EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I should also point out Mr. Chairman, that we had a good meeting last night with the Standing Committee on Government Operations on this bill and I really appreciate the questions and indeed, the debate and the discussion with the actual Chairman of that committee.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Picco.
Does the Chairperson of the committee have opening remarks. Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairman, I thank the minister for his opening remarks and indeed, it sounds like he didn’t have very much sleep last night, I don’t know if he is nervous about today or what, but I sure hope that he gets well soon.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services had the opportunity as the minister indicated to meet with him and his staff to review Bill 6, which was introduced earlier this week.
Members accept the government's explanation that this piece of legislation has been introduced as a precautionary measure in the event that negotiations on the division of assets and liabilities do not result in an agreement prior to the birth of the Nunavut Power Corporation on April 1.
While it is unfortunate that the parties involved have not been able to reach agreement, members recognize the need to ensure that the start-up of the Power Corporation proceed as smoothly as possible.
The Standing Committee recognizes that the provisions of the legislation, which allow the minister to make orders related to the transfer of assets, may never actually be acted upon.
However, in the event that it does become necessary for the minister to exercise powers under this Act, the Committee is of the view that the government has a responsibility to keep all Members of the Legislative Assembly informed in a timely manner of any actions he takes in this area, as well as progress in the negotiations as a whole.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would draw the attention of members to section 8 of the Bill, which permits the Commissioner to repeal the Act or any provision of it.
While the Committee understands that this is not necessarily a unique provision, neither is it a routine one.
Normally, and appropriately, it is the legislature itself that repeals Acts or parts of Acts that it previously passed.
We did this on Monday with section 25 of the Interpretation Act.
The Standing Committee would recommend against this sort of provision being included as a routine matter in future pieces of legislation introduced by this government.
That concludes my comments, Mr. Chairman.
The Standing Committee supports Bill 6 and recommends its passage by all members.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman Tootoo.
Will the minister be joined by his officials. Mr. Picco.
I would like to ask the members if the minister could be seated at the witness stand with his officials.
I made sure that I did that very quickly.
Could you introduce your officials, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Chairman, with me today is the extremely capable legal counsel Mr. Ralph Armstrong, and the equally capable Deputy Minister of the Executive, Ms. Anne Crawford.
Before we raise any questions or review the bill, I would like to ask the members if they have any general comments on the bill.
General comments. If there are no general comments, do the members have any questions on the bill.
If there are no questions, we will go through the bill clause by clause.
Bill 6. Page 1.
Nunavut Power Corporation Utilities Assets Transfer Confirmation Act.
We will start from the first number.
Any comments on Clause 1.
Clause 3.
Clause 6.
Clause 7.
Mr. Arvaluk: I want a clarification on it.
Maybe I am reading it wrong.
The agreement for the division of assets and liabilities of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation was entered into with the Interim Commissioner.
So you are referring to negotiations and agreements entered into before the Nunavut Territory.
That refers back to the transition agreement that we signed off with the Interim Commissioner.
Carried. Bill as a whole.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do the members agree that Bill 6 is ready for third reading.
Chairperson (interpretation): Bill 6 has been agreed to.
Nunavut Power Corporation.
I'd like to thank the minister for appearing in front of the committee.
If you would like to have closing remarks.
Hon. Ed Picco: Just a quick closing remark.
That is to publicly thank Mr. Peter Scott who has been with us on the NCCIS and as the new Nunavut Power Corporation closes down, winds down as of April 1st. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Scott for the work that he has done under the NCCIS.
He is in the gallery today.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Scott for your assistance.
We will be seeing you as this is going through.
Thanks to the minister and his staff.
I’d also like to thank our legal counsel Mr. Chandler for joining us and we'll see you again.
Does the committee agree that we'll be going on to Bill 1.
Main estimates for 2001/2002 and we'll be dealing with the Department of Health and Social Services main estimates.
I'd like to ask Mr. Picco if he'd like to start off with his opening remarks.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Chairman for the opportunity to present to you, to the committee the 2001-2002 main estimates for the Department of Health & Social Services.
Before I begin, I would like to introduce the members of my staff who are with me today; Mr. Andrew Johnston, Deputy Minister who's in the gallery there, Mr. Don Maychruk, who's our Director of Finance and also the Director for the Baffin regional operations Glenn Thompson.
Mr Chairman, as you know I appeared before the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health in January to review our business plan and our estimates for 2001-2002.
I appreciate the support and comments offered by the members of the standing committee.
The standing committee provided me with their comments regarding a number of issues including: the three health facilities; our ongoing review of boarding homes; efforts to increase support for Inuit nurses in the nursing program; and funding support for committees of council just to name a few.
