EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Chairman, the Income Assistance Division has been allotted 37 percent of the department’s 2015-16 budget.
Sivumut Abluqta requires that the division review and reform our approach to social assistance in order to promote self-reliance and provide help to those who need it the most.
The division has deployed the Income Support Delivery System (ISDS) in seven communities, including Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Arviat, and Cambridge Bay.
The division plans to deploy to Igloolik before March 31 before deploying to the rest of Nunavut’s communities in the next two years. This system allows income assistance staff to improve case management, financial controls, and program compliance.
Career Development
Mr. Chairman, the Career Development Division has been allocated 16 percent of the department’s 2015-16 budget.
The division is funding training opportunities under the Adult Learning and Training Supports (ALTS) program to promote skills development and employment opportunities for Nunavummiut.
The division has so far funded 196 people in the 2014-15 fiscal year compared to 161 during the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The division is requesting $3,442,000 in additional grants and contributions funding to increase the tuition benefit for Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS).
In addition, the division successfully negotiated the Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities with the federal government.
This program will support job opportunities for persons with disabilities in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, we continue to make progress in the delivery of effective programs and services to benefit Nunavummiut. However, we recognize that more work still needs to be done.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would be pleased to answer any questions. (interpretation) Thank you.
Members of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness have reviewed the 2015-16 main estimates and business plan of the Department of Family Services.
The 2015-16 operations and maintenance budget for the Department of Family Services is approximately $127 million, which is just over $4.5 million more than the budget for 2014-15.
This will be the third year of the department’s existence after being established in April of 2013 with the transfer of various divisions and programs from other GN departments.
Members encourage Department of Family Services officials to continue working closely with their counterparts in other departments, especially the departments of Education and Health, to ensure that no Nunavut resident encounters problems while accessing services and opportunities.
For example, the issue of food security is an ongoing and public concern across Nunavut.
During the minister’s appearance before the committee to discuss her department’s draft budget for 2015-16, members had a number of questions about the department’s role in implementing the government’s Food Security Action Plan.
At the time, members were given the understanding that the Department of Health was the lead department on this initiative. However, this was not confirmed by the Minister of Health.
Given the serious impact of social issues such as poverty and food insecurity and the growing demand on programs such as income assistance, the standing committee urges the minister to work closely with her cabinet counterparts to ensure that this critical initiative does not falter through a lack of coordination and leadership.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Family Services coordinates and delivers Nunavut’s income assistance programs, which are directed towards assisting families, adult individuals, and seniors to meet their basic needs.
Committee members look forward to reviewing any proposed reforms to policies or legislation that may be brought forward as a result of the department’s review of its income assistance programs, and especially any reforms which could provide additional support for low-income families who face increasingly high costs of living.
Concerns continue to be raised with respect to policies in such areas as social assistance assessment and eligibility, the abuse of benefits received, and support for income assistance clients facing housing issues.
Members further urge the minister and her officials to work to improve upon the incentives that are available to income assistance clients to access career development opportunities and to be more creative in its efforts to promote self-reliance across the territory.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Nunavut Arctic College, administers a number of programs and resources related to adult and post-secondary learning, including the provision of financial assistance under such programs as FANS, Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students.
Members were very pleased to note the proposed increase in tuition benefits for students supported under the FANS program.
Members were also pleased with the ongoing funding and success of the Adult Learning and Training Supports Program.
In October of 2014, the minister announced over $1 million in federal funding to assist persons with disabilities to enter the labour market.
Members look forward to updates on this initiative.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Family Services faces many challenges in delivering services to children, youth, and adults in vulnerable situations and committee members support the proposed increases in funding for child welfare and protection in the department’s 2015-16 budget.
Following the Auditor General’s 2011 and 2014 reports on child, youth and family services in Nunavut, the department developed action plans which included a number of commitments to address the recommendations contained in the Auditor General’s reports.
While members recognize that there may be delays in achieving certain proposed timelines or objectives, especially given capacity issues, competing demands for resources, and the department’s ongoing efforts to staff critical positions, the committee encourages the minister to table an updated action plan in the House at the earliest opportunity to show what progress has been made in key areas of concern raised by the Auditor General.
