EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I don’t have the numbers right now of how many students actually applied to take the Environmental Tech Program this fall.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once you get the information, would the minister give us the information as to how many students dropped out of the Environmental Tech Program?
I can make that information available to the member and to the House.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the minister also identify what the reasons are; why the students have dropped out of that program?
I just found that information.
At the main campus in Iqaluit, as of February 6, one month ago, or a little over a month and a half ago, we had 10 full-time students in the program.
There were three withdrawals.
Could the minister identify the reasons why there were three withdrawals? I’m sure there are only seven left.
Is it because of the instructor, or is it because of the curriculum?
I would like to get that clarification.
At any given program in any given college, not just in Nunavut, but across the country, there is always an attrition rate in a program.
Usually, that can range from 10 to 20 percent.
So, for example, if it was 20 percent and you had 10 people in a program, that would be two people dropping out.
In this case there were three from the information that has been provided to me.
There could be different reasons for that Mr. Speaker. I don’t have those particulars for those three people for ending the program. I’ll try to get that information for the member.
Question 261 – 2(3): Foster Care – Adoption (Peterson)
Last week, the minister mentioned in the Committee of the Whole that there are 325 children in foster care.
I’m sure a lot of those children are seeking parents.  There are some foster care parents who want to adopt children...my question for the minister: what criteria must exist before in-territory adoptions are approved by Health and Social Services?
There are several steps in place for adoptions.
First of all, we also have the practice of custom adoptions.
Those custom adoptions are arranged between the woman with the child, and the potential parents.
In terms of making arrangements to have a child adopted through the systems of social services, there’s a criteria that the social workers follow.
First, that there has to be interest from the potential parent and to let us know their interest in adopting a child. There are a number of evaluations that I believe are conducted to ensure that they are fit to be parents and home visits are part of that.
So as far as I know, that’s the procedure that is followed prior to adoptions being completed.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, I know there are two types of adoptions in Nunavut: custom adoption and then there’s private adoption.
My question is more related to the private adoption where relatives are not involved.
Mr. Speaker, the minister mentioned that the social workers do the investigative process.
So could she tell me, on average, how long it should take for an in-territory private adoption to be completed?
I don’t believe there’s a set number on when an adoption process starts and ends, but I can provide the member with the average number of days it takes to complete an adoption. One has to also bear in mind that the parents may have a preference for a girl or a boy and so on, so the availability of children would be a factor, the age would probably be a factor, and so on.
But I can commit to the member to providing information on the average time it takes to complete adoptions with children in our care.
Mr. Speaker, a child might already have several foster care parents who have been raising the children since they were infants and the children have grown to known them as their parents.
The parents want to adopt them and they are running into delays and red tape; years have dragged by in some cases.
My question: if the birth parents give up parental rights and the loving, caring private foster parents have satisfied all the requirements to adopt a child, to be a parent, what would prevent an adoption from occurring in a timely manner rather than taking two or three years?
If there are specific concerns with a specific family, then I would like the member to share that information with me.
If our process and evaluations are done to our satisfaction, there should be no red tape; they should be completing the file.
And if there are specific individuals that the member wants to convey to me, then I can look into that.
As far as I know, if they satisfy the requirements of social services then it shouldn’t take three years.
I will convey the names of the people that are involved.
Mr. Speaker, referring to my earlier question: these children have been raised since they were infants and they know their foster care parents as their parents. They get quite stressed out when they think that they are going to be given back to their original parents.
My question to the minister: when the social workers are interviewing prospective adoption parents, do they ever ask the child or youth for their opinion of who they want their parents to be?
I would imagine that would be the process that is followed by the social worker and part of that would be to interview the parents as well as the children.
But, again, it would all depend on the age of the child. Maybe at two or three, the child cannot respond to being interviewed by a social worker.
But if they are old enough to respond, then I imagine that is part of the evaluation process that is conducted by the social worker.
But getting into the specifics that would be his case, I will look into it if the member provides the information and find out what is causing the delay.
Question 262 – 2(3): Health and Safety Inspections of Deteriorating Units (Mapsalak)
I would like to direct my question to the minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I have been to various communities, and I do not know how many communities I have been to, but the housing association units that are rented out to the community. I have seen old units that people are living in. I have also seen old deteriorated units that are being used.
People use old newspapers to cover the holes on the floor. I have seen that kind of deteriorated units.
