EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
What I can say to the member is that I can commit to discussing it over the next several weeks.
What has to happen, Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, and all the Members in the House know, we only just recently signed off on the agreement with the federal government.
We’re able to look at several programs and projects that the members have brought up in the House, and that we see as health and education issues, we were able to bring forward, and that’s what Minister Tapardjuk has announced.
The ability of the government right now is to look at, over the next several weeks, the Five-Year Capital Plan and see, as I explained, for example, on water and sewage programs, where we can use the budgeted dollars from the federal infrastructure program and shift those monies to other capital project needs of the government.
So I can make that commitment to the member that we will look at it. I can’t commit to starting a project in a community when there hasn’t even been a tender or a design done and so on, and it’s a bit premature.
What I can do is commit to working with the member and the House to be able to bring that forward in the spring session.
Question 381 – 2(4): Western Hudson Bay Polar Bears (Alagalak)
My question would be for the Minister of Environment. (interpretation) It looks like he hasn’t been doing much so I’ll ask him some questions.
(interpretation ends) In my Member’s Statement, I addressed some problems facing the Hudson Bay polar bear’s population. I also noted the importance of our government raising this issue with Manitoba.
Can the minister update me today on the status of his department’s efforts to work with the Government of Manitoba on the issues facing the Hudson Bay polar bear population?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you. We are continuing to work with Manitoba with respect to the status of polar bears and we would like this to continue smoothly. Perhaps, after we have had a meeting, we would also like to meet with their minister to see how we can improve the situation with the concerns of polar bears throughout the world.
In my Member’s Statement, I raised concerns about some of the practices of private tourism operators in the Churchill area. Residents in my region believe that these practices are interfering with the normal migration patterns of the polar bear population.
Can the minister indicate to me today whether he will raise this issue with his counterparts in Winnipeg?
I will be speaking with the minister to see how the issue could be improved and not to alter the polar bear migration patterns too much down in Manitoba and also in Nunavut.
Can the minister update this House today on the status of the department’s efforts to complete polar bear co-management agreements with other jurisdictions including the Manitoba Government?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) We are continuing to work with the co-management agreements with the jurisdictions of the polar bears. We are concerned and we are working with the people of Nunavut and also other jurisdictions on this issue of the polar bear. If we’re going to do any research, we do work with them together.
Your third and final supplementary, Mr. Alagalak.
I will ask my final supplementary in Inuktitut.
It is self evident about what I’m talking about and what has been seen down there is the polar bears are delayed a long time.
Would the minister be able to provide some reports of how long the polar bears are stopped due to private tour operations and tourists, and also other affects on the polar bears’ migratory patterns and other causes of changes in their migratory patterns?
I’m sure these scientists have been making reports as they have probably studied those areas, so I wonder if he would be able to provide that information in the near future.
As the polar bears that are being studied are in Manitoba, if they had any information, we would be requesting copies of them. Maybe we and our staff could work with the Government of Manitoba to see where they’re at with their polar bear studies.
We will work on this and if there was any information provided, I would pass them on to the Member of Arviat.
Question 382 – 2(4): Qikiqtarjuaq Airport Terminal Building (Arreak)
There’s a news release from the federal government pertaining to the funding that they released concerning the $242.68 million that will be directed to Nunavut and we hear that they will be using this funding as soon as possible for medical services in the North and nursing stations.
This funding will be available until 2014.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote a section from the news release and I quote, “The two governments will work together to address infrastructure priorities, such as water, wastewater, green energy, regional and community airports, community and intercommunity access roads... and regional marine facilities.”
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I have a number of questions pertaining to Qikiqtarjuaq’s concern for the airport not being in good condition, the terminal building itself.
As it has been stated that that’s what they’re going to do, will the airport in Qikiqtarjuaq be included as a capital project?
During my briefings, (interpretation) I was informed about the conditions of the terminal building in Qikiqtarjuaq.
We will see what we can do but it would have to be approved by Cabinet.
It’s too bad that they have delayed it. She’s a little further from me now; it’s too bad because she was sitting next to me.
I don’t want you to just think about it and plan it, but when are you going to identify the funding and when will they start the work on that terminal building in Qikiqtarjuaq?
The Five-Year Capital Plan has been set but we will have to look at it carefully - whether we can put it forward or not. The Minister of CGS is going to be responsible for the building of the terminal and we will be working together with the other departments concerning the priorities that we would like to see for the Five-Year Capital Plan.
