EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I rise today to talk about a recent event that was held here in the Chambers of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, students representing all of our Nunavut constituencies were in Iqaluit from May 5 to May 9, 2008 to participate in this year’s Youth Parliament.
Unfortunately, two of the youth participants were unable to get here to Iqaluit due to weather, like some of my colleagues who are unable to be here today either for the same reason.
One constituency had to be represented by a student from Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to be present once again to witness the young parliamentarians voicing issues that they feel are facing the youth of Nunavut today.
Mr. Speaker, during their week in Iqaluit, the students learned all about being MLAs.
They went through the Orders of the Day, made their Members’ and Ministers’ Statements, asked Oral Questions and even brought forward motions and reviewed a bill during Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, many of the issues they raised related to the use of drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy, unhealthy eating habits, suicide and the need for continuing education.
They even presented suggestions on how these problems could be addressed.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that our Speaker fully supports this worthwhile initiative.
I want to acknowledge my constituents, Keegan Mackey, who represented me during the Youth Parliament, and also Duncan MacKay, who represented the Minister of Health and Social Services.
I want to thank Minister Aglukkaq who took the opportunity to meet with Duncan who represented her and to thank my Honourable colleagues, Mr. Picco and the Premier, for being present here in the Chambers during their sitting.
I am positive that your presence and an opportunity to meet you were greatly appreciated by the students.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the efforts of this year’s participants and to encourage them to seriously consider being our future leaders one day.
One of this year’s Youth Parliamentarians is our page today and that’s Samantha Giroux, and I think she represented the Premier during their session.
Member’s Statement 428 – 2(4): Paul Kanayuk Jr. and Rene Aggark Walk to Raise Awareness for Widows and Children (Curley)
I also rise today in this House to inform members of a momentous event and to ask for their support of two young people who walked from Rankin Inlet to Arviat in April.
The two young people, Paul Kanayuk, Jr. from Rankin Inlet and Rene Aggark-Sammy from Arviat, undertook this journey not only for their own enjoyment, but to raise awareness and support for the widows and homeless orphans.
They elaborated on their reasons at the community hall in Rankin Inlet and they need more support in Nunavut.
The reason for doing this walk, based on their perceptions, is the need to show more love and support for these people. The support needs to be Nunavut-wide, not just from their respective communities and the fact that everyone has to offer more support to them.
Many of the widows go through hardship and often don’t have the will or the courage to ask for help, so we need to help them more.
Our hearts were deeply touched at a meeting over at the community hall.
For ten days, while it was very cold, they walked from Rankin Inlet to Arviat.
They arrived safely and were happy when they completed the journey.
I wanted to state publicly in the House that I am extremely proud of their efforts. Even though they’re in their early twenties, they are concerned about their people and the hardships they face, so I was quite honoured to support them.
I urge members to support them as well as to recognize their efforts. Again, their names are Paul Kanayuk, Jr. and Rene Aggark-Sammy.
If there are no more, going back to the Orders of the Day.
Member’s Statement 429 – 2(4): Announcing Birth of New Grandson (Netser)
I raised my hand earlier, but I think you forgot.
Mr. Speaker, my wife and I are very proud that we got another grandchild last night, nine pounds, two ounces, and his name is Sebastian Netser.
Question 533 – 2(4): Nunavut Medical Travel Contracts (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I tabled a series of correspondence between the minister and myself. I had hoped, after sending these letters, to receive some clarification on the recent awarding of Nunavut’s medical travel contracts. Unfortunately, the replies I received raised even more questions than answers.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, on March 5, 2008, the minister responded to an Oral Question in the House that she would share information on the medical travel contracts including “the methodology, the criteria, the routes, the savings and the perks that were offered to airlines.”
In her most recent letter on this issue, she provided information on perks offered ‘by’ the contractors but not on those perks offered ‘to’ the contractors.
Can the minister provide information on the perks provided to the contractors as part of these awards and if she cannot answer now, will she commit to providing this information in writing before the end of the session?
I think my response in regard to that question is covered in the letter I had distributed to the member.
In terms of the methodology, the criteria, the points that were used is outlined in the document that was tabled in the legislature by the Minister of CG&S responsible for the RFP process.
It outlines, in my letter to the member, how the awards and points were allocated in the review of the information.
I also stated in my letter, with respect to the perks, the perks offered by the airlines, in terms of additional information, related to increases in Inuit employment in the communities.
The other area related to the issues around scholarships, the issues around perks offered by the airlines related to the Pivut fare.
