EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Can the minister clarify why federal diabetes screening funding is no longer provided to the Government of Nunavut?
I can’t speak to what programs that the federal Department of Health is going to provide funding for. That’s one of the arguments that I brought forward to the table, along with a lot of my colleagues from across the country of getting stable funding.
When we get these programs funded for a short period of time, it makes it very difficult for us to ramp services up and then we’re forced to scale it back when that funding doesn’t come through in subsequent years.
That is the whole argument when we look at the Canadian Health Transfer of making sure that we’ve got long-term, stable funding so that we can provide continual services and address any oncoming needs with the flexibility.
I can’t speak to why the federal government decided not to promote diabetes funding.
It’s something I can look into with my officials to see if there is a way where we can revitalize some of that funding. I do know that there’s a lot of focus on mental health and community care.
Maybe there are dollars we can access through different programs that are coming available once we learn the criteria from the federal government on how we can go about getting some of these funding proposals approved.
I was screened for diabetes at a clinic in Ottawa as part of a routine series of tests that I never got here in Nunavut.
Identifying a disease in its early stages so that it can be addressed and treated helps individuals to avoid serious health problems down the road.
Will the minister commit to evaluating the cost of introducing a diabetes screening program for Nunavut and maybe even submitting a proposal for renewed funding for this project from the federal government?
Like I said in my earlier response, it’s absolutely something that I can discuss with my officials to see how we can access other pots of money or other programs that are available through the federal government or any other third party entity that may have monies available for programming such as this.
I do want to emphasize that when testing for diabetes, it is a fairly simple blood test.
If somebody feels concerned that they want to get tested, it can be done at any community centre. They test your blood sugar and if there are any concerns, then they can go for more extensive testing.
I would encourage all members of the public, if they feel that there may be some challenges with their blood sugar levels, that they get tested.
Question 551 – 4(3): Inuit Employment in the Public Service (Shooyook)
Today my question is directed to the Premier.
Since the establishment of the Nunavut government, there has been an Inuit employment plan. There was an agreement with the departments to make sure that they hire Inuit.
According to the written documents that I have reviewed and analyzed, we have not reached the target level of Inuit employment, although I understand that it’s due to the lack of education.
I would like to ask the Premier what his position is to make sure that we prioritize hiring Inuit to make sure that they are put into the middle management positions or higher positions. Are they going to remain in their lower positions for a long period of time?
That’s the first question I want clarified.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I wish to thank my colleague for asking about that matter. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, again it’s one of the things that as a government we’re trying to increase that number of Inuit employees throughout the whole system, throughout the government.
As I have indicated, we do have a very good partner, which is Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. Through their lawsuit settlement, we do have funding available to increase our training capacity and a number of different programs that we are doing right now.
Mr. Speaker, although it has been very difficult to get to the numbers that we had hoped to get to, Nunavut has a population of 85 percent Inuit and certainly we want to get to that level where we have 85 percent Inuit employment.
Not only that, we have other different programs where we want Inuit to be promoted into the managerial levels, senior levels, and even at the executive levels.
When I say “executive,” I’m talking about ADMs and deputy ministers.
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to try to increase those numbers. It has been difficult, but I feel optimistic. With our partners at Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, there is an opportunity there for long-term funding.
As I have said in the past, myself as Premier of Nunavut and my colleague, Minister of Education, Mr. Paul Quassa, we’re directors in the Inuit training corporation of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
That’s one of the things that we really look forward to because, through better training, long-term planning, and multi-year funding, there’s no doubt we will be increasing the numbers of Inuit within the workforce.
I also thank the Premier for giving me a better understanding.
I now ask another question to the Premier related to his government and the recognition of Inuit abilities, which I believe has to be acknowledged.
When Inuit become adept at a particular job, what does your department do in those cases?
Has any Inuk been let go due to their demonstrated inability to undertake the work as a systemic barrier? When an Inuk shows skill in their position and are familiarized with the job, are they promoted to a higher position? Is that your goal?
The Hon. Premier, Mr. Peter Taptuna.
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I was extremely pleased when our colleague from Arctic Bay invited me to his community.
When we went there, I saw many Inuit with jobs at the old Nanisivik mine.
I was quite happy that many people had boats, vehicles, and other equipment they could purchase. When we visited the community back then, it was always good to see many Inuit who worked at the mine, who assisted their relatives through their work.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I’m really pleased that the MLA for High Arctic invited us to Arctic Bay, his hometown.
