EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In regard to the issue of staff housing, it’s extremely important and we try to make sure that the staff have adequate housing.
In regard to the Department of Health and Social Services and their staff, I think that their department is looking at options on how they can improve their situation.
They have to make sure that the staff have adequate housing, and it’s quite a process to go through, but we do look at options. We’ll also be looking at a long-term planning process.
The minister, in his last response, indicated that the Department of Health and Social Services was looking at other options.
Is he indicating that the department will find ways to get their own housing units for their staff, or is it something that again, is going to be outside of the staff housing that is supposed to be under the Housing Corporation?
If that’s the case, if they have their own units, does the Staff Housing Policy apply there as well?
The Housing Corporation is going to be looking into this issue. They are reviewing ways of how they can improve the staff housing system, but the Housing Corporation is going to be responsible for doing all that.
Question 120 – 2(3): Yellowknife Boarding Home Inspections (Peterson)
It concerns the Lena Pederson Boarding Home in Yellowknife. The boarding home down there serves the Kitikmeot patients who are sent out of our region for healthcare. The boarding home is about 20 years old.
This past January, late January, mould was discovered in the facility and it is a danger to patients staying there. I had a number of constituents come home and tell me about it, and then it was reported in yesterday’s News North.
My question for the minister is; the mould was found during the week of January 25 and renovations began February 1, and it’s quoted in the newspaper.
My question for the minister: how often is the patient boarding home inspected for safety and health infractions such as mould?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you and welcome back to everyone.
The boarding home in Yellowknife, yes, there was mould discovered under the stairs.
Within a short time after that, the WCB was informed of that and precautions were taken to rectify the situation to address the mould in the building.
As far as I know, the facilities are inspected on an annual basis through the WCB process and as soon as the situation was discovered, the staff that managed the boarding home in Yellowknife contacted the WCB to put the plan of action in place to address the situation.
It seems to me that perhaps the boarding home facilities should be inspected more often, particularly when it comes to inspections such as mould. A question for the minister: what measures did the Government of Nunavut take to ensure patients were protected from the mould that was discovered?
The boarding home in Yellowknife is a contracted out service to a private company in Yellowknife. The responsibility of managing that facility falls on the contract we have with the organization in Yellowknife.
The boarding home, through the Government of the Northwest Territories, provided was they contacted the WCB responsible for that service when the mould was discovered in the facility.
Because it is in the Northwest Territories, the proper agencies of that particular territory that inspect facilities, the health inspectors, the WCB inspectors, and what not were contacted to address the situation.
Could the minister perhaps outline what protective measures the owner of the building and the Government of the Northwest Territories are implementing to ensure that the mould doesn’t occur again and endanger the patients from the Kitikmeot?
For any of the facilities that we operate, not just in Yellowknife, but boarding homes in Edmonton, Yellowknife, Winnipeg, Ottawa, the inspections of those facilities occur on a regular basis through the health inspectors, WCB, and so on.
So on a regular basis, annually, those facilities are inspected.
So those processes are already in place and will continue.
In terms of what happened in Yellowknife, I reviewed the situation. The process that was followed by the management team in Yellowknife was quick and as soon as the mould was discovered in the facility, the management of that facility responded and took the proper actions to rectify the situation.
So to answer the member’s question, again, the inspections for those types of facilities occur on an annual basis.
I have no doubt that the operators of the facility responded appropriately once the mould was discovered.
I’m sure that was good news to my constituents who were staying there, but they are concerned and they have been concerned for years with that facility. As I mentioned in my opening comments, that facility is 20 years old.
So my question for the minister, and if she can help me out here I can alleviate the concerns of my constituents back home who are patients of the boarding home: does the Government of Nunavut have any plans to build or construct or lease a new patient boarding home in Yellowknife to serve their patients from the Kitikmeot?
My constituents also stay there, so I’m equally as concerned about the situation in Yellowknife.
There are two more years remaining on that contract to lease the building.
At this point in time, the department is reviewing what options to pursue about the Yellowknife boarding home situation. We are going to be reviewing the file to determine whether, in fact, we need a bigger facility, smaller facility, or another renovation, whatever.
That whole process needs to take place. After we’ve had an opportunity to explore what our options are and what our needs are, we’ll be moving forward on whatever decisions come out of that process.
Question 121 – 2(3): Placement of International Nurses (Curley)
Last year, we were informed that the government was going to be recruiting nurses from overseas. Could the minister inform the House as to where these nurses who were recruited were placed?
