EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
But as has been mentioned by my colleague for a number of months now, there are a number of legal requirements, financial statements, agreements, and annual reports, that all have to be tabled with the department.
We are still in the process of trying to find out what’s happened in the past. Then we’ll eventually find answers, but it’s apparently taking a whole lot longer than it should have.
But we will eventually find out exactly what is going on and we will come up with a way to make sure that those legal requirements are met in terms of agreements between the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and the KBDC. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 136 – 2(4): Passport Photos (Barnabas)
It was very nice to hear what the Minister of Immigration mentioned earlier in his statement.
I would like to ask him questions on passports. (interpretation ends) Will the hamlets have to pay for the cameras and the training?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. (interpretation ends) Give me a second here.
It all sounds so important but too bad there’s no budget with it.
What we envision is that we would be purchasing the equipment for all the hamlets, and would also facilitate the training of the equipment that would be used.
We don’t see a cost to the hamlet.
We’re asking them to participate with us and help their residents to be able to access the passport photos.
In his statement that they will train people on how to operate the cameras in the communities, when will this training start?
We would see rolling the whole program out in the next several weeks. First, we need to be able to purchase the equipment and then provide the training on the equipment, and have it brought to the hamlets.
So this will happen in the next several weeks.
Just last week I raised questions in regard to this and I stated that at this time of year a lot of staff want to go out on the land or on holidays.
I wonder if the applications for passports will be done before people start going out.
Again, the budget constraint of the government … after April 1 is the new fiscal year and so on. What we would hope, again, is we have identified what equipment is needed, where it is located, we need just to purchase that, and then arrange for the training program through different government departments, the MTO, or what have you.
That’s something that we’re following up on, and then it’s just a matter of handing it to the community, and at the person’s own convenience, they would be able to get the passport photo taken.
He mentioned that they will probably raise about $125,000 with the fee of $30 to $40 for a photo but this is the responsibility of the federal government.
I wonder if the minister had requested the federal government for more so it won’t cost so much.
The member makes a good point. As we have said continually, the member has raised the issue on the passport photos and several members have raised issues on the passport photos.
As the minister responsible, through our office in Ottawa, we’ve had discussions and meetings with our federal partners to see if they would be interested in helping us facilitate some of these costs, not only the administrative costs but the logistic costs as well.
The federal government was not able to come to the table in a substantial way with the dollar value, and that’s something that we will continue to follow up with our federal partners.
Question 137 – 2(4): Victims of Crime Funding from the Federal Budget (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister of Justice. On March 16 the federal government announced the new Government’s Federal Victims Ombudsman and new funding of Victims of Crime.
In their press release they said there will be new funds for the federal, provincial and territorial governments to respond more effectively to the needs of victims of crimes.
My question for the minister: can the Minister tell the House how much of that funding will be for the Government of Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Peterson.
That is a very good question because that is something that is badly needed, particularly in Nunavut.
But at this time, we haven’t been advised as to how much we are actually getting under that fund, so as soon as I get that I undertake to provide my colleagues the same. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The minister indicated that funding is short for victims of crime in Nunavut and I’m sure he’ll agree with me, that more funding is required. In reading through the press release, it is unclear, but in Nunavut there’s a perception that more funding is available for offenders who commit to the crimes.
My question for the minister: will the minister commit, using as much of those funds as possible, to help the victims of crime to receive counselling?
As I said during my appearance in front of my colleagues in Committee of the Whole, we’re looking at any way that we can utilize what we have on the ground.
Whatever resources that we can find elsewhere will be much appreciated in trying to provide services for victims in particular so healing can take place with the offenders and the victims.
So that’s something that my department is working with other departments, making sure that the law that we enacted will be implemented to the fullest for the benefit of all residents. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
After a crime is committed there are many more victims, and troubled victims. In the short term they receive help, but in the long term they don’t seem to receive help.
When I’m talking long term it could be decades.
My question to the minister is: how does the Department of Justice plan to implement programs to help the victims of crimes long term?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I stated this is one area that we are working on in implementing the legislation that we enacted.
We’re working with all the various departments, in particular Health and Social Services and Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
So, that is something that we want to do properly and we will make sure and will continue to make sure this part is addressed and make sure that it’s done properly throughout Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
In the regions we have regional law societies which seem to be established, more or less, to help people who require lawyers to proceed through the judicial processes.