Again, I don’t have any specifics on whether a beneficiary has been given a lower position because of their lack of education or in fact I’m not aware of any Inuk beneficiary being fired from their positions for a lack of education.
Mr. Speaker, I worked at an oil patch for 13 years and through the normal process of training, I trained Germans, Americans, and Italians how to drill for oil and gas. I’m quite optimistic and I’m quite happy to say that Inuit can do well when it comes to ensuring that they can optimize training.
We do have to optimize training and get more Inuit in our workforce, there’s no doubt.
Through proper training and perseverance, there’s no doubt we will have Inuit in the majority of the positions.
Again, when we talk about Inuit in just about every level of positions, last year I was really pleased that there were two beneficiary pilots flying an ATR.
Both the pilot and the co-pilot were Inuit. That’s something that all of us have got to be proud of.
Mr. Speaker, there’s room for improvement and that’s what we strive to try to do.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the Premier as he just made my pride surge with his response and now I expect to see this occur in our future.
I would like to ask the Premier this supplementary question about the positions that his department is looking at in terms of upper management positions.
You stated that plans are in place now within this land claims agreement and although I know it doesn’t allow for any movement below 85 percent, what seems to be the issue stopping Inuit from reaching this target?
I further encourage our Premier to review departmental positions, such as the lower level positions where Inuit observation skills can be utilized to learn the duties.
I wonder if consideration has been given for lower level positions not requiring intensive paperwork and whether you are prepared in your role as Premier to initiate a pilot project to see if Inuit can work in these positions in the near future.
Also, since we are close to our final days as elected representatives, many Inuit are very passionate about ensuring more Inuit are hired in the upper management levels to alleviate our concerns.
What is your position on using Inuit observation skills as the Premier? Would you support that type of initiative to place Inuit in positions and train them?
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I am very happy the member asked those questions.
This government has made efforts to create initiatives such as the one he suggested in the past, but success wasn’t always forthcoming.
However, with respect to the issue of Inuit skills, I do believe in their abilities and their capability to work.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, there are committees that were formed to work with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut, with our government here, to increase and implement some of the things we are all trying to do. We want more Inuit in the workforce.
We want more Inuit throughout all levels, not just in middle management or executive supervisors. We want more Inuit.
I have some numbers that are in Kugluktuk, the place where I’m from. I do know that the hamlet has 170 employees within the hamlet and 120 of them are permanent. At this point I don’t have the breakdown of the content of the beneficiaries within the hamlet.
Most hamlets do have a high number of Inuit working there.
The housing corporation and other Inuit organizations, including the HTOs, run programs and I understand that in some of the programs they do hire a lot of local Inuit.
There’s training taking place in some of the HTOs and from what I understand, it is scientific training, water quality training.
Mr. Speaker, there’s no doubt with the help of everybody involved that we will increase the number of Inuit within the government and not just within the government but in our communities and in the federal government.
We do have over 300 students in university and college at this point and they are working on getting their diplomas and their masters.
There’s no doubt we will soon see these graduates working in these offices within the Government of Nunavut.
Although every position is critical to Nunavummiut and the government, we do want to see Inuit in the supervising positions.
With the numbers of our students taking masters, certification, and diplomas in all levels, there’s no doubt the number of Inuit within the government is going to increase, not just in the Government of Nunavut but throughout our territory, including the Government of Canada.
Question 552 – 4(3): Medical Travel Policies (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Hello to my fellow Rankin Inlet residents and Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, in response to questions from my colleague from Baker Lake last week, the minister indicated that medical travel clients are given information and a phone number to call if they are stranded at the airport due to flight delays.
Can the minister clarify whether elders and other clients on medical travel are given any food vouchers or calling cards to use in case they do get stranded while travelling?
If there’s a delay in travel, then people are provided with food vouchers.
Typically when you’re in travel or en route, there’s food provided on the airlines. You’re directly going from point A to point B and there are people picking you up at the airport when you land to make sure that they are bringing you to the appropriate boarding home where there is food available.
Like I had mentioned, if there are delays of two hours or more, there would be food and temporary accommodations located for them to be able to rest and have an opportunity to eat.
When elders and other medical clients are travelling to and from their appointments, they often do not have money or coins to use to call the number provided for medical travel if they have a problem.
In many large hub airports direct lines are installed to services such as taxi companies.