I would like to ask the minister in regards to these units, it seems like these units that are deteriorated should be health and safety hazards. Who does the inspections for these units?
We get inspections for units for health or safety issues and to make sure that there are no hazards.
If there are old deteriorated units after they have been inspected they are renovated. We try to renovate them right away to make sure that there are no health and safety hazards for the tenants. We are able to get the inspectors to inspect the units to make sure there are no health or safety hazards.
We do have health or safety inspectors to make sure that the units are up to code.
If there was a request for inspection, perhaps the Housing Corporation or Housing Association can be requested for inspections.
The ones I had seen are totally deteriorated.
They are so old it seems like it is impossible to renovate them.
Who makes the decision to condemn the units whether they are too old and deteriorated?
The Housing Corporation can do that, but due to lack of housing in Nunavut we try to improve units to the best of our abilities so that they could be used.
If we condemn one, then we would lose one or more units.
To make sure that the family lives in a house, we try to deal with it to the best of our ability.
Due to lack of housing in Nunavut we look at ways how we can improve the units without losing a house.
If you condemn the units due to health or safety reasons what would happen to the tenants if you condemn a unit?
Would you have to ask them to leave the unit? Where would they be placed?
If there were a free unit then they would be housed in the free unit.
If their unit was condemned, or if it was going to be renovated, we would look at ways of how we could deal with them better. But, if there were units available, we would house them in the empty unit.
If we consider it further, I’m sure we would have to consider these things along with the housing association in the communities.
If the tenant was told to move to a unit, would it be a brand new unit if it was available? Since there is a shortage of housing available in the communities, there are a lot of houses that are very old and decrepit. If all these old houses were under-standard, would you be able to replace them with brand new houses?
I’m talking about fire safety hazard houses that can be replaced with brand new housing.
If there is a danger of health standard code, then we would find out exactly what needs to be retrofitted for that house to make it more suitable for the tenant.
For that reason, since there is such a shortage of houses in the communities, then we would make use of that.
And, if that house is totally useless, then we would have to look for brand new funding to replace the...I will be going to meet with the Housing Corporation Minister in Ottawa, and I’ll be speaking about this subject.
Question 263 – 2(3): Trades Training Plans for Kugluktuk and the Kitikmeot (Evyagotailak)
My question for the minister is; the week before last I was in Pangnirtung for the Standing Committee on Health and Education public hearing on Nunavut Arctic College.
One of the issues raised at our meeting in Kugluktuk was the issue of trades training.
Mr. Speaker, I note the recent announcement about the new Nunavut Trades School in Rankin Inlet.
Can the minister tell me today what plans he has for trades training in Kugluktuk and the Kitikmeot region?
First of all, the announcement that we made two weeks ago included a component for operating and opening a training facility in the Kitikmeot region based in Cambridge Bay by accessing the school in Cambridge Bay.
We have a wonderful shop there that is underutilized and we believe by spending some money on the infrastructure in the school, as well as the equipment, we’ll be able to outfit that shop to look after some of the training within the Kitikmeot region specifically.
In Kugluktuk, we’ve had some good success on some of the programs that are being run in the program, in the high school there. That will continue. Any program that is offered out of Cambridge Bay will also of course be open to any of the residents of the Kitikmeot region.
Thank you, for your answer, Minister Picco. (interpretation ends) One of the issues that we have heard is the difficulties students have when traveling away from their home communities to attend Nunavut Arctic College; childcare and housing are problems.
What will the department do to make trades training available to residents of Kugluktuk?
Unlike some of the institutions in the south where people graduate from high school and usually go into the college, or in university, or trades school, or vocational school, they are usually between the ages of 16, 17, and 18.
In Nunavut, the majority of our students are considerably older, more mature students.
They usually have a family and children and dependents.
And therefore, we have to make sure, at the college, that we are able to accommodate those students.
In cases where the students from Kugluktuk would have to go to another campus, for example, to Iqaluit or to Cambridge Bay, then we have accommodations available for married accommodations, as well as single student accommodations.
For the facility in Rankin Inlet, which we are beginning to overlook and under-see, we have single accommodations available right now in the community.
We also have a limited number of family accommodations, but that plan would also include upgrading accommodations and creating new family accommodations in the community of Rankin Inlet that would be able to house students from across Nunavut.
