EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. Paul Okalik: They are contractually bound to provide the service and they are required by the contract to meet our needs and the patients as well. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I know they are bound.
I’m not saying that they’re not following the rules; I’m just saying, to be accountable for the funds, are we getting the service that is promised and who oversees that? That’s what I’m getting at with this.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Our regional directors monitor the contracts, visit the facilities, and ensure that they are following through with the contract obligations. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to go on to something else.
I’m going back to H-6. It’s under the delivery. It’s under mental health.
We were talking with the education minister regarding the training of mental health workers.
I was asking why that program no longer existed at Arctic College, seeing that the need is so great to have mental health workers in our community. I was told by the minister of Arctic College that Health is the one that contracts the college to deliver this program and that this contract was cancelled.
Can you tell me why this contract to provide mental health training was… ?
Why did you kill the project when it’s something that’s greatly needed?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I can’t answer that at this time because none of us were involved in that discussion, but we are having discussions with the college to start the program. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Angnakak: Maybe you can clarify for me whether or not your department is responsible for the ASIST program in suicide intervention.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We provide the funding and they deliver the program. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Angnakak: Will this contract with Nunavut Arctic College to deliver the ASIST program be ongoing?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We are funding it until June 30 and ongoing discussions need to be continued for space.
Those things have to be worked out with the college. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Your Mental Health Act has been identified as outdated in your business plan.
What is the status of the review of the Mental Health Act and amendments to the Act? What’s the status on that?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, this Act requires more work and we will be undertaking extensive consultations throughout our territory to make sure that this Act is up to date.
We’re looking to revise this Act to make sure that it meets our needs and requirements. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This was raised earlier as a question, but I want to briefly return to the matter and I stepped down from the Chairman’s role to ask questions.
I wanted clarification on page 110 on the top line item speaking to medical travel patients.
I believe it was last year where we brought up the mandate that caused a lot of problems, particularly our elder patients and the aged, as the policy now stated that even elders were to travel alone.
This has been very stressful and difficult for our elders in particular.
You are well aware of the background, as I have raised questions about this matter in the House to the previous minister, and that they needed some time to enact the changes requested by the members.
These issues haven’t disappeared yet, which has resulted in problematic situations for members of the public.
Has the department commenced any planning on this issue? I believe you answered part of the question, but in my role as the Chairman, you are also busy with other matters.
Can you provide clarification up to now, whether or not the Medical Travel Policy has been discussed and whether changes are needed?
Let me first get clarification on that issue.
Yes, that is a pertinent question and we are in the midst of reviewing the issue. If we are going to move ahead with changes, it has to first go through cabinet.
That is why I can’t provide a concrete answer at this time, but it is obviously a matter we will deal with in the future.
While on this selfsame issue, medical travel, perhaps it is somewhat related to the situation my colleague, Mr. Mapsalak, spoke to.
I will use an example I am familiar with.
In our community, we receive daily flights from two airlines. It is when the planes don’t land or arrive into the community, either due to inclement weather or mechanical issues, a number of medical travel patients have had their flights delayed and these patients were to attend to appointments outside the community.
In some cases, the medical travel patients whose travel has been delayed results in their appointment being cancelled and the end result is another interminable time period awaiting another appointment.
I doubt this only occurs in Pond Inlet, as planes occasionally don’t end up at their final destination throughout Nunavut.
Are the follow-up appointments rescheduled immediately after the patient is no longer able to travel?
I know you will probably state that yes, this is done, but I know for a fact that patients in Pond Inlet have had to wait for several months for another appointment due to the plane not arriving in the community.
This is part of our problems faced in this field. I would like to get some details on this issue.
I can’t respond to that right away because sometimes we get specialists like eye doctors who come in and other specialists for certain things.
Oftentimes they can’t stay up here very long and we know that causes problems. We know that causes problems for some people.
I don’t really have a good response for you right now, but it’s a very good question.
The issue you are speaking to, (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister, (interpretation) is true in that communities get specialists that visit the communities on occasion, such as the optometrists and other specialists.
I agree with this approach personally, as wherever we have the specialists visit the communities, it results in major financial savings to the government and it is also convenient for local people.
However, it raises another issue I continue to voice, as well as by other members, where a person who feels that they really need an appointment with the specialist ends up being on the waiting list and the list grows with every trip.