Once that is done... I’m not sure how else I can say that when I don’t have the facts in front of me.
Question 383 – 2(4): Quantity of Petroleum Products on Sealift (Simailak)
My question is directed to the Minister of Community and Government Services as she is also responsible for the Petroleum Products Division.
I wonder if she could explain to us how they decided on the amount of fuel they’re going to be purchasing for all communities in the summertime. Last summer, how did she identify the amount of fuel being delivered to Baker Lake?
Minister of Community and Government Services and Petroleum Products Division, Minister Brown.
I didn’t find the piece of paper that identifies which communities will be receiving how much and it is updated.
What I can say to you with respect to your question is that I didn’t find what he is asking for and I’m sorry.
(interpretation ends) The total volume of refined petroleum products delivered to the Nunavut communities by region were: in Kivalliq, there were 37,688,388 litres. That’s for Kivalliq and I have the other regions as well.
I wanted to get clarification on how you plan and how you will buy the fuel and allocate it to the communities.
Mr. Speaker, last summer, we thought we were going to be short on gasoline in Baker Lake, and the diesel fuel that came in last summer, there was a rumour that the mining companies would not be able to buy the fuel from the communities brought in by the government.
For this reason, I just wanted to get a clarification from the minister.
There was a Budget Address delivered yesterday, we found out how they were going to receive a windfall from mining and exploration activities.
Considering this and other things, particularly in the Baker Lake area, the mining company that’s in that area now was told that they are not going to be able to buy fuel and gas from the community.
When it’s like that, it’s not very welcoming, and then they have to look somewhere else to buy their fuel.
I would like to find out from the minister why they have stated that and decided to do that. Why does it seem like we’re always in short supply of fuel?
PPD tries to order enough fuel for the communities for a whole year and try to find out how much they use in the community.
In Nunavut, there are 25 communities and there are so many tank farms that exist as well.
We have to prepare ahead of time for the tank farms that do exist since they don’t come cheap.
The communities are growing in population; looking at that, if they need to go through the Five-Year Capital Plan, then we will look into that.
That is what I understood earlier.
I just don’t want to make any guesses but what I have been told is the communities will be the first to get the fuel for domestic use so that they don’t be short at the end of the year.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Simailak.
This is important to us in Nunavut and to mining companies as well. They hire people in the communities locally and we have to plan ahead of time.
Is the minister working with Economic Development and Transportation and looking at the mining companies’ fuel needs?
Question Period is now over. I’m just joking.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Yes, we try to work with my Cabinet colleagues and also our planning staff.
We continually keep close communication with the staff because they do the planning all the time.
Starting from today, yes, we want to maintain a good, close working relationship because this issue is very huge and economic development needs to be out into the communities and I agree with you.
I’m very pleased to hear that response.
Can the minister direct her officials to see if fuel distribution could be done by the private sector instead of the government side?
Can your officials do a feasibility study to see if it’s cheaper to privatize fuel delivery, and once you get that information, to provide them to me?
I think that’s a very good suggestion.
I suppose there would have to be a major assessment study to that affect to see if it’s feasible.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to develop that, and once I have communicated to the staff of PPD and CGS, I will let the member know.
I’m sure you are aware that the time for Question Period is over now.
Petition 003 – 2(4): Repulse Bay Health Centre (Mapsalak)
I have a petition from my constituents in Repulse Bay.
In this petition it says:
We, the residents of Repulse Bay, petition the Government of Nunavut to begin construction on a new health centre in Repulse Bay earlier than planned.
Mr. Speaker, this petition contains 168 signatures.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was pleased to hear the government’s good news on this issue during the budget speech.
I’m sure that my constituents will feel that their voices have been heard.
Tabled Document 175 – 2(4): Letter to IPY Federal Program – Support Letter for NTK on its Application for Funding Through Government of Canada Program for International Polar Year (Kattuk)
I wish to table a copy of a support letter I recently wrote for the Nunavumi Tasiujarjuarmiuqatigiit Katimajingit, also known as the NTK.
Mr. Speaker, NTK has applied for funding from the Government of Canada for International Polar Year in advance of the proposed Hudson Bay summit that is taking place in 2009.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Sanikiluaq have many concerns with respect to the proposed large scale changes that are projected to occur should the James Bay Project go ahead.
NTK plans to hold a five-day summit with approximately 150 participants and presenters.
Panel discussions will take place on this important issue.
I strongly support this initiative.