Can the minister update this House as to whether any consideration has been given to installing a direct line at the Rankin Inlet Airport for medical clients who are travelling though and may be stranded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I haven’t had any conversations along those lines. There are toll-free numbers that are available for medical travel patients to phone, so they can use any pay phone or if one of the airlines would allow them to use the phone, it is a toll-free number.
I can take a look at it. I’m not sure the feasibility of how often it would be used to make sure that it would be warranted, but like I stated, there is a toll-free number available so that there is no cost or a need for a calling card for people to be able to call Medical Travel.
The minister should be well aware that this time of year the toll-free line or the direct line would probably be useful because of all the delays, weather delays, and cancellations.
Mr. Speaker, it can be extremely difficult and uncomfortable for elders and others who are stranded for extended periods at the airport through no fault of their own.
Will the minister commit to looking into what resources, other than just a phone number, can be made available to medical travel clients in case they are stranded at an airport while travelling?
We do have a number of staff that wait by the phone to make sure that any necessary changes can be made to accommodate the weather or flight cancellations such as that.
We do have a very clear policy that if somebody is delayed for two hours or more, they can have access to a place to stay, a place to go to, and where food could be provided.
With regard to identifying further resources that could be used, I know we are doing not a full review, but we’re looking at identifying efficiencies within the Medical Travel Division. We have been making some subtle changes to help improve using the MEDITECH system that tracks people’s appointments.
It’s something that I can talk to my officials to see if they can include an analysis of what types of delays lead to any additional costs or unforeseen discomfort for our medical travel patients when they’re travelling.
Question 553 – 4(3): ID Requirements for Travelling (Keyootak)
Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware in the Baffin region, we have to travel through Iqaluit no matter where we’re going when we’re travelling down south. Iqaluit is a major hub for the Baffin region especially.
Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, next year the new airport terminal building will probably be in use, according to the information that was provided to us.
Mr. Speaker, once the new terminal building is in use, we will probably have the same procedures that are used in the south and everyone going through that airport will need photo ID.
I think that’s the way it is today, but it’s especially the case when travelling to the south and it’s not really used if travelling between communities.
Once that new terminal building is in use, will everyone need to go through the same security measures as down south?
We’re expecting to open the new airport in August of next year.
The airport operations we follow today will not change and it will be status quo.
This is being more and more the case as we are operating like down south, especially in that you need photo ID for boarding an airplane as proof of identification.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister emphasize to the Department of Community and Government Services that it’s very inconvenient to get photo IDs?
If we want to get photo ID, we have to go to Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I really empathized for a passenger because they had no photo ID. As an example, there was a person at the airport in a wheelchair who didn’t have photo ID.
I was there at the same time and the person could not speak English.
Mr. Speaker, he was told by an agent that he needed to go have his picture taken for new ID and the person is physically disabled.
Even though we may not have any physical disabilities, we don’t know where the facilities are to get photos taken without having facilities in the community.
It must have been impossible for some of the would-be passengers.
We don’t get enough services within our smaller communities.
Perhaps they should make photo ID services available in all communities, maybe within the hamlets.
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for asking that question.
As I have stated, there is a need to have licences or photo ID, especially when travelling down south where that kind of ID is required.
For travel within Nunavut, that ID is not required yet and probably won’t be required in the near future.
At this time getting photo ID in the communities is one area we are constantly trying to improve.
We requested funds for that purpose within our capital estimates and ID cameras for driver’s licences and general ID were purchased.
We don’t have employees directly responsible for that in the communities, but the (interpretation ends) government liaison officers (interpretation) were trained on how to correctly take photos and to provide better services to the communities.
This was to ensure they serve local residents in that capacity and they are starting to deal with that more and more.
I thank the minister for explaining that.
People who are not as able as we are should get better service.
It must be really hard for people who are not able to speak or have a physical disability to have to come to Iqaluit to have their picture taken. Even those of us who are able-bodied have a hard time coming to Iqaluit to have our picture taken as it is very expensive to get here.
Can all the communities be checked to make sure that they have proper cameras so that the service can be improved?
Right now all government liaison officers already have cameras and they can take pictures in the communities.
We’re trying to connect the GLOs through a computer network.
Once that’s done, we will be able to produce temporary ID cards before the actual ID card arrives from the south.
They won’t come from Iqaluit.
