new school, however, has not changed.
Has the site been identified for the new school? That’s what I was asking and I think he said yes.
Also in the substantiation sheet, the proposed new school for Cape Dorset would have eight classrooms.
Have you looked at the increasing number of students on an annual basis?
Once it’s over capacity after five or ten years, I would like to know what the Department of Education would do about that.
I feel I must remind the committee that we’re dealing with capital carryovers. This is a project that has been previously approved that we’re carrying over.
If we’re going to get into detailed discussions about classrooms and other such things, I’m not sure that would be the appropriate time to do that.
If the Minister of Education wants to answer that question, I’ll defer to you, Mr. Chairman.
The new school that we’re talking about will be built to be able to expand and looking at the future, it will be able to be enlarged.
As we have stated in the past, in the future, it will be possible to put an addition on the school.
In his opening statement, “This appropriation addresses carryovers from the 2015-16 fiscal year to the 2016-17 fiscal year.” That’s in his opening comments.
I thank him for the response, even though we’re not exactly on this item.
I would like to thank the Department of Education.
They are trying to move forward with the district education authority.
The Sam Pudlat School needs to be painted and this would require a contract for this summer.
As I recall, there was a request for proposals out. Is that moving ahead to date?
I don’t think we have any information to answer the question.
What I’m trying to ask about is the $300,000 is planning to be spent to paint the exterior of the Sam Pudlat School.
I don’t think the minister has been in the community for a while, but with the Minister of Education having recently visited the school, it does need to get painted.
What’s the status of this project?
That’s what I’m trying to find out. It states here that the reason for the delay is supply and material shipping challenges.” For instance, can’t they order through sealift or by plane?
Maybe the Minister of Education can respond.
We’ve got very little information on that particular project.
It is a painting project.
It simply says that Community and Government Services can identify the need for exterior painting and repair funds have been transferred from the ongoing lifecycle funding.
I’ll leave it at that for now and I’ll look into it myself.
It states here that they will be completed by September 2016.
If the project goes ahead, would it impact the next school year starting this fall?
My information is that the DEA requested a change to the design of the portables after the previous design was approved and thus that potentially will lead to delays for the students.
I’ll also be expecting that they will be brought up by sealift and I’ll expect it to move forward.
I’ll end it for now, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: We’re on Education.
Capital. Total Corporate Services. $23,475,000.
Not Previously Authorized. $23,475,000.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Directorate. $11,565,000.
It’s written here and I have asked about the (interpretation ends) Rankin Inlet Mental Health Transition House. (interpretation) When I ask questions, they keep saying that it’s not going to be built.
Can you clarify that project for me?
I’ll refer that question to the Minister of Health.
Perhaps he can repeat his question.
Within the budget estimates here, it lists the (interpretation ends) Rankin Inlet Mental Health Transition House. (interpretation) Whenever I have queried the minister in this House about this facility, the response I have heard is that renovations would equal a new facility and it seems this project will not surface, yet here they are requesting another $734,000. What is the purpose of this funding?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When the consideration of the (interpretation ends) transition house (interpretation) began, the funds were carried over. The $734,000 was not used, as this project is lagging behind with respect to construction.
The Department of Community and Government Services hired an architect to conduct the inspection of the building, as it was previously a group home. Last year in April 2015, the consideration was that since it had been completed previously, we were informed that the useful life of the building had been reached. (interpretation ends) It had reached it’s useful life and needs replacement. (interpretation) This was the assessment we received. That is where it stands currently.
Chairman: Thank you. We’re on Health.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Directorate. $11,556,000.
Not Previously Authorized. $11,556,000.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Program Management. $2,087,000.
Not Previously Authorized. $2,087,000.
Chairman: Community and Government Services.
Capital. Not Previously Authorized. Total Community Services. $34,766,000.
Total Petroleum Products Division. Not Previously Authorized. $13,693,000.
Not Previously Authorized. $48,459,000.
Chairman: Economic Development and Transportation. Capital.
Not Previously Authorized. Total Transportation. $25,881,000.
Not Previously Authorized. $25,881,000.
Schedule 1: Capital. Capital Appropriation. $122,591,000.
Chairman: Go to Bill 17 in legislative binder.
Do you all have your binders out?
Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2016-2017.
Chairman: Now go to Schedule on page 2 in English, page 8 in Inuktitut. Schedule.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2017.
Total Supplementary Appropriation. $122,591,000.
Some Members: Agreed.  Chairman: Do members agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 17 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
Chairman: Minister Peterson, closing comments.
I would like to thank all our capital planners, project officers, managers, corporate services officials across Nunavut, and everybody who is involved in delivering the capital projects and capital plan of the Government of Nunavut for their hard work to deliver them on time and on budget as much as possible and dealing with the capital carryovers.
I would like to thank my Director of Expenditure Management, Camilius Egeni, for his hard work in preparing all these documents that we deal with during the capital carryover process and all his staff, of course.
I would like to thank my two officials who were at the witness table with me today.
Chairman: Opening comments, Minister Peterson, on Bill 18.
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2016-2017 – Consideration in Committee
With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I would like to call in another official to be at the witness table with me and excuse Ms. Kimball.
