EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Member’s Statement 131 – 4(2): Tribute to Noah Kolola Michael (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to everyone here in the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise and recognize Noah Kolola Michael of Kimmirut, who saved Johnny Lee Judea from drowning in the frigid waters outside the community.
Mr. Speaker, a group of men, including Johnny Lee and Noah, were out boating ten years ago.
The rest of their hunting party landed ashore to take a hike while Johnny Lee and Noah stayed on board.
Mr. Speaker, while they were anchored close off shore, Johnny Lee accidentally slipped and fell into the open water.
Noah tried using a Niksik (a hook) to get him back. He could hardly swim.
However, Mr. Speaker, Noah accidentally dropped the hook that he was trying to give to Johnny Lee.
Johnny Lee managed to give it back to him, even though he was in the water. He was able to pull him back onto the canoe out of the water.
Mr. Speaker, Johnny Lee tried at one point to swim to shore, but then he realized that he wouldn’t make it, so he turned back towards the canoe by trying to swim.
He was struggling trying to stay afloat, but Noah was able to grab him and pull him back into the canoe.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in honouring Noah, who saved Johnny Lee in his time of need and further, I am especially grateful to him for his selflessness in saving another person’s life.
Member’s Statement 132 – 4(2): Successful Partnership for Tununiq (Enook)
Good morning to the people of Pond Inlet as well as to all Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share good news about a positive initiative concerning communications in Tununiq.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier this week about issues concerning telephone communication in my constituency.
However, the initiative I share today shows that we can work together to achieve good.
Many Nunavummiut participate in Inuit traditions that have been practised for centuries, including hunting.
However, in light of constant change in our climate and environment, hunters aren’t always able to easily communicate, especially when there are emergencies.
Mr. Speaker, what I want to convey today and share with my colleagues is our immense pleasure as Tununirmiut and residents of Pond Inlet for the recent installation of marine VHF radio repeater system technology.
Mr. Speaker, this technology allows hunters to communicate with handheld radio devices among one another, with community organizations and emergency service organizations.
Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to the Department of Community and Government Services for investing in this initiative as the core funder.
If it weren’t for them, this initiative wouldn’t have been able to proceed.
I also thank the following parties for their contributions.
They are: Brian Koonoo, Martin Visser, and Robert Howards; the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Association; the Hamlet of Pond Inlet; the Polar Continental Shelf Program; and Parks Canada.
Mr. Speaker, the installation of this technology in June in our community has positively impacted my constituency, especially our hunters.
Due to that reason, I ask all members to join me in applauding this successful initiative.
Member’s Statement 133 – 4(2): Recipients of Long-term Service Awards (Mike)
I say “good morning” to the residents of Pangnirtung and Nunavut.
I appreciate this opportunity to make my statement.
I rise today to speak to events that were held here in Iqaluit last night, where awards were presented to employees of the Nunavut government who have served for many years.
There were several residents of Pangnirtung who were recognized for their long service in the employ of the government last night. On behalf of the residents of Pangnirtung and the community, I wish to acknowledge these long-time workers.
They have also provided a great deal of assistance through their work and served the people generously.
Also, the people who were at last night’s event were awarded with letters of appreciation and I want to express my pride in their accomplishments.
I also know some of the recipients of these awards quite well. Some of them are present in the House right now. Some of them lived in Pangnirtung before and are from there.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Julia Tautuajuk, who completed 20 years; Mary Bender, who completed 20 years; and Jeannie Metuq, who also has been working for 20 years for the government.
For 25 years, Meeka Alivaktak has been serving the Nunavut government, as has Apea Sowdluapik.
Lena Metuq has been working for 30 years for the government.
I am proud of these citizens and I would like you all to be proud of them as well.
Members’ Statements. (interpretation ends) Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Tom Sammurtok.
Member’s Statement 134 – 4(2): Kivalliq Summer Games (Sammurtok)
Good morning to my fellow residents of Chesterfield Inlet and Nunavummiut.
I rise today to recognize people from my home community of Chesterfield Inlet and congratulate them on winning the 2014 Kivalliq Summer Games this past September.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Kivalliq Summer Games is an opportunity for representatives from the seven Kivalliq communities to get together and participate in cultural events ranging from traditional games to bannock and tea making.
It is also a great way to preserve our culture.
