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I will switch to English. (interpretation ends) It has been addressed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner over a number of years.
Can you provide a brief overview of the status of this initiative and when you expect to bring forward the recommended legislation?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Right now, the focus is trying to pass the various legislation that we have before you.
The Public Health Act is coming up. Those are areas we are trying to target right now, but we are doing very preliminary work on the privacy legislation at this time. We also have the Mental Health Act that we will be submitting.
It’s something that we will work on, but it’s very preliminary at this stage. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Regarding these issues or these pieces of legislation that have to be revised, you indicated that there are three pieces of legislations that you’re working on.
I’m sure that they’re all very important, but which one do you place as a higher priority as the Department of Health?
The one most advanced is the Public Health Act that I’m sure we will be able to introduce during this sitting and right next to it is the Mental Health Act, which is very important to the territory of Nunavut.
Once it’s available, we will make sure that it’s placed in front of the committee.
Pat Angnakak asked this question to the Department of Health. It indicates here that there are 60 new positions that you are requesting to add in 2016-17.
Even though that’s the case, there are quite a number of positions that have been vacant for some time.
Why are we not filling those positions?
Is it because people do not want to fill those positions?
Why should we put an additional 60 PYs when there are a lot of vacant positions in your department?
I can’t really respond to your question because I’m not the human resources minister and I don’t deal with vacant positions.
If this is approved, we will be able to fill those 60 positions that we are requesting.
Most of them will be in the communities and most of the vacant positions are in Iqaluit.
It’s going to be in the communities and they will be filled by beneficiaries if at all possible.
Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In the minister’s opening comments under (interpretation ends) Community Resources, (interpretation) “Health is seeking 20 new mental health and addictions workers in 2016-17…” I’ll be asking my question in regard to that.
In the smaller communities, there are people who are unilingual and I can only use my community as an example, but I’m sure there are some in other communities.
Of course, it’s going to require money and I know this money will be going to the communities. Of course, they will have to hire an individual that is fully trained to fill that position.
Beneficiaries and elders who have life experience are very capable of providing counselling by way of language and culture.
Have you considered filling those positions with those types of people?
I would like to thank the new member-elect and welcome him to the House.
We have 11 in total that will be mental health workers.
For Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Cambridge Bay, there will be three mental health workers in total and eight mental health workers in Pond Inlet, Igloolik, Cape Dorset, Baker Lake, Arviat, Taloyoak, and two positions in Iqaluit.
There are nine total positions broken into regional groupings that will assist the communities. Five are working in Qikiqtarjuaq, Igloolik, Pangnirtung, Sanikiluaq, and Iqaluit.
There are also three youth counsellors assisting youth in Igloolik, Coral Harbour, and Kugluktuk.
Further, there is one addictions counsellor position that will assist people with addictions.
Those are the main positions that will be created in this fiscal year.
Outside of that, we are also trying to give support in Clyde River for Ilisaqsivik where they do cultural healing, which I’m very proud of, and I would like to see more of those types of services being made available.
Thank you for your response. I am very pleased with it.
Firstly, I want to ask about nurses that are scheduled to arrive into Nunavut.
In the smaller communities, we also have local nurses, which we call “caregivers” in our dialect. The nurses often provide pharmaceutical products to patients in the community.
Obviously, the medication does not originate from our community and sometimes there is a shortage of medication. Some people have to wait for their arrival. In some cases, they have to leave for treatment.
Some nurses also are rotated and many nurses who cover for the main nurse are usually not familiar with the clients and some nurses become overwhelmed.
As stated by our minister earlier, if there are any concerns, he wants to be apprised of them.
Since I understood that, I am conveying one of the problems we face in the smaller communities.
We would like to see more nurses in Nunavut, especially Inuit.
I think there are 14 and I am very pleased that there are 14 Inuit that are taking the foundation year of the Nursing Program.
I would like to urge other Nunavummiut to take on such health profession type of courses.
We would be more than pleased to help them out, especially in the Kitikmeot region where we use agency nurses or a rotation of nurses. We have to make sure that there’s proper code of conduct being followed by the nurses and we’re going to start implementing that.
We’re on Health. Branch Summary.
Directorate. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $29,718,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn the page. Moving on.
I have a question on this page. The minister indicated that one of the pieces of legislation that they’re proposing is the Public Health Act. They’re also going to be setting up new regulations and policies on this subject.
