EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, a little over two years ago, the government announced that it would be undertaking a “comprehensive review” of the NNI Policy in cooperation with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
At that time, the government announced that it would also be conducting a “comprehensive internal review of public procurement practices.”
On September 16 of last year, the report of the NNI Review Committee was formally tabled in the Legislative Assembly. This report contained recommendations on almost two dozen issues.
Can the minister update the House today on what the government’s next steps are with respect to the review of the NNI Policy?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for asking that question.
There were many issues we had to review in the NNI Policy. This policy is administered by my department and continues with this responsibility.
There are still some final issues to be completed. That is all I can respond with to my colleague’s question.
One of the recommendations in the report of the NNI Review Committee was that the government’s current system of bid adjustments for Inuit owned firms, Nunavut businesses, and local businesses should be restructured. Can the minister indicate what the government’s position is on this recommendation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member again. As per my earlier response, the NNI Policy stems from requirements under the land claims, and this government isn’t solely responsible in this review.
As my colleague is well aware, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated has been our partner in this review of the issues that need to be included in this policy.
There are many different matters that are included which cuts across most departments that also have to adhere to this policy. Working with so many different departments has slowed down the process and we aren’t quite finished with that comprehensive review. Thank you.
While I understand and realize that your department is not the only member of this review committee, there are a number of recommendations that were brought forward in the comprehensive review that was tabled last year.
One of the other recommendations in the report was that the current system of bonuses and penalties under the NNI Policy should be reviewed.
Can the minister indicate what decisions the government has made in this area?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member again.
I prefer to table an entire document wherever possible, as we are the responsible department.
As per my earlier response, there are still some issues that haven’t been resolved in this comprehensive review.
Question 088 – 4(1): Status of Old Airport Terminal Building in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
As the minister will be aware, the old airport terminal building in Sanikiluaq has been abandoned for over a decade.
The municipality was using it as a cold storage facility until about five years ago.
However, the municipality was informed last year that asbestos is present in the building. Consequently, the community wants to see the building disposed of.
Can the minister indicate what the timetable is for disposing of the old airport terminal building in Sanikiluaq?
There were quite a number of old airports that had to be removed and Sanikiluaq was one of the communities included.
Mr. Speaker, whenever any type of work is needed in an airport, we have to always keep public safety in mind.
Inspections are very important, especially in looking for hazardous materials in a building’s foundation. Those have to be dealt with first.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt.
As I noted in the preamble to my question, the community of Sanikiluaq has concerns about the presence of asbestos in the old airport terminal building.
The GN has known about this for at least a year now.
Can the minister indicate whether his department will undertake an inspection of the old airport terminal building to determine the extent of the problem?
As I said earlier, the foundations of the old airports will have to be removed in the identified communities, and my colleague’s community is included in that work. Hazardous material removal is very regulation-intensive.
Even the old foundations have to be cleaned up if there are hazardous materials in the buildings, so remediation includes the lands as well.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt.
Will the minister commit to providing a formal written update to the Municipality of Sanikiluaq on the status of this issue?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I again thank the member for his question.
This is part of the mandate of my department, and once I have researched the issue and, if a written report can be completed, then I will ask that an update be given to your community.
Question 089 – 4(1): IQ Principles and Values (Shooyook)
My question is for the Minister of Culture and Heritage.
With respect to Inuit culture, are we receiving the proper support as it relates to traditional social protocols in Inuit society for the people of Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr. Okalik.
The issue is quite complicated and involves a depth of cultural knowledge, especially in how the question was asked.
I believe this is more of an overall government operational issue. However, the Department of Culture and Heritage has developed plans on how to incorporate more of our Inuit societal values throughout the Government of Nunavut.
I also tabled a report that was put together last year on what the departments and agencies have undertaken in the implementation of the values. I know that this list isn’t complete, but it was a start to see where we are on Inuit societal values and what direction we need to pursue. We will continue to be open for further direction.
I really wish to be enlightened with absolute certainty by the minister if he has fully supported the wishes of Inuit in Nunavut on their social practices.
It has become very urgent in light of the fact that we are unable to change many social practices in place today.
The social practices we had back when our way of life was still untouched, even if we applied a part of them today, it would have a tremendous positive impact because that knowledge still lives today.