I believe they are called agency nurses.
The international nurses that we’ve hired are placed in various communities.
During the last sitting, I put a Minister’s Statement out that outlined which communities or regions, I believe, they went to.
Right now, I can tell the member that some have gone to Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, to Pangnirtung, to Iqaluit, and various communities. In terms of the exact list of those communities, I don’t have that, but the individuals have been placed in various communities where there is a need for nurses.
There are just a few nurses who have graduated from the Nursing Program, but there has to be a commitment on the part of the individual to complete their education.
They worked extremely hard to complete their exams and if they don’t complete or graduate within a year, then they have to do it over again. I believe there were 16 individuals who failed their Canadian exams.
What about those individuals who have failed their exams? What happened to them?
The individuals that come to Canada to work are required to take the exam before they can work. That is not just for international nurses, that’s for any Canadian or international nurse that wants to be a nurse in Canada.
They are required to take an exam through the Registered Nurses Association. The Registered Nurses Association administers the exam and the individuals writing those exams are given three opportunities to write the exam.
The individuals that did not pass their first go-around of the exam re-wrote their exam on February 10. So we’re waiting for those responses and depending on the outcome of that, they will have one more opportunity to write the exam.
And I should clarify for the House that this procedure applies to any Canadian student nurse. If the Nunavut Arctic College students here graduate, they’ll be writing the same exam and the same procedure would apply to those individuals.
Mr. Curley: I wish to follow-up on that because Mr. Speaker, there was a concern with some of the nurses that are so heavily overloaded in these communities, taking care of the sick, as well as the public health requirements in small communities.
Unlike Iqaluit, they don’t go through a certain review process and automatically get an increase. Nurses really do work hard, overloaded with the workload that they have.
In one particular community, it was reported that the nurses had to continue training the person that was hired from overseas; an Asian nurse.
I wonder if the minister could assure the nurses that the nurses that are in the communities are not there to train international nurses.
Will the minister confirm that to the House?
I recognize that our nurses provide essential services to our communities and they provide greatly needed services on a regular basis. The international nurses that have written the exam cannot practice independently until such time that they have passed the exam.
So the nurses that are in the communities are not training the international nurses, but rather the international nurses waiting for the results of their exam must work in the shadow of a nurse who has a license to practice.
So, yes, I recognize the workload of the nurses, but these individuals cannot practice the full extent of providing the nursing care until the Registered Nurses Association confirms that they’ve passed the exam.
During that phase those individuals work with the other nurses in the health centres and provide services with restricted responsibilities.
I would like to ask the minister a final question. Are these international nurses that were hired, prior to completing their Canadian exam, currently on the Nunavut Government’s payroll whether they have completed their exams or not?
We have hired an agency to hire these individuals to orient them to write the exam. Once the individuals are not able to pass the exam, the agency replaces those individuals, I believe until such time all those conditions are met, then they are put on payroll once they have passed the registered nurses exam. This is what I understand.
Question 122 – 2(3): Patient Escort Requirements (Mapsalak)
My question is directed to the minister of Health and Social Services.
I am sure that she isn’t hearing this for the first time; I usually ask this question in regard to the patients.
Perhaps the minister can update us as to who makes the decision of whether the patient has to travel with an escort, or without an escort. Who makes that decision?
Could the minister update us as to who makes the decision, and where is that individual who makes that decision?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
The nurse in the community examining the patient will determine whether, in fact, the patient requires an escort or not based on a number of conditions.
It’s that practitioner that determines whether a person requires an escort or not.
Sometimes when there is no escort provided, there is also a process in place within the department where the patient can appeal that decision. That then is referred to a director who coordinates the review of all the files for appeals for escorts.
I am sure that there are a lot of people out there who would like to get the knowledge as to who makes that decision, whether the patient is to travel with an escort or without.
The nurses state that they can’t make a decision for an escort or not.
So is it true that the head nurses in the communities are the ones that make the decisions on whether the patient requires an escort or not?
I think the point here is that the person examining the patient makes that decision based on the result of the examination.
The nurse in charge is who decides whether that particular patient requires an escort or not based on a number of factors; whether the person is able to get on airplanes or not by themselves, whether there’s a language requirement, whether the individual is a minor, a youth, a child, and so on.
There are a number of factors, it’s not straight forward, if you are traveling you get an escort, there are factors that have to be all considered in deciding whether a person requires a travel escort.