Could the minister elaborate further on this issue?
This legislation is almost ready for tabling and we expect that very shortly.
It will try to incorporate amendments allowing us to update and improve our current legislation and regulations, especially as it relates to safe practices and safety awareness. It includes information sharing with other jurisdictions.
Currently, our legislation is well behind our peers, so we will try to conduct that review soon. We expect to be able to bring it forth to the House and table it in this sitting.
Yes, that is understandable with the reasons provided. However, in addition to all of that, it seems obvious that the minister is well aware of this issue as members continue to pepper him with questions starting from last year and continuing to this year.
It is obvious that legislation requires further drafting based on the questions of the members who want to update the legislation.
They wanted to understand the reasons.
With respect to this issue, I would like clarification on whether this legislation that will be updated and amended, including the regulations, will be done to try to bring them up to date.
This issue that members tend to speak to and raise questions on is related to the medical escort policy.
Is this included in this updating and amending process?
The Act is for procedures and it doesn’t affect travel.
We won’t be addressing that through the Act.
The response is clear that it’s not included in there. It’s addressed under a separate item. Our concerns as MLAs are our constituents who go on medical travel.
In that case, I would like clarification on the Public Health Act. Do you know how many sections or provisions will need to be updated or changed?
Do you have the information about the breadth of this review if it were completed or is this still ongoing?
I didn’t quite get his question. Could he restate his question so that I can respond?
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Mikkungwak, reiterate, please.
I’ll ask in English so that it’s understandable. (interpretation ends) In your Public Health Act, you are introducing new regulations so that it can be up to date.
With the new Public Health Act, do you have a definitive idea as to how many regulation adjustments or amendments you have in the Public Health Act or is that still a work in progress?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Okalik, maybe that’s clearer.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am sure that you will quickly realize that this new Public Health Act is an overhaul of the current Act, so it’s quite extensive and the regulations will fall after that.
We will have to first pass it and if there are amendments from members, then we will have to reflect it.
After that, the regulations will be put in place. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In your business plan, the one I have, is on page 114, you talk about implementing the “next phase of the Tobacco Reduction Framework for Action.” As we know, we have very high lung cancer rates here and we still have a lot of people that smoke.
I’m wondering: how are we doing with the fight to stop people from smoking and to try to get some leeway there?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) On the fight for tobacco, we’re not gaining much traction.
I hope that will change because it’s one area that is totally preventable.
We need to do more, I suppose, and find better tools to prevent more increases of tobacco use in our territory.
I hope that we can come up with better cessation promotion issues to reduce the number of use of tobacco in our territory (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Okalik. (interpretation ends) Ms. Angnakak, please.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Did you forget me?
(interpretation ends) I guess my follow-up question to that is: what have we done or what work have we done to engage with other jurisdictions across Canada that might be more successful than what we have been doing? Maybe it’s something we can learn from others that have faced the same situation in the past.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We do work with other jurisdictions and try to find the best practices to reduce the use of tobacco.
So far to date, we haven’t had much success, but we will be training local people to try to assist us in reducing the use of tobacco in our communities throughout Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
What do you think is the reason for why it’s so hard here in Nunavut to combat this use?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation ends) I think it is just far too normal for people to light up and others see it, so they follow. It’s very discouraging to see the younger generation pick up the habit.
It’s the one that we have to do whatever we can to turn the tide. I am encouraged by those who quit. Whenever I get a chance, I hammer each of my colleagues and encourage them to “butt out.”
It’s not helping them or their families. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Me too, I always go after people as well because I used to be a smoker for a long time and I also quit. I understand the difficulties of quitting, but it’s totally doable.
It’s really something that you can do. You just have to believe in yourself.
What would be an example maybe of a fine? I understand that if an entity sells cigarettes to underage Nunavummiut, there’s a fine or some kind of penalty that happens.
Can you tell us something about that?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We don’t have that information in front of us right now.
We will need a bit of time to get it.
I commit to providing it tomorrow if I’m still before the House. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This is my last question in regard to tobacco reduction.
Compared to five years ago, where are we going with the numbers in terms of the number of smokers in Nunavut?
Are we going up or down?
Are we the same or what?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Unfortunately, it’s up since five years ago. (interpretation) Thank you.
