EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. Ed. Picco: Some of the additional staffing needs have been identified for the full consultation and the legislative development for the Act. That includes a legislative researcher, a full-time assistant project coordinator, interpreter/translator, as well as work with the casual office clerk positions. The personnel to fill all these positions have been hired on either a casual or a contracted basis.
If I didn’t know any better, I think the minister was trying to avoid indicating who they’ve hired to work on that file. I am just wondering if he could clearly indicate who the people are that they have working on that file.
We will try again. Minister Picco.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I didn’t hear a question there, but I don’t have a list of all the casual positions and the clerk and so on, and I don’t want to get into the individuals who have been hired to work on the Act.
Again, as the member has indicated, Manitok Thompson, the former Minister of Education, a former Member of the House, and a former teacher, has taken a lead, and I believe she is doing good service and good work on the file.
I appreciate the member’s support in moving the Education Act forward.
There he goes again saying I’m giving him support and I never said anything like that.
Mr. Chairman, I guess he doesn’t want to admit then, and maybe the best thing to do is if he won’t say it, I’ll come out and ask him directly. I’ve heard that they’ve hired another former Minister of Education to work on that file, Mr. James Arvaluk.
Can he confirm whether or not that’s the case?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, Mr. Arvaluk, again, a Former Minister of Education was available to complete some of the communities so that we could meet our time frame in consultation with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
We wanted to see if we could find someone in the High Arctic, and as you know, Mr. Arvaluk is from the High Arctic and was available, we’ve asked him to help facilitate some of those meetings with the community stakeholders, and we believe Mr. Arvaluk will do an excellent job for us. I believe that was the consensus of some other people.
At the same time, Mr. Chairman, it’s not about the people who are doing the consultation and facilitation; it’s about the information that we are receiving back.
I think Ms. Thompson indicated that she would work very well with Mr. Arvaluk and in the next few weeks when we complete all the communities, as I said earlier, all the community consultations will be completed by April, and so, in the next three or four weeks, Mr. Arvaluk’s role in that process will be complete.
Knowing the minister, I would have thought if he was so gung-ho about hiring someone, he would have mentioned it right off the bat instead of having to try and extract blood from a stone to get that information out of him.
I guess having heard that Mr. Chairman, even if it’s just from an optics point of view, does the minister not feel that there could be a perception of having two former Ministers of Education working on the Act having the views brought forward basically slanted towards...those were ministers that, individuals that worked in the past, that defended that legislation and that department.
Is he not concerned that there could even be a perception that there would be a slanted view towards any changes to the Act given that the people working on it were both former ministers for that department, that defended that Act, and that department in the past?
For clarity in your questioning and responses, let’s be reminded again that questions which are hypothetical or seeking an opinion are to be paid close attention to and let’s be a little clearer on our questioning.
Mr. Picco, I will allow you to respond to that.
This is not a partisanship thing where one party takes ownership over another party.
For the record again, and I know the member was there and some of the other members in the House were there as well, including yourself Mr. Chairman, first of all, Mr. Arvaluk was not the Minister responsible for the Education Act Bill 1.
It was indeed you. Ms. Thompson came after the fact as minister.
I believe Mr. Arvaluk and Ms. Thompson can show some real leadership and some professionalism.
They are aware of the issue. Their job is to facilitate debate and discussion based on a set of criteria that is going into a meeting. At the same time, Mr. Chairman, all of the meetings are recorded.
There’s a tape in place, the meetings are recorded, that tape comes back, and then the feedback from the tape is used.
So I hope that helps clarify and answer the member’s question.
I guess the minister is saying he’s not too worried about the optics or the perception that it could be a one-sided view on things.
Again, for the record, I never did indicate that either one of those ministers had anything to do with Bill 1.
I just indicated that they were Ministers of Education that defended that department and the bill that they worked on if there were any changes in the past and I never once did I mention Bill 1.
So I just wanted to clarify that for the record.
I guess the minister is indicating that they are not too worried about their perception or anything of how things look.
So with that, I accept his answer and I’m glad to get it formally on the record.
I do not believe there was a question on that one. (interpretation) I have no more names on my list under page G-7. Are there any further questions for page G-7 for Policy and Planning?
(interpretation ends) Total Operations and Maintenance. $847,000.
Total Expenditures. $847,000. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Total Operations and Maintenance. $2,098,000. (interpretation) Are there any questions on that page?
Thank you. (interpretation ends) Total Expenditures. (interpretation) Corporate Services. $2,098,000.
Chairman (interpretation): I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) For the record, correction that was for Total Operations and Maintenance. Thank you. (interpretation) Still on that page. (interpretation ends) Education.
