EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So far, as the second part of the question, whether we will be developing a similar strategy like we do with the Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy for social workers, yesterday, I did indicate that that’s going to be one of our priorities that we would be dealing with for the main estimates for next year.
So that is a priority for the department.
We will be doing an assessment on the social worker and the social services area, and providing a strategy around that as well. We will be looking at things of the number of social workers we do have in the territory and the number of social workers we could have in each community tiered at some level.
So those are the kinds of things that the department will be looking at and developing a business case, as I say, through the main estimates next fall.
It’s great to hear that. If I’m hearing those kinds of comments from social workers out there, then maybe you need to get that message out there to the social workers so that they hear it as well.
I understand Mr. Campbell’s response is the restructuring to try and put more emphasis on that, but have they done anything to inform and let those social workers out there across the territory know that and to help them feel less alienated in the department?
Just to add to what Alex had mentioned, in the previous main estimates and business plans, you’ll note that we had no reference to social services in the past; it was combined with a division that had a whole mixture of so many things that it was difficult to capture initiatives under Social Services, under Mental Health, and so on.
Through the reorganization, the work in terms of the social service people, they concentrated more effort and energy around Social Services’ functions and so on.
Having said that, I’m going to transfer the question to Alex in regard to how we communicated with our social workers around promoting this.
Mr. Campbell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I thank the member for the question.
We do have a process in place in the department now to have a communication process from the senior management group related to some of the initiatives that we’re doing as a department.
One of the things that I did in December was initiated a report; a summary of what the department has been doing over the past, at that time it was over the past four months.
It was updating all of the staff of the department as to where we’re at with the reorganization and explain the different programs and explaining the different mandates of each of the branches that have been created.
So the information is slowly getting out there, and we’re going to be doing a bit more proactive communication for social workers and getting them involved in the strategy that we will be developing for the department.
I certainly encourage the department to do that because I think, next to nurses, and in a lot of cases, who are dealing with trauma and things, social workers probably face one of the toughest working environments out there when you’re dealing with abuse of all kinds. They could be facing substance abuse, sexual abuse, and all kinds of things that they’re potentially dealing with.
So I think that if you tie that in and you look at, as we all know, our suicide rates are so high up here, I can just imagine the ones that are getting through, I think that we need more work and more support in that area to try and help curb the numbers that we’re seeing in our suicide rate throughout the territory.
I think additional services in the social service area and the mental health area, a little later on, could be targeted with strategic investments by the government in trying to help address that issue across the territory.
I guess my next question, Mr. Chairman, in the business plan, they indicate that, “For the last five years, the number of children in protective care has also continued to rise…” Is the department projecting that that number will increase over the next year?
We would hope not, that it would increase, but we have to respond to cases, so it’s kind of hard to tell whether it will or not.
That’s all I can say at this point in time to answer the member’s question.
I think some of the things that the minister outlined in some of her earlier responses in dealing with this issue is things are going to take some time whether we like it or not and those are the kinds of things we can’t change overnight.
Given that, the last five years where the numbers have gone up for children in protective care; I’m just wondering why they reduced the budget amount in Child Protection Services by $500,000 over last year’s amount.
I believe I addressed that question earlier, but Ms. Downe can elaborate a bit more.
From what I understand, that had been as a result of the restructuring that Alex and Raj spoke to yesterday.
Ms. Downe, I’m sorry.
I’m just wondering, it says here, “Ensures the safety and well-being of children by providing protection services; which may include investigations, interventions and residential services that are provided by child protection workers under the Child and Family Services Act.”
That’s a pretty specific area or a branch within the department. If they look at it, I’m just wondering how they could have taken something out of there and re-profiled it into another area. Can I get an explanation on that?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: I’ll have Raj answer that, Mr. Chairman.
Again, this is part of the restructuring. Before that, there were other expenses that were included in there. When we tried to identify and have all the social programs highlighted as a branch, we removed other things that were, for example, mental health or other kinds of treatment expenses that were all kind of mixed together.
We have tried to identify and separate that.
Another question that I have in that area is: when a child is taken into custody, say, in the event where you have a family that is separated and one parent has custody of the child, according to the courts, and then that child is put into protective care or put into a foster home, would it be appropriate for that child to be staying with the parent that doesn’t have custody?
