EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services, Minister Sammurtok.
Mr. Speaker, for people who are jobless, it is very important for me and Mr. Speaker, if I’m directing my question to the wrong minister, please correct me.
When his department constructs buildings in Nunavut or when funding is available for constructing buildings, they need to be approved by the Legislative Assembly.
When they do construction, how do they make sure that the construction companies hire Inuit people in each community?
When there’s a contract given to a certain construction company, there is an agreement in place whereby when the contract is signed, after we made sure that the construction company is doing their job, we make sure that we find out whether they will hire Inuit.
I know that there is going to be a lot of construction started in the five years, especially capital buildings.
How often do they try to find out from the people who receive the contract to see whether they are hiring Inuit beneficiaries?
We usually send our staff to each community to see and talk with the people who received the contracts in each community to find out if they are hiring Inuit.
I realize that in my community of Repulse Bay, there was construction done and they did not hire any Inuit beneficiaries at the time that I was a settlement secretary.
Can the minister agree with me that when there’s going to be a large construction project in the community, his inspectors would go and carry out their inspections, especially with construction contracts for large buildings?
Before the contract is issued, the government has to go by the policies that is in place.
There are provisions for inspections and we can certainly follow through with those.
Question 109 – 4(2): Support for Foster Homes in Nunavut (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is well aware I am very concerned by the numbers of Nunavut children who are sent out of the territory to receive care, either residential care or foster care, in southern jurisdictions.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps her department is taking to increase the number of foster homes in Nunavut and to ensure that those foster homes are assessed before children are placed in them?
I thank the member for that question regarding children. There is a shortage of foster homes.
However, we are grateful that they are able to take in children that are not their own.
In Iqaluit itself, there are over 20 foster homes.
Sometimes children go back to their biological families and some take longer to go back to their parents.
In terms of how we’re providing assistance to foster homes, I can endeavour to answer her by meeting with her personally.
I look forward to our meeting to discuss this.
Mr. Speaker, while it is important to ensure that foster homes can provide a good environment to children placed in their care, it is also important that families understand what happens when their children are placed in foster care.
Can the minister clarify how her departmental officials work with the families of children who may be apprehended to explain how the foster care system works?
I thank the member for Niaqunnguu for the question relating to foster homes.
In Nunavut, we don’t have a foster care association. It’s only the people in the Department of Family Services and government officials that have discussions about how they would deal with them in relation to children.
Can the minister update this House on what steps her department has taken to consult with families and individuals who provide much needed foster care in Nunavut to determine whether the current practice meets the needs of children who are being fostered and the families they are associated with?
I thank the member for Niaqunnguu for asking a question about foster parents.
We have provided assistance to foster parents and continue to assist them in order for them to create associations so that we can work with the associations.
In the absence of that, I can tell her that foster parents in Canada, in relation to that issue, are identified and we participate with them. Our department participates and has discussions with them. We keep in touch by way of correspondence.
In spite of the answers of an association that could deal with these things on an ongoing basis, social services and my department are able to work with the foster homes and we will be continuing to provide with assistance.
We will continue to seek better care whether the foster homes are becoming overwhelmed or whether they need to take breaks from providing child care services to children that are not their own.
Question 110 – 4(2): Definition of a Homeless Person (Enook)
I wish to ask a question today relating to homelessness to the Minister responsible for Homelessness in relation to what she provided by way of information.
Let me first ask: how do you define a homeless person? Do you base that on Canadian standards assigned for determining who is homeless?
I thank the Member for Tununiq for that question in relation to the definition for a homeless person.
Somewhere near 2010, the housing corporation did a survey on how many people are totally homeless and don’t have homes.
The people surveyed were also determined, such as those who stay in tents, sheds, or garages were included.
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Let me then ask this question.
You have stated that you base homeless people as those who are living in sheds and garages.
Are you saying that the government, whoever may just be visiting, is considered to have a home even if they’re just rooming or imposing himself or herself on people with homes?
I thank the Member for Tununiq for his question in relation to our definition of homelessness.
In Taloyoak, our community has been affected by people without homes.
I will be working hard to address this issue continually in relation to people who are considered to be homeless, people who have to live in sheds or tents.
We have memorandums of understanding with Inuit organizations, such as Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in terms of how to define who is homeless.