Does the committee agree to the witnesses at the table?
To my right is Chris D’Arcy, Deputy Minister of Finance, and to my left is Karen Kabloona, Associate Deputy Minister of Health for the Quality of Life in the Department of Health.
Chairman: Thank you. Proceed with your opening comments, Minister Peterson.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members. I am here today to present Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2016-2017.
Bill 18 is for operations and maintenance supplementary appropriations for 2016-17 totalling $4,750,000.
$193,000 to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to cover an uncontrollable increase in the water rates for the Public Housing Program;
$3,938,000 to the Department of Health to fund the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2016-17;
$200,000 to the Department of Education to fund the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2016-17; and
$419,000 to the Department of Family Services to fund the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2016-17.
Committee Motion 009 – 4(3): Motion to Conclude Bill 18 (Enook)
Pursuant to Rule 6(2), I move that we extend the adjournment time so that we can conclude Bill 18.
We have a motion on the floor to sit beyond the daily adjournment to conclude Bill 18.
We shall now resume to conclude the matter under discussion.
We will now go to page 4.
Total Corporate Management. $150,000.
Total Children and Family Services. $269,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $419,000.
Chairman: Education.
Total K to 12 School Operations. $200,000.
Total Department. Not Previously Authorized. $200,000.
Chairman: Health.
Total Directorate. $3,938,000.
The people of Nunavut can’t see the documents in front of us.
We’re talking about quite a lot of money here.
I would like to have the people of Nunavut understand that there is a large amount of money that we’re approving for the suicide prevention strategy.
So that the people of Nunavut will know, could you give us a brief overview of what these monies are going to be used for?
For the benefit of the listening public, there are a number of programs through the Department of Health:
Quality of Life would be $1,118,000 that would be compensation and benefits and other expenses;
Program 2, there will be a mobile trauma response team, $386,000;
Mental health in corrections, $270,000, would be for the Department of Health to have a registered mental health nurse in Makigiarvik and to support the other correctional facilities in Nunavut;
Program 4, family-oriented safety plans, $ 278,000, and that will be for the Department of Health to train mental health staff to increase their knowledge and skills to effectively develop safety plans for family members and provide culturally appropriate counselling;
Program 5 would be the Youth Camp Facilitator training for $140,000. That would be for the delivery of seven facilitator training workshops for the evidence-based youth camp program to equip Nunavut youth with critical life skills and knowledge, fosters positive mental health and wellness, and also training for GN wellness staff.
Program 6, Youth Mentorship Program would be a program structured as a free after school program for children and youth in grades 1 to 9 to promote positive leadership in youth, increase connectedness throughout the community, promote coping skills in children and youth, increase resilience, create positive relationships between generations, and provide positive lifestyle role-modeling to the younger generations.
Program 7 would be ASIST delivery, train the trainer, and evaluation.
That would be in part to hire a full-time coordinator to provide these training courses, facilitate training of trainers, and update training materials.
Program 8, mental health data for $248,000, would be a program to develop the capacity to collect and report comprehensive data regarding suicide attempts and completions in order to inform suicide prevention efforts of both the individual program and policy levels. In other words, the data helps inform future decisions.
Program 9, evaluate Inuit-specific and Nunavut healing programs would be $100,000.
The Department of Health would evaluate any specific healing and treatment programs to provide a better understanding of their programming content and approach outcomes and value.
We are getting there; a few more. It’s very comprehensive.
Program 10, lockboxes pilot project. I believe it’s $200,000. That is where elders in Igloolik have demonstrated the benefit of building boxes to store fuel and protect youth from impulsive behaviours and addictions, a very positive thing to learn from the elders.
Program 11, grief support networks pilot project, $190,000, is where community organizations would be engaged and support the pilot intergenerational grief support networks.
Program 12, firearms safety campaign for $250,000 would help increase community capacity for injury prevention for the Department of Health in partnership with the RCMP, which strengthens and expands firearm safety and education across Nunavut communities.
The campaign would work collaboratively with the RCMP, hunters and trappers associations, and wildlife officers to increase firearm safety training, and provide an additional 5,000 trigger and cable locks to increase gun safety and reduce access to lethal means.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for giving us a brief overview.
In your comments, you indicated that there would be grief counsellors going to the communities in case of a traumatic incident.
Who would they be?
I don’t want to remind you, but we had a very tragic accident in Pond Inlet last year where we lost family members. We also received grief counsellors from Ilisaqsivik, I believe, a group from Clyde River, but I apologize for not recalling the exact name.
As an example, using that kind of organization that specializes in that area, is that what you are referencing? As an example, if a tragedy occurs, the counsellors provide assistance. Are you talking about these kinds of groups?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. They would hire four Inuktitut-speaking counsellors who would work out of different offices in various Nunavut communities so that they can offer services as close to the clients as possible. It wouldn’t necessarily all be in one community; it could be in four different communities.
One of the positions would be a full position to support counsellors on short-term contracts as needed. They would be available for walk-in counselling, appointments, and phone counselling via the Nunavut-wide toll-free call-in number. They would also be available to travel to offer trauma counselling or debriefing whereas and whenever needed.