Those decisions are made by the nurse or the nurse in charge that’s treating the patient.
Do I have the understanding that if there’s a patient who is a unilingual speaking person in Inuktitut, who can’t speak English at all, whether the individual is a minor who is an Inuktitut unilingual speaking person, when this individual is being sent down to Winnipeg for treatment, if the head nurse says no for an escort, then the individual has to travel without an escort.
It’s not a straight forward yes answer to that because it all depends on the situation.
It could be the age, it could be the disability, it could be the medical condition of that person at the time, and it could be because it’s a child or a minor.
There are a lot of factors, but for the most part individuals traveling to the major centres, if they require the travel escort, then the decision is made by the person examining that patient.
It’s not a straight forward answer. It’s on a case-by-case basis, depending on the condition of the patient.
Once a decision is made, there’s also another mechanism in place for that patient to appeal the decision of a nurse. There’s a central person within the Department of Health that examines all of those appeals to ensure that the policy is being applied consistently across Nunavut.
The person reviews the file to determine whether the policy had been followed and all factors have been considered in making the decision to deny an escort.
My final supplementary question, the new policy that you are working on, on travel escort policy, and I’m sure that this policy is going to be used, standardized as a whole, for Nunavut, when will this new policy be tabled?
The plan right now is to have that policy completed by April 1. I still have to bring it forward to Cabinet for approval, and at which time after it has been approved, the communication strategy will be established to communicate to Nunavummiut what the policy is and how it’s applied.
In the past, there have been many concerns expressed around that policy and we are trying to address that in updating the policy.
Not only that, but at the same time, we need to go out and inform Nunavummiut of what the policy is, how it’s applied, and what the intention is on having the escort policy in place for medical travel.
So we hope to have that completed by April 1.
Question 123 – 2(3): Research on Polar Bears Due to Climate Change (Kattuk)
Under Members’ Statements, I made a statement on climate change, and I would like to ask questions in regard to that.
We’ve been hearing about climate change for quite some time. I’m going to be asking very short questions, but first of all, I’ll do a short preamble in regard to polar bears in Nunavut.
It’s becoming more evident that polar bears are becoming more aggressive to humans, perhaps due to hunger. I’m not too sure why they keep attacking human beings, but the communities are the holders of environmental knowledge; I would like to ask a question in regard to that.
Research is done on polar bears in the communities. Is there going to be research done on how climate change is impacting polar bear behaviour?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Environment, Minister Akesuk.
Yes, we’d worked extensively on this issue with the federal government when it was a Liberal Government.
We tried to review the agreement on how climate change could be dealt with. And also, our government was going to consult with the public-at-large to see how climate change has impacted our environment in the north, and also on our wildlife.
We have been and will continue to work closely on, and monitor climate change issues. I also attended a meeting in Montreal on climate change. There were delegates from the circumpolar countries, and we would like to be involved in that activity so that we can stay updated on climate change.
Since the minister said they’ve been working hard on this issue, when are you going to inform the communities about whether the environment is being impacted by climate change?
Yes, we would like to work closely with the communities because the impact varies in each community.
His constituency is the most southern community in Nunavut and it becomes spring earliest and the snow doesn’t set in as fast as in the High Arctic communities. So, the impacts on the communities vary, and for that reason, we would want to work closely with the communities, and let the communities work closely with the officials from the Department of Environment.
I’m sure that we’ll have to work closely with them, and once our government has a clear understanding, then they will consult with the communities.
The minister stated that he would work closely with the communities.
Would the minister tell me when the research on polar bears can start at the local level?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will be able to provide you with the dates sometime in the future.
At this time, I don’t have those dates right in front of me. So I would like to have a close working relationship with the Member for Tasiujaqjuaq/Hudson Bay as to how we can work closely with his constituency.
Question 124 – 2(3): Update on Providing a Tracking System for Missing Hunters (Alagalak)
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Search and Rescue.
Last year, I asked some questions in regard to search and rescue about using GPS locators. I wanted the department to purchase those locators so the hunters can make use of them; the hunters and people who go out on the boats.
My question is; I think that the department did something about that last year or the year before: what is the position of those locators at this time?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for Transportation, Ms. Brown.
I will try to respond to the member’s question.
In 2005-06, there was $390,000 to be used for search and rescue, for instance, to purchase global positioning systems, GPS, and first aid kits, as well as HF radios.