Mr. Chairman, I anticipate further discussion on these and other items as today’s review of our main and capital estimates progresses.
The Department of Health & Social Services impacts on the lives of all Nunavummiut through the provision of a range of services and programs that promote health and wellness for individuals, families and our communities.
Mr. Chairman, our department has the second largest budget of all departments of the Government of Nunavut and as such, we are very aware of our responsibility to manage these funds we have with due diligence, while at the same time, maintaining an acceptable level of health and social services across the territory.
Mr. Chairman, as I have indicated to the standing committee, we have five primary goals consistent with the Bathurst Mandate. They are;
To improve the health and well-being of all Nunavummiut,
To provide a supportive environment for individuals, families and communities in making decisions Mr. Chairman, making decisions that effect their health and well-being,
As well as to deliver integrate and co-ordinate health and social services to individuals, families and communities,
To develop policies relevant to the needs of the population of Nunavut,
And to deliver flexible, culturally sensitive programs and to demonstrate the effective use of public resources.
Mr. Chairman, I am certain that all the members in this room are aware that there are immense Mr. Chairman, immense challenges in managing health and social services systems across Canada.
Some of the challenges for us here in Nunavut include;
Fierce competition, Mr. Chairman, with other jurisdictions for the recruitment and retention of health professionals, particularly our nurses,
The complexity Mr. Chairman, of providing a comprehensive range of health and social services over a wide geographical area that are consistent, effective, efficient and affordable,
Fulfilling our stewardship responsibilities for the use of public funds while being responsive to the needs of individuals and our communities,
And Mr. Chairman, building individual and community capacity to enhance health and wellness for all Nunavummiut.
With this in mind, Mr. Chairman, our total departmental budget for 2001-2002 is 123.4 million dollars, which includes 119.2 million dollars for operations and maintenance, and an additional 4.2 million dollars for capital projects.
Of the 119.2 million dollars for operations and maintenance, one time funding for new initiatives in the amount of 2.5 million are included.
While the former health boards have been fully integrated into the department, savings from administrative efficiencies have been offset by increases in the population and rates of illness which continue to put pressure on the department to ensure the ongoing health, safety and protection of all residents within Nunavut.
To ensure that our department remains responsive to the needs of individuals and communities, we will continue to provide some funding support to the committees of council to assist us in addressing local needs.
Similarly, we will continue to seek the wisdom and advice of elders to ensure that our services and programs are culturally relevant, and incorporate traditional practices and knowledge into service delivery and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in the design.
Mr. Chairman, our capital plan is to be funded at a level of 4.2 million.
Capital projects have been outlined in our five-year capital plan and include such things as renovations to a number of community health centres and other facilities.
In addition, three new health facilities in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay are to be designed, built and leased back to the department.
The annual lease payments for these facilities will be paid from the department’s operations and maintenance budget in future years.
Ongoing funding support will be provided to Arctic College for the nursing program.
As well, Mr. Chairman, we're excited to say, we've begun training for community health representatives as well as x-ray technicians.
These courses have begun.
Funding for new initiatives and projects in 2001-2002 includes vaccinations for pneumococcal disease.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, we're going to do those vaccinations for all Nunavut children age 2 to 19 years and to all adults over 49 years.
As well, Mr. Chairman, as announced in this House earlier, tuberculosis control and surveillance will continue by hiring additional community health nurses and undertaking a concerted public education program.
Mr. Chairman, in early January the department’s health promotion program kicked off the tobacco cessation campaign with the release of a number of visually descriptive posters and fact sheets regarding the harmful effects of smoking.
In 2001-2002, we will continue public education campaigns of this nature by purchasing additional media airtime to reach all of Nunavut through television, radio and newspapers.
The department continues to face a challenge recruiting and retaining nurses to work in Nunavut.
As such, we are examining options for other incentives, we're examining options and other incentives, Mr. Chairman, for nurses to come to Nunavut and to stay for extended periods of time.
Mr. Chairman, nothing is more disheartening to Nunavummiut than to hear about the tragedies leading to suicide and its impact on families and communities.
In addition to the support and training that was provided this past year for mental health and suicide prevention, the department will - in consultation with local communities and elders - continue to implement a comprehensive mental health strategy for Nunavut.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for this opportunity to address the committee of the whole today.
I look forward to your questions and comments as we review the departmental estimates in detail.
I'd like to ask the Chair of the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health for his opening comments.
The Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health has reviewed the budget estimates and business plan of the Department of Health and Social Services for the 2001-2002 fiscal year and I am pleased to provide you with the committee's comments.
