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The RCMP has attended to those challenges, and remains committed to working with the Government of Nunavut and with the individual communities to increase safety and security of all our residents.
I continue to seek the support of my colleagues on this important issue.
By working together, we can promote and enhance community safety.
I would like to thank everyone that took part in these consultations and to let them know that the information they provided is a valuable tool as it gives insight to the needs and desires of our communities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 011 – 2(4): Technical Training Innovation (Brown)
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) It gives me great pleasure to announce that through our partnership agreement between Community and Government Services, Nunavut Arctic College, and Kakivak Association, a two-year Informatics Technology Program has begun. It started in January 2007 with 15 students from across Nunavut.
This two-year program will graduate informatics technicians in the field of hardware technician, software support specialist, network technicians, and network administrators.
With the current market demand, we face a long-standing difficulty in attracting these skills to Nunavut from other jurisdictions.
All people from here and trained here will serve all Nunavummiut in the future.
As a result of this long-range and innovative approach to training and recruitment, I look forward to celebrate the first graduation of this program in 2009, and welcoming the new informatics technicians into the Government of Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 012 – 2(4): Strengthening Financial Management at HSS (Aglukkaq)
Despite our best efforts, the Department of Health and Social Services will incur a deficit for fiscal year 2006-07.
The two major reasons are medical travel and the use of agency nurses.
We are taking steps to address both of these challenges; we are developing new guidelines to support the revised Client Travel Policy, and we are enhancing our recruitment efforts to employ indeterminate, term, and casual nursing staff.
Better financial management would have allowed us to identify these challenges earlier in the fiscal year. We are relying on techniques that haven’t changed in more than a decade, even though we have the technology that allows us to respond quickly.
We need a new approach to financial management in the department.
I strongly support the Department of Finance initiatives to consolidate financial operations. That is why I’m announcing today that the Department of Social Services will build upon the initiatives by transferring the responsibility for payment processing now held by our department to the Department of Finance.
It means that about 17 positions in the Department of Finance or Health will transfer to the Department of Finance for processing payments; an activity that takes up the bulk of the finance division’s time.
Finance is in a better position to process payments as they have large and more stable processing units, both at headquarters and in the field.
This means that the remaining nine positions are able to focus on proper budget development, financial projections, and analyzing expenditure patterns and processes.
No jobs will be lost; no salaries will be adversely affected.
The remaining financial analysts at the Department of Health and Social Services will also be in a position to train program managers in more effective financial management practices.
They can give the managers the tools they need to ensure effective, efficient, and responsible use of public funds. Over the course of the coming fiscal year these efforts will help contain expenditures and put in place long term solutions to our ongoing financial challenges.
This partnership between Health and Social Services and the Department of Finance is a practical way to ensure sustainability and quality financial services for the government as a whole.
It is a good example of how our government can meet our goals of simplicity and unity for the betterment of all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 013 – 2(4): Inuit and Dene Games (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Inuit and Dene games presentation sports during the 2007 Canada Winter Games pan-northern territorial partners have banded together to showcase some of our finest athletes from the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Our great traditional sports from the north are being highlighted throughout the games. Inuit games were held during the first week while the Dene games are taking place in the second week of the games.
An added benefit to our athletes was that the major corporate sponsor, Inbridge Corporation awarded each individual winner a bursary of $2,500 towards their pursuit of further education.
The extensive cultural portion of the winter games certainly highlighted the rich cultural traditions of the north.
I am happy to report that our Nunavut athletes have been doing great in the Yukon, having won 27 medals, 12 of them gold medals in the Inuit games, and four medals so far in the Dene games.
Please join me in congratulating those young Nunavummiut on their accomplishments.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Thank you.
Member’s Statement 022 – 2(4): Literary Prize Winner – Jennifer Kadjuk of Repulse Bay (Mapsalak)
I rise today to recognize and to congratulate Jennifer Kadjuk from Repulse Bay who was recognized for winning a literacy contest.
Her submission was written in Inuktitut to promote the Inuktitut language.
I would like for my colleagues to support me in congratulating this individual for winning this award.
Member’s Statement 023 – 2(4): Long Term Service Awards (Peterson)
I would also like to congratulate the many Government of Nunavut employees in my community of Cambridge Bay who received long-term service awards at the event held at the Arctic Islands Lodge Hotel on February 22, 2007.
Three of the longest serving employees are teachers who taught both of my son’s in various grades in elementary school. Both boy’s graduated from high school and went on to university. My wife and I are thankful that they had wonderful teachers during their formative years.
I’m also thankful these teachers continue to teach our children in Cambridge Bay.
