EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
For our grade 12 students to graduate they require 100 credits and there’s a mixture of different credits that they have to acquire. They have to receive 15 credits in English in grades 10 to 12 and each course is usually five credits. So to graduate from Nunavut as a grade 12 graduate, you need to have three English classes in your high school career.
As I went down, I was surprised to find that you don’t actually need any Inuktitut high school courses to pass and get your grade 12.
Is that going to change with the new Education Act?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, we will be making changes to that legislation.
It states in the Education Act that it will have to be changed because graduation standards will also include Inuktitut. We are working on those now. We are working on graduation standards and what kind of subjects that they need to pass in order to graduate, Mr. Chairman.
I’m glad to hear that. It kind of threw me because I know that’s something that we want to impress upon our students, to come out being bilingual, to put an emphasis on the fact that they need to get these credits to be able to graduate. Is it going to be phased in?
Are we talking two or three years? If you could give me sort of a timeframe.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): The work on this will have to be completed by 2011-12, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Are there any further questions?
(interpretation) Going back to page G-4. $1,713,000.
Chairman (interpretation): That figure has been approved, so we can no move on to Policy and Planning.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $1,326,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Going to page G-6.
Corporate Services. Education. Total Operations and Maintenance. $3,228,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Income Support. Total Operations and Maintenance. $3,733,000.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I need some clarification on Mr. Elliott’s questions earlier in regard to income support. He said that they will be working on implementing the Income Support Case Management System this coming year.
One thing I was concerned about is if an individual can’t find any other means, they go to income support as a last resort.
Why does it go directly into the Income Support Case Management System? I need clarification on that.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): My deputy will respond, Mr. Chairman.
It’s very difficult and challenging. For example, for the whole of Nunavut, income support workers write over 70,000 cheques.
In comparison to Canada, we’re the only jurisdiction that doesn’t have a digital case management system in place as we are still on the paper system.
Due to this particular practice, when we are asked to provide a report to the federal government, or to the Assembly, or to anyone else for that matter, we are simply unable to provide it right away.
We have to input all of the data into the computer, work on the T5s, and then that’s when we can actually get the information as to how many individuals receive income support and how much they receive. Therefore, we are trying to provide more training so that our income support workers won’t just be handing out cheques but will be able to provide clients with information on training requirements for a job or advancing their education.
This too is an important aspect.
Like the federal government’s Canada Revenue Agency, we need to work with them and we have to assess the individuals who apply to see if they need the assistance. That would be very helpful when we make a decision.
For example, if there’s a couple with one employed and the spouse comes in for income support and states that they are single, then that person becomes eligible to receive income support.
That is why this is an important piece, so that we provide assistance to those who are truly in need in the communities, and that is why we have to implement this and ensure that we lighten their workloads.
Because the recipients have to fill out forms monthly, this determines how much they receive in assistance. The questions relate to their income for that month, such as: How much income assistance did you receive?
How much was your child family allowance?
Did you look for work?
Those are various questions that need to be filled out.
They also have to bring in their rent assessments, power bills, telephone bills, and other bills associated with income to their monthly appointment.
This will allow us to ease the workload as well as the paperwork required of our income support recipients and that is why we need the Income Support Case Management System in place.
Yes, I understand the reasoning behind this. With that being the case, I have a concern.
If the income support system becomes computerized and this recipient receives support, then if they are successful in obtaining employment when the date of their appointment approaches and they inadvertently get income support, they will have to reimburse the funds down the road.
That forms part of my concern.
That used to happen in the past whereby the rent scale was included.
If I happened to have had a job which was used to determine my rent, even if I am no longer working, they would still assess my rent at the old scale.
This was problematic and continues to be an issue for some people.
I wonder if this scenario may happen again when an individual starts working. Won’t this penalize the individual, especially for tax purposes?
I have a concern with the automated cheque system due to this issue.
Ms. Okpik: (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For income support recipients, they will have to go to the office; they’re not going to be getting automatic cheques once a month.
However, where the advantage is going to be is that there’s going to be a close working relationship between the social workers and money matters, which will make it a lot easier to do all of these things.
Are there any questions on Income Support?
When income support recipients earn some income and it begins to affect the amount of support they get from income support, how does it affect the clothing allowance that they also receive?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, if it’s okay with you, I would like to invite an individual who works for the Income Support Division.
Sandy Teiman is here, Mr. Chairman, and I wish to invite her to the witness table while questions are being posed on income support.
Chairman (interpretation): My colleagues have agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would escort one of their officials in, please.
Minister Tapardjuk, if you would like to introduce your official, you have the floor.