We will be putting that into a specific policy so that we will consider people who have to stay in non-permanent homes as being homeless.
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I am happy that our government will addressing homelessness issues.
Regular MLAs and I will be wanting to keep eliciting specific answers because we need to know the situation too. When we’re asking questions, we are working just as hard.
The survey was done in the three communities of Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit. In that statement, they said that all of Nunavut was surveyed. What other communities were visited besides the communities of Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit?
I thank the Member for Tununiq for expressing interest in being supportive of homeless people because, obviously, nobody wants to live in homes like that.
In my Minister’s Statement yesterday in relation to the homeless people, I made that announcement and we have indicated that we would be going back to the communities and our staff will be going back to the communities in relation to the number cited.
They’re doing a survey in the communities of Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit and they still have provisions. We still can’t say that the survey was done wrong because pretty much all of us know the situations in our communities.
Written Questions. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Member for South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie.
Written Question 002 – 4(2): Implementation of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan (Joanasie)
My written question today is for the Minister of Health and they concern the implementation of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.
On September 12, 2011, the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy  partners (Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Embrace Life Council, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police “V” Division) released the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan.
On March 20, 2014, the partners announced a “one-year extension to the first phase of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan” and that “considerable progress has been made on all eight commitments outlined in the Action Plan.”
With respect to each of the 41 objectives listed in the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan, what specific actions, initiatives, and expenditures were undertaken between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014 by the identified partners/stakeholders responsible for achieving each objective?
With respect to each of the 41 objectives listed in the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan, what is the current status of achieving each objective’s anticipated result?
With respect to each of the 41 objectives listed in the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan, what specific mechanisms and methodology are being used by the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy partners to measure the extent to which each objective’s anticipated result has been achieved?
Between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014, what were the total expenditures incurred by the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy partners for the purpose of implementing the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan?
Between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014, what funding was provided by the Government of Canada for the purpose of implementing the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan?
Between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014, what funding requests were submitted to the Government of Canada by the Government of Nunavut for the purpose of implementing the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan?
The Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy can be downloaded by the public from the following URL on the website of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health:
http://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/files/NSPS_final_English_Oct%202010%281%29.pdf
What is the URL on the website of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health at which the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan can be downloaded by the public?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Do the members agree that the written question be entered into the record as read?
Tabled Document 018 – 4(2): Report on the Meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Securities December 17, 2013 (Okalik)
I am pleased to table the December 17, 2013 Report on the Meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Securities.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bill 2 and Bill 3 with Mr. Mikkungwak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:01 and Committee resumed at 15:26
Chairman (Mr. Mikkungwak) (interpretation): Good day, people of Nunavut. (interpretation ends) I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
We wish to continue with the review of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, followed by the Department of Family Services.
If time permits, we will commence with the review of the Department of Justice.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation?
Does the committee agree that Minister Kuksuk’s staff go to the witness table?
Iqsuktii, please assist the staff.
For the record, Minister, please introduce your staff.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I say “good day” to everyone here and the people watching in Nunavut.
With me today from the housing corporation to my left is Heather Moffett, our Chief Financial Officer, and to my right is the Interim President, Lori Kimball.
Welcome, Ms. Moffett and Ms. Kimball. (interpretation ends) Members, please turn to page L-3.
Details are on pages N-IV-1, N-IV-2, N-IV-3, N-IV-4, N-IV-5, and N-IV-6.
I have a few questions for the minister.
Mr. Rumbolt covered off some of them yesterday that I was anticipating on asking, but I would like to start off with the Government of Nunavut’s Long-term Comprehensive Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
There’s a lot of good information in the strategy, yet I don’t see an action plan.
Can the minister answer on what the status of the development of the action plan is?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Hickes.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank my colleague for asking that question.
Mr. Chairman, the long-term plan that he first refers to will include an action component. It’s an integral part of proper planning to incorporate action plans.
I can respond to you with that right now.
Maybe the minister could clarify what the action plan schedule is going to be.
The planning is still in process and I can’t give him a definitive answer right now.
I look forward to seeing some further information on that, Minister Kuksuk.
Mr. Chairman, in the business plan on page NHC-3, it talks about interdepartmental collaboration focusing on “the appropriate mix of stakeholders to organize government action to meet the goals and objectives of the Strategy.”
