EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by quoting a portion of Tamapta that seems appropriate. “We believe in Nunavut. We have hope for its vibrant future, built by our people pursuing their dreams.”
Member’s Statement 179 – 3(2): Congratulations to Pangnirtung Weavers for Accomplishments (Komoartok)
I rise today to congratulate five of my constituents in Pangnirtung for their accomplishments at the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio.
These five women made the tapestry that now hangs in the Richmond Oval, where they did the skating oval over the Olympic period.
The tapestry titled “Achieving a Dream” was woven for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This ten-foot wide by six-foot high tapestry was commissioned by Inuit Tapiriit of Canada and the Vancouver Organizing Olympic Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The tapestry displays images by an artist from each of the four Inuit regions represented by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: Dinah Anderson of Nunatsiavut, Sammy J. Kudluk of Nunavik, Mabel Nigiyok of the Inuvialuit settlement region, and Andrew Qappik of Nunavut, of Pangnirtung.
The five women who made the tapestry are Kawtysee Kakee, Olassie Akulukjuk, Anna Etuangat, Leesee Kakee, and Kathy Battye.
I would like to bring attention to a tapestry that was completed in February 2009 by Kawtysee Kakee, Anna Etuanguat, Igah Etuangat, and Geela Keenainak.
This tapestry titled “Combs of Our Ancestors” portrays three combs from the Thule people.
It has been in three different exhibitions in southern Canada.
It will be on display at the Canadian High Commission in London this summer and it will be exhibited at other Canadian Embassies in Europe.
In the past 40 years, more than 600 designs have been developed in the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio.
In 1990, the studio began accepting commission work.
Today, it is only one of four tapestry studios in the world which employ tapestry weavers to interpret the work of contemporary artists.
I ask all members to join me in congratulating the accomplishments of all the weavers at the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 180 – 3(2): Nanulik Athletes Bring Home the Medals (Ningeongan)
I rise today to congratulate a number of Nanulik residents who finished up the Arctic Winter Games by winning even more medals.
Of the 49 ulu medals won by Team Nunavut, the Nanulik athletes worked very hard to win 12 of them.
I am proud of the way they represented Nunavut at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.
Mr. Speaker, Saul Netser and Eli Paliak of Coral Harbour both won another silver medal each, this time in the Inuit Wrestling event in their respective weight classes.
Mr. Speaker, Randy Tootoo Tanuyak from Chesterfield Inlet won the bronze medal in the Arctic Sports One Foot High Kick Open Male event.
Mr. Speaker, William Jr. Nakoolak, Samson Ell, and Kyle MacLean from Coral Harbour each won a bronze medal in their respective weight classes of the Inuit Wrestling event.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell you how proud I am of our Nanulik athletes.
At the same time, I am very grateful that they have had the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
Member’s Statement 181 – 3(2): Congratulations to Marriage in Rankin Inlet (Kusugak)
I rise today to congratulate Martha Lee and Nick Tattuinee, who were married on Saturday. I congratulate them and wish them the best.
Question 277 – 3(2): By-Elections for DEAs (Schell)
It’s in regard to the question I asked him on Friday when I indicated that all of the members of DEAs have to be re-elected and he suggested to me that there were issues in Cape Dorset and they were going to hold a by-election.
But my understanding is that in all communities, it wasn’t done properly and that not all of the members were voted or elected in all of the communities. So my question to the minister is: is he going to hold by-elections in all of the communities in the near future?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Schell. Minister of Education, Hon. Louis Tapardjuk.
I told the member at that time that I would take this question as notice and my response still stands, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Schell, your question has been taken as notice and the minister will get back to you eventually.
Question 278 – 3(2): Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (Arvaluk)
I am confident that many of us in this House have constituents who are contributing and active members of our communities but who also have the additional challenge of living with a disability.
My question to the minister is: can he clarify what steps his department takes to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the resources and equipment that they need to be able to participate fully in society and enjoy the same quality of life that many others take for granted?
Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Tagak Curley.
I would also like to thank my colleague for posing that question.
As I recall, the same question was asked last year about whether these individuals are given the assistance they need and I provided that information at that time.
On the question for those requiring assistance, I will have to look into the issue.
If the information is not going out there, we have to make sure that it happens.
If the member has further questions on the need for resources in his community, I definitely want to seek the member’s assistance.
I will do that, I will write the minister a letter some time today.
My supplementary question is: a number of Nunavummiut are confined to using a wheelchair to get around their home and community.
