EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m sure that Mr. Clark would understand why he’s doing the Nunavut part of the worker’s compensation issues.
I would also like to highlight the concern or an issue that, I don’t think I’ll be wrong to say that we had a case in Nunavut where a professional worker was found dead.
According to the public inquiry, it appeared that he committed suicide due to the work place situation.
Those kinds of matters or issues need to be looked at by the board and the Minister as well to make sure that they are covered.
Some people have very high stressful jobs.
I think this case that we had in Nunavut would be that kind of case and we don’t want to see anything like that although it happened.
So, I don’t have any further comments but those two matters that I wanted to make sure that they are heard and they are important to us.
There is no one on my list at this point for general comments.
If there are no further comments, are there any questions before we go clause by clause.
Today, Innuinaqtut language will be televised so I’ll try to speak in Innuinaqtut.
Bill 36, is there anything new added to the Bill? Perhaps is it because of the naming of Northwest Territories that one of the main purposes why the amendments are brought forth?
Mr. Chairman, no, it is primarily to clarify some of the sections in the Act that may not be as clear as they could be.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Perhaps I can ask the legal counsel what new changes there are in this Act, the Workers' Compensation Board Act.
My review of the Bill indicates that it moves a number of items that were previously in the Act into regulations such as a yearly maximum that would be payable and things like how much will be paid for replacement clothing and things like that for workers.
It appears to formally establish the position of workers’ advisory, which was something that was not, I understand it may have informally been there but was not formally established in the Act.
And it establishes, I think, as the Minister indicated, the Government’s account for, to oversee the administration of the Act and the activities of the board and really the rest are more or less administrative matters.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Cooper.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): There is a board that oversees the operations of Workers' Compensation Board, is that so? Thank you.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, there is, Mr. Chairman, and they will be referred to as the Government and its council for board after these amendments are passed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Are there vacancies on the board or are the positions all filled?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I missed that question.
Could the Member please repeat that?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Make sure you pay attention.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Does the Workers' Compensation Board have a board or are they going to be newly appointed?
I apologize for that; I was consulting with legal council.
Mr. Chairman, there is a board right now and they have the intent to have the current board members just continue on until their appointments expire.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): How many board members on this?
It is six members and a Chairperson.
So, it is seven members in total and two of those individuals are from Nunavut.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Why are there only two appointees from Nunavut?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Nutarak. Minister Ng.
It is because, Mr. Chairman, when the inter-governmental agreement was signed off between, at that time, the Interim Commissioner representing the Government of Nunavut prior to the establishment of Nunavut with the Northwest Territories Government.
That was what was put in place based on some of the historical caseloads and work from Workers' Compensation Board coverage.
Mr. Havioyak: What he told me is that is what about the boards.
You are saying there is seven plus a Chairperson.
By changing this Act, would there be possibility of maybe 50/50 in the board from both Territories.
I indicated 6 plus the Chairperson, so seven all together for the entire board.
That specific make up, the composition and the board of where they would be from are not in the act itself.
That’s through an intergovernmental agreement from the Government of Nunavut now and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
I apologise that I didn’t say Thank you.
I appreciate that you’re smiling today.
(interpretation end) I just wanted to say there, when is the next agreement we discuss again?
I’m just trying to get, maybe that question was answered earlier, as to when we will table this again.
Maybe you could give me an update on the agreement itself as in the number on the board and things like that.
Mr. Chairman, when the Government of Nunavut and myself as the Minister responsible took office, and the new Northwest Territories Government took office shortly after that and their Minister responsible, we agreed that, the new shared services agreement or intergovernmental agreement was agreed upon, there is no termination date in that agreement but having said that, both parties have the opportunity to terminate the agreement based on notice within the agreement.
So, I would expect once the new government comes in with Nunavut, there is a new government coming in right now, the Northwest Territories, that the next Minister responsible, the next government would have an opportunity to review their intergovernmental agreements and give direction to the Minister responsible, what they may want or not want to do in respect of those agreements.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. General comments.
Would you like to go clause by clause?
I can’t see that little light when I’m sitting there. The board, are there any Inuit members or anybody from the Hunters and Trappers Organizations.
Not to my knowledge Mr. Chairman.
The boards are probably appointed from different sectors in Nunavut.
Are the hunters also covered under the Workers Compensation Board for accidental death or accidents?
Yes, through the Government of Nunavut.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Anything else?