Please be patient while they’re delivering the copy to the table officers.
Tabled Document 176 – 2(4): Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report for 2006/2007 (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to table the following document: Legal Services Board of Nunavut Annual Report for 2006/2007. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Please provide the copy to the officers.
Minister of Finance and Minister of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth, Minister Tapardjuk.
Tabled Document 177 – 2(4): Interim Financial Report of the GN (Unaudited) March 31, 2007 (Tapardjuk)
I would like to table the Interim Financial Report (Unaudited) of the Government of Nunavut for the Year Ending March 31, 2007.
Please be patient while we get the copy up here.
Bill 23 with Mr. Arreak in the Chair.
At this time, before we proceed with Committee of the Whole, we’ll take a 20-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:28 and Committee resumed at 15:57
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following item to deal with: Bill 23.
We would like to commence with the review of Bill 23 and the Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Are we in agreement we deal with the Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services?
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Health & Social Services
I would now like to ask the Minister Aglukkaq of the Department of Health and Social Services to make her opening remarks.
Thank you for the opportunity to present the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan for the Department of Health and Social Services to the Committee of the Whole.
My department is undertaking innovative initiatives to both contain rising costs and to meet our commitments to serve the health needs of Nunavut.
Our proposed main estimates and business plan for 2008-09 reflect this in a coordinated set of strategies.
Mr. Chairman, I would now like to focus in detail on the highlights of some of these key initiatives that are departmental priorities for this coming year:
Mr. Chairman, because we recognize that the health of individuals and communities depends upon healthy social and physical environments and healthy lifestyle choices, we developed Nunavut’s first Public Health Strategy.
It focuses on promoting and protecting health and the prevention of illnesses. The strategy is proactive; keeping people healthy today will not only improve our quality of life, but keep our costs down in the future.
Mr. Chairman, we are strengthening our nursing workforce through education and training and reducing the costly use of agency nurses through the Nunavut Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy.
This new strategy is part of our long-term efforts for the recruitment and retention of health care and social service professionals – our doctors and our nurses. We are committed to attracting individuals who want to make nursing in Nunavut a career and to educate, train, and mentor Inuit to enter the nursing profession. A comprehensive compensation and benefits proposal has already been tabled with the Nunavut Employees Union.
The collective bargaining is still ongoing.
Once an agreement has been ratified by the NEU, the costs will be incorporated into our budget.
In order to provide better health care for Nunavummiut throughout the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Qikiqtani regions, the Department of Health and Social Services has developed a multi-year Health Facilities Implementation Plan.
This plan will expand the scope and services provided by these health facilities.
Mr. Chairman, as you know, two new Continuing Care Facilities are being constructed – one in Gjoa Haven and the other in Igloolik.
These facilities will keep patients in Nunavut. An implementation plan is currently being developed by the department.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to inform you that our department will be updating, revising, and developing an implementation plan for a Mental Health and Addiction Strategy for all of Nunavut.
We are currently exploring the potential for establishing a Centre of Excellence for research and treatment of mental health and addiction issues in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, strengthening the financial management of the Department of Health has been an ongoing priority. And, through administrative restructuring, we are clarifying the lines of authority and separating the responsibility for operations from our accountability to develop programs and standards.
We are taking proactive steps to strengthen financial management in order to improve the internal budget and variance reporting process, to increase management’s financial accountability, and to improve financial training for managers to be completed by May 1, 2008.
The 2008-09 O&M budget for the department is extremely focused. We had to make tough choices and balance the financial limitations with the very real health and social service needs of Nunavummiut.
But, I can assure the members that by no means are we reducing the quality of care; we are achieving savings by curbing discretionary expenditures.
We have seen a continued pattern of rapid growth in expenditures. From 2003-04 to 2006-07 the department has shown the highest growth in government with allocations increasing from approximately $180 million to just over $236 million, resulting in a growth of budget of $56 million over a three-year period, or a 31 percent growth rate.
The average rate of growth for government is 22 percent. As I have mentioned before, by making investments in public health and preventative care now, we can help offset the high cost of primary health care in the future.
Mr. Chairman, the proposed 2008-09 O&M budget totals $251,388,000.
This is an approximate net increase of $13.8 million over our revised 2007-08 main estimates of $237,557,000.
We realize that these are target costs; unforeseen problems and evolving priorities may alter the actual initiative costs. Some of the major changes in this proposed budget are as follows:
Public Health Strategy
Just over $2.4 million is required to implement the new Public Health Strategy.