The member made reference to a court decision. Can you repeat your question? I’m not sure what the question is.
In the case where you have a broken family, where the two parents are no longer living together, and one parent has been awarded custody by the courts of the children of that relationship, and for whatever reason, one of the children is put into a foster home, my question was: would it be appropriate for that child to be staying with the parent that doesn’t have custody or that hadn’t been awarded custody by the courts?
That was my question and I hope that clarifies it.
It’s a difficult question to answer in that we would have to be aware of what the court rulings were and we would have to be aware under what situation the other arrangements were all made.
So in terms of trying to address that scenario, it’s a difficult one without actual files.
I don’t want to say one thing or another without all of the other pieces that are considered in making those decisions, whether it is through the courts or through determining the placement of foster children.
I would hope, if the department is putting someone into a foster home, that they would know the background of that particular case.
I would imagine and guess that that kind of background information is part of any case file that they’re building on any child that they’re looking at putting into foster care.
What measures are in place to monitor children that are put into foster care to ensure compliance, and I guess for a lack of a better word, for ensuring that things like that aren’t happening and that things are being done properly?
Again, the social workers follow a set of guidelines, first of all, to determine whether individuals are suitable foster parent.
There’s a whole process that’s followed to determine that and then there’s a process of making assessments on whether a child will be in foster care; that whole process is established. Once that’s in place, the case workers then monitor the children in foster care with the foster parents.
Just one last question in that area; if it was brought to the attention of a social worker or someone working for the Department of Social Services that a child that was in a foster home was staying with a parent that didn’t have custody and not with the parent that had custody who said, “I can’t; for whatever reason, my child needs to go into foster care.”
If something like that was reported to the department, would that be something that would be followed up and looked into?
One would assume that would be one of those scenarios that we would follow-up in.
I don’t have a technical concern or question but I might have personal question on Social Services.
My colleague Barnabas was concerned about a child being taken away from the parents. If I was a grandfather of that child and the social services in the community, or a social worker, never let me know and I found out that my grandchild was taken away from my son or daughter, then I’m hurt; I’m emotionally hurt.
I say that because I think I was a child when the government started the schools in the communities.
I was one of those who were taken away from home, and I know how my parents felt when I was taken away from home and I know how my parents felt when we were just taken away.
So I think my question is: does the department somehow advise the social worker that everybody in the family has to be told that the child will be taken away from the home or from the community? Is there any way that your social workers are told to do this?
The first priority is to deal with the safety of the child. That’s the absolute first priority of the social workers in apprehending children.
In worse case scenarios, sometimes children have to be apprehended for their own safety.
Once those processes are in place, the immediate family of that child would be informed, one would assume, to notify them of the next steps that are being taken the case worker.
Has the department thought about using the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit method to run the Child Protection Services? Have they thought to us IQ in that situation?
In terms of communicating the decisions of the case worker, once the decision is made, the family is advised of the decision as to whether the child will be apprehended or not.
My colleague was concerned about how they can be taken away without telling the grandparents. When you say the family has been advised, does that mean everyone in the family?
As far as I understand of the process, the immediate family of that child is advised of when the child is apprehended.
I think everybody has to be advised. If I’m the grandfather, I’m the one who is most hurt in the family.
So I think the department has to revise the policy or make it work for everybody in the family.
It’s just a comment, Mr. Chairman.
You are agreed to.
Mr. Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In the business plan on page H-3, under Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, it states that the Health Committees of Council “identify community concerns and issues regarding health and social services program delivery.”
When the Health Committees of Council meet in the communities, do they include a nurse and a social worker during their meetings?
Is that H-3 of the business plan or the main estimates?
Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As I said, the business plan.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Simailak.
The terms of reference for the Health Committees was approved through hamlets. And actually through the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, they have approved the terms of reference and how they function. In most cases in the communities, the CHRs as well as the head nurse participates in those Health Committee meetings.
What we’re trying to do is ensure that they’re all active in the communities. In the past, some committees functioned well and some didn’t function well, but through the work with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, we have been able to agree to the terms of reference as to how these Health Committees would function and what support role the Department of Health would play in assisting the committees with their priorities.
