EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
This was done to address that problem for students in the south and to ensure that they could access their funds faster by having the cheques deposited to their bank accounts. Once the funds are approved for the students, the funds are immediately deposited to their bank account. This requirement was added to ensure students don’t have to wait for long periods.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister.
If any student, whether in Pond Inlet, the High Arctic, or Taloyoak, has to go to a bank in person to open an account, the airfare will be outrageous. An airline ticket could be in the vicinity of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, or even $5,000. The student, having limited income, requires financial assistance in order to take their course.
I believe that this requires brainstorming, at the very least, to revisit this requirement. Can the minister concur that this requirement should be re-examined immediately?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Absolutely, and I want my colleague to know that if he has any suggestions to improve the matter, our department is open to those suggestions and this applies to all Members of this House.
We are open to any ideas to improve this program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister. Additionally, on behalf of current and future students, I thank the department for agreeing to review this matter and for its immediate resolution.
This other matter which I believe is a major problem, Mr. Chairman, is apparently a chronic occurrence.
A student’s application is eventually processed and finally gets approval after a lengthy period.
During the lengthy interim period awaiting this funding, not knowing when they will get approval, many students have to bear this period with absolutely no financial income as they are not employed. They are, after all, just students.
When students are stuck in that interim period, is it true that they cannot qualify for assistance, even for social assistance, since the student has apparently been approved for student financial assistance?
I want you to indicate whether or not this is the case. Can you please explain?
Students have to complete their application for funding in its entirety without omitting any parts.
When students sometimes miss an item, it delays their application as it has to be returned to them to complete the application.
That is sometimes one of the reasons for delaying an application for funding. Incompleteness of forms can lead to delays.
I will ask that my deputy minister provide further information on this matter.
The filled forms sent to our office are just one part of this process.
There are other forms stemming from other parties outside of our department that we also have to wait for, for example, Arctic College consent forms approving the student to attend the course. Only after these other forms have been processed are the start dates reviewed and the course is being attended.
When a student chooses a course, the workload determines the amount of assistance they are eligible for.
Once all of these forms have been received, we start determining the actual level of assistance for the student.
Mr. Mr. Enook.
From my perspective, my question was not even answered.
What I was trying to get at was this situation: when students have been notified of their approval for funding, there is a lengthy interim period before the students actually receive their funding.
Once the students have been approved for funding, quite a few of them have had to request social assistance to live off of since they are not making any income for that entire period.
Apparently, when students are trying to apply for social assistance, they then run into a problem.
Government records show that the student has been approved and that a cheque is in the works at some time.
However, since the government records show that the student has been approved, they cannot qualify for assistance and the cheques take an inordinate amount of time to arrive.
When the records show the student is approved, they cannot get any social assistance and the approved funding cheque is somewhere in the government bureaucracy, but the student has no idea of when it will arrive.
Is this the case?
Are students not allowed to get other forms of assistance in this period?
It’s obvious that not all students experience this situation.
If there are any students in that situation, our department wants to be apprised of them immediately.
Once the funding has been approved, the funding is processed after five days.
I wonder how I can word it so that it is completely understandable.
I’m unsure how to proceed with this matter since I seem to no longer make any sense when I speak to the issue.
What I’m trying to say for the last time is let’s say a student is approved for funding and they receive correspondence stating they have qualified for funding.
However, the funds are not deposited or sent for a long period, even though the student has been approved.
That is the concern and barrier the students are facing because the student still has to have the necessary foodstuffs to survive.
The students try to go to the social assistance worker to get some assistance.
They are informed that since they have to truthfully report any income when being queried, they are approved for funding by FANS.
The student is then not allowed to get social assistance.
Is this indeed the case?
The funds from social assistance can be used for emergency assistance when a student is unable to meet their daily needs due to lack of income. A student is able to get social assistance as required from time to time.
Does this mean that what I understand is that a student who has been approved for FANS funding and is awaiting their funding monies can apply for assistance through social assistance?
Am I correct in making this assessment?
If the student is still waiting for their funding, they can apply for emergency assistance. Every application is examined on a case-by-case basis as every person has different requirements and needs based on their situations.
Mr. Enook
I just noted that although I was not talking, my clock was ticking away.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to thank the minister.
Now, based on her response, I’m in a pickle. Now I hear that each applicant is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and therefore, they are all treated differently.
The status of the student, as I said and if I were to say it in English, means it’s on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also wish to thank the minister.
These students who require assistance from social assistance workers are considered, as the minister stated, on a case-by-case basis.
