EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Can the minister update me today on how many new units are planned to be built in Sanikiluaq in 2008-09 fiscal year starting this summer?
I’m not exactly sure how many units will be constructed in Sanikiluaq as I don’t have the information in front of me, but under the Nunavut Housing Trust, there are 725 units slated for construction in Nunavut. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Do I understand that my community will be receiving over 700 units in three years?
My first supplementary would be that the Nunavut Housing Trust Delivery Strategy is designed to provide training opportunities for our constituents and to learn important trades skills.
Can the minister indicate to me today how many training and job opportunities will be available for the residents of Sanikiluaq this year during the construction season?
Going back to the first question, we have 27 units allocated for Sanikiluaq.
Also, for the question on the Apprenticeship Program, we hope to produce up to 35 to 40 journeymen through that program.
Would the minister commit to me to writing a letter to my hamlet council and LHOs with an update on the public housing construction plans for the 2008 construction season?
I can commit to writing the letter to the member and his hamlet council on the progress over the Nunavut Housing Trust Program.
Mr. Kattuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) The first question I asked, how many new units are planned to be built in 2008-09 fiscal year starting this summer, is the question that I would like answered.
There doesn’t seem to be good news for Sanikiluaq in the 2008-09 construction year.
I seem to be hearing the number of units to be built will be reduced, so I will want to work with the minister on this issue perhaps during this sitting.
I haven’t heard any news that there are going to be fewer units built in Sanikiluaq. I think we moved some units to the High Arctic, I believe to Arctic Bay.
I believe I can say that the number of units to be built in Sanikiluaq will not be reduced.
Question 566 – 2(4): Regulating the Assignment of Rights under Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (Curley)
I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Environment.
Under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, under Section 5.7.34, provides that an Inuk may assign the rights to harvest to another Inuk, or to the spouse or person cohabiting as the spouse of an Inuk.
Subject to Section 5.7.3, it states that the person has the authority, under the local hunters and trappers organization, to assign that individual’s hunting rights with or without conditions.
I’m very concerned today about this since I think this section is being misused by our government.
I have been led to understand that the government’s conservation officers had put together an assignment form that can be signed by individuals, but I don’t think the government should have anything to do with those assignment forms as Section 5.7.3 states that dealing with assignment of rights is to be regulated by the HTOs.
Can the minister tell me how those conservation officers can work with the HTOs on this issue?
The conservation officers in Rankin Inlet are just administering this assignment without consulting with the HTO.
So I would like the minister to explain why his staff are administering this assignment.
I’m not aware of the government being involved with the assignment of rights.
Perhaps we can consult with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on how we can tighten up the implementation of the section in question, review assignments to check for abuse, and see if anyone is breaking the legal requirements.
I will speak with my staff in the communities and determine their involvement with the assignment forms. At this time, I’m not fully informed about this issue.
Yesterday, I said that this was included in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement out of concern for those with non-Inuit spouses and allow them to be able to give their rights to whoever is able to hunt.
We have started to see the assignment of rights for hunting animals that aren’t intended for personal consumption in the communities. When the assignment is transferred, the spouse harvests an animal.
This results in twice the number of animals and thereby limiting the Inuit share of that species since Inuit have quotas. Now that those forms are being signed, it results in a reduction of the Inuit share of quotas, such as for musk ox.
You have already drafted the regulations which have not been agreed to. The Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board are discussing this right now.
Before those regulations are approved, can the minister tell us when those regulations will be completed and recognize the role of HTOs under the assignment provisions in such regulations?
This assignment is an Inuit right and only Inuit can administer this right.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. Yes, I will work closely on this.
With respect to the regulations, at this time, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board is reviewing those regulations. Once we receive the recommendations of the NWMB, we will take a better look at it to make sure that the HTOs are recognized under the regulations. They will be coming back to us in a little while with their recommendations.
I would like to recognize the hunters and trappers organizations in the communities with regards to the assignment of hunting rights.
We will also work on strengthening the authority of HTOs within the regulations with respect to the assignment rights.
Mr. Speaker, I can say Inuit are not selfish when it comes to the need to eat and we have absolutely no problem with subsistence assignments. We just don’t want Inuit rights to be abused and end up becoming a trophy hunting activity.
This is happening in Rankin Inlet now and a wildlife officer showed me the list of names of people who had been assigned rights, including signed assignment forms for the people, when, in fact, they should not be agreed to.
We have to rectify this situation, especially when assignments are increasing in the communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to ask the minister a question.