Although we get specialists visiting the communities, due to the interim period, some patients don’t see a specialist for many months or years.
I would really like more thought put into maybe having the specialist spend more time in the communities or to stay until all people needing to see the specialist have seen them.
This causes problems because a specialist is in town, but the person who wants to see the specialist may be themselves out hunting or on a trip and by missing this appointment, the result is another lengthy period before that person has a chance to see them.
I urge our government to review this further, as I know it saves our government large amounts of funds when the specialists go to the communities instead of the patients going to the specialist.
The other matter related to this issue that I wanted to voice which I feel needs to be reviewed… .
Let me return to my earlier comments. Hon. Minister, we have patients and I know of one elder who is in this situation, but I won’t reveal the person or their particular situation. That elder now refuses to go on medical travel since the department refuses to provide an escort.
That is an unfortunate development and that is how problematic this situation is becoming.
The elder really needs to be seen by a doctor due to their health issues, but the elder now refuses to go on travel, as they have requested an escort on more than one occasion. The elder stated that they required an escort and that they didn’t want to travel alone.
Since the department refuses to provide an escort, that elder refuses to undertake any further medical travel.
How unfortunate for that elder.
It is due to situations like this that are deeply concerning that I urge the department to review this matter, and I am fine with the minister not responding to the question, as I know my concern has now been heard.
As I said, we are in the process of reviewing this.
We will see what happens. When we have this review done, I will be able to respond properly.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): I will make it brief.
Indeed, this is a big problem for some communities facing medical travel when you have only one airline servicing your communities.
When I came from Resolute Bay, I flew down to Iqaluit.
When we arrived into Arctic Bay, there were eight medical travel patients on the list, with one person with severe disabilities, who were due to travel. Since there was no room on the plane, these medical travel patients were just sent back home. You face this situation when you have only one airline.
Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay only have the one flight they share, and it is exacerbated when tourist season rolls around.
Tourist season starts around spring and tourists book flights. This has another effect on our medical travel patients, as the tourists take up the room and the patients are bumped off.
This is quite disconcerting, especially in light of the person with severe disabilities who ended up arriving late and they were stuck with no ticket.
This is very problematic and requires resolution to ensure their needs are met.
Chairman (Mr. Enook)(interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Shooyook. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister.
Yes, we are aware of the challenge we face. Further, we encourage the airlines to expand their schedules and appreciate their changes, but they are private companies operating independently and we have no choice in the matter.
However, it is something we would like to see changed if possible.
The agreement will be expiring shortly in the future and we will have to explore options and ideas to review and present to the companies.
My colleagues, pursuant to Rule 6(1), I now recognize the clock and will report progress to the Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 16 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress.
All in those in favour. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Opposed.
A reminder that there is a meeting tomorrow morning at ten o’clock in the Tuktu Boardroom for the Management and Services Board.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters  Bill 16
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 26, at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Pages 1741 – 1795
Opening Prayer 1741
Ministers’ Statements 1741
Members’ Statements 1745
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1748
Oral Questions 1751
Tabling of Documents 1766
First Reading of Bills 1767
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1769
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1794
Orders of the Day 1794
Thursday, February 26, 2015 1741
093 – 4(2): Minister Absent from the House (Quassa) 1741
094 – 4(2): Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit Training Program Graduates (Quassa) 1741
095 – 4(2): Hamlets Moving Forward on Water Compliance (Sammurtok) 1742
096 – 4(2): Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq 2015 (Kuksuk) 1743
097 – 4(2): Government of Nunavut Operational Audit (Taptuna) 1744
098 – 4(2): Anti-littering – Decorated Bear Bin Project (Mike) 1744
206 – 4(2): Successful Search and Rescue (Joanasie) 1745
207 – 4(2): Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit Graduates (Taptuna) 1746
208 – 4(2): Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit (Kuksuk) 1746
209 – 4(2): Encouraging Volunteerism (Hickes) 1747
343 – 4(2): Status of Ministerial Approval of Arctic Bay Tourism Initiative (Shooyook) 1751
344 – 4(2): School Closure Policy Due to Weather (Enook) 1752
345 – 4(2): Nunavut Food Security Coalition (Akoak) 1754
346 – 4(2): Marine Infrastructure (Keyootak) 1756
347 – 4(2): Activities of the Office of the Chief Coroner (Joanasie) 1757
348 – 4(2): Status of the Debt Cap (Hickes) 1758
349 – 4(2): Compliance with Duty Travel Directive (Enook) 1760
350 – 4(2): Comprehensive Review of NNI Policy (Hickes) 1761
351 – 4(2): Staff for Corrections Relief Structure (Hickes) 1763
352 – 4(2): Palliative and End-of-Life Care Services (Hickes) 1764