(interpretation) Chesterfield Inlet finished the competition with a total of 90 points and took home the gold.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank and express my pride in the following participants:
Elders – Eli Kimmaliardjuk and Leonie Mimialik
Senior men – Trevor Autut, James Tautu, and Nathaniel Mimialik
Senior ladies – Elizabeth Kukkiak and Doriana Sammurtok
Junior boys – Inuumiq Kuglugiak and Jeffrey Kukkiak
Junior girls – Courtney Samok
Coaches – Blair Tautu Boteau and Larry Tautu
Official – Gloria Thompson
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, although I wasn’t there, there was a potluck held by the community on September 27 to congratulate this team. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 135 – 4(2): Congratulations to Gail Redpath for Long-term Service Award (Shooyook)
Good day, people of Nunavut. Welcome, visitors.
I would like to show my appreciation in my community for a nurse at the health centre, Gail.
She has provided tremendous assistance and who has been helping people in great and urgent distress. She is a tireless health worker and I really appreciate it.
Mr. Speaker, I would like you to join me in recognition of Gail, who works at the health centre in Arctic Bay.
Member’s Statement 136 – 4(2): First Beluga Harvest in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak)
I say “good morning” to all Nunavummiut and residents of Baker Lake.
Good morning indeed to my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, this morning, I am sincerely happy to make this statement. Everyone in Nunavut knows that Baker Lake is the only community not situated along the sea coast but on a lake.
However, this summer, you may have read that in Baker Lake, there was a sight which has never been seen.
I am pleased to be able to talk about what took place.
This past summer, we saw something which is uncharacteristic for our community.
Many people were extremely happy.
Many people of Nunavut who saw what took place were also happy on August 7 this past summer.
Although there were still mosquitoes and the black flies were beginning to swarm, we did not mind any of these pests.
I am pleased to say that Peter Owingayak was able to harpoon a beluga whale in Baker Lake.
Peter Tapatai was the pilot and boat mate, along with his father David Owingayak.
The whale was harpooned on August 7. Even though we are a landlocked community with a lake and a river, we were able to catch a beluga whale that normally swims in Hudson Bay.
After two or three days, we got a second whale. Paul Kaluk Niego, my son-in-law, caught the second beluga whale.
I thank God for the opportunities that these hunters were able to get what they don’t normally get and feed a whole lot of people in Baker Lake.
I would like to recognize my family members. I would first like to recognize my nephew Isaiah Nungusuituq, my daughter’s son, my wife, Emily Joanasie, and our child, Pittaaluk Joanasie.
I am proud to recognize Gail and Claudette Qamanirq.
I recognize these two individuals.
Ms. Pat Angnakak.
I, too, would like to recognize my constituents, Mary Ellen Thomas, whom I have known for a very long time, and Cindy, who was here, but not here now. I recognize her anyways. Thank you.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. Hickes.
I would like to take this time to recognize a couple of constituents that I have in the Gallery today who recently talked me into, through their volunteer work with the Rotary Club, of participating in a dunking challenge and hopefully I helped contribute with some of your fundraising activities.
I would like to recognize Lorne Levy and Sheila Levy.
Question 206 – 4(2): Financial Support for Adult Learners (Mapsalak)
Good morning, Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues will be aware, when the Department of Family Services was established, part of its mandate included the delivery of the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students program.
As the minister will be aware, the FANS program no longer provides funding for some of the adult learning programs that it used to fund.
Can the minister clearly describe what steps have been taken to inform adult education staff at Nunavut community learning centres about changes in funding options for adult learners?
I also thank my colleague for seeking clarification on how the FANS program is operated.
This program has two aspects to it, with one part specific to diploma or certificate programs and the other is the (interpretation ends) Adult Learning and Training Supports (ALTS) for career development (interpretation) that is also operated under this program. I want my colleague to understand how it is operated.
It has come to my attention that a number of applications for the adult education funding submitted from our communities to the FANS Division of Family Services were denied.
Instead of advising the staff at the community learning centres of their decisions, Family Services staff informed Nunavut Arctic College headquarters staff and the decision was not communicated further until the deadline to submit a new application was past.
Can the minister explain why her departmental staff are not doing more to ensure that community-based adult learners can access the funding that they need to continue their education?
The FANS funding application forms include deadlines and, if you submit past these deadlines, then a student will have difficulty accessing the program.
That is what I can respond with to my colleague, that previous approvals may lapse.
There is legislation that governs this program and sometimes students are not approved if they don’t fulfill all the criteria. That’s what I know about this program.
Perhaps the minister could indicate, for applications that head to the department past the deadline, what is the usual way of communicating whether or not their applications have been approved or whether they have run out of time in terms of the application process. What kind of communication do they provide to the communities?
I thank my colleague for requesting clarification on the deadlines.