There is some information available from the local HTOs.
Can the minister table something in the House indicating how many assignments are transferred annually?
Can he consider doing that?
I will talk with the HTOs in every community to make sure that they provide me with those forms and to provide us with the numbers of people who have assigned their hunting rights.
Mr. Speaker, I saw the draft regulations recently and they have this assignment of rights written in there. I would like to remind the Minister of Environment that when he looks at the Section 5.7.34, he has to read Section 5.7.3 to see who can assign their hunting rights to their spouses.
This is not in the regulations and that the HTOs have more authority, with or without conditions.
This has become confusing, so can you clarify this for the benefit of Nunavummiut?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I will ask the people who are in charge of the agreement to see how they can straighten this issue out.
Question 567 – 2(4): Social Workers for Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk (Mapsalak)
Mr. Speaker, both Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay do not have social workers.
I had asked a question on that to the minister previously, but we still haven’t seen a response and it doesn’t appear to have anything to do with the lack of staff housing.
Can the minister inform the House why we still don’t have social workers in the two communities I represent?
From what I understand, the social worker positions have been advertised in the past for both the communities, but the challenge is finding qualified individuals for those vacancies.
In terms of staff housing, that falls under the Housing Corporation.
I believe the staff housing is not an issue because we have two vacant staff houses that have long been available.
My question was: why have we not gotten our social workers in our communities for such a long time? There are a lot of people who require those types of services and the only services that they can be provided with is by long distance.
It is a disadvantage for those two communities.
What is the reasoning behind the delay in filling those positions?
From what I understand, the positions have been filled on a temporary basis through contracts and casuals. The challenge is finding qualified individuals to fill those positions is what I understand being the reason for not being able to fill the jobs.
Again, I do have meetings with my constituents and of course, they would like social workers who are acquainted with Inuit customs and traditions, especially they are Inuit.
Are you having a hard time filling those positions because you can’t find somebody who knows the culture and customs of those communities?
We do encourage individuals to enrol in the Social Work Program that’s offered in Cambridge Bay and in some communities.
I understand, in the past, that they had looked into, in the instance of Kugaaruk, to try and get someone from the community to take that diploma program in Cambridge Bay to be a social worker.
So there are other ways that they have tried to find qualified individuals to fill those jobs. In the interim, there is temporary coverage from other communities that travel to those communities to provide some support and/or through other offices in the region.
I will find out what the update is in terms of where they are at in finding someone for those communities, but from what I do understand, they had hired temporary casuals and contract staff to fill those positions.
Encouragement is always something that they provide to the community to have graduates go into college diploma programs to take on these jobs in the community, not only in the Social Work Program but also in nursing and mental health, and so on.
Does the minister know how much longer it will take to fill those positions?
Do you anticipate that it’s going to take a long time or would you be able to fill that position shortly?
It’s difficult to say when the positions will be filled. I can only work with the processes that are established within the government in advertising, interview screening, and reference checks, and so on, to try and fill those jobs. If there is no one suitable, then we have to go advertising again and follow the same procedure that’s in place under the Public Service Act.
So when can they be filled? We will continue to try and find suitable candidates for both Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk for the social work positions. I can only report back when those positions are filled.
Question 568 – 2(4): Elder Sent Home by Health Centre with Stroke in Cambridge Bay (Peterson)
Mr. Speaker, recently, an elderly constituent of mine visited our health centre in great distress. He was treated and sent home, despite his family’s concerns that he was very sick.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, they were so concerned that his family flew him to Yellowknife where he was admitted to the Stanton Hospital and diagnosed with a stroke.
He returned home recently after close to a month in Yellowknife and he returned home in a wheelchair.
Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister: can the minister tell the House what medical treatment procedures and protocols are in place at health centres to treat and diagnose our vulnerable and elderly patients when they come in for a medical treatment?
Without getting into the specifics of that scenario, I have provided to the member a response as to what happened with that particular person.
I’m not going to get into the specifics of it, but in terms of what procedures and follow-up appointments were made, from what I understand, all processes have been followed through by the healthcare professionals and assistance was provided to the individuals that were in need.
Mr. Speaker, the minister misunderstood my question; I didn’t ask her for specific details of a specific patient. I asked her what process or protocols are in place to diagnose and treat vulnerable and elderly patients when they come in for treatment. That was the question.