Health Facilities Implementation Plan for Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Qikiqtani regions
Approximately $2.9 million will be required for the expanded services in the health centres located in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and for the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit.
Continuing Care Facilities
Approximately $2.1 million will be required for the operation and maintenance of the facilities in Gjoa Haven and Igloolik.
Out-of-Territory Hospital Services
Almost $3.3 million is required to cover the increased cost of out-of-territory hospital costs.
Client Medical Travel
A little over $1.8 million is needed to cover increased client medical travel costs.
Community Health Centres
Just over $1.3 million is required to cover the increased costs to operate the various community health centres in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, in summary, my department is proposing additional funding in the amount of approximately $13.8 million.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to make these opening comments. I am optimistic about our potential to improve the health status of Nunavummiut and I would be happy to answer any of your questions on the 2008-09 Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Minister, do you have witnesses that you would like to bring to the table? Minister Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. (interpretation ends) For the record, minister, please introduce your witnesses. Minister.
To my left is Alex Campbell, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, and to my right is Raj Downe, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and Education have opening remarks?
Members of the Standing Committee on Health and Education have reviewed the 2008-09 Main Estimates and Business Plan of the Department of Health and Social Services and I am pleased to provide you with opening comments.
The standing committee notes that the operations and maintenance budget for Health and Social Services for 2008-09 is $251,388,000.
Although this represents an increase of almost $14 million over the 2007-08 main estimates, the committee remains concerned that budget allocations for some items, especially medical travel, remain unrealistically low.
This department has a history of over-expenditure in this area.
Recognizing that unexpected situations, such as outbreaks of contagious diseases, can and do require costly and immediate intervention, the committee encourages the minister in her efforts to keep her department’s expenditures within budget.
Mr. Chairman, Nunavut now has three brand new regional health facilities which are open and equipped to offer a number of services that have never before been available within this territory.
However, patients are still often required to travel to other jurisdictions to receive services.
In some cases, this is because our new facilities remain seriously under-staffed.
The recruitment and retention of health professionals such as nurses, physicians and health specialists will be critical to making our investments in these state-of-the-art facilities worthwhile.
At the same time, adequate levels of support must be provided to our local community nurses to maintain the high level of care that is provided in our Community Health Centres.
Members of the committee continue to urge the government to bring forward further incentives to support Nunavut nursing students in achieving their goal of joining Nunavut’s health care work force.
Mr. Chairman, the committee supports the minister and her colleague, the Minister of Education, in their efforts to provide training and education opportunities to Nunavummiut that enable them to enter health care professions.
Committee members are of the view, however, that more could be done to ensure long-term employment for Nunavummiut instead of resorting to short-term hiring solutions.
One area where the lack of staff has a direct impact on the health of our residents is when there is no dedicated social worker or mental health worker in a community.
In the High Arctic region, for example, some communities have gone for extended periods of time without a dedicated social worker.
Temporary visits by social workers from other communities are not sufficient to address deep-rooted problems and help individuals and their families work through them.
The committee strongly urges the department to focus on providing adequate social services in all of Nunavut’s communities.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s business plan places an emphasis on promoting a new Public Health Strategy.
The committee supports a proactive strategy which will focus on keeping people healthy and preventing illness and members will be closely monitoring the department’s progress in this area.
If adequate training and resources are provided, community-based Health Committees of Council could be key players in promoting the Public Health Strategy.
In addition, the committee strongly urges the Department of Health and Social Services to give full consideration to instituting measures and providing ongoing resources that will provide long-term support and financial stability to community-based initiatives such as crisis shelters and wellness centres.
Committee members are of the view that health issues such as suicide prevention, substance abuse and domestic violence should be addressed as a priority.
The impact of social factors such as poverty, unemployment and lack of housing must be taken into consideration in addressing population health.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee has noted the department’s new Medical Client Travel Policy which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly last November. Members will be closely monitoring the implementation of the Medical Client Travel Policy, especially with regard to the provision of escorts for elders.
The committee was pleased to note that the position of Client Services Coordinator has been filled on a temporary basis and looks forward to seeing this position staffed on a permanent basis to address concerns across all regions.
It should be noted that members continue to receive concerns from constituents about the operation of the Medical Travel Office located in Pangnirtung.
Mr. Chairman, the committee has noted that the department has undertaken a number of initiatives to implement electronic health information systems for data collection, case management and evaluation.