EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I believe Repulse Bay is supposed to get a next additional nurse.
I can’t tell Mr. Ningark today exactly what stage that’s at, but the plan is the additional nurse in the community.
Final supplementary, in his initial response to my question, the hon. minister stated that health professionals in our community are too busy. Is the minister indicating that we need more health professionals in communities across Nunavut?
I thank Mr. Ningark again for the question. I don’t know if I said they were too busy, but I certainly implied that they were very busy.
Health is very important in all the communities.
Certainly the health department would like to see more health professionals. With the function of available housing and funding that the health department has, we make do with what we have.
Mr. Enook was asking about overtime.
We have to pay out a lot of overtime to nurses and other health professionals to provide the coverage in the communities.
Health services are provided seven days a week and sometimes there are emergencies.
We do have coverage with the public agency nurses, casual nurses, and indeterminate nurses.
Certainly, again, people have become more conscious of their health.
We’re getting more sophisticated in our analyses and diagnoses of patients.
We could require more health professionals in the future, but it’s all subject to availability of funding, our budgets.
We know that the government is very constricted by available funding for all departments, including health.
>>Sirens
An Hon. Member: Very busy.
Question 625 – 3(3): Veterinarian Services across Nunavut (Oshutapik)
Some communities have not had veterinary services for over a decade.
It is often the hamlet officials who have to deal with strays, disease outbreaks, and other aspects of dog control.
Regular spay and neuter clinics, as well as vaccinations would help to improve the health of community pets as well as making life easier on hamlet officials.
Can the minister indicate whether his department has considered programs to support access to veterinary services across Nunavut’s communities as a way of supporting hamlets in addressing issues relating to dog control?
The hamlets control their staff and they determine what course of action the staff would be undertaking based on what they want to perform.
In most Nunavut communities, municipal enforcement officers or by-law officers have dealt with dog-related issues.
Can the minister inform this House whether municipal enforcement officers receive any formal training in dealing with dog control issues as well as programs to help prevent dog bites, especially for children?
I know that municipal enforcement officers do get training in areas they want to get training. The municipalities are responsible for training their enforcement officers.
As whether they get specific training to prevent dog bites and those things, I really do not know, Mr. Speaker.
Earlier this week, the minister spoke with pride and affection of dog team owners in the Kivalliq who have supported the activity of dog sledding.
I know he is a dog lover at heart.
Would the minister consider introducing a program to support Nunavut hamlets and their staff in addressing dog control, dog safety, and dog health issues?
I am a dog lover, so to speak, I guess.
I’ll see if our department is responsible for that and if it has to go through other departments, but I could assure my colleague that I do love dogs and I wish I had one.
Question 626 – 3(3): Status of Pond Inlet Resource Centre (Enook)
Before I ask the question, I want to wish a happy birthday to Amber.
The minister may recall that almost one year ago, I raised concerns that the teaching and learning centre based in Pond Inlet had been unstaffed for a very long time and it was going to remain that way.
On June 5, 2012, the minister responded to my questions saying that the centre had been renamed the “Media and Inuktitut Resource Centre” and that the positions would be filled by the fall.
Mr. Speaker, almost a year has gone by. The name may have changed, but the situation remains the same: no staff and no support.
Can the minister provide a clear update on the status of the Media and Inuktitut Resource Centre in Pond Inlet?
Good morning to Nunavummiut and I wish them a happy weekend.
In regard to the question in Pond Inlet, I will look into the status.
According to my documents, I don’t have anything pertaining to the staffing issue, so I will get back his question.
I thank the hon. minister for her response.
Mr. Speaker, there is some concern in Pond Inlet that leaving the resource centre unstaffed for such a long time signifies the government’s intent to close this office down.
Will the minister confirm that the Media and Inuktitut Resource Centre in Pond Inlet will not be closed down?
To date, I have no information whether the resource centre will be closed or whether any learning centre will be closed under the Department of Education.
I would like to get more information from the minister and I thank her for indicating that she is unaware of any learning centres that will be closing down.
For that reason, when can we expect to see these jobs that have been unstaffed for a very long time filled?
I will have to ascertain at which stage the employees are at and what stage the empty positions are at, as I promised I will look into this and I am happy to look into this.
Question 627 – 3(3): Department of Education’s Contracting Practices (Schell)
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to government staffing, there are rules in place to ensure that public servants are not sitting on selection panels and hiring their own relatives for government jobs.
However, the rules concerning government contracting are not as clear.
Can the Minister of Education indicate what rules are in place within the Department of Education to ensure that departmental employees are not making recommendations or decisions concerning the awarding of contracts to their own relatives?
I thank him for his question.
The Department of Education have rules and policies and the staff also follow rules and policies when hiring employees and when awarding contracts, they award the contracts also following rules and regulations that are in place.