On my left is Sandy Teiman, the Director of Income Support and she is very knowledgeable on those issues, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Tapardjuk. (interpretation) Ms. Teiman, welcome.
If you want to try and answer the question, we would appreciate it.
When income support recipients come into the office, whether they’re working or not, they all go through the same assessment process.
If they have income, if they’re single, the first $200 of their working income is exempt, and then the assessment process starts and all of their benefits are added or the needs are added in the assessment.
If they have more income than allowances allow, then they don’t receive anything.
If they have a little bit that they require, then we give a top up for mostly people who are working.
For family individuals who come in for income support in the same circumstance, the first $400 of working income is exempt before the assessment process even starts and then the assessment process takes place in the same manner.
So people might get some needs fulfilled or no needs fulfilled depending on their levels of income.
So if a family comes in and you’re using the $400 exemption, let’s say they’re at $500 income, they are still entitled to some income support.
How does this effect and how much does it effect the clothing allowance that they’re allowed?
Ms. Teiman: The clothing allowance is added in on the assessment. If they’re entitled to any amount left over, then it’s up to the client to determine whether or not they want to use that amount for food, whether they want to use it for clothing, electricity, or rent, whatever the top up amount is. We leave it up to the client to tell us what they would like to use the balance for.
Chairman: Thank you, Ms.Teiman.
That being the case, I’m assuming that 99 percent of the people probably want the top up with food because the amount of income support that people get usually goes to food. The fact that they made $400 or $500 separately, it has probably gone to food too.
So I can see how the program can prevent families from clothing their children under this program.
I’m just wondering if there is any way possible to re-look at the way this is done and to ensure that families receive adequate clothing.
All programs can be reviewed. Social programs have a huge cost and we are working very closely now that we are working towards the anti-poverty strategy. All of the programs under income support will be looked at.
Clothing allowance, I would imagine, would be one of them. So I look forward to working with the poverty working group to come up with solutions that don’t have too much of an impact on our fiscal resources.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Teiman.
Still on income support, if a person is receiving full income support on a regular basis and he owns his own home, how does your department provide fuel for his home?
If an individual comes to income support and they own their own home, depending on their age, we do have the Senior Fuel Subsidy Program.
So if they’re over the age of 60, we have that program.
But if they’re eligible for income support depending on their income, then a fuel allowance will be provided under the program.
For anybody who owns their own home, we do have a three-month review because we have to look at the fact if you own your own home, you should be able to maintain it.
So depending on personal circumstances, we look at each case differently.
But for three months, the fuel will be provided and then the review would be done and if they’re still under those circumstances, the fuel will continue.
If a person qualifies for fuel under the Income Support Program and goes in for his assessment, does the income support office phone up the fuel station and say, “Fill up his fuel tank”?
How much is he qualified for and how does it work to obtain the fuel?
Ms. Teiman: If an individual owns their own home, normally, we ask them to provide a receipt that they have paid for their fuel.
Most income support workers would not have the time to be calling a fuel company and saying, “Please deliver an X amount.” So we would do a reimbursement of expenses or if they come in and they say, “My tank is empty,” we would authorize them to go back to the fuel company and have that fuel company call us to assess the amount.
So it could be either or, but it depends on the caseload that the income support worker has.
It’s a bit puzzling when you say that you ask them to provide a fuel receipt in order to get reimbursed. If they’re coming to you in the first place, they have no money. That’s why they’re coming to you.
So it just seems kind of backwards that they have to fill their tank before they come to the income support office.
I’m just wondering if this program can be reviewed and somehow refurbish it so that it can be done vice versa.
Ms. Teiman: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (inaudible)… all programs under income support will be looked at during the poverty review. I would say that the majority of our recipients are not homeowners and are not employed, so it doesn’t pose much of a problem for people in public housing because the fuel is done in a different manner.
For those individuals who do come to us who are employed, normally, they’re coming in for the first time and they have already expensed money out for fuel, so we would do that as part of the assessment.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I’ll use my discretion as Chair that our time is up.
I know that there are other members who want to ask questions, but we will leave it for tomorrow, another day. (interpretation) Is that okay?
Chairman (interpretation): Are you in agreement that we continue tomorrow and close for now?
I was just wondering if Ms. Teiman will be here tomorrow as well.
Chairman: We will report progress.
(interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials out.
Your committee has been considering Bill 22 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress.
I would like to ask my colleagues to return to Item 4, Returns to Oral Questions.
The minister is asking the members to return to Item 4.
There are no nays. We will now return to Item 4.