Those were additional information offered through the airlines, in addition to providing the service for medical travel. So I think my letter is very clear in answering that question.
I would like to thank the minister for clarifying that, but she didn’t answer my question.
I quoted her as what she said on March 5, she said, “perks that were offered to the airlines,” not ‘by’ the airlines and my question was: can she provide us with information on what perks, as she had indicated, were offered to the contractors?
Again, to clarify for the record, it’s the perks offered by the airline in addition.
The additional employment by having additional routes for Inuit employees, the Pivut fare program that’s offered by the airlines, in addition to the services they provide, I have outlined that in the letter.
So I think it’s quite clear.
My own interpretation of that could be that the minister made a mistake on March 5 when she told us that there were “perks offered to the airlines,” or to the contractors, and she doesn’t want to address that issue. I guess that would be the assumption I could make from that.
Mr. Speaker, the RFP documents and addenda tabled by the Minister of Community and Government Services on March 12 does not include any technical information on the issue of “perks.”
Can the minister clarify how “perks” were offered and evaluated in the RFP evaluation process and whether competing airlines were permitted to consider and provide counteroffers on ‘perks’?
Again, when I used the word “perks,” the description I was trying to convey to the House was that with the results of the outcome of the contract, there are additional outside-the-contract benefits to Nunavummiut - Pivut fare for every beneficiary where there are Canadian North Airline routes as an example, additional employment at the community level where there are new routes as an example.
So as part of the RFP process, I have made it very clear in my letter to the member what was evaluated in the RFP process. The document was tabled by the Minister of CG&S in the House and the RFP document is very clear on how the points were assigned.
So what I was trying to convey to the member, and I’m apologizing to the member if he misunderstood what I meant by that, is that there are benefits outside of the medical travel contract to communities when governments make decisions on contracts such as this one.
I didn’t misunderstand what she said. She said “perks offered to the airlines,” or to the contractors. There’s no misunderstanding in that.
So, obviously, she made a mistake.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister clarify what, if any, penalties would be incurred by the contractors should they default on any of their offer of ‘perks’?
For example, will there be a penalty if the scholarships for the training of nurses are not provided by the contractor who offered to provide it?
As I said just before his second last question, there are additional benefits to communities as a result of some government decisions around contracts; there are no penalties.
What I’m talking about is, in a government decision to award this contract, there are other benefits that are a result of it outside the contract – additional employment at the community level, scholarship programs, or Pivut fare. That’s outside the contract, so there are no penalties.
I believe I answered the member’s question earlier and it’s very clear in my letter to the member what areas were addressed in the review of the RFP process.
Question 534 – 2(4): Capital Projects in Baker Lake this Spring and Summer (Simailak)
Mr. Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning.
I say good morning to the residents of Baker Lake.
I would like to ask the Minister of Community and Government Services if there are any plans on capital projects for Baker Lake this spring and summer.
The Five-Year Capital Plan was completed and announced to all Members.
I can provide him with the plans on capital projects for Baker Lake for this summer if he so wishes.
Yes, I definitely want to see what projects will be undertaken this spring and summer in Baker Lake.
Can the minister tell me if the construction of the new $2 million reservoir is included?
The population of Baker Lake is growing and the present reservoir is long past too small.
The mining companies have started operations, so this has become urgent. So I’m asking if the $2 million for a new reservoir is still on track.
I can check into the question about the $2 million project to see if it’s still in the capital plan.
At this time, I can’t confirm that because there are so many projects.
I will have to ask my officials to make sure that that $2 million project is still in there and get back to the member.
Perhaps I can assist the minister with some news. Our mayor was informed that that $2 million allocated for this spring and summer wasn’t going to be utilized in Baker Lake after all.
Can the minister check into this to see if that’s the case and where that $2 million has been reallocated?
This is an urgent matter, so we would like to know if the minister will put that $2 million back into the capital plan to be used in the spring and summer for the project in Baker Lake.
Absolutely, I will check into this and I would also try to find out where that $2 million would be allocated.
I will also check into the capital plan for that amount and get back to the Member for Baker Lake.
Question 535 – 2(4): GN Policy on Smoking in Apartment Buildings (Curley)
My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation with respect to cigarette smoking in the apartment buildings leased by the government.
Mr. Speaker, concerns have been raised in Rankin Inlet about second-hand smoke in apartment buildings.
A number of non-smoking residents are being affected by second-hand smoke from other units in their building.
My question for the minister is this: what is the Housing Corporation’s policy with respect to smoking in public and staff housing units?
Do you have non-smoking apartments available if staff prefer them?