At the same time, the new terms of reference for the Health Committees ties into the work of the Public Health Strategy and priorities that we are going to be working with Health Committees on wellness plans. So, the idea is to have our staff support those committees.
Under Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, it states that they would “identify community concerns and issues regarding health and social services program delivery.”
When the Health Committees meet at the local level to deal with concerns, do the social workers participate in their meetings?
We have been working with the Health Committees over the past two years to integrate and work to fix up the operations. They meet with Health and Social Services and some of the staff also meet with the committees.
On the other hand, sometimes the committees don’t operate as well. However, since the mayors have approved of this initiative, it would be good to proceed in that manner.
So in that regard, we try to have both the health and social services’ committees work together in terms of the health concerns of communities, the community wellness issues which we are trying to resolve, and in terms of the Public Health Strategy.
If we are going to create new initiatives, Inuit from the smaller communities have to be assisted, so we should be asking them which areas that they wish to delve into and what the concerns of the community are.
Due to that, we are trying to work with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as to how we can better deal with these issues. We have to meet with the communities to resolve these questions.
That is what we are trying to do with the health and social services’ committees in our communities.
Mr. Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s known as the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordinator for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Does this Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordinator work with the Health Committees at the local level or do they work mainly in Iqaluit?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordinator is indeed based here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me rephrase the question.
Does this individual work with the Health Committees or not?
The IQ Coordinator for the department works out at the headquarters.
The Health Committee support staff is at the community level with our health centre staff.
With regards to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, does the minister hear of concerns from the public after the committee has had a meeting? Does the minister hear the concerns regarding the IQ coordinator under her department?
Currently, the IQ Coordinator works out of headquarters with the various divisions on the review of programs, policies, and so on, and at the same time, addresses some complaints.
Whether he receives information directly from the Health Committees or via the executive director, I can clarify some of that information for the member.
I’m not sure if it’s one on one contact or through the regional offices, and so on, that supports the Health Committees.
The reason I’m asking this question is I would like to see more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit being used within the government and we would like to see how much of a priority is placed on it by the government.
I wanted to know if this coordinator works closely with the communities, the hamlets, and the Health Committees, and so on, or with the regions or the communities.
What kind of rules or applications are you looking at with regards to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): For example, I will try to respond to that question as to how the IQ coordinator assists the Department of Health.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Coordinator is based here in Iqaluit at headquarters and he assists our staff quite a bit when they are reviewing departmental programs, as an example, with respect to midwifery legislation.
So the example here is: (interpretation ends) how can we incorporate Inuit knowledge into the midwifery legislation for Nunavut?
So he would work to provide assistance and guidance to legislators on those initiatives.
Another area relates to policy change around elders, that elders in Nunavut travelling should have escorts and that’s a policy change effective April 1 that we are incorporating into our policies as an example.
So the idea is that the coordinator would provide guidance and support to the various divisions of the department and provide advice as well, and work with Tuttarviit, which is the Interdepartmental IQ Coordinator and Committee that works with the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit, which has representatives of elders for advice on various initiatives of the department.
If we have new legislation on, say, child welfare, we would work with him, IQ Katimajiit, and along with the consultation we would require to try and incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in that way.
Mr. Simailak (interpretation): In the same business plan, on page H-11, under Social Services, it states that there are “approximately 50 social services workers who are located in communities.”
We heard yesterday that it’s 51 now.
It also states that, (interpretation ends) “They assist individuals by helping them develop their own skills.” (interpretation) Could the minister elaborate how they work with the social services workers?
Through the Department of Health, we provide training to our social workers. Before they can function as social workers, every social worker in the community has to be appointed under the child welfare legislation as an example.
Prior to doing that, the orientation takes place, but they have to be trained and certified to be appointed.
I’m not sure what exact term is used but there is training that’s involved that’s a requirement under legislation for every social worker at the community level before they can carry out their functions as social workers.
Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Maybe I’ll ask in English. (interpretation ends) Can the minister give us an indication of how these 51 social workers assist individuals by helping them develop their own skills?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: I’ll have Alex respond to that question.
Mr. Campbell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We do, as a department, try to encourage our staff and the people that we do serve to provide support and training to individuals in the department.