Can the minister indicate when the Department of Education’s contracting practices were recently audited by the Internal Audit Branch of the Department of Finance?
Maybe I didn’t hear it properly or I didn’t understand. So if he can clarify your statement about it being audited, please.
Mr. Schell, could you please repeat your question for the minister.
My understanding is that the Department of Finance does auditing on the different departments in regard to contracting practices.
So my question is: when was the most recent audit done by the Internal Audit Branch of the Department of Finance?
I don’t know when they were last audited by the Department of Finance.
In reviewing the government’s recent annual departmental procurement reports, it has come to my attention that over a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of sole source contracting for materials and work related to the implementation of the Education Act have been awarded to one individual, and that there may be a perceived or real conflict of interest with respect to the contractor’s family relationship with a departmental employee.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the process by which these sole source contracts were awarded?
Education is committed to working with individuals.
If I may go to a bit of a historical explanation as to the reasons why sole sourcing needed to be used for work that needs to be done in order to implement our recently-enacted Education Act, there are relatively large recurring sole source contracts unique to education.
Training delivery programs, such as heavy equipment operator training, often these are the third party funds and were generated by request for proposals processes.
There are many time pressures that create some time-sensitive situations requiring sole source contracts. This includes pressures to develop curriculum and to implement the Education Act.
This has led to a situation where we needed outside expertise in an urgent fashion, requiring sole sourcing.
Housing availability and other particular delays in staffing many curriculum positions at that time were contributing factors. Education is historically the department with the most staff. This makes more evident the labour market forces and housing issues that make it difficult for all departments to recruit and retain staff.
Contracting is sometimes needed to complete projects on a timely basis when staff are not available.
I have instructed the Department of Education to look at ways of decreasing sole sourcing so that future years will not repeat the same contracting situations.
There are two RFPs currently underway to create standing offer agreements.
This will cut down on the use of sole source contracts in the future. This will cover curriculum development and itinerant services for schools.
We have instituted a standardized approval process to ensure that all contracts entered into by the department are approved by several specific levels and these are the program manager requesting the contract, corporate services that ensure that the budget exists to cover the expenses, the assistant deputy minister, and the deputy minister.
This ensures that contracts entered into are a necessity to achieve the goals and mandate of the department.
I don’t have the dates of when the individual was hired on contract, whose relative is working within the department, in no way, was reporting to that relative, but instead was reporting to the deputy minister.
Question 628 – 3(3): Southampton Island Caribou Survey (Ningeongan)
I say “good morning” to the people of Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet, as well as Nunavummiut.
Before I go to my question, first of all, I think I should thank the residents in Coral Harbour. I am very grateful that the wildlife office has now been filled on behalf of Coral Harbour.
As the minister is very much aware, the health of the Southampton Island caribou population is a major issue for my constituents in Coral Harbour.
On June 5, 2012, I asked the minister questions concerning his announcement of management actions regarding the caribou harvest.
The community of Coral Harbour is aware that the government is currently undertaking a new aerial population survey of the caribou herd.
Can the minister indicate if this year’s population survey is also including a ground component?
I thank the member for asking that question in regard to the community concern. I say good morning to the residents of Coral Harbour.
Ever since we started working on the caribou survey at Southampton Island, we have been working closely with the hunters and trappers organization in Coral Harbour. We have been kept informed on a timely basis.
We gave them a protocol to determine whether the caribou has a disease or not.
Last week, the caribou survey started on Southampton Island. Right now, they’re only conducting an aerial survey. We’re working with the member of the Coral Harbour Hunters and Trappers Organization.
They were conducting an aerial survey last year. Based on the information we have, they’re just going to be conducting aerial surveys this year.
Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Ningeongan.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for his response.
When I asked the minister questions on this issue last year, he indicated that an aerial survey of the population herd would be conducted in June of 2012.
Can the minister confirm what the results of this survey were?
The survey results from last year are available.
We have some figures. There were about 6,200 caribou that were counted last year.
I thank the minister for his appropriate response.
I want to commend the hunters and trappers organization, even though this seems to be a very difficult task. We have heard that the caribou population was declining. There are a lot of people who would like to harvest caribou.
At this time, there is a survey underway this spring. When will the residents of Coral Harbour be expecting the survey results?
I am very grateful to the residents of Coral Harbour for working with us, especially the hunters. The protocol was followed very closely and I want to thank the residents of Coral Harbour as a result.
As the survey will be winding down maybe around May 20, we will be able to make the survey report available in June. As to what the next course of action needs to be undertaken, we will be working on those issues this month based on the agreement we have. The agreement will expire in June.
Question 629 – 3(3): Food Price Survey (Rumbolt)
Before I ask my question, there doesn’t seem to be much excitement from the Montreal Canadiens fans today and I’m not sure why. Golf is not such a bad sport.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Hon. Minister Monica Ell, Minister responsible for Family Services.