Who makes that determination?
Is it the social assistance worker? Who does the evaluation of the student’s financial situation?
Is there a clearly written outline of how a person can be eligible or what kind of situation they have to be in?
The director responsible for the program makes the decision to approve their request.
Which department’s director makes this determination for the approval?
The current director responsible for income support is Ms. Sandy Teiman.
Just for clarity, is Sandy Teiman the director of income support?
Please clarify what her proper job title is, Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): She is the director of the income support program under social services.
I didn’t want to extend my questioning in this area, but I will do so in order to have the students completely understand when they require assistance. We have to encourage the students to continue their education.
Now, if I were a student and during the interim period, I wanted to get assistance from income support temporarily, does that mean that the income support worker in Pond Inlet has to call Ms. Teiman? Do they require her approval?
You’re talking about income support, which is specifically within G-12, but I understand that this is related to your line of questioning regarding the students, so I will allow your question to stand.
The student has to first apply for assistance from income support.
If you consider my question inappropriate, you may stop me.
If this question is unrelated to this matter, you may feel free to stop me.
When a student goes for income support with a story about financial difficulties and being unable to meet their nutritional needs, perhaps even a sob story told to the income support worker, does the worker have to call Ms. Teiman directly?
So the income support worker cannot make that determination if the person is a student who is waiting for their funding.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Enook. When we reach the income support page review, you will also have further opportunities to pose questions to the employees.
However, since the question is specifically regarding students in this situation, Minister Aariak, you may wish to respond.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the member for raising that matter in his question.
Each student has to be considered on a case-by-case basis, but I would ask that my deputy minister provide more details on this question.
Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Okpik, you are asked to respond.
Anybody requiring social assistance would approach the income support worker in their community as they are required to fill out a monthly income form.
This lists the particulars, such as the number of dependants, their birth certificate, and the kinds of information required to complete the income support forms.
Through this process, the worker assesses the situation of the individual. If they qualify for emergency funding, then the approval request gets sent immediately to the director on the same day.
I believe the matter I raised in my question is now clear and understandable and will now be taken into consideration.
Another question I have, Mr. Chairman, is when people apply for funding. To clarify it for future applicants, how can this question be answered? When the forms are completed and sent out, apparently several common responses they receive are, “We lost your application.
The application never arrived yet. The form is incomplete.” This leads to a facsimile game of tag, with forms going back and forth for extended periods while all of these issues are being resolved.
Another complaint is that sometimes it takes quite a while to receive a response. Another is when they try to call via phone, it is impossible to get through.
When a student is successful in getting across, all the other students line up to take their turn while they are in contact with the office so that they can deal with their issues while they are talking to a live person.
How can you respond to these complaints that I have been asked to raise?
This is why we’re requesting an upgrade to our computer system, so that it will help to resolve these obstacles.
Once we have a digital application form, this will help to expedite the process.
The matter I raised in my question was that students prefer to speak to a live person.
Does this mean that calling to an employee is no longer a tenable resolution? As an example, I believe that we have to have this service available since it is not the same when communicating via computers compared to speaking with a live person.
I believe that this has to be reviewed as it causes the biggest headaches to students.
Mr. Chairman, this is the last question I want to raise since I’m quite aware of my time limits.
It is definitely not the last concern, but it will be my last question at this time. The findings of the Auditor General included a report containing, I believe, 36 recommendations that they wanted resolved. How many of these recommendations have been implemented, keeping in mind that these recommendations were tabled in 2007?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t have the information with me, so I will have to get back to the member once we have reviewed the matter. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. I will now recognize Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have quite a number of questions, but I’m starving, so I would like to report progress at this time.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arreak. There is a motion on the floor which I prefer not to be debated.
All those in favour of the motion to report progress to the Speaker. Thank you. I will now rise to report progress to the Speaker.
Thank you, Minister Aariak.
We’re not finished with your department yet. We expect to see you again the next time we’re in committee. I thank your officials, Ms. Okpik and Ms. Fanjoy.
Speaker: Qujannamiik, Sergeant-at-Arms. Moving on in the orders of the day. Item 21.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 24 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tapardjuk. There is a motion on the floor.
Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a reminder that there’s a meeting of the Full Caucus on Monday morning at half past nine in the Nanuq Boardroom.
Members, I’m now prepared to deliver my ruling on the point of order raised by the Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove during yesterday’s oral question period.
The point of order was raised in relation to words spoken by the Member for Rankin Inlet North in the preamble to his second supplementary question to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation on the subject of the government’s NNI Policy.
