EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I also thank the member for requesting that information. As it is very important, I am pleased to provide an update.
I would first like to say that as I speak, there are presently 83 students taking the Teacher Education Program in different communities and also here in Iqaluit.
I’m very pleased that we have so many NTEP students who are currently taking the program.
As the member indicated, I’m very well aware of the observations and recommendations that were in the Auditor General’s report.
We are currently looking at the observations and recommendations as part of the review of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.
Officials from the University of Regina, Nunavut Arctic College and the Department of Education are currently reviewing the program and how they can realign it so that we can increase the number of graduates.
We expect that this review will be done by the end of this year.
I wanted the focus of the review to be on how we can produce Inuktitut-speaking teachers and how there can be more Inuktitut taught in the classes.
As I indicated earlier, there are 83 students taking the NTEP program. They are continuing with the program while the review is being conducted.
I expect to review the new program possibly at the very end of this year and that is specific to Inuktitut-speaking teachers.
Nunavut Arctic College’s Teacher Education Program is the territory’s primary means of training and certifying Nunavummiut to become teachers.
Can the minister clarify whether any first year NTEP programs are currently being delivered across Nunavut and, if not, why not?
In Iqaluit for the first year, we have eight students, and in Kugaaruk for the first year, we have 15 students enrolled in the program. That’s for this year.
Members have been given to understand that a comprehensive review of the NTEP program is currently underway.
Can the minister provide an update on the intent and purpose of that review and clarify whether the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation will be involved in any reforms proposed under the NTEP review?
I also thank the member for continuing with that question because our fellow residents of Nunavut need that information.
We started that review because we found that there were Inuit graduates from that program who prefer to teach in English.
We wanted to do a review for that reason and revamp the program so that NTEP students would be able to teach their students in Inuktitut and to make sure that the students are proud of speaking Inuktitut.
The intent and purpose of that review is to make sure that it comes across and that more Inuktitut is used.
I think that was the bottom line of his question.
That’s what we’re doing with the NTEP review to date.
The member is well aware that I’m also a member of the Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation as well as our Premier.
We would like to see an increase in Inuit employment within the government and that very much includes teachers.
Makigiaqta and its advisory council are well aware that more teachers need to be added and the need for more support and how Makigiaqta is geared to that goal.
Yes, we will look at how to get them much more involved. As a government, we have to look at the different options and different alternatives to increase the level of Inuit employment.
Question 599 – 4(3): Fuel Prices in Nunavut (Angnakak)
Last month the Government of Nunavut announced changes to fuel prices across the territory. In its announcement the government indicated that these changes reflect a number of variables, including fuel delivery costs in each of the territorial regions.
My first question for the minister is: can the minister indicate what specific changes to the territory’s fuel delivery processes have affected its fuel prices for the current year?
Two of the major causes that affect the fuel prices are the world price of fuel and our Canadian dollar.
A short answer.
Mr. Speaker, in its announcement the government indicated that changes to Nunavut’s fuel prices also reflect the adoption of a “uniform pricing structure for all fuel consumer groups in Nunavut.”
Can the minister explain what this uniform pricing structure entails?
Minster of Community and Government Services, Mr. Savikataaq.
For the member’s sake, I’ll try to make this answer a little longer now then.
We have unified the prices in terms of putting them into a regional price for fuel.
Each community used to be its own price and now we have rationalized it so that each region has one price for one product to make it simplified.
Another thing we have done is we have the same consumer price now. In the old system there were up to 14 different prices in the community depending on who the customer was and now there’s just one price no matter who you are as the customer in the community.
It makes it much easier to calculate exactly what your sales are in terms of dollar figures. To figure out how much dollar figures you took in, you had to come up with up to 14 different prices for fuel in each community and each community had a different cost too.
Now we have one cost per region and one cost per customer.
It will make it much easier in the future to try to figure out what the fuel price should be the next time we get fuel. To get the cost of fuel, we have to figure out how much of the old fuel is left that we bought at last year’s prices and how much new fuel we have at this year’s prices, and then harmonize the two.
We want to sell it as cheaply as possible without making any loss to the PPD.
As the GN is the biggest customer, we do our best to keep the prices down without putting the PPD into a deficit.
In line with that last question, in its announcement the government provided an updated list of retail prices for fuel across the territory.
This list became effective on January 30, 2017.
Mr. Speaker, I note that this list does not include information on the retail prices of gasoline and diesel for vehicles for the city of Iqaluit.