All those items were purchased for the communities in December of 2005.
That is the response that I have at this time for the members.
I am not talking about those GPS and other items; first aid kits, and whatever. (interpretation ends) What I was talking about is last year, I was urging the department to purchase or identify some of the equipment that were available for tracking systems, tracking people, tracking whatever equipment and all that stuff that are available today.
Those are the types of questions that I am pursuing at this time.
They seem to have been forgotten by this government.
It was recognized last year how important it would be to have this equipment available in the communities in the event that the hunters need them, especially the parents who doubt their sons and daughters to make it back or make it from point A to point B. For example, if we had this equipment we wouldn’t have lost those two people in Arviat last week.
That is the kind of question I pursue the minister to answer. What is the status of this proposal now?
I will take the question as notice. I don’t want to respond right away, I would like to research it. So I’ll take the question as notice.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister said she will take the question as notice.
Question 125 – 2(3): Number of Vacant Units (Tootoo)
I was asking questions earlier on the new positions that were recently announced here and the minister had indicated that they are working to try and make sure that people have adequate housing.
In our instance here in Iqaluit, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if he is aware of what our vacancy rate is. How many vacant Government of Nunavut staff units do we have here in Iqaluit that aren’t already allocated?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Minister Akesuk.
I don’t think we have any vacant units that are available, but we are working on leasing 40 units for this year to make sure that we accommodate some of the staff that need accommodation for their jobs.
As of right now, I don’t have the number of how many vacant units we have. If we do, somebody probably already has that place.
I do believe once it is done, we have people moving into those vacant units, if we do have vacant units.
My guess would be that there are no unallocated units here in Iqaluit, except for the ones that are under construction. And those ones, like you said, are probably gone already.
Under this whole process of allocated staff houses, does the department keep track or have a waiting list, or a list of people that require staff housing, specifically here in Iqaluit?
I believe we have a waiting list in our portfolio for housing. I can get back to the member on how many people are waiting.
I don’t have the list right now with me. I’ll get back to him as soon as they get the numbers.
We’re doing our very best to make sure that we have accommodations for our staff, not only here in Iqaluit, but all throughout Nunavut.
I look forward to finding out how many that is, and then once we know how long the waiting list is now, we add those; I guess it’s 26, or not of those new positions in the Department of Health that need units will get added onto that list as well.
Given that, how does the corporation determine, and I’m sure the waiting list is much longer than the units that are becoming available, how they prioritize who would get those units when any units become available?
As we all know, some of the job advertisements that we deal with say that housing is not available, but we do our very best to make sure that we find people that already have places to stay or a house to live in.
Again, I guess we go on to the top of the list that have been waiting for a long time for the housing. We go back to the list and the priorities of the job that that person staffed, whatever position it is, if it’s a priority for the government, we will probably have to accommodate that priority on the list.
I thank the minister. I believe he indicated that basically just whoever is on the list the longest gets the next place.
Given that, Mr. Speaker, and again, earlier he mentioned that there was a working group, I think is what he called it, that reviewed these situations when new people are coming on or getting added to the list.
My question to the minister is: given that most or all of the time that new positions are added on that is going to equal another staff housing unit, in most cases, that the corporation would be required to find or...is the department, or does the department give, or is it informed ahead of time prior to any decision being made so that if they will look where are we going to stick these people or this is our list and how do we address it? Is that something that the working group does? Do they determine...are they consulted prior to those positions being approved?
Like I stated before that the staff of the Department of Health and Social Services is working with my department, the Housing Corporation.
We will try and do our best to accommodate those individuals and to work with each department because employees are very important within our government and we try our very best to try and assist them as much as we can so we can have good people working for us. I know that there’s a shortage of housing, but we are trying to do our best to accommodate them.
Question 126 – 2(3): Tabling of 2004-05 Public Accounts (Peterson)
I was very glad to get his update on financial accounting because I noted that he is tabling the government’s 2003-04 Public Accounts and that’s 14 months, I think, after the statutory requirement.
I just want to point out that the GNWT and the Yukon have already tabled their 2004-05 Public Accounts.
So my question for the minister: can he tell the House when the Government of Nunavut will be tabling their 2004-05 Public Accounts that were due to be tabled by the end of December 31, 2005?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister for Finance, Minister Simailak.
I regret to inform the member that I can’t state when that will happen.
The minister indicated that there are a lot of initiatives underway to improve the delivery of the public accounts.