I didn’t want to get into the details of a particular patient.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, the medical research community has developed a special lab test that indicates symptoms of a stroke or heart attack very quick that can save money and lives. Damage to the heart, Mr. Speaker, when they’re having a heart attack, is permanent if a patient isn’t treated almost immediately.
My question for the minister: can the minister tell the House if the hospitals and health centres in all Nunavut communities are provided with and instructed to use a special lab test that can quickly identify enzymes and chemicals in the patient’s blood that are indicative of a stroke or heart attack?
I’m not a doctor to answer that specific question. What I can say here is that in a situation that transpires, the person came to the clinic and specialist referrals were made, the family was advised of that specialist referral, and the process to diagnose individuals were already in place.
A person comes to the clinic and the visiting doctor or a doctor in the community will diagnose individuals and take the tests necessary based on the person’s condition.
I can’t respond to what types of tests are done for what type of illness because I’m not knowledgeable in that area and I’m not a physician.
Some Hon. Members: Good answer.
Mr. Speaker, I’m sure if the minister would read, again I said earlier, seconds count. If I had a heart attack or stroke in Edmonton or Yellowknife, I would probably get treated right away. In the smaller communities, time is of the essence, so you just don’t have time to make a mistake.
Mr. Speaker, in regard to the tests, I have done some research on one such test. It’s called a troponin test, it’s expensive, and it can be quickly administered to rule out or confirm that a patient is suffering from a stroke or a heart attack.
My question for the minister, and if her officials are listening: can the minister tell the House if a troponin test is a lab medical test that Nunavut’s hospitals and health centres use when diagnosing patients exhibiting signs of a stroke or a heart attack?
We can read up on different types of procedures that are taken to treat certain kinds of illnesses, we can all do that, but that does not make us experts in this House to say, “Can we use this treatment? Why was this not used?”
I’m not an expert in responding to specific treatments for specific illnesses, I’m not a doctor, I’m not a physician, I’m not licensed to even respond to that type of questioning in the House.
What I can do is take that member’s question and ask Dr. MacDonald, who oversees the physicians in Nunavut, who is licensed to practice, who’s got the education to respond to the member’s question.
I would appreciate it if she would do that. Nobody has ever accused the minister or any minister in this House of being an expert in that particular area. They become a minister because someone has to be accountable for their department and answer the questions that are asked.
When I ask a question, it’s not Keith Peterson asking the question, I’m asking on behalf of the constituents.
I think all the members on this side ask on behalf of constituents, and then the minister hears the question, or her officials hear the question, and hopefully we get the answers.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister: will the minister explain to the House how Health and Social Services investigates those medical files where an individual or family files a complaint to ensure that proper diagnostic procedures were followed with a view to approving future diagnosis treatment for Nunavut residents?
I understand the member represents constituents.
The point that I’m trying to make here is that I cannot respond to questions related to what treatment is provided for a stroke or a heart attack, or what procedures are taken to treat a heart attack or a stroke.
I’m not an expert in that field, and I commit to the member that I can take that question and get my staff to respond to it.
I have correspondence here that responded to every question that the member has raised related to his constituents. In that particular scenario, I had also committed to providing the information to the doctor responsible for physicians to examine the file.
In every question the member raises with me, I respond to it. Physicians and nurses review each file. Without breaching confidentiality, I try and provide that information to the member.
So I understand he represents constituents, I understand I’m responsible for responding, and I have responded in all those instances in Cambridge Bay.
And so what I can say is that there is a process in place within the Department of Health when there is a concern in regard to a person’s file or diagnosis, there are steps in place to address that, whether it be for doctors or for nurses. In the matter in that particular file, that matter was referred to Dr. MacDonald for review.
We will proceed with our Orders of the Day.
Reply to Opening Address 001 – 2(4): Mr. James Arreak (Arreak)
I wanted to have unlimited time because we have limited time during Members’ Statements.
Mr. Speaker, we Inuit have lived in this area for thousands of years and we depend on wildlife for clothing, food, and other necessities.
When research is conducted up here, Inuit are always told that the population of this species of animal is declining, for example, with polar bears and say that they have studied them for 35 years.
They’re saying 35 years of research, but they only conduct these studies during a very short period of time during each year. We disagree with their assessment that they have 35 years of studies because they do not even spend the whole summer conducting research. One month or two of studies during a year does not constitute a period of a year.
Therefore, if you add these months over the 35 years, it only totals a few years, then they make the assessment that the population is declining.