Can the minister update this House on what measures are in place to ensure that Nunavummiut who need them are provided with wheelchairs that are adequate for mobility throughout their community?
If I could clarify that as a supplementary. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will look into the issue.
I know that there are already individuals in my community who have disabilities who have been using remote and battery-operated wheelchairs, which has made a great improvement in their mobility.
Mr. Speaker, I will look into the issue further and make some updated statements at a later date.
We know that every year, the Department of Health and Social Services contributes $20,000 to the Rick Hansen Foundation.
We already know that one of Rick Hansen Foundation’s goals is to focus attention on accessibility.
Will the department work to increase access, particularly for those confined to wheelchair?
I would like to thank the member for posing that question and I know exactly where he is coming from.
We have been contributing $20,000 annually to the Rick Hansen Foundation for a number of years now.
That’s for the betterment for people with disabilities to be inclusive and have access.
We also have a disability council here in Nunavut and we contribute $90,000 to that entity to make sure that they are vocal on behalf of the people with disabilities.
It has made a great benefit to the people of Nunavut.
They can also access outside funds to supplement the $90,000 that the government gives.
Again, they are not government-operated, so what they want to use those funds for is at their discretion.
My final supplementary is that I understand that the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program does not often cover the purchase of wheelchairs other than the basic manual chairs that usually have to be pushed by another individual.
Can the minister describe what other programs are in place to enable people who are confined to using a wheelchair for their daily mobility to acquire an electric wheelchair or scooter that can travel across gravel, hilly roads, and hard-packed snow?
As per my earlier statement, I will be looking into the programs that provide these kinds of services.
There are several programs that offer more than one service type.
The member spoke to the first one where the federal government provides funding with the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
If it’s not included in this program, then my department also offers a bit of assistance for that type of service.
I will have to do some research into the matter to see if there is funding available and I will ensure that I inform the members prior to the end of this session, Mr. Speaker.
Question 279 – 3(2): Vehicles and Disabilities (Elliott)
On June 11, 2009, I asked questions regarding the use of vehicles to transport people with disabilities within our communities.
Mr. Speaker, my intent was to encourage the government to consider providing transportation services to this minority group of individuals and enable them to participate fully in the richness of our communities.
At that time, the minister gave one reason why vehicles are not available in the communities for this purpose. He stated, “The reason is that there are liability issues and there would have to be a licensed operator to handle all of that.
So in view of that, we are very cautious to get into that kind of stuff until we have clarified all of our policies and procedures that we are currently reviewing at the moment.”
Mr. Speaker, it has been nine months since the minister’s reply to my question. I would ask that the minister update the House on what progress has been achieved on his department’s review of the policies and procedures relating to this issue.
I thank the member for raising that question, but I can’t recall whether this policy is being reviewed or not and I do not recall making a statement about that issue.
However, with respect to the issue of people with disabilities, our department is always checking to see if anything new has surfaced. It is not only people with disabilities who inquire about transportation assistance in the communities.
As an example, here in Nunavut, our department has been approached to assist with ambulances, but we don’t have specific capital funding for purchasing these types of capital items.
This is where we lobby the federal government to provide more assistance, to discuss whether this type of request could be funded through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program and if the federal government could agree to that type of change.
We have a team that negotiates with the federal government with respect to the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, but they were unable to come to an agreement on this and other issues regarding the program due to the stonewalling of the federal government.
Nunavut is not the only jurisdiction that is constantly in negotiations with the federal government.
We have to work in partnership with other aboriginal groups, including NTI, Mr. Speaker, in order to deal with this matter.
NTI represents Inuit, they are our partners, and they are co-signers in these agreements.
This matter is still under negotiation. If the federal government was willing to provide further assistance, then we would be able to make some progress in these areas.
However, at this time, I cannot ascertain with any degree of confidence if this policy is being reviewed and I don’t recall making that type of statement about it.
The quote that I read was actually from the Hansard from June 11, 2009, so that’s exactly what the minister did say.
Mr. Speaker, we have all of these community buildings with services being offered to all residents of the community. When new GN buildings are constructed, the regulations require them to be wheel chair accessible and yet, our constituents with disabilities do not have the opportunity to access the services because they have no means of getting there.
A task as simple as going to the store to do the shopping becomes a major chore.
When will the government commit to providing adequate assistance to these individuals?
I know for a fact that with respect to that legislation, it’s not only the government that has to adhere to such standards as building codes. If it’s under the public access policies, the building is required to have wheelchair ramps and other disabled persons’ means of access into the public building.
If we are informed as to which building is involved, let’s say if the Northern Store lacks access, then we are required to inform them.