If not, we’ll go to Bill 36, an Act to Amend the Worker’s Compensation Act.
Find the page.
Do you have the copies in front of you?
Would you like to go clause by clause? Okay we’ll start the clause-by-clause review.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 6. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 9. Agreed.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 10. Agreed.
Mr. Chairman, this is something that Ms. Williams talked about earlier and I said in my opening comments.
It’s talks about the establishment of worker’s advisors and one or more deputy worker’s advisors and I’m just wondering in the formal section in the Bill if the Minister could indicate when do they expect having these positions filled.
Mr. Chairman, it’s not up to me as the Minister responsible to dictate when that would happen.
It’s an operational matter.
The board of the Workers Compensation Board would approve that formally through their business planning process with the Workers Compensation Board executive.
Has the board been given any indication to the Minister responsible as to when they anticipate doing that?
Mr. Chairman, again, based on what I said earlier with Mr. Havioyak’s question in respect of two new governments’, two new Ministers responsible; there is a current agreement in the services that are in there.
That’s how the expansion of the Nunavut operations came about raising concerns that Nunavut had about the Workers Compensation Board services being provided to Nunavummiut and they addressed in quite a significant way, some of those requests that we had and I would expect that once the new government’s new Ministers that same type of issue would be brought forward.
I certainly will convey to our board of directors who sit on the Workers Compensation Board, some of the concerns that are being raised here today and have been raised in the standing committee.
Mr. Chairman, I guess, the board hasn’t conveyed any information onto when they’re looking at filling these positions.
Is that a correct interpretation of the Minister’s response?
Mr. Chairman, for the area for the worker’s advisors legislated, that office will report directly to the Ministers responsible and obviously there will be some consultations and input from the Ministers responsible to the worker’s advisors office.
Mr. Chairman, I guess that like I said, I asked, there has been no indication as to when.
I’m just wondering if the Minister could convey to the board of directors as soon as possible that this is something that Members and the committee and this House, it’s important to have filled here in Nunavut, as quickly as possible given the high number of cases that we found out about that go on here.
Given how much of a work load and a back log that might cause one person in Yellowknife to do not only, that person is doing all the, dealing with all of Nunavut’s cases but also all of the Northwest Territories cases.
This would hopefully help alleviate some of the, if there are backlogs in dealing with people in a more timely fashion in the future.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the Member’s concern and that of some of the other Members as well, in respect of trying to enhance services to Nunavummiut, in particular in this area, worker’s advisor.
During the Standing Committee review and it’s not for the House here, we hand mentioned that there is workload on average of 44 cases for the current worker’s advisor, the individual.
That is the average per month; note that approximately 10 cases are Nunavut-based and so, we are not that worrying, it is a full-time position to be based in Nunavut.
I mean that is not for me to determine right now.
But having said that, we also have to, I think we have to realize that the funding for this comes from the Access funds, which employers pay based on the rates for the Workers' Compensation coverage.
But again, if there is any a need there, certainly, it will be addressed and whatever warrants a full-time position or a part-time position, wherever the case may be.
We will make sure that to review that situation and maximize the issue of providing services as close to Nunavummiut as possible.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. I have no one else on my list.
At this time, we will go back to Clause-by-Clause.
I am sorry; we are not there yet.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In Clause 13 (1), (2), (3), my question is regarding subsection 3 is amended by striking out $24 thousand dollars and by substituting the prescribed amount.
Can you please clarify what that means?
Was the $24 thousand dollars the ceiling and now what does that mean by striking out that amount?
Perhaps our legal council can elaborate.
Mr. Chairman, this specific number is for the coverage for hunters and trappers and against cost, I mean has been consistent with some of the other issues of taking things out of Legislation and bringing it, sorry, taking it out of Legislation and bringing it into regulation.
So, the Government of Nunavut would decide to raise that limit of coverage for hunters and trappers.
We would not have to go through a Legislative change we would do it through regulation.
For hunters, if they lose equipment, either their ski-doos or their boat, say they have a big boat and a big outboard motor, can they be compensated for the whole amount or half or what percentage can they get back?
Mr. Chairman, the harvesters, what coverage is specific personal injuries and loss of income, not so much assets or equipment; that would be more through the regular insurance process.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. That is probably clear now that this is only for personal injury.
Chairman: Clause 17.
Mr. Chairman, on this Clause and it is (13) it is the last subsection in that Clause.