The Standing Committee notes with concern that, despite one of the priority objectives of the Bathurst Mandate being “healthy communities”, and despite the ongoing pressures on the Department, the overall budget for Health and Social Services has not been substantially increased over the years.
Members continue to have concerns that programs and services will suffer or be cut if the Department enters into a deficit position.
In addition, the Committee will be seeking clarification as to how the recently announced GN-wide Program Review exercise will impact this department, which still accounts for almost one out of every five dollars spent by the government.
The Committee has recommended in the past that the Minister try all possible avenues to access additional funding and Members were very pleased to hear that the Minister has had some success in his negotiations with the federal government.
Committee Members congratulate Minister Picco and our Member of Parliament, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, on the result of their efforts to expand the Nunavut Ikajuruti Inungnik Ungasiktumi Telehealth Network.
The Standing Committee supports the Department’s intention to integrate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in policy and practices although the Business Plan does not specify in great detail how this will be accomplished.
Staffing and retention of health worker positions continues to be a concern.
The Department’s budget shows 600 thousand dollars for another year of the Nunavut Nursing Program.
Committee members are pleased that the Minister has acted on the recommendation to increase support to this program by allocating an additional 166 thousand dollars for health training.
Members are hopeful that this will result in more health worker positions being filled by Inuit.
Members encourage the Minister to explore sponsorship options for nursing students along the same lines as sponsorship being provided to students in the Department of Justice’s Law School program.
The Standing Committee continues to have concerns about the services provided in medical boarding homes and has strongly recommended that the Department review and evaluate these services.
Members look forward to seeing that review tabled in the House.
Mental health issues are a continuing concern and members note that a new initiative, the Iqaluit Homelessness/Psychiatry program, has been allocated 300 thousand dollars to begin to address some of these issues.
The Committee encourages the department to continue working alongside the Departments of Education and Culture, Language, Elders and Youth on the issue of suicide.
The important role that elders can play in suicide prevention must not be overlooked.
The department’s budget includes an amount of 5 thousand dollars for each Committee of Council for a total of 130 thousand dollars.
Members feel that this amount may fall short of the actual needs of community committees and recommend that the department review this allocation at the earliest opportunity.
Lastly, Mr. Chairman, there are still many unanswered questions on the three new health facilities.
They do not appear in the department’s capital budget at this stage.
Members have requested that the minister provide information on the planning and funding for construction, operation and staffing of these facilities on a regular basis.
I would now like to ask the minister if he could take his seat at the witness table.
Minister Picco, I would like to invite your officials to come up to the witness table.
Do we agree that the officials can go up to the witness table.
Please introduce your witnesses, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Chairman, with me today, is the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Andy Johnston.
He is seated on my right.
On my left hand side is our Chief of Finance, Mr. Don Maychruk and in the gallery, is our Director for Baffin operations, Mr. Glenn Thompson.
Speaker (interpretation): Please say thank you at the conclusion of your sentence so the light at my end will go on.
I would like the members to move onto the capital estimates for the Department of Health & Social Services.
The page number is 10-6 and 10-7.
General comments for the members.
The members can make their comments up to ten minutes.
We will then move on to 10-7.
The members have 10 minutes to make their general comments.
And thank you Mr. Picco and his officials for going up to the witness table.
He made very good opening comments as the Minister of Health.
Mr. Chairman, I'll try and make it as brief as possible. I'll make them brief.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, in your opening comments, the minister stated, I was very glad with the minister's speaking notes and it outlines some of the concerns that we had as people of Nunavut.
But, today, I think that we need additional support because of the concerns and problems we have in Nunavut.
Today, it seems like the people of Nunavut are not getting attention from the medical personnel and if they're well, they don't get to see a medical person for 6-7 years and I believe I'm quite accurate in making those statements.
The reason why I'm saying is that there are too many people out there who have cancer and other diseases that you can't do much about.
I believe that's because they don't get annual checkups.
I'm sure the nurses are working very hard.
But at times it's too late by the time they diagnose the patient.
I'm making those comments because I believe that all people of Nunavut should at least get annual checkups or have wellness clinics to make sure that they get diagnosed right at the beginning or at least lower the number of people who get cancer and stuff like that.
We spend millions of dollars on people who are diagnosed too late with cancer and they have to go back and forth from their community to larger centres or to southern institutions for checkups and radiation and so on.
I think that annual checkups and wellness clinics will alleviate some of these problems and I think we will save money if we start these types of things.
Also Mr. Chairman, today we notice the problems because of the lack of nurses.
