EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I noted on page H-18 of your business plan, you indicate that one of your priorities for 2008-09 is to “Assist with the creation of foster parent associations within all communities and regions in order to form a Nunavut Foster Parent Association...” Can the minister tell the House why she believes that it’s important to have foster parent associations within all communities?
In some communities, there may be no need to form a foster parent association because there may be no foster children in care.
The idea here was where there is interest in communities to form a foster parent association that we would provide the support to participate in that process.
The idea is basically to have foster parents provide a network of support among other foster parents, but at the same time, to also promote the interest in individuals wanting to become foster parents and then to have that information shared by foster parents to potential foster parents, and so on.
The idea there is to support that idea at the community level by supporting individual foster parents who want to form an association.
You indicated in your business plan that there are four community foster parent associations currently in operation. Can you tell us where those four associations are located?
Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, and Cambridge Bay.
Are they incorporated as societies and do they receive any funding from the department for their operations?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s a volunteer association from what I understand and they don’t receive funding to operate.
Can the minister tell us if the Department of Health provides them with any support in terms of meetings, disseminating information to their memberships, and so on and so forth?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: The deputy minister, please. Thank you.
Mr. Campbell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The answer is yes.
Part of our role as a department is to provide any organization with advice, support, and ongoing information sharing on some of these associations.
In your priorities, you state that “... to form a Nunavut Foster Parent Association that can later be linked to the Canadian Foster Parent Association.”
Obviously, you see there’s a great need for a territorial type of organization.
How close are you to forming a Nunavut Foster Parent Association?
I believe that is still a work in progress.
From what I understand, there have also been some representatives from Nunavut that attended the Canadian Foster Parent Association’s conference in the past for information sharing, and so on, in the merit of forming a national or a territorial one, we’re part of that learning process, and ways to also identify developing and sustaining local groups.
I look forward to hearing more about this association as you go forward. I think foster parent associations are a good idea. I have several constituents who are always looking for support in my riding.
It’s not an easy job and a lot of foster kids have issues that come with them, so parents need support.
With that in mind, my question for the minister is on the nitty-gritty of foster care: is there a maximum number of children that a foster care family can accommodate if they include their own children? For example, if I had four children already in my house, I have a three-bedroom house, how many more children could I take in under the Foster Care Program?
Prior to foster children being placed, I believe that the social workers are required to do home visits and home inspections, and determine some of those types of questions along with the overall foster parent suitability assessment before placing a child in foster care.
I want to follow-up on that answer; the minister had indicated that there is a screening process.
What does a social worker look at when they’re screening for an adequate foster parent family so that the child or children that are going to be placed in their care will be safe from harm?
There’s a whole process that is followed in determining the suitability of foster parents before children are placed in care.
Some of it relates to security clearance, medical, and so on, but I don’t have that whole guideline in front of me to discuss the details of assessing individuals for whether they’re suitable foster parents or not. There is a procedure that is followed by our social workers before children can be placed in foster care.
I’ve had constituents come to me in my office and complained to me that some foster parents are mistreating the children.
So, of course, it’s incumbent upon me to report that to the social worker whether it’s true or not. I don’t want to possibly sit on some information that might lead to putting the child at harm.
So when I receive that information as a MLA and I report it to the social worker, what steps does the social worker implement or follow to check out the foster parents to make sure that the child is, in fact, not in harm?
One would assume that the social worker would investigate those issues and complaints as a social worker to follow-up and ensure that the foster children are in a safe place.
If there are issues of that nature that are being raised, I would also suggest that they be raised with the executive director of each region to follow-up as well.
Having said that, I’m going to have to get the Director of Social Services to give me an outline of what steps are followed, perhaps for tomorrow to provide to the Members of the House when complaints of that nature come, what steps do they take to investigate the scenario and what steps are taken and what’s evaluated to determine a foster parent in more detail.
I can’t respond to the level of program information that the member is asking for today in the House.
I’d appreciate that information; I think it would be useful to all Members of this House because I’m sure every one of us here has had constituents who come in who have an interest in the safety of children and report their suspicions about foster parents.
Can the minister provide some information on what the daily fees are for a foster child and then would all of the expenses be covered for a foster parent to provide clothing, travel, and food for a foster kid?
I thought I tabled that report in the House that outlines what’s covered and what’s not covered through foster parents’ per diems.
I’ll just see if I have it here with me but I don’t know if I have that information here with me.
I believe that report was tabled in the legislature that outlines the fees, and recently, we had done a supplementary in the Budget Address to also increase the foster parents’ per diem rates.
In terms of what’s covered under payments, it would include a number of areas related to food, shelter, household, personal care, clothing, some recreation costs, there’s other costs related to the other additional needs that a child may need as it relates to health and so on, there’s additional funding that’s also provided to the foster parents to provide support to the foster child.