Income Support. $2,260,000.
I would like to ask the minister, first of all, the introduction. Since the Nunavut Government took over the whole number of administrations of a number of programs and so on, including income support, there have been quite a whole slew of complaints from our constituents of whether or not GN is less generous than NWT.
I have never raised the issue to any of the ministers or administrators mainly because I frankly don’t know how it all operates of whether or not the programs that were transferred were literally, I suppose, carried out, taken over, and in effect, the minister had pointed out on the business plan, there had been a couple of increases with these income support programs, whether it be Food Assistance Program or other benefits administered by this.
Can the minister tell this House of whether or not we are still carrying on as generously as the NWT used to provide to income support earners, those who depended on this program because I frankly was visited by an elder once that came to complain about it; I just didn’t know how to handle this and I really need more information before I can reply to my constituent.
Again, the program was grandfathered in from the Government of the Northwest Territories into Nunavut. What we have done is revamped and enhanced that program, and the members around this table today could take credit for some of that. We increased the amount under Income Support by 15 percent in the first year and a half of this government.
We’ve also done a major shift in the way this program is developed in that any Co-op dividend that is received by a person on income support now is not included as income earned, therefore they receive the money from their dividend and they don’t have to include that as money being subtracted from their cheque.
At the same time, we’ve also made some changes in the program in regard to the Energy Rebate Program that we’ve talked about earlier in questioning in the House.
The program has been enhanced, I believe, when you compare to what we inherited from the Northwest Territories; considerably better.
Is there more we can do with the program?
That’s why right now, within the department itself, we’re doing a review of the Income Support Program and looking at some of the issues that have been raised during Question Period, and some of the things we have heard from clientele, and indeed, from the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the hamlets on the Income Support Program.
I’d like to thank the minister for that information; that was my assumption all along. At the same time, the elders that visited me appear to know exactly what was going on. I didn’t want to disagree with them in front of them.
I just would like to ask the minister, by the process, when these particular benefits are issued, is there a standard or something that accompanies it because for those of us that are Members of the Legislative Assembly, it’s very hard to figure out what they’re complaining about or correct or not, without any pieces of evidence or documentation.
Can the minister indicate to me whether documentation is normally provided when cheques are issued to those who depend on income support?
If I can, just for the sake of a scenario, I’ll walk you through it.
Mr. Curley approached the income support worker for the first time. The income support workers in most of our communities are Inuk and speak Inuktitut, so first language services are available when needed. Mr. Curley would sit down with the income support worker and the person would ask Mr. Curley what his basic background is.
What’s your family situation?
Are you married? Do you have a common-law? Do you have children?
They would ascertain what Mr. Curley’s situation is. And then they would say: Have you been working in the last several weeks prior to the eligibility period for income support? Then he is asked for a record of how much money he had made to see, indeed, if during that eligibility period, if he would be eligible for income support and so on.
That’s the process that is carried out for all clients. Regular clients, people who are on income support for a period of time; their process is a lot easier because most of that information is already known. In most cases, the clientele who go to income support in our communities are well known because the income support worker is from that community, lives there, and knows the situation of the majority of their clients.
So that’s basically the process.
The information that’s needed for the income support worker may be how much money do you receive from a given cheque, or extra income because income support is reduced if you had earned income, or unearned income.
I’d like to thank the minister for the information, as well as the free advice that he’s providing me. I certainly will take it into consideration if and whenever I would need to apply for income support.
I’d like to again pay tribute to the income support workers.
I know they are overwhelmed in really the kind of job that they provide, I say in most of the communities in Nunavut. I have seen them cry. I have seen them upset for the kind of treatment that they have received from people who complain and what not.
I appreciate the minister and his staff for acknowledging their plight on page G-10 of the business plan.
They really need more training as well as a new professional development for their current jobs.
I urge the minister to develop that training program as soon as possible. I would say, as he has given me free advice, I would also like to give him one, if he may take it seriously.
I would say, with respect to the social relation that are normally involved in people who have depended on this fund, that I say to you that you can also include elders for training ...(audio unavailable)...
Chairman (interpretation): I’m sorry. We lost the line.
Yes, the elders can probably be involved because all of these case workers really go through difficult times.
They need support, they need encouragement, and they need moral support, as well, the elderly advice as to how to respond and so on. I would like to encourage you that you will include them in the professional development training that these case workers need it and if you would also communicate to them.
From the committee, I think most of us would agree that we support their responsibility; they have a difficult job most of the time.
I think that’s a good suggestion that the member has made and we will endeavour to incorporate it.
The minister, could you clarify the nine staff that work in this branch. They administer the program, but the income support delivery is actually contracted out to other organizations. Can you clarify that?