According to the government’s list these specific prices are, and I quote, “available at vendor’s locations.”
Can the minister explain how the retail prices of gasoline and diesel for vehicles are determined in Iqaluit?
Yes, I’ll try to explain for the member.
In all the communities except for Iqaluit, PPD tenders are on a commission base.
An RFP goes out and a proponent puts a bid in on how much they will charge to sell the fuel.
The tanks are owned by the PPD or the GN, the vehicles are owned by the GN, and they just put a bid on how much they’re going to pay to deliver the fuel.
The fuel is owned by the GN.
In Iqaluit here it’s different.
The fuel comes in and the contractor buys the fuel from the GN. It is not the GN’s gasoline or diesel anymore.
Once it’s offloaded from the ship and into the tanks here, the contractor owns the fuel then.
The contractor then sells the gasoline to the retailers in town at a set price that is set between the contractor and the GN, and then the retailers sell it for what they want.
We cannot dictate to the retailers what to sell the fuel for because it is their own fuel, but we dictate to the contractor that has the fuel in the tanks on what to sell the fuel for.
Question 600 – 4(3): Activities of the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Speaker, over a year ago the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable adopted a resolution concerning the establishment of a hydroelectric power transmission line from Manitoba to the Kivalliq.
During the winter 2016 sitting of the Legislative Assembly my colleague, the Hon. Member for Baker Lake, asked the minister a number of detailed questions concerning this initiative.
In his response the minister indicated that, at that time, the members of the roundtable were working on securing federal funding to undertake a feasibility study of this hydroelectric power transmission line.
Can the minister tell us today if the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable has been successful in securing funding for this study?
I was at the last Hudson Bay roundtable back in February in Churchill, and I remember the resolution clearly and it passed.
The energy working group was supposed to be working on this and they were supposed to put in proposals to try to get funding to do a pre-feasibility study. As of today I cannot comment on whether it was successful or not, but the energy working group will be putting forward an update at the end of March when we have our next Hudson Bay roundtable and I’ll have more information then.
Partly the reason it’s hard to get the information is because the working groups are not under any one organization.
They’re from different departments, both government and non-government.
That’s the only update I have for the member.
Can the minister tell us what specific support the Government of Nunavut has provided to the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable in its efforts to secure federal funding for a feasibility study of the hydroelectric power transmission line?
The Energy Secretariat, which was with ED&T, the PYs were transferred over to the Department of Environment not that long ago. It was amalgamated to become the Climate Change Secretariat and the Energy Secretariat would have been more involved in that.
In terms of funding, CGS does fund a good majority of the Hudson Bay roundtable to actually hold an event. That’s the main way in how we fund projects like that right now because CGS is the main funder of the Hudson Bay roundtable.
It is my understanding that the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable will be meeting later this month.
Can the minister confirm if the hydroelectric power transmission line will be an item on the agenda for that meeting?
The agenda is not out yet, but for sure it will be on the agenda, both the hydroelectric power line and the land link to Manitoba. Both will be on the agenda as they are at every Hudson Bay roundtable. I’m hoping that we can get some progress and some good discussions on those two subjects when we’re having the Hudson Bay roundtable.
Question 601 – 4(3): Child Apprehension Practices (Shooyook)
Before I ask a question, I don’t like to dwell on what we have said already, but I would like to ask for clarification.
Mr. Speaker, I have asked questions to the Minister of Family Services on the apprehension of children.
Before children are apprehended, do you have discussions with the parents in the 25 communities in Nunavut?
I had understood the response that you provided that you consult fully with the parents, but some of my constituents have told me that some parents are not even notified before their children are apprehended.
Can you clarify if you do have discussions with the parents, yes or no?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister for Family Services, Mr. Johnny Mike.
I thank my colleague for asking those questions.
The Department of Family Services deals with the children and youth put under its care throughout Nunavut.
They represent our future and to help secure that future, we try to determine what is best for the children and youth under our care.
With respect to his question on apprehension, no child can be apprehended under the law without due process.
By law Family Services cannot bypass requirements to notify parents in the process of apprehending a child or youth.
It is only when the safety of a child or youth is in jeopardy that emergency steps can be taken. This apprehension would only be temporary. The family would then be notified about the actions taken with the child or youth.
The Government of Nunavut is presently working hard on how to reduce the people who go through this kind of situation.
We have found that this process reduces this kind of incidence.
Yes, that’s what we try to do today.
Your first supplementary. Mr. Shooyook.
I thank the minister for his response. Mr. Minister, I have another question for you. In 1967 we gave our children to the schools and left them.