I would appreciate it if she could just clarify if that information was tabled, and then we’ll look for it.
But she’s reading from a page there, is it possible to get that information from the minister?
I will table, if I have not already tabled, the foster parent rates for the Members in the House but I believe I have.
I will double-check that, and if I didn’t, I will provide that information to the House.
Mr. Chairman, recognizing the clock, I would like to make a motion to report progress.
There’s a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
Your committee has been considering Bill 23 and the Main Estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Member for Amittuq, Mr. Tapardjuk.
A reminder of a meeting of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit at ten o’clock tomorrow morning in the Tuktu Boardroom.
Orders of the Day for February 26:
This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 26, at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Pages 2915 – 2987
Opening Prayer 2915
Ministers’ Statements 2915
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2928
Oral Questions 2931
Tabling of Documents 2953
Notices of Motions 2953
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 2954
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2954
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2986
Orders of the Day 2986
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2915
137 – 2(4): Local State of Emergency in Rankin Inlet (Picco) 2915
138 – 2(4): 2008 Arctic Winter Games (Tapardjuk) 2916
139 – 2(4): Hamlet Anniversaries 2917
140 – 2(4): Remembering Willy Laserich (Adlair Aviation) (Aglukkaq) 2918
141 – 2(4): 2008 Laura Gauthier Scholarship Winner (Picco) 2919
321 – 2(4): Polar Bear Season Open in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 2919
322 – 2(4): Management of Narwhal Harvesting and Marine Matters (Alagalak) 2920
323 – 2(4): 6th Day of Emergency Situation at Rankin Inlet (Curley) 2921
324 – 2(4): State of Emergency at Rankin Inlet (Brown) 2922
325 – 2(4): Lack of Mental Health Workers (Barnabas) 2923
326 – 2(4): Iqaluit Curling Furspiel (Tootoo) 2924
327 – 2(4): Metal Waste Dump (Peterson) 2925
328 – 2(4): Hamlet of Clyde River’s 30th Anniversary (Arreak) 2926
329 – 2(4): Iqaluit Speed Skating Athletes (Picco) 2927
406 – 2(4): Suicide Prevention Implementation Plan (Tootoo) 2931
407 – 2(4): Problems with Proposed Education Act (Curley) 2933
408 – 2(4): QEC Contingency Plans (Peterson) 2937
409 – 2(4): Management of Narwhal Harvesting and Marine Matters (Alagalak) 2939
410 – 2(4): Remediation of Old Power Plant at Baker Lake (Simailak) 2941
411 – 2(4): Polar Bear Surveys in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 2943
412 – 2(4): Mental Health Workers and Psychiatrists (Barnabas) 2945
413 – 2(4): Addressing Housing Issues (Curley) 2946
414 – 2(4): Double Answer on Study of Polar Bears (Kattuk) 2947
415 – 2(4): Update on Nakasuk School Closure (Tootoo) 2948
416 – 2(4): Reimbursement of Medical Expenses (Peterson) 2950
182 – 2(4): Towards A Representative Public Service Stats as of June 30, 2007 (Tapardjuk) 2953
183 – 2(4): Towards A Representative Public Service Stats as of September 30, 2007 (Tapardjuk) 2953
026 – 2(4): Extension of Review Period for Bills 6 & 7 – Notice (Mapsalak) 2953
027 – 2(4): Acceptance of the Report of the Integrity Commissioner Regarding David Simailak – Notice (Tootoo) 2954
Bill 27 – An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act – Notice 2954
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Health & Social Services 2955
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. David Alagalak, Mr. James Arreak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Honourable Levinia Brown, Mr. Tagak Curley, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Steve Mapsalak, Honourable Patterk Netser, Honourable Paul Okalik, Mr. Keith Peterson, Honourable Edward Picco, Mr. David Simailak, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Welcome everybody. Going to the Orders of the Day.
Minister’s Statement 137 – 2(4): Local State of Emergency in Rankin Inlet (Picco)
I wanted an opportunity to update the House on the emergency situation ongoing in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet has access to continuous but, right at the present time, limited power.
The schools have been open since yesterday and will remain open today.
All GN offices have been on rotating half-days as well and will be asked to continue to do so until all of the equipment is working and at proper capacity in the community. Private businesses are operational and are asked to conserve energy where possible.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, the weather is a factor as Rankin Inlet right now is experiencing some blowing snow and blizzard conditions.
As I said in the House yesterday, Mr. Speaker, QEC purchased a new generator for Rankin Inlet. There were, however, unforeseen delays in securing transportation for it as the First Air Hercules went mechanical yesterday in Yellowknife. At this time, we expect that a generator will arrive in Rankin Inlet later this evening or early tomorrow, again weather permitting.