Perhaps they should be asking the year-round residents about what their observations are, but when they conduct these studies, they become what we call instant experts. After only a few months of research under their belts, they assume that they know everything there is to know about that species.
As an example, the people who live in the United States have listed the polar bear as threatened and they are getting this information from these instant experts or scientists who live year-round in the States. They probably have no idea where the Arctic is and yet, they are the experts who have no idea about our climate and the wildlife.
As well, based on that information from April 30, 2007, the previous minister wanted a study done on polar bears to see if the population was declining and they even held a hearing on whether they should reduce the quotas. The quota for Baffin Bay is currently set at 105. The two communities comprising my constituency, Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq, will be adversely affected by this if the quota is cut.
The present quota is 105 for the Baffin Bay polar bear population and they wanted to decrease it to 64 or lower, to half of the existing quota, or totally remove the quota. These are the options that they are reviewing.
When they make a decision, you always hear that they used Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and although the government states that they will use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in their assessments, I do not believe it. This is because Inuit keep saying that the population of the polar bear is not declining, the population is increasing because we live up here.
This stated position is not the case since the scientists are only trying to support the American argument that polar bears are declining and this is all based on a hypothetical theory.
Some of my childhood memories include times when non-Inuit first started coming up to oversee the new communities, we were advised, “You are not to hunt caribou” or “You may only kill one caribou for the entire year.”
This was advice from our southern wards who were the so-called wildlife managers.
However, Inuit kept stating that after a specific period, the caribou will return because they migrate around the island, and that they would return in numbers. Back then, we used only Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and we also adhered to our Inuit beliefs. Inuit have been proved to be correct in their knowledge and they were not wrong then either.
Inuit were also told afterwards that they could not hunt geese anymore, or certain migratory birds which were not allowed to be harvested in big numbers.
The hunters would state that the animals have changed their land use patterns but that they would return when the conditions are right and that the government would have to use public money to cull these birds.
The birds are numerous and can increase in a short time, especially geese.
Inuit have also been correct about the geese issue as well.
Shortly thereafter, Inuit were advised that the bowhead whale population was declining, that they were on the verge of becoming extinct. They stated that in the entire Eastern Arctic, as well as in the seas adjacent to our community, there were only about 300 bowhead whales. Today, Clyde River residents can tell you that if you go to this particular area, you can see about 300 in one day.
Of course, the scientists never believed the Inuit about that either and just sloughed off these comments.
Lo and behold, the scientists have now advised Inuit that there were about 14,000 bowheads and then shortly after that, they were estimating that there may be up to 43,000 bowhead whales. Inuit kept notifying the scientists that the bowhead whale population was increasing dramatically.
Now, the scientists have had to eat those words about the declining bowhead whale population, and they had to admit that they were wrong and that Inuit were correct in their traditional knowledge.
Inuit started advising scientists that the ivory seagulls were declining in the High Arctic, whereas not one scientist advised Inuit that this population was decreasing, and yet, they call these scientists the experts. When a population estimate was finally conducted, it proved once again that Inuit were correct and that indeed, the ivory seagull population was in decline.
Inuit always know when there is a decline in the animals that they harvest, or conversely when there is an increase in populations, and will continue to advise whoever is managing that species about these changes in numbers.
Inuit also tell their fellow hunters that they should not hunt a certain species due to low population numbers. Inuit will continue to advise these transient experts about any changes, but we should manage our wildlife ourselves in Nunavut and not depend on the mistaken assumptions of southerners.
The polar bear population is not declining. That is a continual statement of Inuit in the communities and I believe their assessment and that they will again be proven right. Inuit state that polar bears in Baffin Bay are getting skinnier due to too many bears competing for the same food and they start going everywhere because there are too many of them.
Recently, we were told by the Americans that they wanted to list polar bears as threatened. Inuit think otherwise and we want our concerns heard.
I believe, from 1954 to 1957, when Eisenhower was the President, the Americans built many DEW line sites.
I believe there were 58 sites to protect the continent southern populations. The agreement was between Canada and the United States.
Those agreements and radar installations are still in place, albeit with some upgrades. They’re welcome to come here and they will always be welcome. And the people who pass this kind of legislation are using Inuit land, so they should listen to Inuit.
Inuit always hunted with proper management. It is not the Inuit way to completely deplete any kind of wildlife.
We want this to be known by outsiders.
On a separate topic, the issue of suicide, we often hear people say that the members or the government is not addressing the high number of suicides and that they need to do more.
We cannot address the underlying reasons for suicide here in this House.