Members support the minister’s efforts in ensuring ongoing training for community social services workers and that efforts are being made to strengthen the department’s case management practices. However, it is clear that much work still needs to be done.
Mr. Chairman, members of the standing committee have expressed concerns regarding the number of clients requiring specialized care and support who are sent south to other jurisdictions for residential care.
Standing committee members stress the importance of making greater efforts to keep Nunavummiut in Nunavut and closer to their families and communities and urge the minister to work towards this goal.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks. I anticipate that individual members will also have questions and comments as we proceed.
(interpretation ends) I just want to remind members that the contents of the opening comments are covered in the different branches of the department. If you have detailed questions, please ask them under the appropriate branches.
(interpretation) General comments.
No one has their hand up. (interpretation ends) I have no members on my list for general comments. We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the main estimates starting on page D-4.
I would like to start off with some information that was provided in the business plan on page 119. The third bullet down speaks to “Continue to work closely with Nunavut Arctic College to develop career path training for various professions within…Family Services that align with departmental position qualifications and lead to successful employment.”
In the status, it talks to, that it is working with NAC “through working groups such as the social services diploma and degree granting program.”
So that covers one profession, but in the priority, it talks about various professions. What other professions are being looked at to partner up with Arctic College to develop career path planning?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for asking about that issue.
This is for the professional courses within the Human Resources Strategy.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe if she could just elaborate on some specific other professions that they’re looking at developing.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The (interpretation ends) career development office (interpretation) deals with the career path training.
Hopefully my response is understandable. Thank you.
My apologies if I’m not being clear.
In the priorities, it talks about career path training, but it says, “…for various professions...” To me, if it is listed in the business plan, those professions would have been identified. That’s kind of where I’m getting at.
In addition to a social services diploma, are there any other professions that are being looked at to partner up with Nunavut Arctic College for career path training?
Brandon Grant can respond to that question.
To answer the member, the career development officers are working with Nunavut Arctic College on certification of their profession.
As well, there are some conversations with Nunavut Arctic College about whether or not income assistant workers would benefit from the training that the career development officers are currently going through.
I’ll let that one lie.
Mr. Chairman, under the grants and contributions section on page D-9 of the main estimates, it shows that contributions for homelessness initiatives will remain unchanged from 2014-15.
How will this money be allocated in 2015-16?
The money for homelessness initiatives will be used for three issues.
I will refer this question to Rebekah Williams.
With regard to homelessness, these monies are going to be used for Iqaluit men and women who are homeless and the shelters that are provided to them.
However, also in there is $122,000 that will be used for planning some other initiatives in town and it can be utilized for other communities.
This leads me right into my next question. It also speaks in the business plan that one of the priorities from 2014-15 was to “Prepare the Homelessness Action Plan” and that in 2014, a homelessness study was conducted and it was to be followed up with a validation study.
What were the results of that validation study and how will those results impact the implementation of the Homelessness Action Plan in this fiscal year?
Regarding the homelessness study that was done, we wanted to find out more about homelessness, the numbers, and other issues. I will refer this question to Rebekah.
This is regarding staff undertaking visits to communities that have requested this assistance.
Additionally, they have researched various topics that require further delineation, such as the homelessness issue for people inhabiting tents, cabins, shacks, or any other type of accommodation.
Here we aren’t talking about people staying with their relatives overnight, as that is another issue.
There are quite a number of homelessness people within Nunavut.
This is part of our strategy to determine our next course of action and I will just elaborate on some of issues within the plan. There are different situations faced by communities, such as in the Baffin, Kivalliq, and the Kitikmeot regions overall. There are homeless shelters in each region.
The support doesn’t end with just providing a place to sleep, as we want to assist them to get further training, job training, and these are some of the issues we are trying to incorporate into the plan.
The 90 people I mentioned are under abject poverty or as they are described in English, (interpretation ends) absolute homelessness.
I hope I was understandable. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Also in the business plan on page 119, it speaks to the Makimaniq Five-year Poverty Reduction Action Plan. In the status, it is working with NTI and other stakeholders to finalize this plan and processes to meet the requirements of the Collaboration for Poverty Reduction Act.
It stated that “This work is anticipated to be completed by end of the 2014-15 fiscal year.”