I think I will ask the deputy minister to clarify the positions under this directive.
Chairman: Let it be recorded that at 5:55 the minister is seeking assistance for the first time today.
Ms. Hine, please proceed.
On this page, what we are looking at is actually the income support director and positions that are at the headquarters level and not the actual delivery of the program, which Mr. Peterson had mentioned.
It’s actually out at the community level and responsibility at the regional level. We also will contract out some of the services to some of the hamlets or other organizations.
So the positions here, the director of income support also has taken a look at compliance through our audit internally within the department to look at the actual compliance of the delivery of the program to make sure that we are consistent across the territory.
Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Hine.
I thank the minister and Ms. Hine.
So you have nine people working in Iqaluit that administer the program across Nunavut via hamlets and other agencies?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do have 13 contribution agreements in place across Nunavut with different hamlets that are actually delivering the Income Support Program.
In the Kitikmeot, there’s Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk, and Taloyoak. In the Kivalliq, we have Baker Lake. In the Baffin, there’s Arctic Bay, Cape Dorset, Grise Fiord, Igloolik, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, and Resolute Bay.
And where you don’t have agreements with hamlets or other organizations, who delivers the Income Support Program in the communities?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you. Where we don’t have third party contribution agreements in place, then those staff people would be employees of the Government of Nunavut.
In the statement where it says provision of staff training materials for the Income Support Program, would those staff training be for all your staff and for the contractors at the hamlet? Are those the other agencies?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Yes, the member is correct.
That would be inclusive of the staff as well as the third party agencies and would be inclusive of that.
Could this be my opportunity to recognize the clock? It’s almost six o’clock.
Chairman: If that is your wish Mr. Peterson, it shall be.
So Mr. Peterson you are forwarding that motion to the floor? Thank you.
Okay, we have a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
Before I do get up to proceed to my table, thank you minister and your staff for appearing before Committee of the Whole today.
Also Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Mr. Alagalak is the seconder.
A reminder to all members: a meeting of the full caucus tomorrow morning in the Nanuq Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for March 8:
Speaker (interpretation): We will reconvene on Wednesday, March 8 at 1:30 in the afternoon.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Pages 1444 – 1529
Opening Prayer 1444
Ministers’ Statements 1444
Members’ Statements 1446
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1453
Oral Questions 1453
Notices of Motions 1472
Motions 1473
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1474
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1528
Orders of the Day 1528
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 1444
079 – 2(3): International Women’s Day 2006 (Aglukkaq) 1444
080 – 2(3): 2006 Arctic Winter Games – Day Two (Netser) 1445
192 – 2(3): Recognition of International Women’s Day (Tootoo) 1446
193 – 2(3): Nunavut Economic Development Strategy – Kitikmeot (Peterson) 1447
194 – 2(3): International Women’s Day – Recognition (Brown) 1448
195 – 2(3): Recognition of Wife (Kattuk) 1448
196 – 2(3): Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce Meeting – March 27 to 29 (Curley) 1449
197 – 2(3): International Women’s Day – Recognition (Barnabas) 1449
198 – 2(3): Women’s Day – Recognition (Arreak) 1450
199 – 2(3): Hockey Equipment Donation to Cape Dorset (Akesuk) 1450
200 – 2(3): Canadian Armed Forces (Picco) 1451
201 – 2(3): International Women’s Day – Recognition (Kilabuk) 1452
202 – 2(3): Thank and Recognize His Wife (Alagalak) 1452
203 – 2(3): Acknowledgement of International Women’s Day (Okalik) 1453
230 – 2(3): Nunavut Business Credit Corporation Investments (Peterson) 1453
231 – 2(3): Positions for the International Nurses (Tootoo) 1456
232 – 2(3): Priorities as Minister of Energy (Curley) 1458
233 – 2(3): Bullying in the Schools – Update (Barnabas) 1462
234 – 2(3): Update – Polar Bear Management Zones (Kattuk) 1464
235 – 2(3): Prescription Drug Medication Supplies (Peterson) 1466
236 – 2(3): Availability of Social Workers (Alagalak) 1468
237 – 2(3): Global Warming Issues (Curley) 1470
238 – 2(3): Federal Government Contact Person (Kilabuk) 1471
012 – 2(3): Extended Hours and Days – Notice (Peterson) 1472
013 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Tootoo) 1473
012 – 2(3): Extended Hours and Days (Peterson) 1473
013 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment (Tootoo) 1474
004 – 2(3): School Bus Services in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 1522
Bill 12 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07 – Review in Committee – Education 1475
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Peter Kilabuk, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Honourable David Simailak, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and our staff.