I wonder if the minister could commit to the House to establish a victims of crimes organization in each region that will allow the victims to go there to receive counselling and advice on how to deal with their issues, short-term and long-term.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) This is one area we are focusing on and is something that has to be done.
That’s what we will be looking at as a department, along with other departments in our government in utilizing what we have and maximizing and finding additional resources that need to be found.
Unfortunately, the Charter of Rights sets out clear rules as to who requires representation and that is something we have to provide for offenders, regardless of their background. If they can’t afford one, they are required to have one, by government. That’s why there are offices that represent offenders.
In the same token, we have to do our part in making sure the families are healed properly so that hopefully they won’t re-offend in the future. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 138 – 2(4): Food Mail Program (Alagalak)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Food Mail Program.
I will talk in Inuktitut for a few minutes so Inuit people out there can understand my question.
In one of our sessions in this House, I talked about the Food Mail Program and how it is run.
We were told this would be clarified by the government to see how it is going to operate in Nunavut and how the people of Nunavut can utilize the Food Mail Program.
I wonder if the minister can give me some clarification on the Food Mail Program.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Alagalak. (interpretation ends) Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Okalik.
Yes, this has been fixed bit by bit, and they have never fully resolved this issue, I have told Minister Prentice that this issue is not resolved yet, I was pleased along with the Rankin Inlet people last fall when they could finally order from Winnipeg, and likewise here in the Baffin region we experience same difficulty because we have to order from Val’Dor when Ottawa is right next door to us.
Those are some of the issues we face, and I am sure Kivalliq residences are still waiting, but we are pleased for Rankin Inlet and we envy them, but we need this issue resolved, and we are fully aware of this and we will continue to lobby the federal government minister to resolve this.
Yes, it just seems like it has been since the time it has been brought up, we have been having problems.
I understood that there are a lot of people that write English and can speak English are already using it and ordering food from Thompson, Manitoba, from the Kivalliq region.
The stores have been given information about the Food Mail Program and they pay for the food but not for the freight. It is very good for them. However, it is not all like that here in Nunavut.
I would like to urge the minister to try to resolve this problem because we would like the Kivalliq people to have advantage of the food mail.
When do we expect this program to be resolved by the federal government?
The Food Mail Program was set up back in the 1970s, and it has been changed slightly last fall, and like I said to the member before that this issue is not resolved yet, and I cannot respond to his question on their behalf.
Mr. Prentice had stated in the past that this needs to be reviewed and that it would be reviewed, but I cannot respond when they are going to finish at this time, but I am sure I will need to bring it up again. It is not compelte yet, because we can see where the changes should occur, the funding they use seem to go to waste, because they have to freight the food from Val’Dor to Ottawa, and that increases the costs of groceries and the time it takes ruins the food on their way.
I am sure that Kivalliq residents see this occurring also. This needs to be resolved because the foods we order have to be freshly supplied.
Yes, I understand where the minister is coming from because this is a job that has to be done correctly. Can the
minister go and talk to Mr. Prentice’s officials in Ottawa to try to make sure this Food Mail Program is resolved so that the people of Kivalliq can get fresh food.
Yes, I think you understand that we need fresh stuff.
If you were to appoint a minister to have a portfolio regarding food mail ... I think if it was started in the 1970s, that’s a long time ago.
I’m not saying I’m old but that has been a long, long time. I was working for the federal government in Coral Harbour at that time. It’s almost 40 years ago.
So I would like to urge the minister to work with the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs to resolve this and to appoint a minister from your department, or from the Cabinet to deal with the Food Mail Program.
This is not a question; it’s just a comment.
If you have any comments, Mr. Premier.
I agree with the member because this is very important for our government, and I will continue to hold on to this portfolio because I want to show the federal government how important it is to our government and I will continue to talk to Minister Prentice and I will not stop working on this issue.
Petition 001 – 2(4): Medical Services for Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
I have a petition here from my constituents in Sanikiluaq. The petition has 200 signatures asking the government to maintain the community’s medical travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
I repeat, 200 signatures asking the government to maintain the community’s medical travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Reports of Standing of Special Committees.
Committee Report on Bills 001 – 2(4): Bill 8 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (Tootoo)
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has reviewed Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act,
and wishes to report that Bill 8 was amended and reprinted is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. I seek unanimous consent to wave Rule of 68(6) and have Bill 8 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The member is asking for unanimous consent to wave Rule 68(6) and have Bill 8 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
Bill 8 is ready to be considered in Committee of the Whole today.