I would just like to get confirmation, one, if that work has been completed, and how that will result in moving forward with the Poverty Reduction Action Plan.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A meeting was held on this issue last fall and the minutes of the meeting are being compiled with staff confirming particular statements from the communities to check the veracity of the information to ensure the minutes are error-free prior to disseminating them.
This spring, we will start discussion on the (interpretation ends) Makimaniq Plan (interpretation) to ensure we have clear direction on this issue.
The fall meeting minutes are still being developed at this time.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Along those same lines, when you’re talking about working with NTI and other stakeholders, how often is that working group getting together and how close are they to the completion of that data being included into the action plan?
Perhaps this upcoming spring or even this summer, we plan to hold a secondary meeting on this issue.
When the meeting does occur, these are the issues we want discuss that have been recommended for inclusion into the plan.
The stakeholders who attend the meeting will obviously be pushing for their recommendations under this plan.
I’ll let that one lie as well.
If the Chair will indulge me, this question is regarding FANS, but I believe it’s directly related to the Policy and Planning Division. I recently received some correspondence from the minister speaking that the department is looking at ways to assist students in having their funding earlier and ahead of the start of the second term, as it is recognized that monthly rent and other expenses are due before the funding is provided.
What work has been done on that specific topic regarding FANS?
Brandon Grant will respond to the question.
Our staff have ongoing meetings with NAC on issues related to FANS as well as ALTS deadlines.
It’s an area in which we are seeking to not only work with NAC, but get the word out to students on our application processes and the deadlines so that people are able to meet those deadlines and receive the funding that they need.
After session here, we’re going to be working on highlighting our programs, getting good communications out, updating our website, and getting more information out there on our deadlines and our programs so that we are encouraging more people in Nunavut to apply.
I realize that a number of Nunavut students participate in their education through Nunavut Arctic College, but a number of students go on to other post-secondary institutions.
In your analysis, I’m just wondering if the department has considered speaking to some existing or even past students on their experiences and identifying ways to streamline these processes.
Regarding the FANS program, it’s an ongoing process and we’re also looking at the concerns, but again there are also rules that are applied with the usage of the FANS program. I believe you’re talking about some of the concerns and talking to the former students.
I’ll refer this to Brandon.
I think the member brings up a good point.
I think one of the areas in which we are making improvements is around the development of our integrated system for adult client services tracking tool for what we use now for our labour market programs around adults.
Very soon in the new year, we are going to be integrating FANS into that process, so it will help us case manage our clients more effectively.
I think the member’s idea of engaging with more students is a good idea and something we will definitely take into consideration.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll just have two more questions regarding this topic.
Also in that correspondence, it spoke that the minister’s staff is looking into ways to ensure that the process for a student to receive their funding is easy and efficient.
I think most members have probably heard from constituents over time that there are some gaps and there are some challenges on occasion.
Although maybe they are not frequent, they can be very challenging for a student who is sometimes away from home for the first time and not really clear on what policies and procedures are available to them. Hence they contact their MLA in some circumstances.
I’m just wondering: how is that progressing with easing the access to funding for students?
We have to follow the calendar and follow the rules where they can start applying for the FANS program and also the deadline.
Students applying for financial assistance usually have deadlines that they have to make sure that they know about.
Brandon can explain that more.
As the minister said, the deadlines are an important piece in getting the word out about our deadlines and I think also as well, I know our staff are finalizing the testing for the FANS module for the ISAAC system. Having better information and client management within the new database will be a helpful tool to allow our staff to better serve the students in Nunavut.
I noted with interest that during the review, there is a business case that has been prepared for review by the Financial Management Board to increase the level of FANS grants, and I applaud that measure. I’ve had a number of people contact me that in certain programs, that money just hasn’t been enough.
In addition to that, I would like to ask whether a review of the book allocation is being looked at increasing for some courses.
The $200, in some courses, buys one book whereas sometimes the billing can come into well over $1,000 in some courses.
The number of applicants to the Arctic College courses keeps increasing and the requests for funding application are also increasing.
This includes information such as the course syllabus in a calendar format, and we are seeing more requests for the information.
