EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Employees take a big step in coming forward to report things like this. I just want to let them know, through these results, that their comments or queries are taken seriously and looked into by the government that they work for.
Mr. Speaker, the final supplementary that I would like to ask the Minister, in the one case that she is aware of, does she know what the results of that audit were and if there were any disciplinary actions taken.
First of all, I would like to reassure the Members in the House that every comment or concern or any information that goes before Internal Audit or to our department is investigated and taken very seriously.
We don’t stop the process of confirming allegations or issues that are raised.
Every matter is taken very seriously.
As far as the last question asked, that particular file is before the courts.
Question 389 – 2(2): New Positions to the Schools
Last week the Minister announced an increase in the allocation of staff for Nunavut schools.
That increase included 14.5 custodian positions, 8 counsellor positions, and 40 student support assistance positions.
My question, can the Minister tell the House how many of these 82.5 new government positions were formerly filled by employees hired by district education authorities.
In other words, how many of these new positions are, in fact, reclassified from DEA positions to Government of Nunavut positions.
Hon. Ed Picco: None.
Mr. Speaker, the process that we put in place was to create new positions.
Over the last few days here in Iqaluit I have been meeting with the local DEA chairs for the three DEAs that are present in Iqaluit: Apex, the Francophone DEA, as well as the local DEA, that question has come up continuously.
The announcement last week of the 82.5 positions are new positions.
They are new positions.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if there are any you Nunavut Employees' Union new or FNT new; that is the classification process.
So, the answer to the Member’s question is none.
I’d like to thank the Minister for the short answer and then thank him again for long answer.
My supplementary, will the Minister confirm for this House that for the 8 new school counsellor positions, the decision to hire guidance counsellors or a school community counsellor, that it will be a decision made by the district education authorities.
When I was in Cambridge Bay with the Member about a year ago, one of the requests being made, and when I did meet with DEAs from the Kitikmeot, was the issue that there were no school counsellor positions; I believe that there is only actually one in the whole region.
So, we have allocated the lions share of new counsellor positions, there are 8 new positions, to the Kitikmeot, including to the member’s community.
If there is an issue with the DEA where they would like to have the school counsellor position made a career guidance counsellor position, then that is the opportunity within the funding dollars that are available to the DEA.
I have heard that the Department of Education called up the DEA and told them, “This is the position that you are going to get.”
So, my next supplementary question for the Minister is, will he confirm for the House that the Ikaluktuutiak DEA was fully consulted by the Department of Education with respect to the decision on the type of high school counsellor positions that they required for their high school.
There have been many issues around the special needs of our students.
There has been a given shortfall within the opportunity for students at risk and needs, and that covers the gambit for every community in Nunavut, to have the specialized skill of a school counsellor in place.
So, we tried to allocate within the budget allocation, as I mentioned earlier, the 8 new positions for school counsellors.
Every community and DEA was consulted, as well as input from some of the MLAs, for example, on positions that they felt were needed.
I have not personally received a letter from the DEA in Ikaluktuutiak asking specifically for a school counsellor position.
However, there has been an allocation made based on some of the conversations that we have had in the Kitikmeot and in Cambridge Bay in particular.
As I said earlier, the cost of a career guidance counsellor position, I believe that in all of Nunavut there is only one right now working, those extra dollar values will have to be made up within the allocation that is made.
If the high school, for example, in this case in Cambridge Bay, wanted to have a career guidance counsellor, then an option would be available to them within the funding dollars that are available.
We would then look at helping the school out, if there is an opportunity within the budget, in that case.
Speaker (interpretation): Last supplementary. Mr. Peterson.
It wasn’t clear whether the Minister said that if the district education authority sent the letter to him that they would get a school guidance counsellor.
I thought they would have to anticipate mitigating that process through the Department of Education in Kugluktuk.
My question for the Minister, can the Minister commit to me and the House that if Ikaluktuutiak District Education Authority requests, through the Department of Education, a school guidance counsellor, not a school community counsellor, that they will in fact get a school guidance counsellor.
As I said earlier, what we have tried to do with the number of positions that is available, there are over 80 positions for the first time; you would have to go back to the early 1980s to find anything even close to this number of new positions being put into our schools across the board.
In this case, we are putting over 80 new positions within the schools.
We’re trying to bring the pupil-teacher ratio down to 1 to 20.
With these numbers across the board, we are there by community and by school.
Mr. Speaker, the opportunity for Cambridge Bay, as I said earlier in my response to the Member, was that we have budgeted for a school counsellor position there; however, the position for career guidance counsellor that the Member is talking about, there is a higher priced dollar value on that.