Specifically in Kugluktuk, there are a number of programs under the Department of Education including different kinds of programs for daycare and so on to be able to accommodate dependents and childcare.
Will any trades training courses be offered in Kugluktuk?
Through the Community Learning Centre in Kugluktuk, there is an opportunity there to look at third party funding programs that may be available to the community and that is ongoing. At the same time, as I said earlier, any of the programs that we would be running out of the community centre in Cambridge Bay would be open to the Kugluktuk students.
Question 264 – 2(3): Housing Issues in Clyde River (Arreak)
We all know that there’s a shortage of housing in Nunavut and there’s a market for houses as well. When the owner cannot pay the price of the house, they usually leave their house and return to the Housing Corporation.
So can the houses be sent back to the Housing Corporation so that they can be resold?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I can look into this.
The funding that we have available from the bank for mortgages is usually handled by the banks.
We can look at this further and see how much can be changed so that under Nunavut Down Payment Assistance Program can be fixed so that we can deal with this much better for the houses that are not being used.
We can try and inspect on the houses that are available so that the houses can be available to the general public again; to the general market in Nunavut.
I also thank the minister.
While you are looking into the housing, can you report back to our House in the next session?
I would like to see the results for the spring session.
I will look into this. We would like to work much better with the CMHC for homeownership programs in the communities. I will be able to inform the Member of the Legislative Assembly about that after I have talked to the housing association.
Question 265 – 2(3): Number of Government Consultants for 2004-05 (Kilabuk)
I have a short question today.
I stand today to ask about some of my constituent’s concerns; the government sent consultants to communities and the government is using quite a bit of money to house the contractors.
They are coming from out of Nunavut and they are very expensive and that means that our people are not being hired, rather consultants are being hired.
I would like to direct this question to the Human Resources Minister.
Would the minister inform us about the Human Resources Department for the 2004-05, how many consultants had been used for that year?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the Department of Human Resources, for people who are working temporarily, I have no actual statistics on that at this time so I will take the question as notice.
When I do find out the exact amount, then I will be able to get back to the House.
Could the minister while he is looking for the data on the question that I had proposed earlier, can he also give us an understanding of how much he had to pay for that year on hiring consultants and how much they had to pay.
How much amount of money did they have to use to hire the consultants?
Yes, I can give you the answer for 2004-05 amount of money that was used for that year.
Question 266 – 2(3): Payment for Services of a Handicapped Individual (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I believe it was in February, the Department of Health and Social Services along with the Department of Education were ordered by a temporary injunction by a judge here in Iqaluit to pay for services for a handicapped individual.
My question to the minister: has the department complied with the court order and paid for those services on behalf of that child.
I am not aware of the status of that file, from what I do understand of that particular situation, the matter is still before the court so I cannot speak to the specifics as to what is being done but rather that it is still before the court from what I understand.
I am aware that it is before the court and it looks like it will be quite some time before it is complied with or finished with in the court.
However, the judge did order a temporary injunction in February.
I guess I am just asking the minister, are they planning on complying with that temporary injunction that was court-ordered to the department.
If there is a court injunction done, then our system would respond to that, as far as I know that is the procedure that is in place when there is an injunction from the court then those matters are dealt with.
But in terms of the specifics of the case, I am not aware as to the status of it right now.
If there was an injunction, then I imagine that it is received and responded to.
But I do not have specific dates as to whether that has been dealt with or not to date.
I can get that information and share it with the member.
I find it a little disturbing I guess when you have something like a court...and it has been reported that the government suffered serious embarrassment in court by the Department of Health and Social Services and Education that the minister is not aware of that.
I guess I am just asking, if there was a court injunction that ordered the government to pay and the minister indicated that if there was an injunction then that would be followed through with...can the minister, while she is looking at it, inform me of how long it will take for the government to pay for those services. That was in February and as of last week, as far as I know, the government still has not paid for any of those services to this individual.
So is she looking into that as well?
I will also speak to the Minister responsible for Education because I believe Education was part of that file and report back.
Can the minister indicate whether or not the government plans on complying with that temporary court order or not?
I will look into the file and report back on the member’s question.
I do not know the status of that file as to where we are with it, but I do understand that matter is still before the court. Whatever the decision has been if there is an injunction I can find out the status of that. I understand it involves more than one department so it will also involve coordinating on my part to get the information the member is seeking and I will commit to doing that.