Minister’s Statement 079 – 2(3): International Women’s Day 2006 (Aglukkaq)
Today is International Women’s Day and I encourage Nunavummiut to join with people around the world to reflect on the progress women have made and the challenges women still face to ensure that they are afforded equal opportunities in our society.
As the minister responsible for the Status of Women, I stand today to reflect on some of the progress we have made. We are moving forward together in addressing women’s issues.
Mr. Speaker, we are seeing a fundamental shift in attitude in our territory and I believe we should be proud of that. As an example, we recently held the Inuuqatigiitsiarniq Symposium in Iqaluit, which attracted women and men from numerous communities both north and south to discuss solutions in ending violence against women.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, our government is working with various partners to develop legislation to help prevent family abuse and is also partnering with other organizations in research projects directed towards gathering data on areas where we need to concentrate our resources.
Just as important, Mr. Speaker, is how Nunavummiut are now working together, women and men, side by side, to improve the lives of all of our constituents.
This will come about by the growing participation of women in our political process at the community, regional, and territorial levels.
In fact, we now have six mayors who are women participating in shaping policy and our head of state, Commissioner Hanson, is also a very accomplished woman.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Mr. Speaker, this is a renewal of the important role that women play in our society and it also highlights the partnership we envision for the future of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, it is up to all of us to encourage the women and men of Nunavut to work together as partners to build a better future for our citizens and our families.
Inuuqatigiitsiarniq should guide us in all that we do as we work towards finding solutions and addressing the challenges that women face on this day of international recognition and every day.
Minister’s Statement 080 – 2(3): 2006 Arctic Winter Games – Day Two (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to congratulate our athletes that are in Alaska.
They won another nine medals yesterday in Alaska.
Congratulations go to the following athletes:
Susie Pierce of Iqaluit won gold in the Women’s Two Foot High Kick.
Sean Nipisar of Whale Cove also won gold in the Men’s Two Foot High Kick.
Manasie Kendall of Iqaluit, who won gold in the 500 metre Speed Skating competition yesterday, is bringing home a second gold in the 777 metre competition.
Philip Keenainak Verreault of Iqaluit won silver in the 777 metre Speed Skating competition.
For bronze medal standings, congratulations go to:
Steven Klengenberg of Kugluktuk for the Men’s Two Foot High Kick.
Joshua Bruce of Repulse Bay for the Junior Men’s Two Foot High Kick.
Isabelle Martel and Calvin Tilley from Iqaluit for Speed Skating.
(interpretation ends) Our Open Co-ed Wrestling team also won a bronze.
Some Members: Here, here.
Member’s Statement 192 – 2(3): Recognition of International Women’s Day (Tootoo)
I apologize, I’m a little tired today; I stayed up late listening to a great hockey game last night. I was up late and I couldn’t finish listening to the end of it; it was too late. It was a good hockey game last night, but listening to it is better than some members watching it.
I can assure you.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our grandmothers, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our nieces, and our aunts. In short, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize that today, as the Minister responsible for the Status of Women indicated, is International Women’s Day.
Mr. Speaker, there’s no doubt that women have come a long way since the suffragettes petitioned for the right to vote. However, there are still many indications that equality rights are still in question both internationally and right here at home where hard-won rights seem to be eroding.
Mr. Speaker, the women in this city work hard every day to make it a safe place to raise a family from the ‘Take Back the Night’ marches to tonight’s craft sale and coffee house to celebrate International Women’s Day. Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite all members to attend the International Women’s Day Craft Sale and Coffee House that will be held at the Inuksuk High School at six o’clock tonight.
Mr. Speaker, the fact that in Canada, as I said, a glass ceiling still exists and women make, on average, only 71 cents on every dollar made by men. When I look to the United States, I worry that women’s rights are being eroded by newly enacted legislation. When I look to the events around the world, I see the murder of women by their family members being ignored, women are mutilated and little is done.
Women do not have access to good medical care and those trying to provide it fear for their own safety.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, it is International Women’s Day. Let me bring this statement back closer to home. Mr. Speaker, in Nunavut, our domestic violence, in my view, these cowardly acts of violence, our rates are shocking.
And again, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all members to try and attend the events tonight to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Inuksuk High School at six o’clock for the craft sale and the coffee house is starting at 7:30 and should, as usual, be some fine entertainment as long as Mr. Picco doesn’t sing there.
Member’s Statement 193 – 2(3): Nunavut Economic Development Strategy – Kitikmeot (Peterson)
I rise today to tell the House about an important initiative that is underway this week in the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Speaker, there’s an expression that says when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Too often, despite the good intentions, individuals, organizations, and governments fail because they didn’t have a plan.