If the district education authority has an opportunity within the funding dollars that are available, they have the opportunity to move those dollar values forward so they can actually hire the higher level of paid position.  As I said earlier, and if they do that and they find that there is some type of shortfall, then there is an opportunity where the department may be able to help them out.
The Member for High Arctic. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 390 – 2(2): New Positions for Grise Fiord
As a follow-up to my Member’s Statement, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm whether or not the community of Grise Fiord will receive any newly allocated positions in its’ school, and if so, what will those new positions be.
I can confirm that Grise Fiord will receive new positions under the allocation.
Every school or every community in Nunavut has received an allocation of the 80 positions.
In this case, for Grise Fiord, there will be a full-time indeterminate new position put in place in the school, which will be a special needs position.
Speaker (interpretation): First supplementary. Mr. Barnabas.
Can the minister update this House on what initiatives are being considered by his department to specifically address the needs of small schools in small communities?
There are quite a few different things being put in place not just for smaller schools but all schools across Nunavut.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, with the influx of the 80 new positions in place, we have lowered and brought the pupil-teacher ratio in Nunavut to 1 to 20.
Mr. Speaker, those numbers brings us, the Government of Nunavut, the people in Nunavut, the schools in Nunavut, among the top percentages in the country when you look at the pupil-teacher ratio across the board.
So, that’s step number one.
Step number two is increasing, in this budget we put in over 40 new special needs positions to help with the remedial, academic, and other special needs of Nunavut students, which is inclusive of small communities.
So, in the Member’s example, Grise Fiord would receive 1.5 new positions under this new formula, including a .5 custodial position as well as the special needs position that I just spoke about.
Speaker (interpretation): Second supplementary. Mr. Barnabas.
I thank the Minister for his clarification.
Although some teachers have to work closely with senior high school students, there are other students from the different grades that the teachers have to work with.
(interpretation ends) Can the Minister update this House on what his department is doing to provide all of our grade 12 students with equal opportunities to graduate and move on to post-secondary education?
I will just use the Member’s good example of Grise Fiord.
In Grise, there are 53 full time students.
There are 3.5 teaching positions.
The PTR is quite low there if you do the numbers and do the math.
On top of that, reporting in another special needs position within in the community, so that would be 4.5, which brings the ratio considerably down.
With those types of support in place, it gives the teachers and instructional staff within the school an opportunity to deal with remedial and some of the other issues so that the students can perform at the maximum ability, not only academically but socially and so on.
Those are the types of things we are putting in place right now.
At the same time, we are looking at issues with the curriculum and the resources, and Nunavutizing some of those issues, especially at the grades 10, 11, and 12 levels where we do the final exams before graduation.
Speaker (interpretation): Final supplementary. Mr. Barnabas.
I am not talking about the special needs students, although we can include them.
I am talking about “A” students: when they are included in the same classroom as special needs students, what kinds of assistance are they provided?
That is what I am looking at: if there is a problem with students, what about high school counsellors for the “A” students.
My colleague, the Member for Ikaluktuutiak, was asking the same question, will they be providing that kind of position for all the smaller communities like Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Kimmirut, and Arctic Bay?
With the Member’s help and about another $12 million in our budget, then I will be able to do that.
In all seriousness, the Member should be quite pleased with over 80 new positions being created for our schools.
We have taken the extra money that this House voted for and put those resources, based on the need of each community and the population size, in the classroom. This is a good news story.
I agree with the Member, we need to have more support in the classroom and in our schools.
Mr. Speaker, what we have done here is a fundamental shift in the way we deliver education in Nunavut, increasing not only the student supports, like special needs, what we have heard from every district education authority, and I have met with them, to over 40 new positions in place.
I hope to be in a position in phase 3 of the funding formula arrangement for our schools to be able to build on some of these resources.
I am not arguing with the Member, but I cannot make a commitment right now to say that across Nunavut, in 42 schools across Nunavut, in 25 communities, that I could put this same position.
We are talking about a lot of dollar values.
I can say that for the first time, across Nunavut, we have brought the PTR down to 1 to 20.
That is a fantastic first step.
The next step is to deal with some of the other issues in our schools, for example, bringing back specialized programs like industrial arts, music, and so on.
Question 391 – 2(2): Cargo Inspections
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Transportation.
During the session in March, I had asked a question to the Minister regarding boat owners who are no longer allowed to carry cargo until their boats have been inspected by the Canadian Coast Guard.