I understand that the wording in there used to read someone who does not comply and it has been changed to someone who wilfully complies.
I just want to ask the Minister to elaborate on why that change is made.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I will let Mr. Triggs respond to this one, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Triggs.
Mr. Triggs: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The reason it was changed so wilfully was to make sure that there is no misunderstanding for the board and the person who was not compliant as to the reasons why they were not compliant.
If this was an accident, we don’t want to be cutting off persons’ benefits for that.
It has to be wilfully failed to comply with our request.
So they had the intention not comply when you ask them to do something.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Triggs.
I guess, then I can assume that this amendment, the change in the wording in there is to try and get rid of some of the grey area around that to not unfairly penalize individuals for circumstances that may be beyond their control. Is that correct?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Yes, that’s correct, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. We’re on clause 17. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 23. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 24. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 25. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 26. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 27. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 28. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 29. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 30. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 31. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 32. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 33. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 34. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 35. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 36. Agreed?
Mr. Chairman, this clause touches on one of the comments made in my opening remarks and in here it indicates that the board may disclose under the authority of the board, information to other agencies or department’s of the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada or of a province or territory.
I hate to ask if that was in there, in the old Act also, why that’s in there.
I’ll ask Mr. Triggs to respond to that.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Mr. Triggs.
It was in the previous Act and it was under section 67 sub 12, I believe is the section it was in.
We found that it was somewhat of a confusing section and that’s why we wished to re-write it to make it clear as to what was intended here.
The general idea behind the sharing of information is very limited information.
We don’t want to give out confidential information on people; this is more statistical information, primarily it deals with information related to employees so that for example, the Nunavut Finance Department wishes to have listed employees from whom payroll tax has to be paid.
We have a comprehensive list of who our employees are.
The Department of Finance has a list.
We wish to exchange that information so that people who are supposed to be reporting to the government, are doing that.
We also wish to share information with the coroner’s office and the RCMP, when there are fatalities and investigation on that.
The registrar of companies, each company is required under the laws to register with us and also with the Department of Justice to make sure that they’re registered here.
This is just to share the information to make sure that people have access to what they’re supposed to have access to.
Also, sometimes with Labour Canada, dealing with investigations that they may conducting.
Mr. Chairman, the Clause 77-1(C) and it is in accordance with the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I just want to confirm for the record that that Act would supersede any other requests on there, as long as the request was in accordance with that Act, that is the only way that information would be disclosed.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the Member is correct.
Mr. Chairman, as you know the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act is another piece of legislation that we are going to be looking at and making some amendments too, here in this House.
Will any amendments made be included in here?
Is there anything that falls in between what the Act currently has now, and what this one states?
Will there be changes made to this Act to ensure compliance with the amended Act?
Mr. Chairman, if there are changes made to the Access to Information Act that impacts our, or any government act for that matter, they would be amended accordingly.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Going back to Clause 36. Agreed?
Chairman (interpretation): Going back to Clause 36.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the Minister have Closing Remarks?
Does the Committee after that Bill 36 is ready for Third Reading?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I would like to thank the Committee members and the staff who are here.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for appearing before the Committee.
Since we have done Bill 36, we would like to commence with Bill 41.
The Committee would like to start off with Bill 41, an Act to Amend the Nursing Act.
Minister Picco, the Minister for Health and Social Services, do you have any Opening Comments?
Mr. Chairman, this is just basically housekeeping.
I am pleased to speak to Bill 41 today regarding amendments to Nunavut’s Nursing Act.
The new NWT Nursing Profession Act comes into force on January 1st, 2004.
Nunavut needs to amend its Nursing Act by this date to ensure coherence with the NWT Legislation.
At present the practice of nursing in Nunavut is regulated by the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories (NWTRNA).
Nunavut’s Nursing Act recognizes the authority of the NWTRNA to regulate the profession of nursing in Nunavut, including the licensing of nurses.
In order to insure the continued regulation of the practice of nursing in Nunavut, the Nunavut Nursing Act must be amended to ensure continued compatibility with the new Northwest Territories Nunavut Nursing Act.
This Bill will ensure that Nunavut’s nurses will continue to be registered through the registered Nursing Association of the Northwest Territories.
This Bill will recognise the changes made with the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association to the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and therefore will be named the RNANWTNU, to consequentially amend several Acts pertaining to the health profession as a result.