353 – 4(2): Water Licence Compliance Issues (Joanasie) 1765
096 – 4(2): Response to the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts’ October 29, 2014 Report on the Review of the 2012-2013 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Kuksuk) 1766
097 – 4(2): Response to the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts’ Report on the Review of the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 Annual Reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Taptuna) 1767
098 – 4(2): Nunavut Wildfire Annual Report for the Period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (Mike) 1767
099 – 4(2): Environmental Rights Act Annual Report for the Period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (Mike) 1767
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2014-2015 – First Reading 1767
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2014-2015 – First Reading 1768
Bill 17 – Write-off of Assets Act, 2012-2013 – First Reading 1768
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2015-2016 – First Reading 1768
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act – First Reading 1768
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Health – Consideration in Committee 1769
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2015-2016 – Community and Government Services – Consideration in Committee 1787
Mr. Tony Akoak, Hon. Monica Ell, Mr. Joe Enook, Mr. George Hickes, Mr. David Joanasie, Mr. Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. George Kuksuk, Hon. Johnny Mike, Hon. Paul Okalik, Hon. Keith Peterson, Hon. Paul Quassa, Hon. George Qulaut, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Hon. Tom Sammurtok, Mr. Isaac Shooyook, Hon. Peter Taptuna.
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. Shooyook, can you say the opening prayer, please.
Good afternoon, my fellow Nunavummiut. Members, ministers, and the Premier, along with the visitors to the Gallery, welcome to the House.
At this time, I wish to inform my colleagues about the status of our delayed members. As of today, the Member for Arviat South, Joe Savikataaq, is unable to attend today due to inclement weather.
Furthermore, we expect him to be available starting on Monday. Additionally, the Member for Baker Lake, Simeon Mikkungwak, is also stuck due to the same weather system, so he is unable to be with us today. We expect him tomorrow or afterwards, as he is waiting for the weather to clear up.
Today, the Member for Aivilik, Steve Mapsalak, is not able to be here this afternoon due to illness.
Also, the Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu is not able to be here this afternoon either, but she will be back on Monday.
She has to travel with the Minister of Family Services, Jeannie Ugyuk.
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation) Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa.
Minister’s Statement 093 – 4(2): Minister Absent from the House (Quassa)
I say “good day” to my fellow Inuit and community members. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise members that the Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk will be absent from the House for the period February [26] and 27, 2015 to attend the FPT roundtable for missing aboriginal women in Ottawa, Ontario. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 094 – 4(2): Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit Training Program Graduates (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to congratulate the 17 Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit who have completed a valuable counsellor training program that supports their work in Nunavut schools.
Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit provide personal guidance and counselling to students to promote a positive attitude to education, personal well-being, and healthy lifestyles Mr. Speaker, this program is offered in partnership with Langara College in Vancouver, a leader in counsellor training in Canada.
Program instructors include long-term, experienced Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit, Inuit educators, experienced Nunavut educators, and Langara College staff.
The Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit 11-course training program has run over two and a half years.
The final course is being completed this month.
The program includes practicum experiences in the school after each course. Mr. Speaker, the program content includes Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values, counselling skill development, leadership and professional ethics, communication skills, and personal development.
(interpretation ends) This certificate program helps us achieve one of the goals of Qalattuq, the 10-year Educator Training Strategy 2006-2016, and meet the mandate of Sivumut Abluqta to “continue to invest in the education and development of all current and potential public servants.”
Mr. Speaker, this certificate program gives Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit the knowledge and skills they need to support the learning goals of our students.
I invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing these graduates. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 095 – 4(2): Hamlets Moving Forward on Water Compliance (Sammurtok)
In 2012, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) issued five letters of direction to the Department of Community and Government Services (CGS) and the hamlets of Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven, Cape Dorset, Hall Beach, and Kimmirut to bring their municipal water licences into compliance.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, since then, a water compliance working group formed with representatives from Aboriginal Affairs, CGS, the Department of Environment, senior administrative officers, and municipal engineers have been collaborating to identify common concerns surrounding solid waste practices and water compliance that affect all Nunavut municipalities.