The Minister said that he was going to get more information on that.
If it’s possible, I would like to get an update on that.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are in the process of reviewing how we can make the cost of cargo cheaper in Nunavut with the Department of Transportation.
As this is still under review, I am sure that you can ask the Coast Guard to go to the communities; the community has these boats that want to ship cargo.
Perhaps you can ask them to go and inspect them, because it has been a long while.
Can he can ask the Coast Guard what the reason is for taking so long.
Since you asked the question we started working on it right away, but I will ask the Coast Guard again if they can go to the communities and deal with this important issue.
It is important and beneficial to the community and I will certainly look at that again.
When are you going to ask them?
My officials are listening and watching now, as we speak.
They will write begin writing a letter to the Coast Guard.
I am sure they are working on it right now.
Speaker (interpretation): Final supplementary. Mr. Netser.
Mr. Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He is saying that they are watching the proceedings, so I can look forward to receiving a copy of their correspondence?
Speaker (interpretation): Oral Questions. The Member for Tasiujarjuak, Mr. Kattuk.
Question 392 – 2(2): Bad Gasoline Report
This past winter, we heard in some communities about a concern over bad gasoline.
There was consultation done in some of the communities.
I am asking the Minister if this study has been completed.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community and Government Services. Minister Kilabuk.
Yes, the study is completed and they have gone to the communities.
Now that they have heard the concerns from the communities what is the next step that the government will take in regard to that?
After compiling the reports, we compiled the responses and I am happy to say that under our Orders of the Day, in Item 13, I will be tabling that document on the interviews that were done: how many were done, when they were done, which communities, where we got the gasoline from, the company, Shell Canada.
I will be providing that information under that item.
Yes, I was going to ask him to table such a document.
But to ask him again, what will be happening to those people who have had their engines break down?
Have they decided what the government is going to be doing, compensation-wise, regarding the broken down engines?
For those hunters whose machines broke down, we got the report from Shell Canada as to what they will want to do.
I feel that it’s not quite complete from Shell Canada.
We have asked Shell Canada to work with them more to answer those questions that we had.
Speaker (interpretation): Final supplementary. Mr. Kattuk.
So, is the Minister saying that those people whose machines broke down were because of bad gasoline?
At the time of our last sitting there were representatives from Shell Canada here. It was very difficult at that time to identify if it was from the gasoline, but after that inspection it has become clear that the majority of them went through many spark plugs.
After the consultation with the communities, in the interviews, there were a high number of people.
We heard from people who have snowmobiles, outboard motors, vehicles.
We heard from all those individuals who were concerned; there were 179 responses that came to us.
They are itemized, and I will be tabling the report at the appropriate time.
Question 393 – 2(2): Fuel Re-Supply
I believe my question is for the Minister of Community and Government Services and the Petroleum Products Division.
We all know that our fuel is purchased once a year.
I believe that the Petroleum Products Division purchases the fuel for the Nunavut Power Corporation, or Qulliq Energy Corporation, as the Minister responsible likes to refer to it.
I am just wondering, has the government purchased the fuel for this year’s re-supply, in relation to NPC’s fuel?
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Community and Government Services. Mr. Kilabuk.
I think as we speak the Petroleum Products Division is in the process of completing its inventory list for all the communities in Nunavut as a whole, which will include the Nunavut Power Corporation, to determine the quantity of fuel products that they will order for the coming re-supply sealift.
Can the Minister give an indication as to when they anticipate placing that actual order?
I am going to back up, correct myself on my last response to my colleague.
My notes tell me that the products were to be determined as to how much they were going to order for issuance to Woodward’s by March 1, so that should have been finalized by now, to put in the order for this year’s inventory.
The order has gone in to Woodward’s already; does the Minister have an idea of when that fuel will actually be purchased?
I am just not exactly sure as to the date when this will be purchased.
However, I think in our last appearance in the Committee of the Whole we also indicated to the Members that after we determine how much fuel to order for the coming year, the gas companies also require time to mix this batch for us, which will be done over the coming months before the summer’s re-supply.
Unfortunately, I am not able to respond to my colleague as to exactly when and if this purchase has taken place already.
Speaker (interpretation): Final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
One would assume if when you place an order, they give you a price for that order.
I would like to ask the Minister if he would check on that. And if they don’t already have a price per litre, the price per barrel that they purchased it for yet, as soon as he has that information, when it is purchased, could he provide that to the members of this House along with a comparison of the cost of the price per litre or barrel for last year’s purchase.
