EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So, Mr. Speaker, I know, and I think the government realizes that there is an issue with bullying.
We do have a program in place with students at risk and I will encourage not only parents and teachers but the Nunavut public at large that we need to be able to deal with this issue, not only at the school level, but actually in the home so that the children know that we have to respect each other and one another.
Question 027 – 2(3): Recruiting Health Centre Staff (Kattuk)
I have a question that I spoke on earlier about the inadequate number of health staff for Sanikiluaq’s growing population.
Statistics show that population is increasing but the staffing levels have not changed in a very long time.
The population of 2002 shows as 500 and now there are 700.
(interpretation ends) I recognize that there are challenges including health staff, especially nurses, across Canada.
I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services when the staffing situation at the Sanikiluaq Health Centre was last reviewed.
The department right now is undertaking an international recruitment initiative and I believe there have been two individuals that have been allocated to Sanikiluaq from the pool of international nurses that we have hired.
So, in terms of where the needs are, we have identified that already and the staff are being oriented in Iqaluit. Once they have finished their orientation here they will be going to their respective communities and one of those is Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Kattuk: Thank you, Minister.
Can the minister clarify for this House how the number of staff is determined for Nunavut health centres?
What kind of formula is used to establish the number of nurses and support staff for each community health centre?
Most health centres will have two nurses and a community health representative as well as a translator and a custodial staff.
Currently, there is no magic formula like the number patients seen or the number of cases per community, but as it is right now, most of the health centres have a minimum of two nurses.
Can the minister clarify how often the staffing situation at each community health centre is reviewed and evaluated?
The issue around recruiting nurses in Nunavut has been a challenge for the last five years.
The numbers that we have today are the best numbers in terms of actually having those positions filled since 1999. We have reviewed it on a regular basis, which resulted in a number of initiatives by the department.
One of them is in the area of training of nurses in Nunavut to hire for the community. Secondly, in the area of international recruitment we recognize the major shortage of nurses.
In the past few years we have been using an agency for nurses. The member is aware that this has been discussed many times in this House.
In terms of our vacancies, we review those on a regular basis for each community that requires nurses.
We are assigning those new recruits to those communities in recognizing the needs and I believe as I mentioned earlier, Sanikiluaq is one of those communities where the international nurses have been assigned and because we have reviewed it, one position has been allocated.
Question 028 – 2(3): Access to Broadband in Schools (Netser)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday my colleague from Rankin Inlet North raised a very important issue of access to computer technology in Nunavut schools.
Using computers for distance education and training has become standard across Canada and the world.
Access to broadband communications technology makes this possible. Broadband technology is available in Nunavut, and I have access to it in my office over in Coral Harbour and so do a number of my colleagues.
My question is this: can the minister explain to this House why many of our schools in Nunavut don’t have access to the broadband communications and what does he intend to do about it?
Broadband communication, as the member has just brought up and mentioned, across Nunavut, has only been in most of our Nunavut communities in the recent past. It was this summer, I believe, when the Nunavut Broadband Corporation was able to basically throw the switch on and have broadband services in the communities.
It has started, Mr. Speaker.
Almost all of our schools now, in communities, have access to the internet.
If they have the high-speed internet available in the communities then it is also available in the school.
Again, that would be the decision of each individual school and DEA to support the hook-up of the school to the broadband network that would be available.
Can the minister clarify, for this House, whether there’s a specific plan for providing broadband communications to schools across Nunavut and how that plan will be implemented?
In the answer to the question by the member by Mr. Curley yesterday, I was explaining how, that over the last few years, technological changes within our communities and our classrooms have meant that we need other specialized positions, and some of those specialized positions include IT and so on.
Mr. Speaker, as minister I want to ensure that new technology, whether they are broadband, or internet connections, and so on, will all be available in the schools and that’s a commitment that I have made as minister.
Did he just mention that he will put broadband in our schools across Nunavut?
What I committed to doing is providing the technological opportunity for our schools, and Mr. Speaker, if that’s broadband, shortband, sideband, single-sideband, citizens band, it’s important that our students have access to that technology.
And, that’s something that I have made a commitment to.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Netser.
We have instructors in our community and there are quite a number of student who are taking computer training but we have internet access. Can the minister inform me of when Sakku School in Coral Harbour will be getting high-speed broadband internet access?