In this day and age of rapid employee turnover and diminishing corporate loyalty, I am proud to know that we have many dedicated and committed employees, many of whom are also our relatives and our friends, in all communities across Nunavut who go to work everyday and serve our fellow Nunavummiut.
Without them, the government would not be able to deliver the vast array of programs and services, which are available to residents and visitors alike.
It is important that we build a stable, experienced, and motivated public service. I ask the House to join me in recognizing our many long-term service award employees in Cambridge Bay and elsewhere in Nunavut for their services and contributions to our residents in our communities.
Member’s Statement 024 – 2(4): Canada Winter Games Coaches (Evyagotailak)
I rise today to recognize two coaches; Allen Anaviluk, originally from Kugluktuk, now living in Gjoa Haven; and Darlene Hokanak from Kugluktuk.
These two individuals were coaches in Arctic Sports during the Canada Winter Games. (interpretation ends)
Allen has been coaching for many years. He started coaching in 1972. Allen was also a record holder in Arctic Sport events while he was an athlete.
He has also coached in the last four Arctic Winter Games. Darlene started coaching in recent years and she too was an athlete in Arctic Sports at Arctic Winter Games. Because of these two hard working coaches, the Nunavut Athletes did very well at the Canada Winter Games.
Mr. Speaker, members, please join me in recognizing these individuals and all coaches that encourage our youth to participate in sports in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 025 – 2(4): Congratulations to Canada Winter Games Athletes (Netser)
I would like to congratulate the athletes in Whitehorse.
I would like to rise this morning to congratulate what the Premier said, Blair Tautu, who won medals. She has the most medals for women.
Luke Tanuyak, a Chesterfield Inlet resident, has the most medals for men. I would like to congratulate those two athletes.
Member for Nattilik, Minister Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): I would like to recognize a gentleman from Gjoa Haven: Bob Konana. He is here in Iqaluit to attend some meetings.
He has been trying to leave Iqaluit but due to weather, he has been waiting here patiently. I would like to recognize Bob Konana from Gjoa Haven.
Member for Igloolik, Mr. Tapardjuk.
I would like to recognize an individual I’m pretty sure all of us know. He is currently the Mayor of Igloolik: Mr. Paul Quassa. He was a negotiator during the land claims process and I want him to be recognized, the Mayor of Igloolik.
Welcome to the Gallery Mr. Quassa.
Question 023 – 2(4): Medical Escorts for Elders (Mapsalak)
This is not a new question. It is in regard to medical escorts for elders.
One of the major concerns is a unilingual Inuit elder going on medical travel without an escort.
I would like to thank the minister for her recent letter to all Members of the Legislative Assembly on medical travel for Nunavummiut.
My question is: do elders require an escort when they travel from their community, yes or no?
Just a quick update to the member, I have provided each member the current guidelines and appeal process for the medical travel that had been approved in 2002.
That Client Travel Policy also has provisions for escorts for unilingual elders.
Recently, through consultation with my colleagues, we’re looking at trying to update that policy to address the questions that he’s asked me, as well as other members in the House.
The draft Client Travel Policy has been presented to Cabinet, and I have been provided an agreement in principal, or approval in principal to do further work on costing just around that subject.
So the other direction that I had received from Cabinet was to also include in the overall process the actual guidelines that will be in place with the policy itself. So that is in the works, and will require more details but I want to reassure the member that some elders don’t require escorts.
Not every elder requires escorts, and not every elder is unilingual either.
So we have to look at those.
As it is right now, the provisions in the current client travel policy allows escorts for unilingual elders that require escorts, generally speaking.
I also want to say that every patient case is different. So every decision will be based on that patient. We have the policy in place that provides overall guidelines for staff.
I wanted to state that for the record in that it’s difficult to say yes or no, when you’re dealing with people, when their cases are different, when their situations are different and so on.
Yes, this is an on-going issue and it’s raised in the House, especially for the elders who are unilingual when they have to travel alone because they don’t speak English. So for those patients who go down to Winnipeg, if they encounter problems, they are left alone, even with making phone calls.
I know that every case is different.
Do they require escorts, or do they have to have an escort? That’s the information that I was looking for.
The current policy we have in place allows for escorts of elders that require escorts.
That provision is in place already, and I will say that not every elder requires an escort. I’ll use any senior in this room that wants an escort or not as an example.
Some seniors don’t want an escort, but in cases where an elder requires support when they’re traveling through Winnipeg, Ottawa, or Edmonton, the provisions in the policy allow that as it is.