That’s discouraging, isn’t it?
I want to go on now to just underneath that on page 114 of your business plan. You talk about monitoring the “implementation of the Sexual Health Framework for Action.” In here you say, “New resources were created and training was conducted to support the identified gaps.”
Can you tell us what did you identify in that area as the gaps?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We have studied the various rates of infections throughout our territory.
What we have found is that there has been a significant increase in syphilis in our territory. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
What is the department doing to address that outbreak of syphilis?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We have been working with the Department of Education to promote health care relations and safer ways of sexual health.
We have been working with the Department of Education and there has been very good collaboration with our schools.
We have also trained local representatives on sexual health and provided more training to the local staff. We are providing more resources to our youth on safer ways of sexual practices. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Syphilis is a very concerning disease, I think, to have, if you want to it a disease.
When did this first come out and how long have you been addressing the issue? I guess my third question is: since you have been addressing the issue, have the numbers gone down?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman (interpretation ends) It’s very hard to say how high it might go at this point, but it has gone up and down.
Since 2012, there were 31 cases; in 2013, there were 58; in 2014, there were 98; and for most of 2015, there were 57 cases.
It goes up and down, so it’s hard to say where it will be at this coming year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Those are alarming numbers, really, because that can grow.
I want to go on again to your business plan on 114 where you talk about the Food Security Action Plan.
It says here that you’re going to evaluate the Food Security Action Plan 2014-16 and commence development of a follow-up plan.
I understand the follow-up plan is for 2017-19, which is a little ahead of us.
As the Department of Health, what has been your role in this and how do you work within the Food Security Action Plan?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) All we have done to date is provide technical support. The Department of Family Services has been taking the lead on this issue. We have been providing support on making sure that we promote healthy foods and make sure that we do our part in supporting the department and the other partners that are on this coalition. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I’m going to move on to something else and that’s the health committees.
I understand that every community has a health committee, but I don’t understand what the real mandate and role is of those committees within the communities.
Can you explain a little bit better just so I have a better understanding? What is the role of the health committees?
Are they there to tell you or to advise you on priorities in dealing with health or to report sickness? What’s their role?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I found these committees to be very useful.
When I meet with them whenever I travel to the communities, they let me know of the challenges they face in their communities and more or less for medical travel purposes, for example.
Some of these committees are the most productive in some communities in terms of promoting prevention and healthy living. They apply to various programs, whether it be federal or territorial, and they provide such great service for their communities.
I encourage them to keep up their good work and they do make a real difference in their communities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Can you tell us who sits on these committees and do they get an honorarium?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The hamlet identifies the people that will serve on the committees and we provide nominal honoraria through the $10,000 we provide to each committee each year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for giving me an opportunity to ask another question.
My colleague, Ms. Angnakak, asked this already in regard to health committees in the communities. That $10,000 funding has not been changed for many years. Is there any way that the funding that health committees get could be increased?
I know that the health committee in Baker Lake really does a lot of things and they keep the community clean as well, but the money is always running out every year. It only takes a few months for this money to be depleted.
Is there any way to increase this funding? That’s what I would like to ask the minister.
Yes, we know that the funds help a great deal and we will look into it to see if we can do that probably in the spring.
I know that you will be working on this in the spring. Right now, we’re looking at the budget.
Can we expect a supplementary request from you for that this spring?
Like I said, we’re talking to all the communities and we will want to get their help in things like suicide prevention.
They are a very good avenue to use for that purpose. We will look at the finances again, as I said.
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough, so I’ll ask the question in English. (interpretation ends) Right now, we’re dealing with O&M and the budget regarding this and a health committee is in here under Public Health.
As the minister is indicating to possibly increase or provide additional funds in the spring sitting, are we anticipating a supplementary appropriation?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Yes, as I said, we will be asking for additional resources to support our efforts in reducing suicides in our territory.
We will be coming forward with a supplementary appropriation in the spring session. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): We consider this very important. Will the (interpretation ends) health committees (interpretation) be involved in the work that you’re talking about to prepare for the spring session?
We want to present a complete document, so the health committees will help produce that document.
We are on page H-5. Branch Summary.
Health. Public Health. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $18,937,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Turn the page to H-6.
As soon as we turn the page and if you have a question, feel free to raise your hand so that your name will be written down.