The member is a great advocate for education issues in the territory and especially for his community.
Mr. Speaker, there are some technical issues around the installation of broadband and so on. So by way of the member’s questioning today in the House, I will be able to ascertain when broadband can be installed in that school in Coral Harbour but at the same time we will try to figure out how many of our schools, at the present time, do not have access to broadband where it’s already located in the school.
It’s my understanding that every community now in Nunavut has it or has the opportunity for access to broadband. In the best of cases the next step would be to see how many of our schools have access to it.
So that’s something, Mr. Speaker that I would commit to follow up on.
Question 029 – 2(3): HSS Staff Releasing Info on Clyde River HTLV-1 (Arreak)
On November 4 there was an article in the news about the sickness that happened in Clyde River.
I am not blaming the paper but it is in regard to that new HTLV-1. For that reason the people of Clyde River were quite terrified about that.
It seems one high-ranking government official was the one that made that information public about that disease in Clyde River.
We don’t know who has that virus at this time.  The Department of Health should keep it confidential as to which community this virus was found in.
I just wondered whether that individual has asked to apologize to the community of Clyde River. Does the Department of Health know the high-ranking official?
The member is correct; there was a report in the newspaper.
The department, when we read that in the article we were very, very concerned because the position has always been of this government and this department that we don’t stigmatize one community over another related to HTLV-1.
I talked to my staff about that. There was no information that came from the department.
The concern that he expresses, I share with him.
We have written to the paper as they can identify who the high-ranking official is. We have not been able to determine that internally. I can re-assure the member that I followed up with my staff and my staff are not aware who that individual is.
If the department is not aware of who released the information, I think there should be some sort of an investigation to find out who that official was.
When the paper came out and I read the article I followed up immediately with my employees to find out what the paper meant by high-ranking official of the government.
The department has no idea who that person is. I talked to my staff; they don’t know who that individual is.
We did not talk to the paper about HTLV-1 and what community. We didn’t disclose any of that information. So the only people that would know are the people that wrote the article themselves.
Internally, I investigated the matter and we don’t know who that individual is.
So in order for me to address the situation and follow up with my staff, I need a name and I don’t have that name.
This was not a very good situation for my community of Clyde River.
I wonder if the department, once they identify the individual, will they fire the individual, or would they demote the individual because I feel that that individual should be sought and found.
The department has also written to the paper to clarify the situation. They did not disclose any communities in any discussion. Again, I want to reassure the member when we read the article in the paper it was an immediate concern and we tried to address it internally.
We don’t know who that individual is. If the paper themselves can provide that information to us then perhaps we can follow up and take appropriate action.
I have a lot more questions on this issue.
My final supplementary is, the people of Nunavut, are the communities of Nunavut informed or pamphlets handed out so the people of Nunavut would be aware of that virus.
The Department of Health through the public health agencies have been in contact with every single community, nursing staff as well as community health representatives and the information package relating to HTLV-1 has been distributed to every single community and the health centre staff, through their community health representatives, have been providing public education related to HTLV-1. They have been on local radio and they have gone to hamlet council meetings and they have had meetings with local health committees to try and educate the general public what HTLV-1 is and the options available to citizens should they want testing.
Yes, the department has contacted every community.
I also took the opportunity to brief all the regular members, as well as Cabinet on this issue. We’ve also have press conferences with local media in the communities to try and get as much information out. We continue to do that through the schools as well as through the health committees in each community.
Question 030 – 2(3): Immigration Meeting in Ottawa (Barnabas)
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Immigration. (interpretation ends) The minister recently attended the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Immigration meeting. Can the minister update this House on that meeting?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did attend the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Minister of Immigration meeting in Ottawa with the Minister Joe Volty the federal minister responsible.
Mr. Speaker, there was a lot of discussion on the need for the labour market in Canada as a whole to look at the opportunity for immigration to fill the void of skilled labour. Indeed, today we have heard today about skilled labour shortages in the medical professions and so on.
The Government of Canada, along with all provinces and territories, are working together on a common strategy to identify specific needs within the country, especially in the area of labour needs and to see if we can target immigration programs and policies to be able to facilitate that.
I thank the minister for answering my question.