The water compliance working group developed short-, medium-, and long-term work plans that were approved by the Nunavut Association of [Municipal Administrators] (NAMA) at their annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet in November of 2014.
We anticipate that the short-term plans will start to be implemented in all Nunavut municipalities in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to report to the House today that last month, CGS received encouraging news from AANDC when the letter of direction regarding the five municipal water licences was officially rescinded.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, a tremendous amount of work has been done to put together a strategy that will benefit all municipalities.
CGS is pleased to see that the letters of compliance have been rescinded as a result of this hard work and collaboration.
Although there is still more work to do to bring municipalities into compliance with their water licences, this is a step forward in the right direction.
Therefore, on behalf of my department, I would like to thank Aboriginal Affairs, NAMA, the Department of Environment, SAOs, and staff at CGS for their continued collaboration and cooperation, and look forward to a continuing this positive working relationship as we move forward on implementing these strategies. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Languages, Mr. Kuksuk.
Minister’s Statement 096 – 4(2): Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq 2015 (Kuksuk)
I rise today to tell you about Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq for 2015. Mr. Speaker, Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq is Nunavut’s annual celebration of the Inuit language.
This year, celebrations are taking place from February 16 until 27 and the theme is Tuqłurausiit/ilaruhiriigut (kinship terms), which highlights the important connections between our language, families, and culture.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, this year, the Department of Culture and Heritage provided Inuktut resources to every school, day care, and library in Nunavut, including books, flashcards, posters, and information about this year’s theme.
Mr. Speaker, in partnership with the Languages Commissioner, we are also currently co-hosting Inuugatta, a three-day conference regarding the past, present, and future of Inuktut.
The conference is being held here in Iqaluit, with events wrapping up today.
I would like to say “thank you” to everyone who attended this conference and to all of the people whose hard work made it possible and successful.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I call on all Nunavummiut to celebrate this important part of our culture and to use the Inuit language every day. Tuqłurausiit upigilavut, uqausivut quviasuutigilavut!
(interpretation ends) Ma’nalluavik, Koana, merci, Qujannamiik, thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Taptuna.
Minister’s Statement 097 – 4(2): Government of Nunavut Operational Audit (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) At the beginning of my mandate, I promised Nunavummiut that I would undertake a thorough external review of all Government of Nunavut programs. As part of Sivumut Abluqta, we are committed to “good government through the wise use of resources.”
Mr. Speaker, we need to understand which of our programs are working and which need improvement to better serve our public.
I rise today to provide an update on this process and how this review will provide improvements for all Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the request for proposals for this operational audit has been issued. We plan to award the contract for the work in the coming weeks.
As part of the scope of work, we seek input on the Government of Nunavut’s 258 departmental programs and 68 corporate programs.
The first phase of this review will be a comprehensive evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of this government’s operations.
The second phase of the audit involves a more in-depth review, which will yield results and action to improve our programs and ensure they are delivered in a streamlined and economical manner.
Mr. Speaker, this review will give us program information from an operational perspective to assess what we are doing well or could improve upon. It will also identify which of our programs are duplicative and unnecessary or could be delivered by the private sector or more suitable organizations.
I look forward to reporting on the progress of this audit going forward and being able to take real steps to improve our government’s client experience for the people of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 098 – 4(2): Anti-littering – Decorated Bear Bin Project (Mike)
Firstly, to my fellow residents of Nunavut and Pangnirtung, I extend good day wishes and to all of the visitors in the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, today, I am delighted to share with you a collaborative project between my department and 20 students from Cape Dorset.
Under the guidance of Department of Environment staff and with funding from the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, students from Cape Dorset decorated a number of wildlife-proof garbage bins with colourful designs. (interpretation ends) The bins have been placed around Cape Dorset to offer an alternative to littering and due to their construction, will not attract wildlife.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see young Nunavummiut actively involved in promoting anti-littering and environmental stewardship, and I would be happy to see similar projects initiated in other communities.
I have no more names on my list. Item 3.
Member’s Statement 206 – 4(2): Successful Search and Rescue (Joanasie)
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to the people in the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to rise.