With regard to the actual question the member asked regarding course material and textbook costs, we are trying to increase the budget line item as that is part of the overall budget and this will be one of our larger expenditures.
I believe we are trying to increase that for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Brandon can explain that further.
As a former student, I definitely relay the member’s statement on the cost of books.
We are pleased to say in our main estimates that the FANS increases for the basic grant, so it will allow for tuition fees and books to cover under the basic grant.
What we’re proposing is the FANS increase will go to $6,855 from the current $3,700.
We think it’s going to break down the barriers, as the minister said, to allow more students to take the opportunity to go for post-secondary education. We appreciate the member’s comments on that.
I keep an ear on the floor channel and my earlier comment wasn’t interpreted properly by staff.
I would ask that Rebekah Williams be allowed to clarify that passage.
The minister was talking about the numbers increasing for student enrolment in Inuktitut, but the English was misinterpreted.
Chairman (interpretation): I think that has been clarified.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that clarification.
I have just one final question. To me, it’s under Income Assistance, but again, it’s related to the Directorate.
In May of last year, I had asked the minister what kind of discussions she has had with the federal government regarding federal programs administered to the residents of Nunavut to recognize the higher cost of living here.
At that time, she had said that they were looking at whether they could set up a meeting with the federal government that provides funding.
I was wondering if the minister could update me on any progress under that section.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We haven’t met with the federal government about that yet.
Again I realize that you have been looking at making an increase to some of the senior assistance benefit program. At the same time, there are federal programs that assist Nunavummiut, especially our seniors, who are on a very fixed income.
I would like to really strongly recommend that the minister find an opportunity to speak with her federal counterparts and look at exploring ways to help our disadvantaged populace live a healthier lifestyle.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank my colleague for asking about the assistance for elders.
I believe it was about a week ago when the Premier spoke about elders, elder support, and options related to impacts on their livelihoods due to financial limitations or insecurity. Our Premier will be speaking on behalf of Nunavut and the departments of Health and Family Services will collaborate with his department on providing the details relevant to this meeting.
Chairman: Thank you. We are on Family Services.
Branch Summary. Corporate Management. Following the list of names, Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Welcome. (interpretation ends) What I would like to get at now is in the business plan, 118, when you talk about the vision of the department.
Being that it is a new department, what kind of challenges has that posed to you to try and get your clients and other people to understand, really, what Family Services is all about, and which key stakeholders did you approach?
I will have Rebekah Williams respond to that. Thank you.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are dealing with people’s lives and sometimes it’s not easy, but it is a task we need to do and we must support, help, and encourage people in Nunavut. We have a lot of stakeholders.
Most of the departments are involved in different programs that we work with. I appreciate the understanding of the member on how challenging this department is with the few staff that we have, particularly in the area of communities and the frontlines.
If you’re talking about stakeholders, we do work with other departments like Health, Justice, Housing, Community and Government Services, depending on what the issue is.
What has been the feedback from the communities about the department?
Are there services that people are looking for that you don’t currently offer? Are you delivering services that people have said, “Man, we really appreciate this very much”?
What kind of feedback are you getting from your clients and maybe some community members who don’t necessarily use the department’s services, but are impacted by it?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for requesting clarification on this issue.
I think it was April 2013 when they started that and we moved in 2015. We are now all in one building in the (interpretation ends) old courthouse.
(interpretation) Based on the operational progression, we will start to communicate with the communities.
We are trying to enhance our cooperation with the communities through the poverty reduction initiative and community representatives have been involved from the outset.
The other aspect to this is that all communities provide income support programming and we can hear directly from them as we enact changes.
The lines of communication are set and we expect their feedback, and obviously any impact on their clients will result in feedback from the communities.
These are our current expectations on this file.
The reason why I’m asking, if you look on page 118 of your business plan, it says that “Senior Management engaged and obtained staff input, and is now in the process of engaging with the public and partners” and “A draft vision has been developed for consideration…” That’s why I’m asking those kinds of questions.
I’m wondering: if you are already consulting with the public, what are you hearing in regard to your department?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The contents on page 118 of the business plan speak to the departmental vision. If I recall correctly, the key staff are already part of the working group and they have completed the initial vision.
I’m going to go on from there.