Failure to amend the Nunavut Nursing Act by the January 1, 2004, will force the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to administer two different Acts for two different bodies of nurses which it is not equipped to do so.
This could result in a variety of legal complications related to the regulation of the practise of nursing in Nunavut, education programs for nurses as well as penalties under the Act itself Mr. Chairman.
At the appropriate time, I will be moving an amendment to the Bill to reflect the changes that we had discussed with the committee.
With that, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to ask if the Committee Chairman has opening comments.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Health and Education has had the opportunity to review Bill 41 and we are pleased to be able to make some comments today on the proposed Act to Amend the Nursing Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee understands that this Act is to amend the Nursing Act so that we can be aligned with the Northwest Territories Nursing Act, which was just recently amended.
The proposed legislation would allow for nurse practitioners, who have extra training in addition to regular nursing training, to work in Nunavut and, as a result, the Bill also proposes some consequential amendments to various other Acts which make reference to health professions.
The Committee fully supports the concept of nurse practitioners bringing their extra level of expertise to Nunavut.
During its deliberations on the Bill, the Committee raised two main issues.
First, Members noted that residents occasionally question whether they have received appropriate or adequate service from their community nurse.
The Committee felt that there is a need for the Government to conduct an information campaign directed at the communities to inform community members of the expected roles and responsibilities of nurses in their communities.
The second issue of concern to Standing Committee Members related to the handling of complaints about nurse conduct or practice.
Members felt that, as the Association representing nurses from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories has its central office based in Yellowknife that measures should be put in place to ensure that adequate representation from Nunavut, and in particular from someone who is not a health professional, do you include them on the board or Committee involved in handling complaints?
Mr. Chairman, when the Standing Committee met with the sponsoring Minister to discuss the proposed Legislation, Members were pleased that the Minister and staff committed to addressing these issues in the near future.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee understands that the Minister will be bringing forward a Motion that will further facilitate the involvement of Nunavut residents in the complaints process.
Members are pleased that this issue has been addressed so promptly.
That concludes my Opening Comments, Mr. Chairman.
The Standing Committee of Health and Education supports the Bill and recommends the passage of the Bill to all Members.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Nutarak, and the Chairman of the Committee.
At this time, I would like to ask Minister Picco if he could go to the Witness Table with his Officials.
Sergeant-at-Arms, can you assist the Members?
Thank you. I do not like to use the Mr. because it is not an Inuktitut way of doing things.
I know it is a good word, but I just want to say Minister Picco.
I am very pleased to be here to represent Bill 41, an Act to Amend the Nursing Act and I would like to hear the comments or the questions from the Members.
Thank you, chairman Iqaqrialu.
If you could introduce your staff, Minister Picco.
Hon. Ed. Picco: Mr. Chairman, with me today is the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services on my immediate right, Mr. Bernie Blaise and on my immediate left, Mr. Peter Allison a Legislative lawyer from the Department of Justice.
According to all of our rules in the House, you have 10-minutes for General Comments and you can have 10-minutes to ask questions before we go Clause-by-Clause.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Just a short comment on the Bill Mr. Chairman.. I would be very happy if this Act to Amend the Nursing would be done properly and if they could work, the nurses could work properly.
This summer, if you would count the number of nurses who went in and out, there would be at least 20 of them altogether in one year.
But I will be very happy if this Legislation or the amendment to the Legislation could better help us staff our communities and we have been having a lot of problems with the airline scheduling as well.
Because the nurses in the community do not have time to take time off and they are overworked.
I heard when I was in Igloolik, that the European nurses somewhere in Switzerland or in Iceland that they have a nurse in charge that come from that area and she is going to be nurse in charge in Igloolik.
The Act to Amend the Nursing Act probably doesn’t have very much to do with what I’m talking about but I feel that we’re having a lot of problems with ticketing on the airlines because they’re using a lot of airline tickets, the nurses because of the change of staff all the time.
I really appreciate the communities being provided with nurses as well.
I just want to make a short comment in regards to your comment.
When the nurses come into the communities, usually they don’t have certificates or proof of their profession when they come into the communities.
For example, in my community of Kugluktuk, there was an elder who was ill and there were complaints from the community nurse at the nursing situation.
I will say this in English.
(interpretation ends) When the patients are misdiagnosed, sometimes the nurses in the communities have no idea how to diagnose an ill patient.