The questions are regarding her Minister’s Statement earlier today.
In her Minister’s Statement today, she stated that a food survey was done to collect information on food prices in 11 Nunavut communities.
Can the minister explain how this data was collected? Was it collected by sending someone out to the communities or did individuals from the communities collect the data?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you.
I also thank my fellow MLA for asking that question.
There are many communities where a survey was undertaken, as I mentioned earlier.
At this time, our staff is still working on the food prices. After they conducted various interviews, a lot of them were assisted by other staff members from the Department of Family Services and some were community liaison officers. That’s how they collected the information.
Mr. Speaker, if the data was collected by community members, such as community liaison officers, why wasn’t the survey done in all Nunavut communities to have more accurate data of the cost of food throughout Nunavut?
This is just the beginning phase. It is currently just a pilot project to conduct an initial food price survey. This pilot project is just the starting point.
I wonder if the minister can update the House today on which communities participated in the food price survey.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): I thank the member for raising that question.
I want to respond factually as to which communities were part of this survey, but I don’t have that information available at this time.
I will commit to providing that information to the member once I have it, either via email or correspondence, as I have his email address. I will provide that information. If any other members would like this information, you may request it from our office.
Question 630 – 3(3): Medical Escort Policy (Curley)
I want to express my appreciation for which I am rising today, which I will also forward as a question to the Minister of Health about health care in Nunavut.
I want to express my appreciation to the nurses throughout Nunavut, in our health centres, and in particular, our home care nurses. We are very appreciative of their services as they are quite diligent in their work.
I want to ask the minister a question. Perhaps it would be better to ask the question in English to the Minister of Health. (interpretation ends) My question has to do with the Medical Escort Policy. I don’t know whether it’s final now.
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health exactly how the Medical Escort Policy works.
Could the minister outline who qualifies for the medical escorts?
Yes, I heard two questions, but I’m not sure which one I should answer.
Mr. Speaker, the Medical Escort Policy works exactly the way it has worked for the last several years. It’s under review, as we have indicated.
It would be the medical practitioner who recommends a medical escort for the patient.
If you’re a unilingual elder over the age of 60, then you would also be given an escort unless you decline the escort.
I know that has been under review.
For that reason, we really never know when it’s going to be final.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the response.
I understand the medical practitioners take the lead in enabling a medical escort for any patient in Nunavut. My question is this: what if the request comes from the individual that they do know that they would require a medical escort due to the nature of the treatment?
It could be surgery, which is really quite painful in some respects.
Could the minister explain exactly, if the request is made by the patient/client, where does that go to?
It’s my understanding, based on the practice of being a medical practitioner, that the attending physician who treats the patient would actually make a recommendation whether the patient requires a medical escort.
The request is made for a medical escort by a client. In a hypothetical situation, obviously, it could be denied.
If it is denied, what is the next process?
The reason I ask that question is that we do also get a copy of the appeal directly urging an MLA to ask the department to reconsider their request.
The process, as I understand it, is if a patient requests an escort or is denied an escort, there are appeal provisions. They can appeal to the regional directors of the Department of Health in their regions and they will process the appeals.
Question 631 – 3(3): Social Worker Vacancy in Coral Harbour (Ningeongan)
My question is for the Minister of Family Services.
As the minister may be aware, we haven’t had a social worker in Coral Harbour for a long time. We’ve had some who have come in for short periods of time for the past almost three years.
In particular, this individual called Patricia… .
I forget her last name and I apologize for that.
She has come to Coral Harbour now and then and has been of great assistance to my fellow Coral Harbour residents.
Even though that is the case, it was our understanding that a social services worker position was created and that this individual would work on an indeterminate basis.
When is this position going to be filled? We hear that this is an indeterminate position. When will this position finally be filled?
I didn’t hear the question properly. Could the member rephrase the question, please.
Mr. Ningeongan, could you repeat your question for the minister, please.
We don’t have a permanent social services worker.
We get one who gets into our community periodically. My question is: when are we going to fill that position in Coral Harbour?
Social service workers are very important to the Nunavut communities. When are we going to fill that position?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the member for asking that question.
I think that indeterminate position will be filled on May 13.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister Ell, for that response.
I think she said maybe that position will be filled on May 13.
Could the minister inform me, possibly before I leave, exactly when that position is going to be filled?
Yes, I will inform the member before he leaves.
There are no more oral questions.
Did you have a question, Mr. Oshutapik?
I would like unanimous consent to return to Item 5 in the Orders of the Day.
On behalf of all members, I would like to thank the pages from Pangnirtung, Annie Nakashook and Angela Duval.
Please thank them and applaud them.