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The minister probably remembers that when I first got elected in the fall of 2014, I questioned the minister at that time in the House to see if we can get a permanent resident dentist in Rankin Inlet.
The minister agreed. However, up to now, we just keep getting visiting dentists.
They come in for two or three weeks at a time.
With respect to the permanent dentist that we were asking for, I would like to ask the minister if there has been any more consideration on the matter.
The dentistry is run by an independent contractor who gets contracts from the government.
We have met with the dentist who goes to Rankin Inlet to see if we can get him there permanently.
We are working on this, but nothing has been settled yet.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) According to your business plan on page 117, your department has completed the residential long-term care needs assessment report.
Can you provide a brief overview of the findings of the report and which communities, if any, were identified as needing a new residential care facility?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I’ll table that report tomorrow. (interpretation) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Mr. A. Sammurtok.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you.
I’ll be looking out for it.
In your business plan on page 118 in your priorities, it indicates that for 2016-19, you’re going to be implementing the “next phase of long-term care enhancement.”
Can you describe what this next phase is and how it will be implemented?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Minister of Health, Mr. Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I think the report will provide much-needed direction on this matter, so I look forward to tabling it tomorrow.
Once it’s tabled, it will provide all of us a good starting point for more discussions on this matter. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to go back because it’s relevant to what we’re doing about health care delivery through his opening comments.
On the first page, you talk about the 20 new mental health and addiction workers.
“The intent is to expand and standardize community-based mental health and addiction treatment options.” You gave some examples such as detoxification, counselling and day programming. One of the things you say is, “social-emotional learning programming for children and youth...” Perhaps you could just explain the rollout for this.
Is this going to be happening in schools or how do you anticipate addressing this area?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) As I said earlier, we’re hiring three PYs for child and youth outreach workers in Igloolik, Coral Harbour, and Kugluktuk.
We’re working with Education very closely on this matter because they will be a very effective partner in making sure that we do our part in addressing the mental challenges of our young people in our territory. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Pursuant to Rule 6(1), I would now like to recognize the clock and report progress to the Speaker.
Speaker: Item 23.
Third Reading of Bills. (interpretation) I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) Item 21.
Committee of the Whole. No?
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 13 and the main estimates and would like to report progress.
Tabled Document [70] – 4(3)
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Friday, February [26], at 9:00 a.m.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Pages 860 – 903
Opening Prayer 860
Ministers’ Statements 860
Members’ Statements 862
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 868
Oral Questions 869
Second Reading of Bills 886
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 887
Report of the Committee of the Whole 902
Orders of the Day 902
Friday, February 26, 2016 860
060 – 4(3): Operations Manual for Enforcement Officers (Mike) 860
061 – 4(3): Nunavut Land Referendum (Savikataaq) 860
062 – 4(3): Arctic Inspiration Prize Winners (Taptuna) 861
063 – 4(3): Job Shadow Pilot Project at QGH (Okalik) 862
135 – 4(3): Congratulations to Jane Glassco Northern Fellow Angela Nuliayuk Rudolph (Akoak) 862
136 – 4(3): Qujannamiik Iksivautaq (Mapsalak) 863
137 – 4(3): Congratulations to Jane Glassco Northern Fellow Jessica Black (Angnakak) 864
138 – 4(3): Appreciation to Kakivak Association (Joanasie) 864
139 – 4(3): Inuit Qaujimanituqangit (Shooyook) 865
140 – 4(3): 2016 Kivalliq Cup (Mikkungwak) 867
141 – 4(3): In Praise of Pond Inlet’s Pirurvik Preschool (Enook) 867
168 – 4(3): Dust Control Initiatives (Shooyook) 869
169 – 4(3): Diagnosing Cancer (Angnakak) 871
170 – 4(3): Preparing for Wastewater and Sewage Removal Emergencies (Mapsalak) 872
171 – 4(3): Tax Policy (Mikkungwak) 875
172 – 4(3): Activities of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Joanasie) 877
173 – 4(3): Activities of the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Sammurtok, T) 878
174 – 4(3): Activities of the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Enook) 880
175 – 4(3): Mental Health Facility (Sammurtok, A) 882
176 – 4(3): Replacing Air Terminal Buildings (Qirngnuq) 884
177 – 4(3): Public Agencies Council (Angnakak) 884