Can the minister maybe define for me what an appropriate mix of stakeholders is and who they have anticipated to be collaborating with?
Mr. Chairman, if you don’t mind, so that the member can get a proper response, I would like our interim president, Ms. Kimball, to respond if it’s okay with you, Mr. Chairman.
One of the things that NHC is working on right now is a blueprint for action where we’re defining the various stakeholders that relate to each of the goals, objectives, and strategies that were outlined in the strategic plan. Examples would be various departments in the government; for land planning, for instance, obviously the departments of CGS and Finance as well.
We would want to talk to the communities from NAM, NAMA, and those types of entities. It’s based on each initiative. We’re identifying a whole range of stakeholders that would need to be part of the solution.
In that same section, I’m going to quote from the business plan, if you will allow me, Mr. Chairman. It says, “Through this collaboration structure, the GN will have a mechanism to define housing demand, ensure more affordable housing options and alternatives are available to meet the varied needs of Nunavummiut, including the needs of a growing elder population.”
What is the anticipated… ? Throughout this collaboration, what are… ? I see what they’re trying to achieve, but what are some of the actions that they’re actually going to be achieving out of that collaboration?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Mr. Kuksuk.
I would like Ms. Kimball to respond to this as well. It’s a continuation of your last question.
Maybe if I take one example, I can walk it through.
If we’re talking about seniors, for instance, there’s a range of different levels of assistance that a senior might need.
To start they might need a smaller apartment where they can be self-sufficient. As they age, they might need some supportive assistance that would come into that home, as they get older they might need a full-time care facility with nursing.
Through collaboration, the Department of Health gathering statistics on various age groups and what we should be planning, we know the population with our new rent-scale system of who is in our public housing rental units.
We know how many people are 50-59 right now, so if we can project their needs for the next 30 years based on historic trends that the Department of Health is seeing, then we can better plan and do more long-range planning.
To use Ms. Kimball’s example, I applaud the Housing Corporation for some of the buildings that they’ve done to specifically support elders.
Is the Nunavut Housing Corporation looking at building more housing with assisted living?
I didn’t understand the question. Can you please explain it better and ask again? I would like a clarification on the question.
Mr. Hickes, if you can rephrase your question. Mr. Hickes.
Sometimes my brain works faster than my mouth.
Mr. Chairman, in Ms. Kimball’s response, she alluded to one of the progressive steps of care for elders are assisted living residences.
Is Nunavut Housing Corporation, in conjunction with the Department of Health, looking at building facilities of that nature?
Thank you, I understand that fully now.
As Ms. Kimball stated earlier, the Nunavut Housing Corporation is involving other departments in order to plan these things.
I’m sure Ms. Kimball can add to my response to you can get a more full response.
At this point we are in more of a research phase in looking at what we can do with the existing housing stock rather than looking at specifically new construction, like a large-scale care facility.
That might be more suited to a Community and Government Services function than a Nunavut Housing Corporation function at this point.
We are trying to make sure that designs for new housing are adaptable.
This includes things like making sure the doorways are wide enough for wheelchair access. That as we are designing, it has got the structure to support handrails and things that we can install more easily after the fact.
It’s a lot cheaper to do it up front during construction than it is to modify a home.
At the same time we are looking at existing dwellings that we have in our public housing stock. For instance, if we have a five-plex that might be suitable to have a care provider and, say, four residents in a five-plex.
We are exploring and having discussions. It’s still at the very preliminary stage and a research level stage in talks with the Department of Health.
To remind everyone, the interpreters have to be able to keep up with you and you have to make sure that the audience out there understands what is being said here.
Please don’t speak too fast.
This goes to some of the homeownership programs that are out there.
In the long-term strategy that was tabled last year by the previous minister it talks about some of Nunavut’s housing priorities, one of them being the strategic direction of identifying and addressing gaps in Nunavut’s housing continuum.
They identify a couple of gaps that they’ve already identified including purpose-built transitional and supportive housing like I was just talking about and affordable market rental options.
I think as most members are aware from their time in Iqaluit, affordable market rental options are few and far between here in the City of Iqaluit.
What kind of role is the Nunavut Housing Corporation playing through their affordable housing programs to assist people with market rent basis?