I think there is also a problem on the lack of care when people get addicted to alcohol and drugs, those non-tobacco products.
Could this be a reason for a lack of care for their children? They would have cared more for their children if they didn’t use those substances.
When the Department of Family Services becomes aware of these issues, do they try to help the parents overcome these addictions?
Is that the case right now?
I think that alcohol and drugs are a part of the reason.
The Government of Nunavut, the Department of Family Services, and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation held consultations with Nunavummiut on what they think about the process.
We have worked on parenting programs and this is under the Department of Family Services.
We can’t address parts of your question, but we are involved with families and communities on parenting and how well parenting should be planned.
We try to provide assistance in any way through the Department of Family Services. If addictions are a problem, then the department is involved in healing programs.
As I said about parenting or child rearing, it’s directed towards families or people who have children, what problems families have within the home, and how to better understand it so that they can be guided by the Department of Family Services.
We have identified family resources workers as an ongoing program.
It’s obvious that once the positions are filled, there will be an opportunity to do more work on Inuit culture or other avenues.
They will be part of the social work team in the communities.
Those are the types of programs.
We have been to school and I have gone through schooling personally.
Some of my siblings have been to Churchill to go to school. My younger sibling went to Nova Scotia for one year without ever seeing us.
These are the types of issues he asked about that can be the reasoning.
However, based on what I have experienced personally when it comes to schooling, I look at ways of how assistance can be provided for those affected.
The government has directed us to work on this.
That’s the only response I can provide right now. The communities and families that have been impacted by alcohol or drugs are involved.
This is what we are trying to do right now and I expect that this will carry on in the future.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the Minister of Family Services for his interesting response.
Since I became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 2014, I have been asking questions to the Minister of Family Services to incorporate traditional Inuit counselling methods in the department’s system.
The usual response is that they are in support of incorporating Inuit counselling methods.
I have been very pleased to hear that we will eventually see Inuit traditional counselling.
However, I don’t see anything in the business plan to incorporate Inuit counselling methods into the programs.
Due to the fact that our children are very important and they are connected to us, I would like to ask the minister again what his objectives are in the future to recognize traditional counselling.
Are we going to be using the same system that we used under the Government of the Northwest Territories into the future?
What are your goals regarding this issue?
I also thank the Member for Quttiktuq for that question.
The Department of Family Services has been impacted by the Sivumut Abluqta Mandate of the government.
This mandate and the Government of Nunavut’s core beliefs that are reflected in its legislation and regulations are based on Inuit societal values.
I know that we have been implementing these core beliefs on Inuit societal values within the Department of Family Services’ corporate offices.
I can also tell you that we do want to work on societal values through the Ilisaqsivik Society in Clyde River so that social workers can develop and learn traditional counselling. We have utilized the services of Ilisaqsivik from Clyde River in order to provide more support to parents.
Social workers have been taking the training course on traditional counselling, especially on how to better assist parents.
Currently the Ilisaqsivik Society is being used for training programs with their services.
On February 14, 2017 the Department of Family Services was informed by the Ilisaqsivik Society, but we want the social workers to take the training at the Ilisaqsivik Society.
They are lacking space at this time. We will probably have to postpone that training to 2017-18 if space becomes available at Ilisaqsivik.
I also want everyone to be aware that as the Government of Nunavut, not just through my portfolio, we agree that Inuit societal values will be incorporated and I can agree and say yes to the member’s question that we will pursue this matter seriously.
Tabled Document 256 – 4(3): FPT Meeting of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women, September 14 to 15, 2016 (Ell-Kanayuk)
Today I am tabling the federal-provincial-territorial meeting of ministers responsible for the status of women held in Edmonton, Alberta from September 14 to 16, 2016.
The Hon. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Isaac Shooyook.
Tabled Document 257 – 4(3): Correspondence from Ikajutit Hunters and Trappers Organization (Shooyook)
I wish to table today a copy of correspondence that I recently received from the Ikajutit Hunters and Trappers Organization, which operates in Arctic Bay.
Mr. Speaker, this correspondence relates to the organization’s need for office space in Arctic Bay. I will have questions on this issue during our current winter sitting.
Tabled Document 258 – 4(3): Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Annual Report 2015-2016 (Savikataaq)
Today I am tabling the Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Annual Report, April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.
Item 15. (interpretation ends) Notices of Motions.