Yes, we are well aware that it could be very beneficial if it was further implemented.
In our own department, we are all working toward a representative workforce in our government. We also have a committee that advises us on what we, as a government and as a department, should be doing in implementing Inuit societal values. The committee advises us on a regular basis on what more we should be doing in each individual department.
We keep pushing towards that direction, but we are keenly aware we’re not moving fast enough as there are a lot of things we are required to carry out in our departments.
On the basis of Inuit social practices, I will not be opposing what direction is taken. However, this system has to be repaired.
We know that Inuit social practices worked before changes brought into the modern era took effect. Our life was not perfect by any means, but we had mechanisms to bring about resolution of conflicts among the families.
It also allowed us to have a leadership structure with the father as head, mediator, and counsellor.
Today, when so many different social practices are a part of our life, it creates a daunting atmosphere of mutual mistrust when one set of social practices are irreconcilable with the other.
It is only when the Inuit and non-Inuit social practices can come to a working co-existence and harmonized can we finally start to bring about lasting healing.
That is why I will continue to press hard on this issue during my time here in this House until that relationship has been established.
To that end, I will persist in raising questions because the traditional ways are increasingly necessary to bring about social peace.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr. Okalik.
I am very pleased that the member will keep on pressuring our government.
Yes, we need to better represent everyone and we need to keep trying new things until we find those that work.
Some of what worked in the past have been lost or misplaced to some degree.
In the past, I have tabled what things we are trying to do in this House and using this issue as a starting point with the participation of all departments. Those goals have been established for each individual department, so I am eager to work closely towards this goal.
The member is far more wise and knowledgeable than I am on traditional Inuit knowledge, so I urge him to never stop giving us direction.
Question 090 – 4(1): The Need for Early Childhood Education (Mikkungwak)
Today, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement earlier today, I spoke of the great need for (interpretation ends) early childhood education programming in the community of Baker Lake.
Can the minister explain how his department assesses the need for early childhood programming across Nunavut’s communities?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Welcome to the Gallery, former MLA for Hudson Bay, Mr. Kattuk.
The Hon. Minister of Education, Mr. Quassa.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The department offers support for early childhood programs and services through various programs like licensed child care facility programs, healthy children initiatives, and we do provide funding for the district education authorities’ childhood education programs in every community.
We do support programs such as Young Parents Stay Learning and early childhood education training.
As of now, we have 32 daycares in Nunavut and I can break that down by the regions.
For example, we have 10 approved early childhood education programs in the Kitikmeot, we have 2 in the Kivalliq and then we have 11 in Qikiqtani.
In total, again, that’s 23 early childhood programs that the department provides.
As I was saying earlier, it is the local district education authorities that do make applications to the department to provide early childhood programs. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to thank the hon. minister for his answer. As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, the Aupilarturvik coordinators have put in a request for support to reinstate their early childhood education program in Baker Lake.
Can the minister describe how his department reviews applications under the Healthy Children Initiative and how long it takes before a decision is made to provide funding?
With respect to your question, as per my earlier response, the local district education authorities are the bodies that have to apply for these programs, although I haven’t personally seen any requests from Baker Lake.
The funds are set annually for the entire year and part of that comes from local school plans.
I can also state now that all new schools constructed will include a daycare centre as well as (interpretation ends) early childhood education. (interpretation) Due to these reasons, that initiative continues, but I am quite happy to make a statement about the fact that all new schools will include these daycare facilities specific to our high schools.
To date, we do set aside monies that will be budgeted for district education authorities and we set aside $1.6 million for this purpose.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to thank the hon. minister for his response once again.
There is a desperate need for early childhood education programs in Baker Lake.
Will the minister commit to having his departmental officials review the Aupilarturvik proposal as soon possible and get this project up and running?
We receive proposals from most communities in all regions and they are carefully scrutinized. Also, I can inform my colleague representing Baker Lake that their proposal will be reviewed carefully when the proposal is submitted to our department.
Question 091 – 4(1): Public Agencies Council (Angnakak)
The mandate of the Public Agencies Council is to support the cabinet and the Financial Management Board “regarding matters of governance for public agencies,” which includes all of our government’s territorial Crown corporations.
Can the minister describe what specific priorities the Public Agencies Council is currently working on under his leadership?