There are different dialects and different ways of saying nurse.
I think there is a severe shortage of nurses in the Nunavut communities and that is part of the problem.
We have to have adequate ratios between the nurses and the number of residents.
For example because of the severe shortage, they are over tired and over worked.
I can use the example of the time that I mentioned about the nurse and the health centre that had to be closed for a while to give the nurse a break.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure you are doing the best you can.
But the nurses are being overworked, getting over tired and of course things tend to fall between the cracks when you are over tired and over worked.
We all know when you deal with people and when you work in the frontline, it is very tiring and it takes dedicated staff.
Maybe the reason why we have a severe shortage of nurses is because of the lack of dollars that are allocated for the medical personnel.
Maybe we don't pay them enough or compensate them enough for the amount of work that they do.
When I was talking to your departments and other departments I was told that it was hard to find nurses who would be willing to work up north.
They even have to look for nurses internationally because they don't want to go up north.
You have to be well compensated to want to work hard.
That is today's attitude whether you’re an Inuk or Qallunaaq.
When you are well compensated you will work hard.
That is part of the problem.
I believe they are not paid enough and they are not compensated enough for the amount of work that they do.
Maybe that is why we have some of the problems.
Mr. Chairman, this is just part and parcel of the comments that I made.
I think we should increase the salary that is being paid to the nurses and we should increase the number of nursing staff that we have so that there is earlier diagnoses and better medical care for the residents of Nunavut.
Only then we will start saving money in this department.
It might cost more to increase their salaries.
I think that if we have earlier diagnoses we’ll save money in the long run because of the long-term care that needs to be done when you find out too late.
I'll try and make it as brief as possible.
The department of health has a lot of responsibilities here in Nunavut.
When there is something wrong with us or if we need treatment, the nurses are the only ones that we approach in our communities.
We have to go up and see the nurse if you get a cut for example.
If you get hurt, that's a part of life.
For that reason, your department is extremely essential for the people of Nunavut.
In your opening comments, I was very pleased with the comments you made.
You stated that you have huge responsibilities and I believe in that.
Your department is the one with the most money that's been allocated within the Nunavut government.
With that, Mr. Chairman, my colleague just made some of the comments on the problem areas.
There are not enough doctors in the Kitikmeot region.
We rarely ever get a doctor’s visit.
For example, there's one doctor that's there and there's over six thousand total population in the Kitikmeot.
In the south, one doctor, the ratio is one doctor per thousand.
But seven thousand for one doctor is way too much.
Because we don't have enough doctors, and because we don’t have enough nurses, there is late diagnosis of diseases.
The Nunavut Government Department of Health and Social Services I believe need our full support so that we can get more doctors and more nurses established in the communities.
If it's possible, I'm looking forward and I hope my colleagues look forward to getting more nurses and more doctors.
There is a population explosion up here in Nunavut.
I believe we have to get more nurses and doctors so that there's a proper ratio between the medical personnel and the population here in Nunavut.
With the shortage of nurses and doctors, that is one of the major concerns that we have.
Also in the regions, I could use my community as an example where people get sick.
For example, a woman might be waiting for her appointment for the visiting doctor.
She's told that her appointment is for January 20 and that she'll be going down to Yellowknife to meet with the doctor but if there's a blizzard and the plane can't come in, her appointment then is deferred maybe to March, a couple of months later.
The woman is ill, maybe that's because there's a shortage of doctors.
That's one of the problem areas we have where the appointments keep getting deferred because there was a blizzard on that one particular day, the plane can't land for that one day, so that patient has to wait for another two or three months for her next appointment.
So those are some of the problems.
It seems like we're not getting proper attention.
It seems like, I'm sorry but we can't do anything about your illness at this time because we had one day of bad weather.
It seems like there's apologies but we're not getting proper medical attention.
This is just one of the examples.
If the plane doesn't come in for one day it could come in the next day, because this is getting to a critical point.
I'll make some more comments later once we go page by page.
Mr. Arvaluk: (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Reading through the minister's opening comments, on page 3, the chairperson of the standing committee also made opening comments.
I don't quite know, on bullet number 4, page 3, well I understand it but the way I understand it is, you don't have policies yet.
The Department of Health and Social Services doesn't have policies yet that are relevant to the needs of the population of Nunavut and then right underneath it says again the same thing.
It's written in Inuktitut but in the English, it doesn't have quite the same meaning.
I think due to the minister not making it clear in these bullets number 4 and 5 it doesn't say here what you mean by relevant to the needs and flexible, culturally sensitive programs to develop these policies.