As well, Mr. Speaker, First Air is sending one of their Hercs from La Grande, or LG-2, in Northern Quebec, to Winnipeg to pick up the transformer that is required and to bring this new generator online, again hopefully in the next 48 hours. Mr. Speaker, this is again dependant on the weather conditions in the community.
Mr. Speaker, once these flights land in Rankin Inlet, we should be able to have the generator online within a few hours and we will be back to a more comfortable level of power. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 138 – 2(4): 2008 Arctic Winter Games (Tapardjuk)
The Arctic Winter Games are a high profile circumpolar sport competition for northern and arctic athletes.
These games provide an opportunity to strengthen our sport development, to promote the benefits of sport, to build partnerships, and to promote culture and values. The games celebrate sport, social exchange and cultures.
They provide an opportunity for our developing athletes to compete in friendly competition while sharing cultural values from northern regions around the world.
The 20th Arctic Winter Games will be celebrated in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the home of the First Arctic Winter Games.
Many past participants will join in this birthday celebration as they cheer on our northern youth sharing in the spirit of the Arctic Winter Games.
Five generations of our young people will come together sharing our sports, our culture and friendship.
The Yellowknife Games will provide a great opportunity for approximately 240 athletes and cultural performers from Nunavut to interact with other youth from across the arctic world for a week beginning on March 9.
The focus of the Arctic Winter Games is still the same today as it was in 1970: “to involve as many athletes as possible either in the Games themselves or in team trials and lead-up events and to provide a forum of competition for athletes.” Our participant numbers in these lead-up events have steadily risen over the years and include representatives from every single Nunavut community.
I see this as a positive step in Nunavut’s growth, as these youth will become healthy, productive leaders for Nunavut in the future. The regional and territorial activities leading up to these Games ensure that our youth have the chance to be active and will help lead them to a healthy, productive future.
At this time, I would like to introduce to the House this year’s Arctic Winter Games “look” as modelled by athletes that will be representing Nunavut at the Games.
Please welcome Joe Kanayuk-Hockey and Chantelle Masson-Badminton.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): These uniforms are what Team Nunavut will be wearing during the 2008 Arctic Winter Games. I also would like my colleagues to view the pin sets that our participants will be exchanging with the other contingents and spectators at the games.
Colleagues, I ask that you join me in wishing all the participants good luck in their sporting and cultural activities and to thank all the staff and volunteers that help make these events happen across Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. We will be supporting our sports players.
Minister’s Statement 139 – 2(4): Hamlet Anniversaries
It is good to see the uniforms of our athletes.
I welcome everybody here and all the wildlife officers from across Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Hamlets of Hall Beach, Clyde River and Repulse Bay who will all celebrate their 30th anniversary this year.
Hall Beach celebrates their anniversary on April 1 and both Clyde River and Repulse Bay celebrate theirs on July 1.
Mr. Speaker, local government provides a great degree of independence to our communities and provides opportunities for local solutions and input into how things are run and administered.
This government has been working hard to empower municipalities giving them much more control over local issues and problem solving.
And on behalf of all of us here, Mr. Speaker, I wish to say to the Hamlets of Clyde River, Hall Beach and Repulse Bay, Happy Anniversary.
Minister’s Statement 140 – 2(4): Remembering Willy Laserich (Adlair Aviation) (Aglukkaq)
Welcome to the Gallery, everyone. It’s nice to see so many people in here today.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Health and Social Services I stand in this House today to pay tribute and to recognize the contributions of a friend, a northern pioneer, an individual who believed in the Kitikmeot region and long-term resident, Mr. Willy Laserich, who recently passed away on November 12, 2007 at the age of 75.
I first met Willy when I was a week old when he flew me to Thom Bay. My first real memory of him and his family was when we lived in Kugaaruk. Like many people in the Kitikmeot I grew up watching him flying and working in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, Willy had been flying in the North for over 40 years, and has made a tremendous contribution to the Kitikmeot, both through his business and personal interests.
During his career he flew over 2,000 medivacs within the Kitikmeot region alone, not to mention services he provided in the region such as charters, Search & Rescues on behalf of the government, sports hunts, picking up soapstone for local carvers, explorations and personal community services such as the famous balloon drops in his home town of Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, what stands out to me in the earlier years is when things were not going well, and Mr. Speaker, this makes me proud to be from the Kitikmeot, is that the people in the communities stood behind him and voiced their support for him and supported his efforts to operate an airline business in the region.
I have not seen one person – a businessman – in the region since, who has captured the hearts of us all, to have single-handedly earned the respect and support of so many.