Tabled Document 068 – 2(4): Leases and Article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement - Correction to Statement Made on March 26, 2007 (Okalik)
Yesterday, during debate in the House I inadvertently misled the House regarding the lease of property.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Article 24 does cover the leases of property.
I wish to withdraw my comments from the record and apologize for any confusion that may have arisen and I would like to table my letter to the members in which I correct my mistake.
Please bring that document.
Tabled Document 069 – 2(4): Tobacco Control Act Annual Report 2005-06 (Aglukkaq)
I would like to table the 2005-06 Annual Report on the Tobacco Control Act as per the statutory requirements.
Speaker: Can we have that document brought forward, please. (interpretation) Thank you.
Motion 008 – 2(4): Location of Health & Social Services Positions – Notice (Arvaluk)
I give notice… Location of Health and Social Services positions.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday March 29, 2007 I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Quttiktuq, that the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services bring forward a plan to establish the client services coordinator function in the department’s Pangnirtung office and relocate that office’s medical travel coordination functions to Iqaluit.
Motion 009 – 2(4): Performance Audit of the Department of Health & Social Services – Notice (Tootoo)
I give notice that on Thursday, March 29, 2007 I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Arviat, that the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Executive Council of Nunavut, pursuant to section 47 of the Nunavut Act, advise the Commissioner of Nunavut to request the Auditor General of Canada to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of the financial management practices of the Department of Health and Social Services and report thereon to the Legislative Assembly as soon as practicable.
Motion 010 – 2(4): Referral of Tabled Document 049 – 2(4): Discussion Paper for Ikummatiit – An Energy Strategy for Nunavut March 2007 to Committee of the Whole – Notice (Curley)
I give notice that on Thursday, March 29, 2007, I will move the following motion:
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Quttiktuq, that Tabled Document 49 – 2(4) be referred to the Committee of the Whole for discussion.
Motion 011 – 2(4): Censure of the Executive Council – Notice (Tootoo)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay, that the Executive Council of Nunavut be censured.
Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, and Bill 9, with Mr. Arreak in the chair.
According to the authority vested in me by Motion 4 – 2(4) the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out.
At this time we’ll take a short break and come back to the session at 1:30.
>>House recessed at 11:52 and Committee resumed at 13:34
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 8, and Bill 9.
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 1, and the main estimates for the Department of Education, followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Finance, and the Legislative Assembly.
Are we in agreement that we continue with the main estimates of the Department of Education?
Mr. Picco, do you have witnesses that you would like to bring to the table? Mr. Picco.
I’ll ask the witnesses to join me at the table at this time.
I will ask them to join you later.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials.
Minister Picco, for the record, please introduce your witnesses again.
I am very pleased this afternoon to have at the witness table with me the Deputy Minister of the Department of Education Kathy Okpik and on my immediate right is Director of Financial Services with the Department of Education Mr. Jeff Chown.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Picco. We were on general comments yesterday.
We were at Mr. Tootoo and Mr. Curley that made their general comments.
There being none, we’ll proceed to page by page review of the departmental estimates starting with page G-5 on the 2007-08 main estimates, and this includes G-6. Mr. Alagalak.
Thank you, Minister Picco, and your officials, welcome.
I have a question here in regard to G-6. (interpretation ends) Homelessness Secretariat, a contribution of $200,000. (interpretation) With this Homelessness Secretariat how many homeless people are assisted?
Where do you provide the contributions in Nunavut?
The Homeless Secretariat was under my previous portfolio in the other government of the Department of Health and Social Services and when I became the Minister of Education we transferred those monies to the Department of Education.
Pam Hine acts as the Director for the Homeless Secretariat itself.
Over the past 12 months we have been able to, as the members know, move and open up a new shelter here in Iqaluit, where the majority of the homeless people are located.
We’ve helped fund a study on homelessness in Cape Dorset.
We’ve also worked with the Agvik Society, which is the spousal assault, family violence group, to help them do a study on homelessness for women. We’ve also worked with the YWCA on issues of homelessness, specifically for women.
The funding line item is smaller than the previous year by $150,000.
We had extra funds last year; the members might remember to help facilitate the transfer that we talked about from the one facility to the other facility.
That’s when the transfer went from the Ilitiit group to the Salvation Army. That accounted for the majority of the extra funds.