The Public Agencies Council hasn’t met this year yet, but one of my priorities is to look at giving the Public Agencies Council more teeth. Currently, we just make recommendations to ministers. I would like it to have a bit more teeth so that when we do actually advise the minister, he knows they have the full support of the Public Agencies Council and cabinet.
Ms. Angnakak: On September 17 of last year, the Minister of Finance tabled the 2013-14 annual letters of expectation that were sent to the relevant chairpersons of the government’s major territorial corporations and Crown agencies.
These letters of expectation outlined a number of goals and priorities for each public agency.
One of the specific priorities contained in the letter of expectation to the Qulliq Energy Corporation was for the QEC to, and I quote, “continue to seek alternatives to diesel fuel for electricity generation, concentrating on renewable energy sources in Nunavut, such as hydro, wind and solar power.”
Can the minister confirm that the Public Agencies Council will ensure that this priority is included in the upcoming 2014-15 Letter of Expectation to the Qulliq Energy Corporation?
I will assure the member that when we do meet with the minister responsible for public agencies, we will discuss their business plans for upcoming years and the status of some of the initiatives underway.
If the minister responsible gives us some information that is a priority, I will ensure that that is in the letter of expectation.
Each of Nunavut’s territorial corporations and Crown agencies has its own minister, as well as a board of directors or board of governors.
One of the responsibilities of these boards is to provide oversight and strategic direction to the corporation or agency.
In circumstances where the priorities of a given board are different from those of the Public Agencies Council, can the minister clarify the process for resolving the differences?
As I had indicated earlier, the public agency only makes recommendations to the minister. The minister is overall responsible for the public agency.
I believe it would be in the best interest of the minister and the public agency itself to resolve the issue.
If the minister needs additional assistance or advice, then they can come to the Public Agencies Council for that assistance.
Question 092 – 4(1): Supporting our Nunavut Nursing Graduates (Hickes)
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, the Nunavut Nursing Program has been delivered at Arctic College for a number of years now with the intent to have our own Nunavummiut helping to provide health care in Nunavut.
Can the minister clarify whether the intent of Nunavut’s Nursing Program is to have certified nurses who are able to work in health centres across Nunavut’s communities and, if so, what extra support is provided to these newly qualified nurses to mentor them as they begin their careers?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for raising that issue through his questions.
The students who take the Nursing Program at Nunavut Arctic College are prime examples of how we want to see a measure of success, to see them take local positions in their health centres.
It is obvious that improvements are required in these types of programs since we need to support our nurses in Nunavut, especially if we want nurses to work in health centres in the smaller communities.
I fully recognize that the lack of full-time nursing staff is not only an issue across Nunavut but is an issue across Canada.
The minister has indicated before that we rely significantly on agency and casual nurses to staff positions at our community health centres.
With the lack of long-term indeterminate staff at our health centres, newly certified Nunavut nurses are often faced with a series of mentors of differing levels of competency and commitment.
Can the minister elaborate on what consideration her department has given to providing newly graduated Nunavut nurses adequate support and mentorship as they begin their careers in Nunavut?
I think we are having a bit of a translation issue.
In my previous comment, I mentioned that we do need to work to improve the support to our nurses in the field.
Currently, as of February 2014, we have about a 67 percent vacancy rate for nurses.
We are trying to improve to get rid of that vacancy rate.
We are working with our recruiters, other nurses, and the Nunavut Employees Union to reduce the vacancy rate, including implementing job share agreements and improving training and orientation programs.
There’s a shortage of nurses. We’re not only competing with nurses in jurisdictions in Canada; we’re also competing with the United States and elsewhere.
So we’re trying to work to make recruiting better.
As you know, in August 2008, we developed a Nunavut Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy and that’s still in place.
It sounds like she fully understands the need of support and study mentorship to be in place to assist our newly graduated nurses in Nunavut to help them find their feet and enable them in handling the unique set of challenges that face the health care profession in the north.
It is with our investment in this program that these individuals will be successful in their careers.
I encourage the minister to commit to continue to look into the issue of developing additional support programs so that these newly certified nurses coming out of Nunavut’s Nursing Program have what they need to succeed in both a community health centre or a regional hospital.