I’ve been asked by my standing committee colleagues to provide the breakdown of how much we’ve spent on escorts and patient travel. I’m putting that information together for the House. So there is provision for providing escorts to unilingual elders.
And again, I will say the decisions are on a case-by-case basis. Just because a person is escorted does not mean it is automatic; in cases where the individual practitioner that’s dealing with a client will make those decisions based on the situation of that patient.
Just to remind the members; try to make your preambles short to your questions and answers.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) In order that we as MLAs can have some clear information on which to base our recommendations, can the minister tell this House how much would it cost per year to ensure that every unilingual elder travelling outside of their home community to receive medical treatment has an escort with them?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is part of the exercise that we are putting together as part of the agreement in principal that I received from my Cabinet colleagues around the development of that policy for Nunavut.
We need to look at the financial impact; we have some suggestions.
In my Minister’s Statement this morning, I said that the Department of Health and Social Services would be in a deficit situation in medical travel. So any changes to the current practice and enhancement to automatic escorts to elders because they’re elders, there will be a financial cost to that. That’s part of the exercise that I have to put forward to the Financial Management Board for approval if there is going to be an enhancement to the current policy as it is.
So I’m prepared to share that information with the House and with my colleagues.
I’ve committed to providing information on the breakdown of how much we spend on escorts as a request from the standing committee. We are working on that.
I’ve provided to the members the current policy and I listened to the members in terms of the direction they want us to go. I’ve also tried to balance that with our current financial situation as a government. So that information I will have to bring forward to Financial Management Board before I can share it with the House.
I wonder if the minister can respond to me or let me know when this will be completed. When should we expect that?
In the development of the guidelines, probably over the summer this year, I have to go back to cabinet on that. The implementation guidelines will take a bit of time, which my colleagues had asked that I present along with the policy when in the delivery of the policy itself costs the territory.
So there are guidelines that will provide assistance to my staff. Sometime, hopefully this year, at the same time the cost analysis of the recommendations coming forth from my colleagues.
Member for Keewatin North, Mr. Curley.
Question 024 – 2(4): Enforcement of Wildlife Act (Curley)
Nunavummiut are keenly aware that the review process for the proposed new regulations under the Wildlife Act is ongoing.
I am aware that, until the new regulations are in place, the government is relying on transitional regulations that were published in July 2005.
Regulations provide further detail as to what harvesting practices are legal and which are illegal.
My line of questioning today will focus on the development and enforcement of the Wildlife Act and the new regulations.
There have been a number of significant disagreements between the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on a number of issues in relation to the development of the regulations.
Can the minister provide a frank update today on the status of the regulations?
The wildlife regulations are incomplete, but our department is preparing now, but we are just waiting for NWMB’s spring special meeting and then after that special meeting we’ll find out exactly what we will be doing with the regulations.
I believe that it is important that our laws be enforced evenly, fairly, and consistently.
I would like to ask the minister to explain, for the benefit of public who are Nunavummiut who are listening to us today, exactly how a decision is made to charge someone for an alleged offence under the Wildlife Act.
Individuals who offend under the Wildlife Act are taken care of by the Department of Justice, and we try to make sure that we follow the act.
To the response, I’m sure that the Renewable Resource Officer or the RCMP does the investigation before an individual is charged.
My second question: when it comes to enforcing the law, the public expects that there will be no favouritism.
For example, there was a polar bear that was caught last fall and the individual didn’t even know that the polar bear had a cub, but he was already charged instantly.
Also, there were two mining companies that had adopted a baby muskox and they weren’t even charged, they only killed the muskox.
So can the minister clarify for this House today exactly how his department is investigating allegations of violations of the act that occur at mining camps located in Nunavut?
The mining company who adopted that baby muskox is now being dealt with through the justice system, so I can’t talk to that issue right now.
We treat all violations equally, especially when they violate the Wildlife Act.
That is what Kivalliqmiut are interested in hearing about because quite a few individuals have noticed that the regulators will charge an Inuk right away in the matter of a week or on the same day.
So we’re wondering why they’re doing long investigations; we’re wondering if Renewable Resources is treating everyone equally.
Who is ultimately responsible, for example, at the mining company, whether they’re going to be charged or not?
The Wildlife Act provisions state that anyone who violates the act, whether it be a mining company or a harvester, my staff and my department do the investigation, and if they’re going to be charged, then they are referred to the Crown Prosecutors.
But the Crown Prosecutors, since they are so busy, it takes a while for us to receive it back from them.
Question 025 – 2(4): Survey of Caribou Herds (Evyagotailak)
My question today is to the Premier.