Petition 005 – 3(3): Increase the Number of Public Housing Units in Taloyoak (Ugyuk)
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I have the honour today of presenting a petition that has been signed by 54 of my constituents in the community of Taloyoak.
Mr. Speaker, the petitioners are asking that the Government of Nunavut increase the number of public housing units in Taloyoak. I look forward to the government formally responding to my constituents’ concerns.
Tabled Document 359 – 3(3): 2012-2013 Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut (Speaker)
I wish to table the 2012-13 Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut.
There are no items in Committee of the Whole for today.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. There is no report.
Just a reminder that there are meetings of the Standing Committee on Legislation commencing at 1:30 this afternoon in Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for May 13:
As Mr. Oshutapik pointed out, I recognize the pages, Angela Duval and Annie Nakashuk. They’re leaving to go back to Pangnirtung today, and also their chaperone, Lucy Young.
I wish them a safe trip back. We hope you enjoyed your time serving as a page here.
We all appreciate what you guys have done. I hope you found it educational and learned. Good luck in the rest of your school year.
This House stands adjourned until Monday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 10:17
DAY 81
Monday, May 13, 2013
Pages 4517 – 4561
Sheila MacPherson
Opening Prayer 4517
Ministers’ Statements 4517
Members’ Statements 4519
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 4524
Oral Questions 4525
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters* 4540
Tabling of Documents 4543
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 4545
Second Reading of Bills 4545
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4546
Report of the Committee of the Whole 4559
Third Reading of Bills 4559
Orders of the Day 4560
Monday, May 13, 2013 4517
287 – 3(3): Minister Absent from House (Kusugak) 4517
288 – 3(3): Launch of “A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in Nunavut” Guidebook (Arreak) 4517
289 – 3(3): GN Long-term Housing and Homelessness Strategy (Taptuna) 4518
290 – 3(3): Nunavut to Host Ministers of Culture and Heritage (Arreak) 4519
486 – 3(3): Baker Lake Super Soccer Team (Aupaluktuq) 4519
487 – 3(3): Sanikiluaq Marathoners (Rumbolt) 4520
488 – 3(3): Search and Rescue (Elliott) 4520
489 – 3(3): Grand Opening of the Repulse Bay Health Centre (Ningark) 4521
490 – 3(3): Engage North Program in Pangnirtung (Oshutapik) 4522
491 – 3(3): Pond Inlet Participants of this Year’s Nunavut Quest (Enook) 4523
492 – 3(3): Congratulations to Wrestler Judai McKitrick (Ningeongan) 4523
632 – 3(3): Capital Planning Process (Aupaluktuq) 4525
633 – 3(3): Status of Qikiqtani General Hospital Renovations (Elliott) 4526
634 – 3(3): Northern Employee Benefits Service Pension Plan (Rumbolt) 4528
635 – 3(3): Polar Bear Management Planning (Ugyuk) 4529
636 – 3(3): Status of Relocation of Pangnirtung Airport (Oshutapik) 4530
637 – 3(3): Internal Transfer Agreements (Enook) 4532
638 – 3(3): Update on Funding for Patient Wait Times (Elliott) 4533
639 – 3(3): Fur Production and Design Program (Ugyuk) 4535
640 – 3(3): Update on the Study of Peary Caribou (Elliott) 4536
641 – 3(3): Application Process for Courses in Smaller Communities (Enook) 4538
642 – 3(3): Funding Request from Gjoa Haven Community Freezer (Ugyuk) 4539
Committee Report 030 – 3(3): Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Justices of the Peace Act (Ningeongan) 4540
Committee Report 031 – 3(3): Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013 (Ningeongan) 4540
Committee Report 032 – 3(3): Bill 60, An Act Respecting the Nunavut Law Foundation (Ningeongan) 4541
Committee Report 033 – 3(3): Report on the Review of the 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Elliott) 4541
360 – 3(3): Copy of the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the M’Clintock Channel Polar Bear Population (Ugyuk) 4543
361 – 3(3): A Homeowner’s Guide to Permafrost in Nunavut: Keep your House on Solid Ground (Arreak) 4543
362 – 3(3): Excerpt from the House of Commons Hansard of May 10, 2013 (Ningeongan) 4543
363 – 3(3): The GN Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy (Taptuna) 4544
364 – 3(3): Igluliuqatigiilauqta “Let’s build a Home together” (Taptuna) 4544
365 – 3(3): Correspondence of May 7, 2013 from the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization to the National Energy Board (Enook) 4544
366 – 3(3): Article from May/June 2013 Edition of Above and Beyond Magazine: Focus on Food Security (Elliott) 4544
367 – 3(3): Student Essay on Youth Facilities (Elliott) 4544
Bill 64 – An Act to Amend the Liquor Act – Notice 4545
Bill 63 – An Act Consequential to the Government Reorganization of 2013 – Second Reading 4545