EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
There are no plans to move it forward. It basically got stopped in its tracks at that time with no plan on moving forward anymore on that policy, which would leave it exactly where it was.
I know that we are planning on sitting down with other government departments to start looking at developing a new staff housing policy and strategy.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Tootoo. (interpretation ends) It must have been a very good government to continue to follow that lead.
I want to ask this question as I’m sure the minister knows that some seniors are so old that they no longer work but started out as homeowners and they face mounting bills.
It has happened where the Housing Corporation takes back the private unit and treats it as a public house either due to the elder losing their spouse or foreclosure. I know that it occurs once in a while, so I would like to get an explanation from the minister if this is still going on.
The issue of returning private homes to public housing in cases of elders on a fixed income who cannot maintain a house, it is something that has happened and it still does. It’s looked at on a case-by-case basis and it is only moved forward on if the circumstances warrant it and if the homeowner is in agreement with it.
It’s not where we will just go in and say we’re taking it and putting it as a public housing unit.
There are consultations that do take place with the homeowner if that is what their wishes are and everything is explained to them. The differences of it going to public housing or staying as a homeowner is all explained to them.
The final decision is the clients themselves who decide if that is something that they wish to do or not.
That also is for seniors.
There have been some cases in the past where, I think you could call it a quick claim, if the bank is foreclosing, we will buy out the bank’s portion because we have a second leaning on it and sometimes put that unit into the public housing inventory.
I didn’t hear an answer to my previous question.
I apologize, Mr. Chairman, I would like to proceed with my question.
Will this program be continued or will it be ongoing as per the minister’s comment about this issue?
The minister did indeed respond that this program is continuing as of this date.
Minister, is that what you stated?
I indicated that it is, but it’s looked at on a case-by-case basis with individuals who move forward who are requesting that.
Thank you. Sorry for not making that clear.
Chairman: Yes, Minister Tootoo, when you answer for a while, the person listening gets lost every now and then, so try and be brief. (interpretation) Are there any questions?
I have asked this question once before when Statistics Canada was planning to go around to the communities to conduct a survey.
At that time, I tried to explain to the minister to have the homeless included in the questionnaire.
There are employed and working poor who are homeless and just living with their relatives even though they’re employed.
I asked whether these individuals would be included in the survey conducted by Statistics Canada. The minister replied that it would be Statistics Canada that would conduct the survey.
They would hire approximately 22 people to conduct the survey, although they already had assistance from the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics. I apologize; I meant both the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics as well as Statistics Canada were to conduct this survey.
I posed this question that if the Nunavut Housing Corporation wasn’t going to be part of the survey team, how would your participation be included or how would the department be able to insert questions they wanted raised in the questionnaire by the 22 employees?
I feel that a survey of this kind has to include individuals who are actually homeless.
I would also like to know if the homeless people in the communities will have an opportunity to voice their concerns when the Nunavut Housing Needs Survey is being conducted.
Has this been incorporated?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. (interpretation ends) This is also for homeless issues, I believe, to the Homeless Minister Tootoo.
I appreciate that. I appreciate the member’s question.
The issue of homelessness will be identified as the community interviewers who are going around and doing the survey in the communities are going around to the households. It will be, I think, one of the questions when they’re checking where people sleep on a regular basis if they’re not always members of that unit. So it will help identify the numbers of the hidden homelessness that we face here in Nunavut.
I hope that was short enough.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Could the minister tell us if the homeless were also included in the survey?
The way I see it now is that I believe that it was the head of the household who was going to be interviewed.
What type of plan did you have so that the homeless were included as part of the survey?
Can you elaborate further on where you went to interview the homeless?
Did you ask them the reason why they are homeless was because of their age or why they are homeless when they are able and willing to work?
How were you able to reach these homeless people for the interviews?
As I indicated earlier, I believe the surveyors are asking about information of everybody in the household. So if there was someone who is not a regular member of that household or whatever, that would be identified.
What we would gain from the survey would be, hopefully, we could put a number to the hidden homeless people that we have in Nunavut.
As far as the particulars of why, I don’t think the surveyors would get into that.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Tootoo. (interpretation ends) I think the member is saying that there are some people living in shacks, for example.
Were those interviewed? Minister Tootoo.
Any shacks that were identified by the community where people are living in, the surveyors have gone and are planning on going to.
On November 27, 2009, when the minister appeared in front of us, I asked him about the issue of homelessness.