In my constituency of Kugluktuk, we have three different caribou herds: the Island Herd, the Bathurst Herd, and the Bluenose Herd.
Right now we are hunting the Island Herd. That herd is shared with the Northwest Territories.
During the recent meeting in Whitehorse of the three territorial Premiers, I understand that they discussed caribou issues. Can the minister tell us of the discussions at this meeting and what commitments he made on behalf of Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Evyagotailak. Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The main focus was that the NWT is experiencing some difficulty with a decline in their caribou herds. We expressed our concern for all of our herds.
I must say we are not experiencing the same level of decline in Nunavut, fortunately for now. We will work together to make sure that the herds that we do share don’t decline in the future. So we committed to working together through our joint board and making sure that we are monitoring this very closely.
Recently, the inmates at Kugluktuk’s Illavut Centre had a caribou hunt and the meat was distributed to elders.
The herd seemed to be further away from the community than is normal. Hunters have had to travel over 140 miles until they found the caribou.
Can the Premier tell us today what resources the government will provide to fund caribou herd surveys to provide adequate numbers?
I know that we’ve been experiencing that throughout Nunavut. I believe here in Iqaluit, and in Pangnirtung they’ve been noticing herds are migrating to different areas.
So it’s something I guess that we’ve experienced in the past and it comes and goes.
I must say that our Environment Department has been very active in monitoring caribou herds along with other herds throughout Nunavut.
So we will continue to monitor our herds very carefully.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier. Your second supplementary, Mr. Evyagotailak.
Mr. Evyagotailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks Premier.
Are there any opportunities to take advantage of International Polar Year funding or projects to approach this issue?
As I said a couple of days ago to one of our colleagues in the House, the monies that the federal government has allocated are controlled by the federal government.
But we will cooperate with any scientist doing work throughout Nunavut to improve our situation here.
Question 026 – 2(4): Ongoing Problems with Medical Travel in the Baffin Region (Barnabas)
Residents in all three of my constituency’s communities continue to have problems with medical travel in the Baffin region.
This has been an ongoing issue for some time now.
Ever since the medical travel office moved to Pangnirtung, to your constituency Mr. Speaker, the administration of these services has not functioned effectively to date.
Although I heard, and the minister stated, that they will be amending the Client Travel Policy this coming spring or summer, that she would table.
Can the minister tell this House exactly what recent steps have been taken to improve the delivery of medical transportation services in the Baffin region?
The changes that the member refers to were implemented back in February 2006.
Prior to the changes, the department experienced about two percent of concerns raised by our clients, which amounts to about 250 to 300 complaints every year based on processing medical travel before the change took place.
So part of trying to manage all of those changes was to come up with a way of providing the service to our clients to try and address those 300 complaints we were receiving before any changes were ever made.
So by making those changes we are looking at trying to reduce the two percent of complaints we were receiving before the change and I believe that systems that we have put forward are an improvement to providing better service to our clients in the communities.
The change I have stated in the past, yes, the member is correct, there are two other individuals in Pangnirtung that will provide travel coordination services with the health centre for travel to Iqaluit from surrounding communities.
The hospital will provide travel services to patients from the hospital that need to travel down south.
We also are putting in systems working with Ottawa boarding home, the Baffin Regional office in Pangnirtung, and the hospital to develop a system that will allow us better coordination of patient care.
At the same time we developed a process for discharging our patients from various hospitals and centres.
One of the other things we’ve done in Iqaluit was that we had a meeting with First Air to streamline the process better for people traveling to the various communities in the north. So some of those are examples of improvements that we have made to address the complaints we were receiving prior to February of 2006.
Can the minister provide some clarification on how the Baffin Regional Travel Office works with the health centres and health practitioners? For example, surgeons, cardiologist, and so on to ensure that patients do not have to spend unnecessary days at the boarding homes after they have received medical services. I’m sure that it costs extra to spend additional days at the boarding home.
The process that we implemented as part of the change was as soon as the person was dealt with at the hospital, whether seeing a doctor there or a specialist, that discharge document is faxed to the office immediately.
The travel arrangements are made for that person on the first available flight.
Not every patient waits in the hospital because we haven’t done our job. Some patients have to wait because there are no flights.
We have to also work with the airlines in coordinating best individual travel based on travel to various communities.
Not every community gets a flight every day.
So, yes, sometimes patients have to wait in the boarding home a day or two. Sometimes they have to wait longer because of weather. Look at this week, my uncle’s sitting here; he’s been stuck for five days.
So those are factors sometimes we also have to consider in how we are, in evaluating how we are doing in providing a better service.
I believe the system is improved.