Question 267 – 2(3): Fuel Rider Increase (Barnabas)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Energy...(interpretation ends)…a fuel rider of 3.98 cents a kilowatt hour have been extended to September to power bills.
What was the increase in oil costs from 2003 to this year?
The 3.98 cent rider was placed on the bill last fall. It’s been extended from April 1 to September of this year.
It is my understanding the price of fuel has increased from around $23 retail to $60 a barrel. That’s almost a three-fold increase per barrel in that period in 2003 to 2005.
Does the minister or Qulliq Energy Corporation see the rider continuing past September of this year?
The rider is supposed to be a temporary measure to bring the Fuel Stabilization Fund to a plus or minus one million dollar amount.
Right now, depending on what happens with the fuel purchases and fuel costs, it would be hard for us to determine yet if that rider will continue.
Again, this is a mechanism within the framework of the corporation and the check and balance is provided by the Utility Rate Review Council.  So right now we are not able to say how long that rider will go on for.
If the rider goes on for a longer period of time, and more money is received in the fund than is permitted, that money is rebated back to the consumer.
Will the rider have to be approved by the Utility Rate Review Council before it is applied?
Anytime we move forward on the fuel rider, under the regulations that are in place through the Utility Rate Review Council, it has to be approved by the Utility Rate Review Council. First Cabinet approves it, and then it is submitted to the Utility Rate Review Council for approval.
The Utility Rate Review Council has the opportunity and right then to look at the details and the reasons, the explanation by the Power Corporations, the reasons for the rider.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends)
Will the 6.3 percent increase that was approved last year by the Utility Rate Review Council happen this year?
Part of the findings of the Utility Rate Review Council report last year on the January application of the Power Corporation was the need for extra revenue for the corporation.
We did an increase of a little over 3 cent a kilowatt hour. At that time, in the Utility Rate Review Council Report, they acknowledged that there was an ask, an opportunity for the Power Corporation to go back for another 6.3 percent increase which would be roughly two cents a kilowatt hour.
However, the Power Corporation cannot receive this 6.3 percent increase unless the Power Corporation applies for it and until the Utility Rate Review Council receives several reports from the Power Corporation including up-to-date financial information as well as an external review.
The external review has been completed and I haven’t had an opportunity to see it yet. It hasn’t come through the minister’s office.
As soon as that happens and occurs, then I will forward it to the Utility Rate Review Council and then the opportunity presents itself that the Qulliq Energy Corporation can ask for the 6.3.
It has already been acknowledged and approved from last year, but there is outstanding information that the Utility Rate Review Council needs before it can be implemented.
Question 268 – 2(3): To Reduce Violence Against Women Campaign (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Qulliq Status of Women. Last November, the minister announced a Nunavut-wide campaign to reduce violence against women. The unveiling of a poster calls on people to work together to end abuse.
Can the minister update us as to the status of that campaign?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Minister Aglukkaq
Since the launch of that, for the very first time in Nunavut, we hosted, in partnership with Qulliq Status of Women Council and with various government agencies, the first ever symposium to address violence against women in Nunavut
Over 100 people participated in our conference here in Iqaluit to look at ways to address violence against women.
There are a number of recommendations that came from that workshop to try and address that issue and we are still waiting for the final report to come back from the Qulliq Status of Women’s Council.
From the official level there have been about 80 recommendations that they are looking to bring forward to the government. These will look at strategies to better improve the services to address violence against women, what programs may be needed for offenders and so on.
Once that recommendation and report has come back from that symposium that will then assist us in focusing our resources to address violence against women and provide assistance to families in that situation.
Thank you, minister for that answer.
I’m not sure if this is the same group, but the same news release stated that a work group for the prevention of violence against women will develop a campaign to raise awareness of the seriousness of domestic violence and identify priorities for an abuse prevention plan.  My question for the minister is: can she update me as to the status of the abuse prevention plan that she mentioned in her news release last fall?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Aglukkaq
Some of the recommendations that are coming back from this symposium will be to address that particular issue that the member has raised.
Some of the areas that we are expecting from the report will address what type of needs are in the community to develop community-based programming to support victims and/or parent training or what kind of training and counselling programs for men and women and what kind of community policing and responses are issues.
There are a number of topics that were discussed at that symposium that will be shared with our members at this House.
That will then form a strategic direction that we need to take to address the whole issue around violence against women.