Bill 32 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 5, 2015-2016 – Notice
Bill 33 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017 – Notice
Bill 35 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018 – Notice
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 24, 2017, that Bill 32, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 5, 2015-2016, be read for the first time.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 24, 2017, that Bill 33, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017, be read for the first time.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 24, 2017, that Bill 35, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Item 17. Motions. Item 18.
Item 20. [Consideration in] Committee of the Whole on Bills and Other Matters. Bill 34 with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:28 and Committee resumed at 15:55
Chairman (Mr. Akoak): Good afternoon, Inuit and colleagues.
I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In Committee of the Whole we have the following item to deal with: Bill 34.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with the review of the main estimates for the Department of Health.
Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 34?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do.
For the record, minister, please introduce your officials. Minister Hickes.
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members.
With me today, as yesterday, I have my Deputy Minister, Colleen Stockley. Also joining me at the table today is Mr. Greg Babstock, the Executive Director of Corporate Services.
Before I go to the person on my list on page H-4, the minister would like to make a statement.
I just want to respond to a question from the member from Iqaluit-Sinaa yesterday with the enquiry of how many Inuit nurses that we employ at the Department of Health.
I do have that information today.
For the record, we have three Inuit midwives employed and nine Inuit nurses.
Three of those nurses are in nurse supervisory management positions, one in home care, one is a CHN, one clinical educator, two hospital nurses here in Iqaluit, and one nurse in acute care in Rankin Inlet.
Chairman: Thank you for the update, minister.
Yesterday we were at Health. Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $41,534,000.
On page H-4 my next name on the list is Mr. Qirngnuq.
I would like to ask a question. First of all, welcome to the minister and his officials.
I would like to ask a question regarding suicide prevention on page 3 of the minister’s opening comments.
Last year in 2016 there was a suicide prevention conference in Iqaluit.
Have you held any suicide prevention meetings in the smaller communities since the initial meeting in Iqaluit?
That’s my question for the minister.
With regard specifically to suicide, the Department of Health hasn’t had any meetings in other communities. There is an upcoming meeting in the community of Cape Dorset that Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated is doing and there is some collaboration with our Quality of Life division on that one.
Yes, I understand that more now. I thank the minister.
What are your plans for the future to try to move this issue forward, to find more solutions for the smaller communities?
I would like to know if you have any plans to do that.
It gives me the opportunity again to really highlight the focus of basically a lot of our suicide prevention initiatives. We want to make sure that the functions of the Quality of Life division... . We want to make sure that there’s engagement at the community level.
I can’t reinforce that enough. We can’t have, like I said yesterday, a cookie-cutter approach. What works in one community may not work in another.
That being said, there are still best practices of lessons that we learn through coordinated meetings such as a couple that I have attended here in Iqaluit along with other partners. Again being said, we do want to make sure that through the Quality of Life grants and contributions, if a community feels that they need to hold a special event or some type of a counselling event like a healing circle or something of that nature, those funds could be applied for through our grants and contributions policy that we’re finalizing to accommodate any communities that want to have specific events for their community.
Yes, that’s much clearer now. I’ll move on to a different topic.
In your opening comments on page 5 it states that “The department is seeking $1.17 million to fund the development of a nurse mentorship program.”
There are individuals who help people.
Even though they haven’t been trained, they’re quite able to help people. We have that in our community.
In Nunavut it’s very challenging to work on mental health issues. We all know that.
What sort of training program is there for people who help with counselling? Have you ever thought of developing a training program for local counsellors? I hope I was understandable, Mr. Chairman.
Absolutely we do have those services available. Ilisaqsivik in Clyde River is a shining example of some of the Inuit that get trained in counselling practices. We’ve had very good success rolling out different counsellors in different communities to deal with sudden issues but as well as for training people.
In addition to that, the positions that we’re applying for, for mental health and addictions, we want to make sure that those are people from the community that can be developed into assisting with the professional mental health people to make sure that there’s a community individual or group of people that can not only make sure that the clinical side of things are covered, but the cultural and the community-led initiatives can be addressed.
The paragraph below that is about the elders’ homes and there is “$200,000 in capital funding from Family Services for minor capital maintenance projects.”
It doesn’t mention any community. Can you tell us which communities that money will go to?
Those dollars were approved under Family Services’ budget, so we’re simply transferring them over to Health. That’s just for any minor capital improvements that need to be done to facilities as those needs are recognized.
I don’t have the specific list right now, but I know we have had some monies allocated outside of that through the Nunavut Housing Corporation to do renovations on the elders centre in Arviat and as well as here in Iqaluit.