He now seems to be saying that some of the homeless individuals might not have been interviewed if the community members didn’t know where they lived.
I would like you to remind the 22 interviewers to look for homeless persons so that they could be included in the survey.
I’ll pass that information onto the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics to again pass onto their staff doing the interviews.
Chairman (interpretation): Are there any questions?
I have just a couple more quick questions and see if the minister can give some quick responses.
In previous committee meetings, we have discussed the importance of having an appeals board in particular for public housing when it comes to the allocation of units.
Has your department done any planning or consideration of an appeals board for public housing tenants?
Chairman: A very good question, Mr. Rumbolt.
I believe this came out of the Auditor General’s report. It was asked of your department.
This is something that you were quite vocal about during our last committee appearance and it’s something that the corporation has moved forward with.
We have retained an individual with a lot of experience in housing or a rental officer type individual.
We’re having a meeting with that individual next week to go over some of this. They have developed some options for us to be able to take a look at as to what might be the best way to proceed in setting up and looking at appeals for public housing.
My next question, hopefully my final question, will be in relation to tenant relation officers.
I have stated in the past many times how important it is to have a good tenant relations officer in your community and the toughness and the challenges that tenant relations officers have to face in their positions.
Has your department come up with any kind of strategy to give more training to tenant relations officers on a regular basis?
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for pointing that out.
Every community where I have went, when I would get introduced to the tenant relations officer, I said that’s probably one of the worst jobs in Nunavut. It’s worse than our job, I think. I always commend them for doing it because it’s not an easy job to do.
The corporation has redone, revised, and updated the Tenant Relations Officer Manual and a part of this new manual includes counselling on arrears and things like that, so that’s work that has taken place.
Chairman (interpretation): Are there any questions? (interpretation ends) Mr. Rumbolt, you’re done?
Okay. The next one I have on the list is Mr. Schell.
I’m going back to when we brought up the issue about the aging oil tanks throughout Nunavut.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation was putting that as a priority to explore addressing issues of environmental liability because of the aging oil tanks throughout Nunavut by initiating an Oil Tank Replacement Program that prioritized the replacement of oil tanks for seniors and vulnerable homeowners. What’s the status of this initiative?
I’m hoping to be able to make an announcement on this program within the next month.
Mr. Schell: And also going back to the programs that they have in place now for replacing existing oil tanks in public housing units.
For the first year, the Housing Corporation bought the tanks, but for the second year and every year thereafter, it’s coming out of the M&I fund that is used by the communities to fix up old housing units, which is badly needed. Unfortunately, it’s taking money away from those types of repairs by having to replace these tanks.
Has the Housing Corporation looked at other ways of coming up with money to replace these oil tanks?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Schell. (interpretation ends) I don’t know if this is covered in this budget, it’s probably capital, but I’ll let the minister answer the question.
You are quite correct, but I have no problem with answering the member’s question.
The initial launch of the program the corporation kick-started started off with that. The whole intention always was that it was closer to our M&I projects under the public housing units, so that’s where it would go. It was more of a kick-start to get it going.
Chairman: Any further questions?
I will continue from my friend’s, Mr. Schell, questions.
There are many homeowners in Kugaaruk and in Repulse Bay.
The Housing Corporation has the number to buy oil tanks in bulk, whereas it can be very costly for the individual homeowner, if you will.
I’m wondering, as a homeowner, for example, if I can buy a new oil tank at cost from the Housing Corporation.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation ends) I believe the minister made a commitment that he will be doing an announcement in a month’s time.
Hopefully, in an announcement that I’m hoping to be able to make in the next month, some of those issues will be addressed.
Chairman: Any further questions on housing?
I didn’t hear a question being asked on whether it is a capital item or not. In any event, it is with regard to private homeowners and the homeownership assistance programs, such as the Materials Assistance Program, to replace a hot water heater or boiler as an example.
I have seen that in Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour when there is construction work in the communities, there is always a shortage of qualified oil burner mechanics.
It seems like only the staff of the local housing authority have this capability in the communities.
This becomes an issue for private homeowners who obtain assistance because they cannot get their replacement equipment installed. This has happened quite frequently due to the unavailability of properly qualified tradespeople. Is it possible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation to assist these homeowners so that they are not placed in a bind?