Unedited Hansard for the proceedings in question renders the Member for Rankin Inlet North’s words as follows:
“Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance confirmed that the Article 24 and NNI Policy has not been properly adhered to and has not been consistent in applying the policy when dealing with the Inuit firm contracts and so on. I also wanted to indicate to the Members here that Article 24.3.4, if you read the article, the obligation specific to territorial government obligates the government to take the lead…”
In raising his point of order, the Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove stated that “Our friend has said that the finance minister said that article was not being fairly dealt with. That’s not what the Minister of Finance said, Mr. Speaker.”
In responding to the point of order, the Member for Rankin Inlet North stated that “Mr. Speaker, I made it clear earlier that when the Minister of Finance infer that the article NNI had not been properly consistent. The Minister of Finance indicated straight to the House that it was their government that wasn’t applying it consistently. Otherwise, the government won’t go ahead with the review.
That is on that principle, that issue that…I’m referring to the preamble of my question.”
From the context of the Member for Rankin Inlet North’s questions to the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, it is clear that he was alluding to a section of the Minister of Finance’s Budget Address of February 22, 2012.
This section stated that “In strengthening the public service, we will also address fairness in government procurement.
We will ensure that the government properly applies the goals of the NNI Policy. In public procurement, Inuit firms and entrepreneurs should have a reasonable prospect of winning bids.
We will ensure the policy complies with Article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.”
It is clear that this is simply a situation where the members involved have different interpretations of the meaning of the passage of the Budget Address in question.
As such, there is no point of order and the matter is closed.
This House stands adjourned until Monday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m.
Before we leave, I would like to take this opportunity… .
My apologies and hopefully the apology is accepted.
I would like to take this opportunity for thanking the four young pages that were here this week. There are two from Arviat and there are two here from Iqaluit.
Thank you very much for your hard work and being here this week.
>>House adjourned at 12:10
Monday, February 27, 2012
Pages 1751 – 1811
Opening Prayer 1751
Ministers’ Statements 1751
Members’ Statements 1755
Oral Questions 1759
Tabling of Documents 1776
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 1776
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1777
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1810
Orders of the Day 1810
Monday, February 27, 2012 1751
119 – 3(3): Creekside Village Fire (Aariak) 1751
120 – 3(3): Nunavut Shines at Northern Lights (Taptuna) 1752
121 – 3(3): Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (Aariak) 1753
122 – 3(3): CGS-University of Manitoba MOU (Kusugak) 1753
123 – 3(3): Departmental Report on EU Seal Ban Impacts to Nunavut (Arreak) 1754
167 – 3(3): Appreciation to Medical Staff in Yellowknife, Edmonton, and to Mr. Quirke (Ningark) 1755
168 – 3(3): Recent Murder-Suicide in Taloyoak (Ugyuk) 1756
169 – 3(3): Loss of Elder in Rankin Inlet – Bernadette Evaluajuk Saumik (Curley) 1757
170 – 3(3): Forward Momentum on Sports (Ningeongan) 1757
171 – 3(3): Baffin Mayors’ Meeting in Iqaluit (Elliott) 1758
258 – 3(3): Protocol for Emergency Measures (Curley) 1759
259 – 3(3): Establishment of Total Allowable Take of the Southern Hudson Bay Polar Bear Subpopulation (Rumbolt) 1760
260 – 3(3): Employment Payment from Contractor (Ningark) 1761
261 – 3(3): The Makimaniq Plan - Community Freezers (Elliott) 1762
262 – 3(3): Air Ambulance Services - Learjet (Ugyuk) 1764
263 – 3(3): Scheduled Medical Travel and Air Ambulance Services (Curley) 1765
264 – 3(3): Bill C-10 and its Costs to Nunavummiut (Elliott) 1767
265 – 3(3): EU Ban on Seal Products (Tapardjuk) 1769
266 – 3(3): Seal Meat Products (Ningark) 1771
267 – 3(3): Nunavut Coastal Resource Inventory (Enook) 1772
268 – 3(3): Child Advocate Independent of GN (Ugyuk) 1774
269 – 3(3): Legislative Agenda for Child and Youth Advocate (Elliott) 1775
152 – 3(3): Report on the Impacts of the European Union Seal Ban (Arreak) 1776
153 – 3(3): Procurement Activity Report for the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation for the Period April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009 and April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010 (Taptuna) 1776
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 6, 2010-2011 – Notice 1776
Bill 26 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2011-2012 – Notice 1776
Bill 27 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013 – Notice 1776
Bill 28 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2011-2012 – Notice 1776
Bill 29 – Write-off of Assets Act, No. 1, 2010-2011 – Notice 1776
Bill 30 – Building Code Act – Notice 1777
Bill 31 – An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act – Notice 1777
Bill 32 – An Act to Amend the Legal Services Act – Notice 1777
Bill 33 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act – Notice 1777
Bill 24 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2012-2013 – Education – Consideration in Committee 1777
Bill 24 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2012-2013 – Health and Social Services – Consideration in Committee 1806
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Mr. Tagak Curley, Ms. Monica Ell, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Joe Enook, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Hezakiah Oshutapik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Honourable Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Mr. Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk.