There will be some deadlines put in place, but if the ID cards don’t come into the communities right away, they can use that temporary ID that will be accepted by the airlines.
Right now they are able to produce a document which doesn’t include a photo and they have been doing that everywhere else.
The photo ID cards are reviewed in Iqaluit before they are mailed out to the communities to make sure that they don’t contain any errors.
That is the process right now. However, once the computer network is up and running, the whole process will be easier.
Question 554 – 4(3): Winnipeg Art Gallery Project (Joanasie)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation regarding the Minister’s Statement she made earlier today.
Mr. Speaker, the minister reported that the Winnipeg Art Gallery will be marketing and promoting Inuit art. We are also aware that the Nunavut Development Corporation used to have a gallery in Toronto where they sold Inuit art, but it is now closed.
My first question is: will Inuit sculptures and prints being sent to the Winnipeg Art Gallery be made available for sale at the retail gallery there?
I also thank the member for asking about that.
The Nunavut Development Corporation’s work in marketing art is still going on in Mississauga, but the one in Winnipeg will have a temporary art exhibit.
What also makes it different from the Toronto gallery is the fact that there will be an artist residency program at that facility where artist will produce their works of art.
It is supported financially by the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.
It will support carvers, other artists, and also promote the selling of art. Many people will visit the gallery where they will be able to see artists in action.
The minister also said that “The department is providing the Nunavut Development Corporation an additional $75,000 per year for the next three years...” Can the minister tell us exactly what that $75,000 per year will be used for?
This is just a pilot project that we will be funding for three years.
The Nunavut Development Corporation will be receiving $75,000 annually for the pilot project to present art at the Winnipeg Arts Gallery at the Forks.
We expect that about $500,000 worth of Inuit art will be bought per year in Winnipeg.
The minister also reported that there will be carvers on the premises demonstrating carving.
Can you tell us more about that? We know there are many capable artists in Nunavut in different disciplines that can produce many different things, including fine art.
If anyone is interested in being a part of that, where can they apply to participate and how long will these demonstrations take place for?
Yes, I can tell you about the work that is being done at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
They will be showcasing art at a very popular place.
We expect that they will get more than 4 million visitors per year and anyone goes there to go see the artwork.
Carving is not the only art that is presented down there.
There are many stores and all sorts of different activities taking place at the Winnipeg Art Gallery where they showcase diverse art forms, from big pieces to smaller pieces of art that are displayed.
Anybody who is interested in demonstrating carving or making art can apply or talk to the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to tell them about their backgrounds and art skills.
Artists can approach either the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, Arctic Co-ops Ltd., or the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
We expect that this will create nine jobs with respect to art and other work.
We have good expectations about this project and the fact that it will create jobs.
Motion 039 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for Gjoa Haven, that question period be extended.
The motion is in order and it is not subject to debate. (interpretation) All those in favour.
Opposed. (interpretation ends) The motion is carried and question period is extended for an additional 30 minutes.
Question 555 – 4(3): Office of the Fire Marshal (Enook)
My questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services, whose department is responsible for the Office of the Fire Marshal.
The minister recently tabled the fire marshal’s 2015 annual report, which indicated that two of the office’s assistant fire marshal positions were vacant.
Let me first ask the minister: can he update us today on the status of his department’s efforts to fill the vacant assistant fire marshal position in Pond Inlet?
The position of assistant fire marshal is not that easy to fill. There are many qualifications and experience that are needed.
We have been trying to fill that position and we have been unsuccessful to date.
That’s the only update that I can give the member.
The most recent annual report of the Office of the Fire Marshal indicated that a total of 1,015 fire prevention inspections of schools, health facilities, and other buildings took place in 2015.
Can the minister clarify how many of these inspections took place in Pond Inlet?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
I don’t have that level of detail of how many inspections are done in each community ready at my hands, but I can certainly get that information and pass it back on to the member.
The most recent annual report of the Office of the Fire Marshal indicated that $10.5 million of damage was suffered as a result of a fire at the North Baffin mine, which I presume is a reference to the Mary River facility.
Let me ask the minister this: can he clarify how often the Office of the Fire Marshal visits mine sites such as Mary River or Meadowbank to provide fire prevention inspections and training?
I don’t know how often the fire marshal visits mines and exploration camps and other stuff, but if we had both assistant fire marshal positions filled, I guess the number of visits would be more often. That is our goal, to have these positions filled.