There are no homeowners associations in most of the communities. Do you have a program for homeowners that could give them support on these types of issues in the future or is this type of assistance already in place? I would like to hear from the minister on that because of the difficulty with the insurers that require them to install such equipment and the replacement of fuel tanks when they don’t have the properly trained service personnel and the homeowner is incapable of servicing it themselves either due to being a single mother or a widow.
If someone needs to replace their hot water tank or boilers, it’s something that they could do under the Emergency Repair Program. Also, I would say that if you get a hold of a contractor and someone would say, “How much to get the boiler changed?” So part of that would be from a contractor and would be not only for the purchase of the boiler but the changing of it as well.
I know an issue that was brought up last year in some communities where they don’t have the specified trades individuals.
Our housing maintainers are trained to maintain the boilers, but they’re not trained to install new boilers. They don’t have that level of certification to be able to do that.
As far as the maintenance work on things like that, if an individual went to the local housing organization and for the fee or the cost of that individual’s time and whatever labour or parts to do that, if they had time after looking after what they need to do for public housing in that community, they have, in past, done that as well.
Chairman (interpretation): Are there any questions? Mr. Ningeongan.
From my point of view, I see more and more homeowners who are tired of waiting for this type of assistance. I apologize, but the reason why I bring that up is because homeowners now obtain the funding to get the work done.
However, there is no one capable of performing the tasks. Most qualified tradespeople and contractors tend to be overwhelmed by work, particularly during the fall.
I would like this to be included in the list of considerations that the minister is reviewing.
That’s a challenge even here in Iqaluit, where you have a number of companies that do that.
Even to try and get someone to do something, unless it’s a flat out emergency or freeze-up, it could be waiting months.
Even in a place like here where there’s a number of companies offering the same service, there are not enough of those tradespeople out there.
One of our pitches to the federal government is to keep this type of funding like they have through the trust and through the stimulus package coming.
Over time, we will be able to train those individuals from the communities through their being apprentices so that over time, there is someone with those skills in all of the communities.
Chairman (interpretation): Are there any questions or comments? Mr. Ningark.
According to Mr. Schell, a bad oil tank becomes an environmental liability and that’s one thing, but the other thing is that according to a home insurance company, a bad oil tank is also the homeowner’s liability.
So I think it’s very crucial and important that homeowners are able to buy affordable new tanks.
To do that, we can use the capability of the Housing Corporation in buying bulk at the community level.
It can get very costly if an individual homeowner buys a tank in the middle of winter from places like Yellowknife and Edmonton. The only way to get it is by air.
I think it’s very critical that the Nunavut Housing Corporation work with the individual homeowners in the communities in Nunavut across the board.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation ends) That was a good comment.
Are there any other questions or comments? We are at L-3. (interpretation) Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $132,642,000.
Are you in agreement with the departmental estimates for the Housing Corporation?
I would like to thank the minister and his officials for making their appearance.
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the members for raising some very important issues and things that we will look at. I know housing is an issue that affects every single person living in Nunavut.
So we’re doing our best to be able to move forward with the limited resources that we have to try and do what we can to address as many of those issues as possible.
Also, I would like to thank again Alain. It’s his first appearance here, so he’s no longer a rookie for Committee of the Whole. So I would like to thank Alain.
He’s had a lot of work to do in a very short period of time since he started to get up to speed on things and he’s done a very good job at that.
I also thank Lori as well as all of the other staff working next door and in our district offices who always go out of their way to try and make sure that we have the information that you guys are looking for.
I again thank the members for their comments.
Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would escort the witnesses out, please.
We have concluded with the Housing Corporation. We can now move on to the Department of Justice.
Mr. Schell, if you can take this seat.
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Justice – Consideration in Committee
Chairman (Mr. Schell): I would now like to ask Minister Peterson, responsible for the Department of Justice, to make his opening remarks.
I am pleased to present the main estimates and business plan for the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice has been allocated a total operating budget of $78,052,000, representing a $2,050,000 increase, or 2.7 percent, over last year’s budget.
This increase consists of two significant items:
An increase of $1 million in the Law Enforcement Branch budget to fund the RCMP Stand-By Policy, and
The 2010-11 impact of the Nunavut Employee Union collective bargaining contract.
Mr. Chairman, the largest portion of the Justice budget is for RCMP policing services.
In order to address issues of public safety as well as officer safety, we are working to increase the number police officers in Nunavut.
In the 2010-11 fiscal year, there will be an increase in the number of Inuktitut-speaking staff at the RCMP call centre.