Once I’m told that this building is non-compliant, we have to be informed as to which building is at default.
I’m sure most stores are in compliance.
Once I have been made privy to information that a building is non-compliant and doesn’t offer wheelchair access, we have to conduct an investigation to determine which building that is, in what community, and where it’s not following the legislation, which happens to be Canada-wide.
On June 11, 2009, in response to my questions, the minister stated and again, just for clarification and so there’s no misunderstanding, this is a direct quote from the June 11 [Blues].
“I am sure that there are individuals who would like to provide support to the people with disabilities.”
The minister is correct.
As an example, we saw this Christmas in my community, concerned community constituents trucked people with disabilities to and from the community games in the back of their pickup trucks.
Mr. Speaker, it was great having these people participate in the games, but it was sad seeing how they had to be herded into the back of a pickup truck at minus 40 to be taken back and forth.
Would the minister agree that our residents with disabilities deserve a safer and more comfortable means of local transportation to be able to participate in local community life?
I thank the member who is inquiring about this matter, but I didn’t hear of the circumstances where the member stated that certain individuals are undergoing difficulties in trying to participate in festivities.
I know that in our community, we experience the same challenges as we don’t have a vehicle with a ramp for disabled people.
Many people have to shuttle by vehicle, especially when it’s extremely cold during deep winter, and some people are put in the back of trucks.
If that person wants to attend the community event, their dilemma is whether to be carried to the event on the back of a truck or if they prefer, they would have to try to get there by themselves.
However, I don’t quite understand my colleague’s concern about whether or not that individual was placed in a dangerous situation when they were being let on for a ride to the event.
Perhaps they may have undergone a difficulty, but I can’t ascertain whether it was indeed an unsafe incident just based on his comments.
Once again, it’s nice that the minister is asking me questions. But yes, I would consider it unsafe that these people are being put in that situation. They have to ride in the back of the truck and that’s why I’m asking the government whether they would actually commit to providing a vehicle for these residents so that they don’t have to be treated that way.
That was the line of questioning that I was asking, but the question I would like answered this time, Mr. Speaker, is that I have noted that the Department of Education is undertaking a comprehensive of special needs requirements as it relates to the delivery of educational services across Nunavut’s communities.
Can the minister clarify whether the Department of Health and Social Services has ever conducted a similar assessment of facilities and services for people with disabilities in Nunavut’s communities, and if not, would he consider instructing his officials to undertake such an assessment, yes or no?
We want to hear from the Disabilities Council because we provide them $90,000 annually, but I don’t know if it’s their priority or not.
We provide services and programs for accessing.
It’s quite challenging to deal with making buildings accessible to disabled people because it’s quite different from the south and our roads are quite different as well, but we will do whatever we can to provide support.
I’m not too sure how many people with disabilities require assistance, but we will have a better idea some time in the future, not right away.
We will deal with the concerns and difficulties, but I can’t tell you if we’re going to be doing this work all across Nunavut.
Question 280 – 3(2): Assessment of Programs for People with Disabilities (Elliott)
My question again is directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Hon. Tagak Curley.
I don’t actually feel I got an answer from my last question, so I am glad that there weren’t many questions on this side so I could continue with my line of questioning.
What I had said was the Department of Education is looking into our students in the school who have disabilities, how they get back and forth, how they are handled, how they’re trained, and how they receive education within the school. There’s an actual assessment going on by the Department of Education. I hope that makes that clear.
What I was asking is: is the Department of Health and Social Services doing a similar study for the people in our communities who have disabilities?
Are they doing an assessment of that?
I don’t know whether that was a supplementary question or not, so that’s why I was a little confused because it appears to be a repeat of the same question, whether I am clarifying the question or not.
What I said was that at this moment, we’re not doing a Nunavut-wide territorial review.
I am sorry I have to interpret for myself. I did say in Inuktitut very clearly, in my language, that we are not conducting a Nunavut-wide assessment.
I am sure the report from Education will be helpful to us as well.
Why do two things when one is probably doing… which could be beneficial to not only to the Department of Education but to all of the departments as well?
What we are doing is case-by-case. We have a disability council specifically set up to provide advice, comments, and public concerns from the groups and if they indicate to us where many of the problems do exist, we will do so.
We need to take case-by-case issues from communities at this time, but we’re not doing a territorial-wide review at this moment.
That was not a supplementary question and this will be your first supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
In providing services to people with disabilities, the minister has mentioned the disability council and has explained that they provide a key role in helping service people within Nunavut.