There is a website containing the information and it includes the criteria.
It shows the deadline and there is also an extension period of a month if the application is late.
These timelines are in line with the offering of educational programs and these are also posted on the website. It is quite clear.
All applicants have other funds to access as well, such as from the (interpretation ends) career development (interpretation) programs, and the funding comes from another department. That’s all I can speak to at this time.
Question 207 – 4(2): Access to Community Health Services (Akoak)
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Inuit and Uqhuqtuurmiut.
Mr. Speaker, I have received a number of concerns from my constituents regarding the long waiting times to get an appointment at the Gjoa Haven Community Health Centre.
It has also been brought to my attention that residents who used to be contacted to get regular checkups are no longer seeing the nurses on a regular basis.
Can the minister indicate whether or not she is aware of the long wait times for Gjoa Haven residents to get appointments at the health centre and, if she is aware, can she explain why this is happening?
I don’t have the specifics of individual wait times for all health centres in Nunavut and I could discuss that with the member and get back to him.
Mr. Speaker, the residents of Gjoa Haven understand that when there is an emergency, health centre staff need to deal with urgent cases as a priority. However, there should still be time built in to the community health centre schedule to ensure that non-emergency clients are able to receive health services on a timely basis.
Can the minister provide an update on whether the community of Gjoa Haven is experiencing a shortage of nursing staff or whether there is a higher volume of people seeking health services?
The health professionals in Nunavut are lacking staffing.
I can’t find the information on whether there’s a lack of health professionals in [Gjoa Haven]. I will look into the short staffing of the health department.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that there may be a number of factors affecting the ability of health centre staff to provide health services on a timely basis.
Will the minister commit to looking into the situation and getting back to me so that I can communicate to the residents of Gjoa Haven what her department intends to do about it?
As I have stated, I will bring information to the member regarding staffing in the community of Gjoa Haven.
Staffing in Nunavut is very difficult.
(interpretation ends) I’ll speak English, Mr. Speaker, so that interpretation can be proper.
Trying to retain qualified nurses to ensure that health centres are fully staffed and providing the highest level of services throughout Nunavut is usually a challenge.
We compete with other Canadian jurisdictions. Not only that, we also compete with other countries. When we are not able to fill them and when they do become vacant for one reason or another or people go on holidays, we try to staff it immediately with a casual nurse and, if that is not available, we usually try to staff it with an agency nurse.
Question 208 – 4(2): Support for Parents (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that when children are apprehended by social services staff, there appears to be very little support for the parents of those children to get back on their feet and to get their children back.
I fully support the notion that home situations must be safe and secure for children.
However, parents need counselling and support to be able to fix whatever problems they have in order that their children can come home and be with them in a safe and secure environment.
My first question to the minister is: can the minister indicate whether or not counselling is provided to parents who have had their children apprehended by social services and, if so, how often do they get counselled before getting their children back?
The situation is usually different in each case where apprehension is required.
The children are apprehended if the law has been broken.
Apprehensions are usually a result of a person breaking the law.
With respect to the type of counselling the member asked about, it depends on the situation. I do know that once the reasons have been identified, the parents don’t always agree with the apprehension. In some cases, the parents don’t agree with the reasons for the apprehension.
That’s what I can respond with at this time.
My question wasn’t really answered, in my opinion.
I will try to ask again about the matter.
When parents are faced with a potential apprehension, what kind of assistance is provided to the parents?
Is there counselling of the parents to ensure that children can be returned to a safe home?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Hon. Minister Ms. Ugyuk.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue is very complex, as it’s case by case.
A lot of the parents who have children apprehended have to face the issues why the child was apprehended in the first place. A lot of times, it’s complex. They don’t admit that they have a problem and there’s the issue right there in the Act that says they do.
It varies from each case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I still haven’t received an appropriate response, but it is impossible to remain on the same subject.
Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, if I rephrase my question, I can get an answer.
When parents whose children have been apprehended by your department or officials from the Department of Family Services, and if all things fall into place and the children are allowed to return to their parents’ house, where the parents are able to be retake stewardship of their children in their home, in those cases where children are returned, what arrangements are made to deal with the case file of these children being returned to their parents? Is there any set protocol to follow in these cases?
Speaker: Minister of Family Services, Hon. Minister Ms. Ugyuk.
I thought I had answered the member’s question appropriately.
The reasons vary, depending on each case where apprehension of children is contemplated.
The children who are apprehended are kept at foster homes for a certain period, in some cases, for over a year. The social workers are open to counselling the parents and prior to returning the children, they have to ensure the parents meet the criteria.