Return to Oral Question 247 – 3(2): SPOT Locator Devices (Kusugak)
I would also like to thank my colleagues for allowing me to go back to Returns to Oral Questions.
I would like to return to a question asked by my hon. colleague, Mr. Rumbolt, regarding the number of searches where military and other aircraft were involved throughout the year.
Mr. Speaker, there were a number of searches with military involvement. There were five of these - four were marine search and rescues and one was a ground search and rescue.
The total number of charters by the Government of Nunavut for search and rescues involved six charters.
Of these, two were marine search and rescues and four were ground search and rescues. The total number of RCMP and aircraft involvement in search and rescues was one that involved a ground search and rescue.
A reminder of a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislation tomorrow at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Room.
Motion 16 – 3(2)
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Pages 1360 – 1425
Opening Prayer 1360
Ministers’ Statements 1360
Members’ Statements 1363
Point of Order 1366
Returns to Oral Questions 1368
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1369
Oral Questions 1369
Tabling of Documents 1387
Motions 1388
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1397
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1424
Orders of the Day 1424
Thursday, March 11, 2010 1360
110 – 3(2): Minister Shewchuk Absent from House (Tapardjuk) 1360
111 – 3(2): Update on QEC’s Nomination for Innovative Human Resource Practices (Tootoo) 1360
112 – 3(2): Airbus A-330-200F Cold Weather Test Campaign (Taptuna) 1361
113 – 3(2): Dental School in Rankin Inlet (Curley) 1362
114 – 3(2): Language Summit and Implementation Plan (Tapardjuk) 1363
167 – 3(2): Constituents Concerns (Aupaluktuq) 1363
168 – 3(2): Condolences to the Fraser Family (Rumbolt) 1364
169 – 3(2): Broadcasting in the North (Elliott) 1364
170 – 3(2): Thanks to Minister of Health (Ningark) 1365
171 – 3(2): Proud to Serve Nunavummiut (Aariak) 1365
172 – 3(2): Rankin Inlet Residents Beginning to Lose Excess Weight (Curley) 1367
Return to Oral Question 204 – 3(2): Teaching Positions Created by New Education Act (Tapardjuk) 1368
Return to Oral Question 212 – 3(2): Problems with Sanikiluaq District Education Authority (Tapardjuk) 1368
259 – 3(2): Status of Devolution (Aupaluktuq) 1369
260 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut Lobbyist for Devolution (Okalik) 1371
261 – 3(2): SPOT Locator Devices (Rumbolt) 1373
262 – 3(2): NTEP Graduates (Ningark) 1374
263 – 3(2): Opening of New Arctic Bay Airport (Elliott) 1377
264 – 3(2): Challenges Facing Municipalities (Ningeongan) 1379
265 – 3(2): Nomination for Innovative Human Resource Practices (Okalik) 1381
266 – 3(2): Implementation of New Language Law (Elliott) 1381
267 – 3(2): Funding for Upinnginiq in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) 1384
268 – 3(2): Fire Damage to Housing Units (Okalik) 1385
125 – 3(2): FPT Ministers Responsible for Justice in October 2009 (Peterson) 1387
126 – 3(2): Documents from the Public Registry of the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada (Okalik) 1387
127 – 3(2): Ridding the Arctic of Nuclear Weapons: A Task Long Overdue (Elliott) 1387
016 – 3(2): Moratorium on Purchase of Products from the European Union by the Nunavut Liquor Commission (Schell) 1388
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Education – Consideration in Committee 1398
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee 1417
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Paul Okalik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo.
Good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and all of the people of Nunavut, especially the people of Qikiqtarjuaq.
Item 2. (interpretation ends) Ministers’ Statements.
Minister’s Statement 110 – 3(2): Minister Shewchuk Absent from House (Tapardjuk)
I wish to advise members that the Hon. Daniel Shewchuk will be absent from the House until March 16.
Minister’s Statement 111 – 3(2): Update on QEC’s Nomination for Innovative Human Resource Practices (Tootoo)
Hon. colleagues, I would like to announce today that the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s director of human resources and organizational development has been nominated for the Innovative Practitioner Award…
… an annual leadership award from the Province of Manitoba’s Human Resource Management Association.
This nomination follows the start of a major transformation of Qulliq Energy’s corporate culture over the past 19 months.
The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s human resource team has undertaken a significant corporate analysis of the organization’s needs and following that, change improvement designs were created to move the corporation to new levels of performance.
Mr. Speaker, this work has required that the HR department approach the “business of an electrical utilities company in the Canadian Arctic” and transform its traditional, outdated HR framework into a progressive 21st century model of managing and developing a culture of talented and accountable staff members.