Hon. George Kuksuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Your question involves a lot of things that we have to consider when we are looking at building houses. Also, to use elders’ homes as an example, to explain what plans we have for that effect.
I would like to give this over to Ms. Kimball.
The housing strategy identifies two continuums. The continuum of care and a continuum of affordability.
In the strategy we identify various goals and objectives. What we are working on now is the blueprint for action which is really the plan of how we are going to consult and identify all the stakeholders that we need to solve each of those problems.
The issue of affordability, specifically in Iqaluit, one of the main challenges is lack of supply. Lack of supply is really coming down to the lack of land availability and the rate at which the city is making land available.
As we develop that blueprint for action, we would be identifying all of the stakeholders which would include; Community and Government Services, the City of Iqaluit, Department of Finance and really identifying everyone who needs to work together to develop a plan or solution to address that problem.
I’m going to jump in on Ms. Kimball’s response.
With a lack of land availability within the City of Iqaluit there has been a proposed Road to Nowhere subdivision. What type of communications have you had with the City of Iqaluit on that topic?
Thank you again for your comments.
I don’t have that information. Like you said, the city and the Nunavut Housing Corporation have had talks. I would like Ms. Kimball to respond to that.
Ms. Kimball: That’s definitely something we want to expand more.
We have had some chats with the city, particularly in regards to the current capital funding and looking for lots for our current year’s funding.
They are aware that we are looking forward to future plans and we look forward to working with them as we move forward.
Sometime ago there was a ten-year Inuit Housing Action Plan that was developed in coordination with NTI and the Nunavut Housing Corporation. That plan is at the end of its lifecycle.
Are there continuing talks with NTI on updating that ten-year housing strategy?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I again thank my colleague.
Mr. Chairman, the question of whether the Nunavut Housing Corporation and NTI will be coming up with a new agreement, at the housing corporation, we want to go ahead with it. That’s all I can say.
I understand that you want to go ahead with it, but have there been any preliminary talks with NTI on researching and developing changes to the housing strategy with NTI?
Have there been any talks so far?
To date, we haven’t had any new talks with NTI. I don’t have any new talks with NTI to report about.
I’ll switch gears into public housing.
We have all been made aware of the extreme costs to maintain and operate a public housing unit in Nunavut. On average, it’s just under $24,000 a year per unit.
We have also understood that CMHC, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, funding has been declining and will continue to decline to nothing in 2037.
I know that sounds like a long time away, but with the funding continually declining, it’s obviously a concern.
Have there been any other negotiations initiated by the Nunavut Housing Corporation to replace some of the funding that is being lost?
In regard to the housing shortage, we are still lobbying for additional funding.
While I appreciate that continued lobbying to build new houses, for every house we build, it’s costing your corporation almost $24,000 a year out of the public housing stock to maintain it.
Is that part of the negotiations that you’re having with the federal government on assisting Nunavut with the O&M to any housing built?
Hon. Minister of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.
Yes, we will continue to lobby for additional funding for Nunavut in any form.
Along that same line with looking at the cost of maintaining a public housing unit, we’re all aware of some of the energy efficiency challenges and education that needs to be made to assist people in making wiser decisions on maintaining or reducing the costs to the Nunavut Housing Corporation to operate these units.
What type of education program is in place to assist people in public housing or what incentives are in place to assist people in public housing to lower their energy costs?
I want my colleague to remember that last fall or winter… I know it’s very expensive to operate housing. We need energy-efficient homes.
It is very expensive to operate those public homes for that reason.
Mr. Chairman, because of that, we had tabled an information and orders for the renters so they can have better efficient homes. To be used for the tenants, we sent out the information to be used by the tenants.
That was part of that. I just alluded to that.
I think all members here have seen and are aware of some of the practices when people aren’t fully responsible for their utility costs.
Not saying that it is a waste, per se, but there are practices that can be utilized by the tenants.
Is there any kind of incentive program that could be offered to our tenants to reduce their energy costs which would overall save your corporation dollars which might lead to more units being built on the ground?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank the member.
As I started earlier on, last fall and in early spring we distributed calendars to all the homes in Nunavut to remind the tenants on how to maintain their homes at energy-efficient levels.
They are to maintain their homes properly because it is expensive to operate and maintain. We printed and distributed calendars. They were distributed to all homes in Nunavut.
It was to help the tenants.