>>House commenced at 13:30
Moving on in our orders of the day.
Minister’s Statement 119 – 3(3): Creekside Village Fire (Aariak)
First of all, I would like to welcome our colleagues, John Ningark and Jeannie Ugyuk.
We have full membership and I’m very glad that you were able to make it here.
Mr. Speaker, last night, a devastating fire engulfed the 300 block of townhouses of Creekside Village, known as white row, here in Iqaluit.
More than 300 individuals were evacuated due to this fire.
Our hearts go out to those families who have lost their homes and relatives.
The fire started just before 10:00 p.m. Firefighters tried to control the blaze, but it quickly spread to other units.
Twenty-two units were lost, of which 21 were occupied by Nunavut Arctic College students and their families.
Mr. Speaker, victims of the fire are temporarily staying at Nunavut Arctic College’s Ukiivik residence and the Frobisher Inn.
Among the displaced residents are many children.
Nunavut Arctic College will continue to meet with students to ensure their needs are met.
The victims of this fire have access to interim accommodations until permanent residences can be established.
Mr. Speaker, in Iqaluit, donations can be dropped off at the Nunavut Research Institute, which is building 959A.
The most needed items include: personal hygiene items, baby formula and diapers, clothing, bedding, towels, and non-perishable food items.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that all donated items that are not brand new should be in working condition, recently laundered, and/or washed as families will need to use these items immediately.
Mr. Speaker, we sincerely appreciate the tremendous commitment and dedication that the firefighters, emergency personnel, and City of Iqaluit workers continue to demonstrate as they battle this fire in these freezing temperatures.
Their efforts are greatly appreciated today and always.
I’m sure all of our hearts and thoughts go out to those individuals who lost everything in that tragic fire.
Minister’s Statement 120 – 3(3): Nunavut Shines at Northern Lights (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, Nunavut, Labrador, and Nunavik hosted the Northern Lights Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa to promote eastern arctic businesses and investment opportunities in the north to southern Canadian markets and to facilitate north-to-north partnerships.
Showcasing Nunavut’s arts and culture gave the south a window into the north.
Canadians of all backgrounds stopped to hear Michael Kusugak recall stories of his childhood.
Young musician Nelson Tagoona drew crowds with his throat-boxing, and of course, Mr. Speaker, long-time favourite Simeonie Keenainak got the trade show floor square dancing.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s sealskin fashions brought awareness of our right to subsistence harvest.
Northern Lights brought representation from every province and territory in Canada, with the exception of one Atlantic province.
In 2008, Northern Lights was attended by 400 delegates and in 2010, by 900 people. This year, almost 1,300 delegates and visitors attended Northern Lights.
Mr. Speaker, over 460 companies and organizations were represented.
The conference sessions had excellent presenters and were very well attended.
The premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Nunavut all provided keynote addresses.
Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Minister Peter Penashue of Labrador, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Mary Simon, among others, met with our artists, businesses, and organizations.
Mr. Speaker, the Northern Lights Trade Show demonstrates the growth and potential of business in the north.
I would like to express my thanks to the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce for its vital role in delivering an outstanding event.
Mr. Speaker, we are rather disappointed to hear that Hal Timar, Executive Director of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce for seven years, has resigned and is relocating to Montreal.
Mr. Timar has made a great contribution to revitalizing the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce and we give him our sincere thanks for his role in making Northern Lights such a tremendous success.
It is venues such as Northern Lights that allow us to showcase Nunavut to our neighbours down south and globally.
Minister’s Statement 121 – 3(3): Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (Aariak)
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. February 6 marked the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne.
To mark the beginning of this yearlong recognition, all provincial and territorial legislatures, including our own, raised the Queen’s personal Canadian flag from sunrise to sunset on that day.