I thank you for clarifying that.
If I had never had the opportunity to represent their interests, while we are on this subject, we owe the group from Clyde River that travelled to Pond Inlet to assist in counselling a great deal and we were extremely grateful for their assistance.
Whenever people come to provide assistance, it is extremely welcomed and that group came in more than once to Pond Inlet from Clyde River. Feelings of immense gratitude surface when you see people coming in to provide counselling services.
You referenced briefly that this would require employees, but I wonder about organizations such as that group in Clyde River.
Within the funding estimates we are requested to approve, would they be able to submit funding proposals therein or could they be directed to assist through this funding? I refer back to the four counsellors that were mentioned as well as those outside.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll ask Ms. Kabloona to answer that question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Ms. Kabloona.
Ms. Kabloona (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The organization in Clyde River, Ilisaqsivik, will be providing the four Inuktitut-speaking counsellors available through the mobile trauma response team. They and other community organizations are also eligible to apply for the money, for example, for the grief support networks.
I am also thankful for the explanations about the purpose of the fund for this program.
I want to start by first asking this question. We all know that the Nunavut government made an announcement about this initiative by stating that there was a crisis in October. Another result was the strategic plan or (interpretation ends) action plans (interpretation) extended for another year.
How do you work with these groups that are being identified? How will you work with groups, such as the Embrace Life Council, Nunavut Tunngavik, and the RCMP on the action plan details? Will you develop the strategy that will be specific to Nunavut?
How do you envision the federal government becoming engaged in the suicide prevention strategy, especially in light of their Canada-wide responsibilities? How will you work with the federal government on this strategy?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It must be recognized that we were working very quickly. The recommendations were released and the government responded very quickly to accept the recommendations and put together the business case we’re dealing with today.
This is an interim action plan. This funding is for this year, but there was a community engagement summit that was held from May 4 to 6. Various agencies were involved to work on a longer-term plan for Nunavut and Canada participated in that summit.
I thank you for that response. I attended that summit for one day and I would like to thank the organizers and all of the participants. It obviously helped them and it’s going to help them plan ahead as the plan is being put together.
When people commit suicide, it creates extreme hardship to the people who are closest to that person, the immediate family and their close friends. Sometimes we have seen or heard of other kids following in suicide. What is the plan to try to support the people closest to a person who committed suicide?
What sort of help should they expect?
I’ll ask Ms. Kabloona to answer that question. Thank you.
Ms. Kabloona (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Post-prevention care is very important. We have added a few initiatives this year.
We have the grief support networks, which the minister mentioned earlier, which will allow community organizations to develop a support network, including training, renting space, and having elders support them through that process.
As mentioned earlier, the trauma response team will be available to support communities that have experienced trauma.
We are investing in training for our mental health staff so that they can better support communities in a culturally appropriate way after death.
I think it’s also important to note that in this legislature, in March, there was an addition to our mental health staff of 22 positions, which brings up the mental health budget to $24 million. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for the response.
All the things that we are hearing this afternoon are good to hear because this has caused great hardship when we’ve had to go through it. There is a lot of expectation out there. I thank the Department of Health for doing this, especially for our youth.
When they go through hardships of their own, they have different programs that will be able to help specific circumstances. We would prefer not to be affected by suicide.
The last question I want to ask is about those people who are trained in ASIST training. It’s also explained here that there will be money provided for it. I understand that, for example, all the teachers in schools receive ASIST training.
Are there any plans to train other staff or other government employees to take ASIST training, not just government employees but other workers as well?
I’ll end my question there for now.
That’s one of the plans under the… .
I forget which program here, but it’s to hire a full-time coordinator to coordinate the delivery of the training in the ASIST training in different communities.
The full projected cost of the program is $607,500.
ASIST training, I believe, will be available to pretty much anyone who is willing to take the training.
I think, today, I heard a number and don’t quote me as it may be inaccurate, but I heard that around 2,000 people have received ASIST training over the years. As everybody knows, ASIST training is for first responders. Since 2009, I have taken it and many of my colleagues, I’m sure, many of you have taken it, so it’s a very good program.
Again, it’s a first responder to recognize the signs, ideation, and get people to help.
I don’t have any more questions, but I would like to further comment and thank you for this because I’m a strong supporter of suicide prevention. I want to help the youth to have a better future. In the House, we always say that we want to see a better future.
We would like the people who go through hardship to know that they don’t need to stay in hardship.
Although we experience it, there are expectations and we can turn to wherever we want.
You can see that we’re being supported here, so I would like to thank you for putting this together.
Welcome to the officials.
My question here, when we look at the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy, which we all support, when I look at the documents here, you have three departments that are overseeing a suicide prevention strategy.
My question is, there are 25 communities within Nunavut, some of which have only one employee in a particular department.
With this strategy, are there established community contacts now within the 25 communities across the territory regarding the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy?
Ms. Kabloona will answer that question.
Ms. Kabloona (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) One of the jury recommendations was to work better with community organizations and individuals in communities.
That’s why this is an interim action plan so that we have the time to do that important work.