Yes, we hear from the homeless individuals sometimes they’re homeless because of their doings and sometimes they’re homeless not at they’re own perhaps due to huge arrears with the housing association, perhaps they were kicked out.
This funding that is not used. If they need assistance in personal bankruptcy in order to … do you have any officials working on something like that, Mr. Chairman.
The member is correct in when we look at homelessness there are two broad definitions of homelessness: one is the absolute homelessness, and second is relative homelessness.
In the south when we see people on the street panhandling for money, for example in Winnipeg and Ottawa and so on, that’s known as absolute homelessness. They don’t have a place to live and they sleep on the side of the street and curbs and so on.
In Nunavut, we have what’s called relative homelessness. If people were walking around sleeping on the streets and so on in Nunavut they would freeze to death.
What we have is a situation of overcrowded houses where people may be sleeping 10, 12, 13, in a two or three bedroom house.
What this money here fundamentally is to do, and we are the only jurisdiction in the country other than the federal government that actually have a secretary for homelessness, is to try to help facilitate a place for these people to stay, especially in our larger centers.
Under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative Program which is the federal program, there is a little over $1million for homelessness over about four years.
That money has been used for the urban areas of Nunavut. And the only area that qualified was the City of Iqaluit.
In conversation with the Mayor of Iqaluit, Mayor Sheutiapik, the majority of the funds have gone into supporting the homelessness initiative, the shelter, as well as funding the soup kitchen and looking at issues around the food bank.
I would like to thank the Minister Picco for elaborating further on that.
It’s evident that the other communities are increasing in population, so therefore they should have homeless contributions because there are quite a few people that are homeless but they have relatives.
Just because they have relatives they have places to sleep. So do you as a government provide some funding so that these people can apply for funding through that? Do you have that kind of funding?
Yes, we do. The money that you see there is what we have under the Homeless Secretariat and if there is a need for extra funds then I try to reallocate that within the Department of Education right now to see if we can cover off some extra costs or needs.
I gave an example earlier, when we used money to help support the harvest program in Cape Dorset where they actually did a study on homelessness and overcrowding in houses in Cape Dorset. And as I said earlier we’re working on a program right now with the Agvik Society and the Canadian YWCA on issues surrounding hidden homelessness, especially for girls and women, in our larger communities specifically right now in Iqaluit.
Right now, Mr. Chairman, it’s important to point out that we do not have any facility any where in Nunavut for homeless women. The shelter we have here is 99 percent for men and that is a serious need in the territory.
Questions. Mr. Arvaluk.
I don’t know what I’m going to make a comment on.
I asked the minister if he would work with the Housing Corporation a little closer because they’re probably the ones who understand homelessness more.There are several problems here; we have working homeless people in our community due to lack of housing.
And the standard criteria that the Housing Corporation imposes, what type of home you should have for yourself; otherwise, it will not be insured or it will not be connected by the Power Corporation. There’s a number of things right there.
So I would urge the department to work with the Housing Corporation because some of these working people can’t build their own modest homes, like in a trailer park, or homesteads or something along that line.
Not necessarily a $240,000 house. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The member is correct, of course, and I would suggest to you probably 80 percent of Nunavut is still involved in public housing and so on because people can’t afford, as the member has indicated, to have a private home.
What the Nunavut Homelessness Secretariat has been trying to do with myself as minister, it is to try to advocate on behalf of and for homeless issues. And we were successful, as I said earlier, to be able to achieve some economies of scale with a little over $1million from our federal partner.
We have worked very cooperatively with the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Part of the study, for example, that we were sponsoring in Cape Dorset last year was to look at issues around the overcrowding in houses and how that affects not only the social wellbeing but the health of the individual and so on.
We are on Page G-5 and G-6.
I would like to ask the minister (interpretation) I believe we extended a welcome to you already.
I would like to ask you about the new Education Act. Is it being coordinated by the directorate? That is my first question.
Thank you, Mr. Curley, I appreciate your comments yesterday, by the way, especially when we were talking about reconciling some different ideas on the Education Act.
The Education Act, I believe, is on G-7 which is under policy.
Mr. Curley: Thank you. You know, this particular page also has a section on development of legislation and policy including other budget coordination and so on.
So I’m going to ask you, minister could you very quickly outline exactly the status of the proposed new Education Act from your perspective, whether or not you have a timeline now for tabling a draft legislation and if so when would that likely be done?