We also have established procedures and guidelines in training/orientation manuals that we do provide for staff and we do also provide for agents of government to make sure that they understand what our processes are.
Are those manuals, etcetera, that you mentioned there to assist to train the social workers, or were they individuals that this sentence seems to be referring to?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you. I think there are two areas here. First of all, training of our own staff and the second area would be to provide some orientation and training as well.
For instance, under Social Services is foster parents; the training and orienting foster parents on their roles and responsibilities as outlined in the guidelines that we produce for foster parents as a handbook. That’s one example.
There are also Health Committees that are there that also have a role in explaining what their functions are to the Health Committees so that Health Committees also understand the role of social workers at the community level.
So that kind of role is to support the development of others in the work that they also do to help them in carrying out the work that they do.
Thank you, Mr. Simailak.
I have a few individual questions under that program but it’s very difficult for us to use an example.
I think Mr. Kattuk wants to use an example, Mr. Simailak wants to use some examples, and I want to use some examples because it’s evidence, that it has actually happened in the communities.
And, when we’re asking the minister, we want to use an example so that she will understand what we’re talking about, but it’s very difficult because... yes, it’s very difficult. However, Mr. Chairman, I will not use examples but I hope the minister will understand that I’m using actual evidence without actually naming anyone.
For example, you said that the IQ Coordinator assesses your policy directives or mission statements.
If the IQ Coordinator feels that your directive from the Directorate is not IQ compliant, can he or she stop the process of your directive?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: I’ll have the deputy minister respond to the process internally on the review of policy development.
Mr. Campbell (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, I view the IQ Coordinator’s position as quite critical in the department.
When we are developing some of these programs and some of these policies and guidelines that we’re developing in the department, the primary role of the IQ Coordinator is to review the documents that are being developed to provide his or her IQ perspective into the exercise. It’s to a point, whereas the deputy minister, I do take that advice seriously.
At times, we do halt the process to make sure the point that’s being made by the IQ Coordinator is being addressed by the department. We do provide a lot of consultation processes in our developing of the documents in the department.
Just to answer the member specifically, there are times that I put some of these processes on hold to make sure that the IQ perspective is being explained to us by the IQ Coordinator because I, myself, am not an expert on IQ. I’m still learning, like one of the members said.
Me, too, I am still learning about IQ. I probably will learn about IQ until I die. It’s, like Mr. Curley says, a long process.
I’m very leery about not so much with Social Services but some other departments too.
Let’s use Social Services for convenience sake, that we are using the old NWT legislation on Social Services. Yet, we are declaring that we are IQ compliant in those programs, but yet, still comply with the legislation at the same time. I know it sounds a bit confusing.
That’s why I asked the question: when are we going to have our own legislation so that we could have all the IQ compliance as much as we can under this program.
Mr. Chairman, under the Social Services that you have on H-5 in the main estimates, that you have Contract Services of, I know it’s smaller than last year but still, $15,974,000 just on contracts.
Can the minister tell me what these contracts involve?
Is that sending the kids down south to be looked after if they cannot be looked after at home?
Can she tell me a little bit more, using examples if she can, why the $15,974,000 is being budgeted for on contracts only?
That line item relates to costs for residential care and the operations of group homes within and outside the territory.
Mr. Agluk... Mr. Arvaluk.
I’ll ask as Mr. Arvaluk. Mr. Chairman, yes, Mr. Arvaluk is my name.
Mr. Chairman, can the minister clarify what kind of residential centre and homecare she is talking about?
Can she use an example where?
An example would be the children’s group home here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Arvaluk: I only have two more questions.
Is child neglecting by parents a criminal offence, or a summary, and if so, how many of the parents of these 298 children are in jail and for how long?
I don’t know how many of those are incarcerated.
I would have to get back to the member on that question.
She did not answer me; if the child neglect to the point of social services taking them away from the parents is a criminal offence or if it’s an offence under the law.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Under the child welfare legislation, it would be and that’s why the children are apprehended. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk: Then if she doesn’t know right now how many of these parents are in jail, can she at least provide me how many of them have been taken to court and how many of them have been successfully dealt with by the justice system?