Is Nunavut welcoming immigrants?
Yes, Nunavut has had an opportunity to have immigrants move to the territory.
Indeed, Mr. Speaker, in 2003 and 2004, we received eight immigrants into the territory.
Three were from the skilled workers class of immigration, skilled workers class meaning that there was a shortage of people in those professions needed, and the other class, we had five immigrants from the family class, and that’s where an immigrant family may be residing in Nunavut and facilitated to bring other family members to live here.
So in the past fiscal year, as an example, eight immigrants moved to Nunavut.
That is in line with the Northwest Territories, which had around 89 immigrants, and in the Yukon, which had 60 immigrants.
We have recently realized that we have a shortage of health workers in Nunavut and that the government would bring health workers to the territory of Nunavut. (interpretation ends) What type of immigrants do we want in Nunavut?
The Government of Nunavut, when we are talking about immigrants, immigrants are people who have actually chosen to move to the country.
So as an example, Mr. Speaker, we had someone who left South Africa and has moved to Nunavut to live and work, and has applied for immigrant status in the country, that’s what we record and that’s the numbers I gave earlier, the eight.
Other residents who come to Nunavut might be on a temporary work visa, and that’s when we look at the medical professionals that the member has talked about. They are not considered immigrants and they don’t appear in the Canadian Immigration numbers because they are temporary residents and they are here on work visas.
Mr. Speaker, the kind of people that we are looking for in Nunavut are those skilled professions and a good example are medical professionals, nurses and doctors. We have recruited from the Philippines; I understand that we are bringing in more nurses maybe from India.
When I was Minister of Health, we brought in nurses from Australia as an example. We also need people in other trades, for example, accounting professionals.
There’s a dire need for financial people.
So those are the type of immigrants that Nunavut is looking for.
Is there any funding available to help those immigrants from the federal government?
The member is correct; there’s an allocation by the federal government to Nunavut.
The federal allocation to Nunavut is based on the number of immigrants received throughout the jurisdiction the previous fiscal year.
In Nunavut’s case, that amount is $109,000, which we received from the federal government to help facilitate the immigrants in the transition to the jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, right now, as Minister of Immigration, I am in discussions with our federal partner to open up a provincial or territorial nomination program and that Nomination Program is a program that the other jurisdictions have in place where we identify the skilled positions that we need as a territory that we have just talked about medical professionals and so on, and use that.
If that is the case, Mr. Speaker, if we are successful in getting the Nomination Program in place, then I expect that there would be more monetary support coming from the federal government. We didn’t drop down from the $109,000 from last year.
Question 031 – 2(3): Environmental Review Timetable (Tootoo)
I was going to ask the Minister of Education a question, but he seems to be having a little bit of a hard time in pronunciation of some words today, so I will let him rest.
As I said, Mr. Speaker, and my question is for the Minister of Environment.
Mr. Speaker, I know our territory is becoming a gold mine, if you want to say that for mineral exploration and gas exploration and I understand that there are different agencies in place to approve, like the Water Board and the Impact Review Board, that review these applications and give timelines and things like that for reviews to be done.
My question to the minister; is it his department, the Department of Environment as part of the government, that indicates how long these reviews need to be...how much do they have to do with them?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Environment, Mr. Akesuk.
The recommendations by the Department of Environment, as to what they are doing, they are appointed by the federal government and the territorial government and from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and other organizations.
So, there are usually quite a number of things that the mining companies need to do right.
Maybe within two months, we’ll look at what activities will be going on and work with the mining industry.
What I’m trying to get at is; is it the Department of Environment that reviews these reports, and is it the department that states how long it needs to review those reports, or are those timelines set by somebody else?
It is our mandate as the Department of Environment to make sure that we cover everything that the boards require, the regulations and procedures.
Our timeline is to make sure that we do our job in an appropriate time.
We do our review within 60 to 90 days and we want to make sure that we keep it on that pace.
Again, there is a lot of exploration going on and we want to make sure we do a good job in order for us to be in good standing once we start devolution with the federal government.
The indicated that it’s in their mandate to look at these reviews and review the information provided to them within 60 or 90 days.
I’m just wondering; that time frame; where does that come from? Is that something that is set up in regulation or is it something that is required by law?
Where does that timeframe come from?