Although I didn’t really hear a question in there, I will comment. The Department of Health is committed to supporting its frontline workers, who are essential to a strong health system. We will continue to grow our Nunavut nurses and provide Inuit with an opportunity to succeed in the nursing profession.
Question 093 – 4(1): Baker Lake Elders’ Group (Mikkungwak)
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Culture and Heritage.
There is no question that Baker Lake has one of the highest numbers of elderly citizens in all of Nunavut. In past years, the Baker Lake elders were involved in meetings about language and culture, but they aren’t as involved in this process anymore and this concern was brought to my attention.
I was told to ask the minister whether he has any plans for including our Baker Lake elders in future endeavours.
That is a very pertinent question because I met with those precious elders when I happened to visit Baker Lake last fall. They wanted assistance on administrative matters and be involved more intensively and to get registered as a society.
What I can state now, by using my other portfolio authority, perhaps wrongly, I really urged the lawyers to make this happen, and now I can state that the Qilautimiut society received formal registration on March 4.
I am very happy for the elders’ success in this registration as they will soon receive official registration via correspondence. They will now be able to meet as a recognized body.
Wherever I can assist, I will be open to providing that assistance, especially in how our government can provide more support and to see how elders and our offices can be of mutual benefit to one another.
I now have another question since you stated that meetings will be held with the elders. In the past years, they weren’t too involved. Listening to the minister’s earlier response that there will be future meetings with the Qilautimiut elders’ committee in Baker Lake, my question is: when would the meetings commence in Baker Lake?
In the upcoming years of this legislature, the Language Act will be reviewed further.
Based on my experience, we will be looking at consulting with most groups, especially in making improvements to the legislation.
Also, our elders, based on past meetings, have the strongest language skills and it is only through utilizing their immense linguistic skills will we be able to make improvements to the legislation in our future.
I will ensure our elders will be consulted and will be part of this process, and here I mean elders throughout Nunavut.
In the community of Baker Lake, we have many local Inuit who are quite ardent and passionate about the language.
Based on my knowledge of our community, there are 12 different clans with different dialects and cultural practices.
With that being the case, can the minister consider including local elders from our local elders’ committee on the IQ committee for Nunavut? Can he consider that idea?
Yes, most departments and decentralized offices have elder advisory committees. The current elders appointed to the committee are still appointed, but I can’t recall the length of these appointment terms. However, it is obvious that vacancies will occur and we want to be open to every elder interested in partaking in these committees.
I am also quite glad that Baker Lake will now have a legally registered elders’ group and I know for a fact that that will be a mutual benefit to us both in the future.
Question 094 – 4(1): Constituents Request for Funding (Shooyook)
I have a short question I wish to direct to the Minister of Health.
There is an individual in Resolute Bay who was seeking assistance for a child.
That child has had a disability since birth and requires care at all times.
I would like clarification about this person’s request for assistance from the department, as they requested my assistance as their representative.
Does the department have any funds specifically for providing financial assistance as in this case? They submitted a proposal for assistance, so I want to know if there are no funds earmarked for this type of assistance.
This question to the minister is just a request for information.
We did receive the request, but it just came in recently. We have to review the request and prepare our response, so I can’t answer the member’s question at this time.
Member Savikataaq.
Question 095 – 4(1): Need for Expansion at the Andy Aulatjut Elders’ Centre (Savikataaq)
Just in the nick of time, eh?
I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will be aware, the Andy Aulatjut Centre in Arviat provides basic level of residential care to the elders in the community.
With the steady increase in the number of people who need care, the facility desperately needs to be expanded.
Can the minister clarify how her department keeps track of growing needs for residential care services in communities such as Arviat?
I also thank the member from Arviat for asking that question.
Yes, social services are involved when elders have nowhere to stay and the numbers are increasing. This is now being reviewed at this time.
In the Department of Family Services, we have officials who are looking at this situation, especially where elders are moved out of their communities into a different community, and to ensure that they receive the proper service provision in the place they are staying at.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Savikataaq.
The Andy Aulatjut Elders’ Centre is operated by an independent contractor, which employs trained personnel from the community.
However, it’s not the contractor’s responsibility to undertake renovations or an expansion of the building.
Can the minister indicate what steps should be taken to receive government support for renovating and expanding the Andy Aulatjut Centre?
I also thank the member from Arviat for asking about the elders’ centre in their community.