Training for special constables will begin this fall so that policing services provided are more responsive to the needs of all Nunavummiut.
Increase the minimum duration of mandatory service by RCMP members from two years to four years.
Mr. Chairman, both court services and legal aid respond to the increased need of Nunavummiut for innovative and culturally appropriate legal and court services.
In this fiscal year, we will streamline court efficiency through updated technology and staff training.
We plan to introduce the Family Support Orders Enforcement Act in an effort to replace and improve upon the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act.
Through the Legal Services Board, Justice will continue to improve the framework for the Court Worker program.
The Department of Justice will assess the viability of alternatives to better address the needs of family law clients and assess the impact of changes in the number of criminal charges have on the delivery of criminal legal services.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Justice continues to encourage the recruitment, training, and advancement of Inuit in positions relating to corrections and community justice.
In the spring of 2010, the Department of Justice will open the Women’s Healing Facility in Iqaluit.
This facility has been designed to better serve our female offenders and to alleviate some of the overcrowding at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Complete the coordination, research, and development of new and updated operational policies which will include contingency plans for all workplaces.
Corrections will also work with community justice in the development of community justice committee resources for the reintegration of offenders after incarceration.
We also expect to be able to expand the role of community justice outreach workers in assisting victims of crime in addition to their role in the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
In summary, Mr. Chairman, this is a brief outline of some of the initiatives the Department of Justice is working on as we move forward.
This concludes my opening comments. I would be pleased to take questions.
To my right is Mr. Doug Garson, Acting Deputy Minister for the Department of Justice, and to my left is Rebekah Williams, Assistant Deputy Minister of Justice.
I also want to thank the minister and his officials for being here as well.
I am pleased to deliver the standing committee’s opening comments as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the 2010-11 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Justice.
The minister was able to provide an update on his department’s proposed expenditures for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Members noted that the Department of Justice is proposing to increase its budget for 2010-11 by $2,050,000. This is an increase of approximately 2.7 percent from the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Approximately half of this increase is in the area of contract services for the Law Enforcement Branch.
The remaining amounts are mainly in the area of compensation and benefits in the rest of the department’s branches and in the budget for the new women’s correctional centre in Iqaluit.
During the December 2009 sitting of the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker tabled a list of outstanding statutory tabling requirements. Mr. Chairman, this document indicates that out of all GN departments, the Department of Justice has the largest number of outstanding tabling requirements.
Members appreciate the recent tabling of the annual report required under the Human Rights Act. The standing committee looks forward to the tabling of the annual reports that are required under the Family Abuse Intervention Act, the Legal Services Act, the Victims of Crime Act, the Liquor Act, the Labour Standards Act, and the Legal Profession Act.
The committee particularly looks forward to the tabling of the first annual report under the Family Abuse Intervention Act, which is required to include information on “progress in addressing and preventing family abuse.”
During the minister’s appearance before the standing committee, members were advised that a second, separate report on the evaluation of the implementation of the Family Abuse Intervention Act will also be ready for tabling during this session.
During the minister’s appearance, members raised the issue of difficulties resulting from the use of emergency protection orders under the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
Difficulties emerge when a removed person is the person who is the legal tenant of the home from where he or she is being removed.
While members recognize the need to ensure the safety of those people who successfully apply for an emergency protection order, members also recognize that problems arise when removed respondents have nowhere to go. Members were advised that the department is aware of this problem and that department officials are seeking solutions.
Mr. Chairman, members are aware that the annual budget of the Department of Health and Social Services has funds set aside for family violence services. The standing committee encourages the Department of Justice to work with the Department of Health and Social Services in areas of mutual concern, such as family violence intervention.
During his appearance before the standing committee, the minister concurred with members on the importance of collaborating with other departments when it is beneficial to do so rather than allowing duplication of efforts by different departments.
The standing committee is pleased to note that ongoing efforts are being made to explore options for a domestic violence court in Nunavut. The department’s 2010-13 business plan indicates that “initial options reviewed by the Courts relating to a Domestic Violence Court in Nunavut identified a need to create a ‘Healthy Relationships Court’.”
Members look forward to further updates on this initiative.
Mr. Chairman, committee members once again raised the ongoing issue of communication difficulties between the RCMP and the people whom they serve.
The standing committee continues to be concerned that the lack of Inuit language capacity exacerbates communication difficulties.
Members were pleased to note that the minister affirmed this is an important ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.