I would just like to find out: how closely does his department work with this council?
I don’t know to what degree, how closely, or a definition that would mean close or far, or whatnot, or a medium-range kind of thing, but I don’t think that’s an issue.
The disability council is separate, at arm’s length, and not part of the government at all.
It’s an independent group. They seek advice from their members as well as provide reports to various groups and if they have issues with the government, they make it known to us.
How close? We do not have daily contact with them, but if they’re willing to provide letters to us, they do so.
If they wish to speak with us, they can do that.
And I really don’t speak for them, so he may have to ask that question directly to them to get further insight.
I guess what the minister is actually saying is no, they don’t work closely with the disability council.
It’s too bad because it sounds like the needs of our people with disabilities are falling through the cracks.
I would hope that the Government of Nunavut… they work at arm’s length, yes, that’s right, but it sounds like the minister’s department hands them $90,000 and says, “There you go.”
One of the things that Tamapta said was they want communication going both ways. So could the minister commit to maybe having his department speak more frequently with the disability council to understand the needs of people with disabilities?
It sounds like, from what he’s saying, they pass off the money and they’re in charge of getting everything done. To me, they need to work hand in hand and in partnership with the Government of Nunavut to make it work.
So if the minister could commit to making more frequent contact with the disability council.
I’m not sure whether I understand the member clearly or not.
For him to insinuate that the department is not doing enough is a statement in its own that is his view, but to say that is a fact is really probably stretching it a bit.
What I’m trying to say is that arm’s-length groups or independent groups do so at their own pace and if they wish to meet more regularly with us, they will make it known to us.
So far, we have not seen any.
Sure, they have communicated to some members that they’re not receiving enough funding. I don’t think they’re an isolated group.
There are many other groups that say the same thing that they’re not receiving… for instance, like community health groups in communities continue to indicate to us that they’re not receiving enough funds.
But we will be ready, if they indicate that they want more communication, if they invite us to meetings, we will be there.
(interpretation ends) Your final supplementary, Mr. Elliott.
To get back on track of what my line of questioning was because it wasn’t actually about the specific dollar amount, I started off my line of questioning actually asking about the assessment of how many people we have with disabilities in our communities, what specific needs they have, and whether these people are being serviced properly.
That’s how I started my line of questioning was having these people looked at and assessed and see what their specific needs are.
I asked that question and the minister passed it off onto the disability council and said, “The disability council is responsible for that, so we won’t talk about that anymore.
Go talk to them.”
I’ll go back to my original question because I still don’t feel like I got an answer for it.
Will the minister commit to going out and finding out what the specific needs are for our people in our communities with disabilities?
I’m going to need your help a bit here because I think these are two separate questions dealing with the same issue. Previously, he had a whole slate of questions, supplementary first, second, and third, and now, he is asking the same question through another question directly to me, so I don’t want to be confusing the member.
I normally don’t go into micromanage kinds of inquiries with my department.
Sure, there are a lot of stuff that are going on, but if there were any problems with disabled individuals who are not treated, I think we have communities or groups that have obligations to report issues directly to us.
So far, we have not received that many, but if there are, we’re willing to address them.
I indicated earlier that at this moment, we’re not planning a territorial-wide review because again that’s going take bit of costs and we have not put in allocations of any studies to that effect, but we will continue to access case-by-case issues as they come in.
Did you raise your hand?
I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 281 – 3(2): Increase Housing Allowance (Schell)
The GN provides housing subsidies to GN employees living in GN subsidized housing. The average subsidy is about $1,500 a month and is not taxed.
That’s $18,000 a year tax-free in these employees’ pockets.
On the other hand, the GN also provides a $400/month housing allowance to employees who own their own homes.
This allowance is supposed to provide an incentive to those employees living in GN housing to move into their own homes in order to lessen the government’s requirements to provide housing for the GN employees and also to level the playing field between these employees living in subsidized housing and those in their housing.
The $400/month is taxed, so it works out to about $250 a month in the employees’ pockets.
That translates to $3,000 a year versus $18,000 a year.
Will the minister commit to increasing the housing allowance to employees living in their own housing to match the subsidy provided to its employees in GN housing and to provide it in such a way as to make it tax-free for its own employees living in subsidized housing?
I thank Mr. Schell for that very detailed calculation.
I think he should come and for the Department of Finance and crunch some numbers for us.
But, Mr. Speaker, I can’t commit to that request.
Mr. Speaker, collective bargaining is opening soon and we would have to consider such a request like that in the overall context of the collective bargaining process.