This nomination is an honour for the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Department of Human Resources and Organizational Development, but of equal importance, it recognizes the collaboration, trusted relationships, and vigorous support that the HR team has been fortunate to enjoy with the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s board of directors and president/CEO.
Without senior leadership believing that innovation, performance, and accountability produces excellence, HR could not have moved corporate cultural change forward.
The Performance Management Model now in place at the Qulliq Energy Corporation and its attachment to the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s strategic and business plans is a testament to the hard work and excellent partnerships HR enjoys with senior managers, employees, and the Qulliq Energy Corporation Board of Directors.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and ask all members to join me in congratulating QEC on this nomination and hope to be able to share our progressive corporate improvements with the House in the future.
Minister’s Statement 112 – 3(2): Airbus A-330-200F Cold Weather Test Campaign (Taptuna)
Good afternoon to you, Nunavummiut, my colleagues, and especially my constituents, Kuglukturmiut.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that most Members of this House are aware that in late January, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, conducted three days of cold weather test trials at Iqaluit International Airport with the new A330-200F freighter aeroplane.
Mr. Speaker, this was the first flight to North America of this unique aircraft and came only seven weeks after its maiden flight on November 5, 2009 at the Airbus runway in Toulouse, France.
The A330-200F cold weather test campaign confirms Iqaluit International Airport as the world’s premiere cold weather test centre for the European aircraft manufacturing industry.
This was the 10th Airbus cold weather test mission at Iqaluit Airport and it marked the 15th consecutive year that new generation aircraft have been flight tested in Iqaluit.
Cold weather flight testing, Mr. Speaker, reveals another dimension to economic development in Nunavut. My department is working with Airbus on future testing requirements for at least two other commercial and military aircraft, which, at this time, are in design.
The cold weather testing business requires minimal capital investment but yields immediate economic benefits through local provision of services, including accommodations, catering, vehicle rentals and ground support, and sales of fuel, clothing, and of course, local arts and crafts.
In order to continue this type of activity, it is important to continue to market the Iqaluit International Airport and place the airport solely in the customer’s mind and keep it there. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 113 – 3(2): Dental School in Rankin Inlet (Curley)
I am pleased to announce, Mr. Speaker, that Rankin Inlet is hosting a dental therapy field clinic.
This eight-week clinic is running February 8 to April 1, 2010, Mr. Speaker, and is funded by the federal government through the National School of Dental Therapy.
Rankin Inlet was chosen for this clinic by the National School of Dental Therapy in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
The last field clinic hosted in Nunavut was in 2002, in the communities of Coral Harbour and Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, this is a wonderful opportunity for Nunavutmiut to receive additional dental services right in their home community.
Students from the National School of Dental Therapy, under the supervision of their instructor, are providing free dental services to Nunavutmiut. School aged children are the primary focus of the clinic and adults will also be seen.
The national dental therapy program includes an Inuit and First Nations health issues course; and through field clinics, such as this one, students become more familiarized with Inuit culture and way of life.
Completion of the field clinic is a graduation requirement for all students of the National School of Dental Therapy.
Mr. Speaker, this school also seeks to enroll students who not only want to pursue a health career but those who also wish to make long-term commitments to living in and working in Inuit and First Nations communities. Therefore, this clinic will also provide an excellent opportunity for the Department of Health and Social Services to recruit and retain more dental therapists in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, my department is committed to providing appropriate oral dental health services, including prevention, treatment, and specialty services, to all Nunavummiut and this clinic helps us to provide this in the short and longer term.
Minister’s Statement 114 – 3(2): Language Summit and Implementation Plan (Tapardjuk)
I am pleased to report that the Nunavut Language Summit was a huge success.
During the week of February 8 to 12, 2010 in Iqaluit, nearly 300 participants came together to share their experiences in language revitalization and promotion, and help inform the process of implementation of our language legislation.
Inuit from several Nunavut communities came to Iqaluit, as well as from other circumpolar regions, including Greenland, Alaska, Nunatsiaq, and Nunavik.
People and organizations representing various interests attended the summit, including educators, interpreters, elders, youth, businesses, municipalities, community and Inuit organizations, and many others.
Francophones also shared their best practices helping to educate the government on their unique issues and challenges as a minority language community in Canada’s Arctic.
The participants truly felt empowered during the summit.
They have gained a better understanding of their language rights and have a greater awareness about its status and vitality.
More importantly, these participants know that they are no longer alone and that together, as Nunavummiut, we can ensure our language will and remain at the centre of daily life throughout our territory and for many generations to come.
As Nunavummiut, this is our goal.