Mr. Speaker, Willy earned our respect and people knew he was just a genuinely kind person.
To many people in the region he was like family, he is a friend, he is our hero and he was a real Kitikmeot pioneer. This is how we will forever remember Willy. People always came first to him.
Willy’s departure was sudden, but his laughter, his sense of humor and his passion for flying and for life will be greatly missed by us all.
I doubt very much that we will come across another businessman like Willy who truly captured the spirit of the Kitikmeot people and who means so much to so many.
Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to send my sincerest condolences to the Laserich family and to thank them on behalf of the Government of Nunavut for their contribution to the Kitikmeot and to thank them, Mr. Speaker, for their ongoing support in the delivery of essential health services.
Minister’s Statement 141 – 2(4): 2008 Laura Gauthier Scholarship Winner (Picco)
It gives me great pleasure to inform the House that the Qulliq Energy Corporation has awarded the 2008 Laura Gauthier Post-Secondary Scholarship to Joanne Kailek of Taloyoak who is studying for her Human Services Diploma at the Kitikmeot campus of Nunavut Arctic College in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, this year, Joanne’s application stood out among many great entries that were received.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Kailek is doing incredibly well in her program, is supporting a family and has a positive and active approach to reaching her goals.
In the future, Mr. Speaker, she is looking for a position in advancing community justice, after she has completed her schooling.
Mr. Speaker, Qulliq Energy Corporation has been awarding this $5,000 scholarship annually in memory of Laura Gauthier, since 2001, the year that Laura died.
Mr. Speaker, applicants must submit an essay as well as supporting documents, in the form of official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a resume.
Mr. Speaker, the review committee decides on a recipient based on the following five criteria: academic performance, career goals, role model qualities, and volunteer and leadership contributions.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Joanne, as well as the other students who applied.
I would also ask the House to join me in congratulating her and remembering the good work of Laura Gauthier and Laura’s contributions to Nunavut, the Power Corporation, and her community. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 321 – 2(4): Polar Bear Season Open in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
There is a conference going on in the community of Sanikiluaq, so I would like to welcome the delegates from Nunavik.
The Avataq Inuit Cultural Institute is meeting in Sanikiluaq this week and I would like to welcome them to the community of Sanikiluaq.
Mr. Speaker, the issue I want to raise is with regard to polar bear management. One of my colleagues has been requesting support with regards to polar bear management. It’s been over a week since we’ve been dealing with polar bear management.
The polar bear harvesting season opened yesterday, and they harvested six polar bears yesterday.
Al Gore, I would like him to go see them because there are many polar bears there now and he says that polar bears are stuck on the ice but I tell you the polar bears I know can walk through the ice, they can swim through the ocean, they can go anywhere literally.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that polar bears are not endangered in Nunavut.
These individuals who say that polar bears are endangered have never gone to the North, have never seen the polar bears, and they say that they’re threatened or at risk.
Yesterday, when the polar bear harvesting season opened, they harvested six polar bears in one day.
Member’s Statement 322 – 2(4): Management of Narwhal Harvesting and Marine Matters (Alagalak)
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to again express my concerns regarding responsibility for marine matters.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, I rose in the House in March of last year to address the issue of responsibility for the health of the marine environment.
Mr. Speaker, there is a feeling of frustration in the community of Arviat on the issue of responsibility for marine issues, including the harvesting of narwhal.
Mr. Speaker, although I recognize that the territorial government does not have the primary responsibility for marine issues, this is not always very clear to ordinary Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, the allocation of narwhal tags is an issue of great frustration for the community of Arviat. I recognize that this is the responsibility of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
I recognize that they have established a Narwhal Working Group.
However, I believe that our government and NTI’s new Wildlife Secretariat also have a role to play in working together to ensure that communities and HTOs have clear information to assist them in applying for tags.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that all parties will work together to ensure that communities do not feel excluded.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions with regards to this at a later time.
Member’s Statement 323 – 2(4): 6th Day of Emergency Situation at Rankin Inlet (Curley)
I rise today to state that just recently this weekend, on Saturday, my colleague for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove and I went to Whale Cove to visit our constituency and to find out what their views are. They are very patient and these individuals were maintenance people who have been working on 30 homes, but I had heard this morning that there are only three homes that need to be fixed, so everything is starting to come back to normal.
I also would like to acknowledge the individuals who have been working on emergencies for six days now and today is the sixth day since they declared a state of emergency.
I’m not too sure if they’re going to extend the emergency state to tomorrow because the hockey players and the people who are going to play sports have to be deferred.
We are very appreciative that more homes are being fixed but there are quite a few homes that have been frozen. My colleague and I had visited the communities but there was a home that was frozen couple times.