It is required by law and we want to make sure that we follow the laws that are there, that we have to follow.
My final question to the minister is, I guess, have any of these reviews been ordered to have been done within less than the 60 to 90 days that is stipulated by law as he had indicated.
We are still working on some of the projects that have been handed over.
We’re still looking at how many days will be required and again, we’re going to do our very best to make sure that we cover every issue that’s needed in the Environmental Impact Statements.
So, we are going to do our very best to make sure that we meet the regulations to look into whatever we have to look into right now, along with the NPC and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Question Period is now over.
Written Question 003 – 2(3): 2005 Fuel Resupply (Tootoo)
This written question is for the Honourable Levinia Brown, Minister of Community and Government Services, and it’s in regard to the 2005 fuel re-supply.
Expressing the data in the same format as that which was provided in Return to Written Question 024 – 2(2):
(1) With respect to the 2005 Fuel Re-supply, broken down by community,
(a) What was the schedule for each community’s fuel re-supply; and
(b) What was each community’s planned re-supply order, by class of product?
(2) With respect to the 2005 Fuel Re-supply, broken down by community,
(a) What were the actual dates when fuel re-supply vessels arrived; and
(b) What was the actual quantity of fuel delivered, by class of product?
Written Question 004 – 2(3): Status of Decentralization (Peterson)
My written question is for the Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Minister of Human Resources, and it’s concerning the status of decentralization. My question is:
Expressing the data in the same format as that which was provided in Return to Written Question 026 – 2(2), what is the status of the Government of Nunavut’s decentralization initiative as of September 30, 2005?
Tabled Document 008 – 2(3): Letter from Grise Fiord Regarding Increasing Fares and Rates (Barnabas)
Tabled Document 009 – 2(3): Letter from NEAS Regarding Reefer Containers (Barnabas)
I wish to table a document in regard to a letter that was written by the hamlet regarding the increases in airfare and cargo freight on First Air.
Another concern that I wish to table is in regard to the supply ship and correspondence that I received from that company.
Speaker (interpretation): Please pass the tabled documents to our Clerk.
Tabled Document 010 – 2(3): Nunavut Status of Women Council 2003-04 Annual Report (Aglukkaq)
I wish to table the Nunavut Status of Women Council 2003-04 Annual Report.
Tabled Document 011 – 2(3): Letter from Arctic Co-ops Re: Increased Freight Study (Evyagotailak)
I would like to table a letter that I received from Arctic Co-operatives Limited on the issue of affordable food for our communities.
Tabled Document 012 – 2(3): Presentation to House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (Peterson)
Tabled Document 013 – 2(3): Expert Panel on Equalization and Territorial Funding (Peterson)
I would like to table two documents from the Nunavut Association of Municipalities. The Nunavut Association of Municipalities is all the Mayors of Nunavut.
The first document is a presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance; 2005 Pre-budget Consultations in Montreal on November 1, 2005.  The second document is a submission to the Expert Panel on Equalization of territorial formula funding presented September, 2005.
Tabled Document 014 – 2(3): Kivalliq News Advertisement (Tootoo)
I would like to take the opportunity today to table an ad that was in the Kivalliq News on July 9, 2003. The ad that is in there is from Sanajiit-Clarke Builders joint venture regarding the Kivalliq Health Centre. It outlines the fact that they’ve made a commitment with partners to create training programs and benefits for local Inuit labour in the community of Rankin Inlet and the Kivalliq region.
It also indicates that those individuals would be guaranteed jobs after. It indicates also that the Nunavut Arctic College and the Department of Education are partners with them.
Item 14: Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, November 21, 2005, Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act, will be read for the first time.
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, November 21, 2005, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 11 – An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act – Notice
I give notice that on Monday, November 21, 2005, that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 06 – An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act – Notice
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, November 21, 2005, that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 07 – An Act to Amend the Liquor Act – Notice
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, again, Mr. Speaker.
I give notice that on Monday, November 21, 2005, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, be read for the first time.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for the first reading of Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 62-1, so that we can have the first reading of Bill 9.
Bill 09 – An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act – First Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): The motion is in order. All those in favour.
The motion is carried and Bill 9 has had first reading.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 62-1 to allow for first reading today.
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act – First Reading
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 5 has had first reading.