However, what I want the member to understand clearly is that not all parents agree with the reasons for apprehending their children.
Question 209 – 4(2): Statutory Eligibility for Seniors Programs (Mikkungwak)
As the minister is aware, both the territorial and federal governments offer a range of programs and services for elders and seniors. However, the question of who qualifies as a senior can vary depending on the program.
For example, people aged 60 and over can apply for the territorial Senior Fuel Subsidy Program, but you have to be 65 or older to apply for the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Program.
Can the minister tell the House if the Government of Nunavut has an official definition of what age constitutes being an elder or a senior citizen?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Justice, Hon. Minister Mr. Okalik.
I am not responsible for those programs, so I cannot respond to the question and I apologize for that.
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Mikkungwak, can you clarify who you are directing your question to, please. Mr. Mikkungwak.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The member is asking for a definition.
I would assume that such a definition would be in legislation.
Mr. Okalik, Premier. Mr. Okalik.
With respect to the question to the Department of Justice, it is something we have no authority and so we cannot answer that question. Each department establishes their own definitions, so the question has to be directed to them individually.
Is the government willing to look at the issue of harmonizing the age requirements for its various programs and services?
Speaker: Minister of Justice, Hon. Minister Mr. Okalik.
The programs and services are not defined in detail in legislation, although some are mentioned in legislation and so that is an excellent question.
My ministerial colleagues are listening and I have no doubt they will examine the issue further.
As the minister is aware, there have been ongoing debates at the national level concerning the federal government’s move towards increasing the age of eligibility for the Old Age Security program from 65 to 67.
The Department of Justice has little to do with this issue as it affects seniors.
We look at legislative aspects in Nunavut and how we can better enforce legislation for Nunavummiut.
Question 210 – 4(2): Merits of Hospital Boards (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the minister will recall my question of May 23, 2014 about establishing a board of management at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
At the time, the minister indicated that she would ask her staff to look into it.
Can the minister provide an update on what consideration has now been given to establishing a Qikiqtani General Hospital Board?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Health. Hon. Minister Ms. Ell.
I do recall the conversation in the last session on this topic.
The current government mandate does not list a re-examination of health boards as a priority, but saying that, we can look at ways on how we can engage with communities and to the public.
Thank you to the minister for her response.
In my Member’s Statement, I provided a few examples about the merits of establishing a hospital board.
Would the minister agree that the ability to fundraise, the reduction of bureaucratic backlog, and having the guidance of a group of qualified and experienced individuals are all good reasons to establish a board of management for the Qikiqtani General Hospital?
She is asking for an opinion and I can’t really provide an opinion.
As part of the health boards and their history with the creation of Nunavut, the three regional health and social services boards were dissolved.
Since then, the services that they provided have been administered through the government’s Department of Health and Social Services, now the Department of Health, and the program review may include examining other options for community engagement that I mentioned in the delivery of health care services.
My response back to that would be: just because something has been done in the past, it doesn’t mean it was the right move, as we have to go forward towards the future and look at what is the best possible way of running the hospital.
We have encountered a lot of problems with it and I think that establishing a health board, I know, is going to be a big step and would require the full support of government.
Will the minister commit to addressing the need for the board of management for the Qikiqtani General Hospital with her cabinet colleagues?
With our staff and officials, we do review and see how we can provide the best service and how we can agree with the communities for engagement.
We will always be working on that.
We can look into what you’re saying, but I can’t say ahead of time what results we will see.
Question 211 – 4(2): Social Services Transformation Plan (Hickes)
I’ve had a couple questions this week for the Minister responsible for Family Services with some of her written responses to some of the concerns brought forward by the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts. I have another one for the minister today.
Mr. Speaker, with one of the responses regarding the Social Services Transformation Plan, it clearly stated in there that the plan was not implemented in its entirety, although some key aspects of the plan were implemented.
What aspects of the Social Services Transformation Plan were not implemented?
The Auditor General of Canada provided a list of recommendations in the areas they wanted improved and we have agreed with the recommendations. It is quite a slow process, but we are moving forward with the recommendations with a focus on our prioritized items.
We are trying to implement all of the recommendations.
The community has to identify counselling and the social workers are trying to improve the system. That’s what I understand how the process is set up. We communicate with the communities about social service issues.
I did not hear an answer to my question in there.
What I was specifically asking for is what aspects of the Social Services Transformation Plan had not been implemented.
I apologize for the misunderstanding, as my dialect in Inuktitut can’t be understood properly.
However, the member wanted to understand which aspects of the plan haven’t been implemented.