I am not sure if my capable staff watching on TV will be able to get me the exact cost of the products as we speak today; however, I wish to assure my colleague that my capable staff will be getting the response together for my colleague and the House.
I will provide that information, once I have it available.
The Member for the High Arctic. Mr. Barnabas.
Question 394 – 2(2): Passport Photos
You have probably noticed that I have been raising a lot of questions on passports.
On CTV they mentioned that passports are needed to go down to the United States.
There are a number of problems that have risen in dealing with passports, so we are trying to find out how we can be assisted.
I want to ask the Minister if he is aware of the concern about a statement that was made where Canadians will need a passport to go down to the United States.
It is my understanding that there have been some discussion by the federal authorities in the United States, since September 11, 2001, that there have been issues around security.
The federal government in the United States has come forward with the proposal that non-residents of the United States entering the country would need a passport, they also said that Canadians would be included in that number.
It is my understanding that our federal officials have been working with our immigration partners in the United States to see if Canadians can be taken out of that formula and not be included in the numbers of people that are visiting the States who need a passport.
Right now it is my understanding that that discussion is still continuing.
Our federal partners have gone forward to say that they feel Canadians should not be in the position where we need a passport to go into the United States, but it is still up for debate.
After discussing this, our Member of Parliament, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, requested names, and also there was to be a certified photographer who would travel to the communities to take passport photos.
Is the Minister willing to have this photographer travel to the communities for those people from Nunavut who wish to apply for passports?
Just recently I had an opportunity, with my family, to have our photographs done for passport purposes.
Mr. Speaker, it is an onerous process and indeed it entails a lot of specialized work by the photographer.
We were fortunate that there is a photographer in Iqaluit who can take passport photos.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking at opportunities to see if this photographer would be willing to help us out with taking passport photos.
I did have the opportunity to speak with him about this.
The opportunity may be, Mr. Speaker, where we have government charters going to specific communities where we would ask this gentleman to come along and provide that service to Nunavummiut.
Nunavummiut who are getting their passport pictures taken, like in Iqaluit, will have to pay the photographer.
So, we may have an opportunity here where we can actually help get that photographer out into the communities.
The Premier and I have discussed this.
We take it very seriously and we’re trying to help facilitate where possible.
There may be an upcoming opportunity, for example, in the Member’s riding with meetings we may be having there.
That’s something that we have looked at.
I believe it costs about $89 for a passport.
I wonder if Nunavummiut will pay additionally in order for that photographer to go their community to accommodate people who wish to get passports.
The photographer who does this work does it as part of his job.
When he takes your picture, he has expenses as well.
The cost right now is about $40 per person.
So, for example, if it was a family of five in Resolute Bay that needed their picture taken, it would cost $200.
Then, Mr. Speaker, there is a cost to the federal government to get your passport.
So, if there are five people in the family, with each passport, it would cost about $400.
Then the cost for a family of five in Resolute Bay or anywhere else in Nunavut, is around $600 to get passports issued for each individual in the family.
Mr. Speaker, we would expect that what we’re trying to do, as a government, is help facilitate the photographer getting into communities.
Those costs for buying your passport like every other Canadian in Canada and for getting your picture taken like every other Canadian, it is up to the individual to pay for those costs.
Those costs are not covered by the Government of Nunavut or the federal government.
Those are user-pay situations.
What we’re trying to do is help the photographer get out into the communities and take these pictures, and the opportunity may be where we have government charters going into communities and if the photographer is able to come with us and to facilitate that.
When would this photographer be able to travel to the communities?
We’ll have to fill out our applications.
For those specific communities, can you identify which communities the photographer will be able to visit first?
As I said earlier, one opportunity is when we have a government charter going into a community, and if we can work the logistics around at that time, that the photographer would like to go into a given community and be able to do these photographs, then that would be an opportunity for us to look at.
So, in the coming weeks, as we play this out, we will be able to identify the communities where there may be a charter going, and if the photographer has the time and the schedule to be able to travel into said communities.
That’s something that we are working on right now, to be able to coordinate not only the charter schedule but the photographer’s schedule, because if the photographer is going into a community for three to five days, for example, then that means that he is not available in his studio to do work.
So, it’s a cost issue for him also.
So, we are trying to help out not only the client-base, but also the photographer and the business side.
Question 395 – 2(2): Funding for Fish Plants
I have a question for the Minister of Environment in regard to the budget allocation for fisheries.
The communities that have fishing plants, are the funds available to them?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Environment. Mr. Akesuk.