Do you have a policy in place?
Minister of Housing Corporation, Minister Netser.
I’m not sure if we have a policy on smoking in the apartment buildings that are leased by the government, but if the lessees have such a policy in place, then the tenants should be adhering to that policy.
I would like to raise this question again. A few years ago, Nunavut’s new Tobacco Control Act was passed into law.
The law applies only to controlling smoking in and around workplaces and the sale of tobacco.
There is no prohibition against smoking in apartments and this applies only to certain places.
The Act doesn’t apply to the private companies that you are leasing apartment buildings from, so I was wondering whether or not you would consider having it apply to them.
Is the minister working with the Minister of Health and Social Services, I believe that also falls under her responsibility, to amend the Act to address the issue of smoking in apartment buildings, especially for pregnant women and non-smokers?
Yes, I agree with the member. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, (interpretation) my mother recently passed away from tobacco use and I kept asking her to quit. We are quite concerned about this issue because cigarettes lead to death. Yes, I can definitely work with the Minister of Health and Social Services on how we can resolve the situation with the leased apartment buildings.
I thank the minister for his understanding in this matter.
Mr. Speaker, smoking rates in Nunavut are among the highest in the country when compared to other jurisdictions.
However, I believe that the government must do more to address the issue of smoking inside apartment buildings. Although the law applies at the workplace, and it’s good because it keeps people from getting exposed to second-hand smoke, we’re not doing enough to ensure that tenants are aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke.
However, I believe that more must be done for the residents living in aging public and staff housing units, which are in need of repair, so they don’t end up being exposed to the second-hand smoke creeping into their homes from their neighbours.
When will the minister develop a plan to address this issue and will he commit to tabling it in the House?
It would be good to have apartments provide a smoke-free zone for pregnant residents, for example, some hotels offer non-smoking floors.
Would the minister be able to table a plan at any time?
I don’t know if I would be tabling a plan, but we can probably work with the companies we are leasing buildings from before their contracts are up for renewal.
We might be able to come up with a plan and I’ll speak with our president about that.
Question 536 – 2(4): Income Support Worker for Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
Three of my colleagues are not here and the rest seem so far away over there.
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Income Support.
Mr. Speaker, in Repulse Bay, we haven’t had an income support worker for quite a long time. When does the minister plan to hire an income support worker?
This is quite a topic of conversation. A couple of weeks ago, when I was attending the NAM meetings in Rankin Inlet on the Income Support Program and the income support workers, a lot of hamlets have actually turned back their contracts to have income support workers working in a community employed by the hamlet.
In the member’s community, what we have been doing is covering the community off with an income support person who goes into the community to deliver income support.
The actual opportunity to hire someone, Mr. Speaker, that is ongoing.
From what I understand, the Hamlet of Repulse Bay does not have such a contract and the territorial government has held that responsibility to this day.
I know that because I worked at the hamlet at the time and we didn’t want that contract.
What is slowing down the process for hiring an income support worker?
The member is correct. In some of our communities, we’ve had difficulty recruiting people for the position of income support worker.
It can be a very stressful position in a community when you’re dealing with people and the amount of monies that are available to them under the Income Support Program sometimes causes some conflict.
I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve had some issues in filling positions not just in the member’s community but across Nunavut itself.
What I can say to the member is that after this session this morning, I will have an opportunity to talk to the department to see when we will actually be in a position to hire someone for the community.
It is my understand, again, from the information provided to me that although the income support worker is not in the community, they are directly employed by the government and all income support cases in the community are being covered off by the department.
In Repulse Bay, there are a lot of income support recipients due to lack of employment opportunities within the community.
I think the residents of Repulse Bay are going through extreme hardship because there’s no income support worker and sometimes they’re unable to come into the community, so they’re mainly dealt with over the phone when the income support worker is in Rankin Inlet, but they’re not always able to get their either.
That’s the situation in our community.
Could the minister indicate exactly when we will be getting an income support worker?
I know that the department has been actively involved in trying to secure the position and have a person for the position.
As the member has indicated, there is a strong caseload in the community.
There has been some difficulty, not just in the member’s community but in other communities, to be able to find income support workers.
So we are actively pursuing that and as I just said earlier, after the session this morning, I’ll check with the department and I will put in writing to the member by email when we expect to have that position filled in the community and when that person would be able to start the job.
Question 537 – 2(4): Nunavut Medical Travel Contracts (Tootoo)
Again, I would like to follow-up with some questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I think we need to get it clear for the record from the minister: in her last response, she seemed to indicate that there were no perks offered to the airlines, as she stated in the House here on March 5 and I’ll quote her, “Perks that were offered to airlines.”
So I would just like to get a confirmation from the minister that, in fact, there were no ‘perks’ offered to the airline as she had indicated.
That would be correct; the perks offered to us in addition to what was outlined in the criteria as to how the contracts are awarded. To clarify with perks, in addition to what we were looking for employment, Pivut fare and so on, there were no perks, as I described in my letter to the company.
I’m glad that the minister has clarified that because if someone read the Hansard from March 5, as the minister indicated, there were “perks offered to the airlines,” so now they can refer to today’s Hansard and see that that was, in fact, not the case.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister also indicate if the perks that she has outlined are all the perks she were offered by the airline, or were there more perks? In her letter it says, “perks such as.”
It just listed a couple, so I’m just wondering if there are any more included.
I guess to clarify, what I was trying to describe, again, during that time was that when we awarded the contract related to medical travel, there were additional things that naturally occur outside the contract where Nunavummiut benefit.
Increases in routes, for example, Pivut fare is now available to beneficiaries with Canadian North where there are new routes, as an example, and in addition to additional employment, as an example.
So those were just comments outside the process that I tried to describe. They are benefits when the government awards contracts in Nunavut outside the contract process.
So when I used the word “perks,” I was trying to describe, at that time, was that naturally, things flow out of decisions of government and those were items that I could think of at the time that were coming through the process of awarding of contracts for medical travel.
I don’t think that the minister made it clear that she made a mistake on March 5 when she said, “perks offered to the airlines,” and that’s for the records where she can clearly state today that what she stated was, in fact, not correct.
My next question to the minister is: were these ‘perks’ that were offered by the airlines included in the proposals that were received by the government?
What was included in the evaluation is outlined in the letter on May 20. The RFP process documents included pricing, customer service related experience of the company, Inuit labour, and Inuit firm.
Those were evaluated.
So in terms of that type of questions, that would be directed to the department responsible for the criteria evaluations, and so on. What I’m aware of, as tabled in this House, is the RFP document, which clearly outlines what would be evaluated in the proposals submitted by the companies for this contract.
I wasn’t asking what was evaluated; I was asking if those perks were in the proposal received by the proponent.
And I’m sure that the minister cannot play the ignorance in that case and say, “I don’t know, it was the Department of CGS that did it.”
I know how it works. The Department of CGS will evaluate it, make a recommendation, and bring the proposal forward to Cabinet for decision.
So I’m wondering then, in that case, if those perks were outlined in the proposal received by or from the proponent, were those perks taken into consideration in the final decision that was made in the awarding of the contract?
I’m not claiming ignorance on this. I’m explaining to the member again the RFP process, as outlined in the May 20th letter to the Members of this House, explains very clearly what was evaluated and in terms of evaluating the proposals submitted, that would be a question that the CG&S Minister would have to respond to because I’m not part of the review of the proposals.
What I have been provided is the areas that were evaluated in the proposals submitted - pricing, customer service related experience of the company, Inuit labour, Inuit firm.
That’s the criteria that was used to evaluate the proposals, hence the decision of the government. If those items were included, then that’s the responsibility of the Minister of CG&S to address.
I was not part of the committee reviewing it, but I want to state again that, as a decision of the government, there are natural things that flow out of decisions as a government. With new routes, one would assume that there are new jobs. With new routes with a Canadian airline, one would assume beneficiaries of NTI would have Pivut fare, and so on.
So that was all I was trying to explain again in the decisions of this government, that naturally, there are things that flow out of government decisions and those were just examples that I tried to demonstrate in this House in the last sitting.
Question 538 – 2(4): Patients Signing Prescription Waivers (Curley)
I would like to direct my question to the same minister, the Minister of Health.
I would like clarification on how services are provided to patients who are referred to medical centres. I believe that the services provided to a medical patient should be uniform nationwide.
Just recently, there was an elder in Rankin Inlet who was referred to a medical centre due to some illnesses, but the elder would not be prescribed medication without signing a waiver.
I would like to ask the minister when the policy was changed so that patients now have to sign a waiver before they’re prescribed medication. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Perhaps I don’t understand the member’s question, but I don’t know of any forms that are required to be signed as waivers for prescription medication.
So if the member can perhaps explain what this waiver is to me and I will look into it. I’m not aware that patients are required to sign waivers to be prescribed medication at all, but I would look into that.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. (interpretation) My question was: did the government change their policy within the Department of Health?
I’m sure that there’s a procedure that nurses follow.