EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We all found out last year that we had to get supplementary funding for the Department of Education’s funding shortfall.
I would just like to inform the member that there are different months of the year that those people that go to school graduation.
If we have any surplus in our department at the end of the fiscal year, that’s how we do our budgeting.
Sometimes the graduation dates differ but I could tell the member that if we were to give some funding for travel for the parents, we would consider that.
Question 457 – 1 (6): Number of Outpost Camps in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of days, we have heard how much the Government of Nunavut is spending on sending inmates to the south and to other correctional institutes and the high cost of doing that.
Over the last four years, I’ve stood up in this house and asked the Minister of Justice about outpost camps and the establishing of new ones.
Currently, how many outpost camps are in Nunavut today?
I believe there three or four outpost camps in the territory.
I’m a little slow today, but it must be because of Mary Brown’s chicken.
Anyhow, on that issue, if there are three or four outpost camps operating currently in Nunavut, how many inmates are currently in these outpost camps?
Yes, I believe they have a capacity of up to twelve so far but I don’t currently have the exact figures for those three camps.
Mr. Speaker, the last four years, I don’t think there has been too many new camps opened up and I think the reason not too many have been opened up is because of the cost.
It’s very difficult for a lot of people to get the capital together, to get a plan together, build cabins, have snowmobiles, safety issues and things like that.
Is this department currently working with any organizations to try to open up more outpost camps, which we all know is much better for Nunavummiut because they can be out on the land where they belong rather than in southern institutions?
Does his department have any plans or is he working on any plans to work with organizations to provide this.
In the past we have worked with the Hamlet council in Arviat.
We’ll partner with any group that wants to work with us.
In April, next month, we’ll be doing request for proposals, advertising and requesting submissions from anyone that may be interested in opening up an outpost camp.
Yes, the amount is a bit low, $120 and I have asked my department to look at perhaps increasing that amount to reflect the true costs of operating a camp.
That’s good news that there is an RFP coming out in April regarding outpost camps.
I hate to say that running an outpost camp is a business but in the actual reality of running an outpost camp it is sort of a micro business.
In order to get bank financing to purchase snow machines, lumber to build cabins, etc, you need capital.
He just said to me its $120 thousand for anybody that wants to start an outpost camp.
It’s not really a lot for starting an outpost camp.
What contractor’s needs or what people need to set these outpost camps up is a letter from the government guaranteeing X number of dollars over a five year life span and then whatever organization whether it’s the Hamlet or a development corporation or individuals could take that to the bank to leave leverage capital to start up these outpost camps.
In the RFP, could he consider having that in the terms of reference that individual or organizations will be giving that or consider it?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. $120 thousand is a little high. $120 per day, per inmate, because it’s the current per diem that we pay for outpost camps.
We provide additional assistance for snowmobile purchases and outboard motors along with the program so we do that as well.
We’re quite open to suggestions as to how much additional support we can provide.
Perhaps yes, signing contracts is another route and increasing the amount is amount is another alternative that we’re looking at right now.
Question 458 – 1(6): A Need to Increase Inuinnaqtun Teachers
Before I ask the question, I understand that in Pond Inlet, they are starting to ask for programs in Inuktitut.
I envy those people very much.
In Kugluktuk, they don’t have Inuinnaqtun teachers and programs; I would like to see more Inuinnaqtun teachers in my community because there are very few Inuinnaqtun speakers in the Kitikmeot region.
I would like to see an increase of Inuinnaqtun teachers on Kugluktuk.
I agree with my colleague that the Innuinaqtut teachers need to be increased and the curriculum in Innuinaqtut definitely needs an increase.
So, in Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, there have been discussions about the rate of loss of their language being fastest and we’d like to increase the numbers of their teachers.
It has to come from the regions for the commitment of residents there to become teachers, to increase the numbers.
In our business plan, we have an objective for Innuinaqtut and Inuktitut to increase the number of teachers.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that response.
I am glad like to see a recognition of the need for more Inuinnaqtut school teachers.
I think it is good you will inform the Kitikmeot Region to increase more Innuinaqtut school teachers in the region.
I would like to ask how you will be informing people about this.
At the Nunavut Arctic College, there is a teacher education program and I can urge the directors from the college to visit the Kitikmeot Region.
My apologies, we will do that.
I would like the Minister to consider this as well.
If there are further positions, for example in Kugluktuk, those who want to become Inuinnaqtut teachers, I would like to see that if the Minister could consider increasing those Innuinaqtut teachers that want teach Innuinaqtut.
In his community, if the number of people that want to join the teacher education program, if is warrants it, it may be possible.
There have programs, community based in Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet.
It follows the number of interested participants in the program.
It is possible if the number warrants it.
Question 459 – 1(6): Update on Tammaatikvik Boarding Home and Patients’ Concerns
Since we’ve been here, we’ve rose in the house to ask questions, and my good friend there responds about dealing with different problems about the Igloolik Health Centre, and the Igloolik medical patients’ travel, there’s been a commitment to look into the matter to improve the situation.
Now I’d like to ask him as to whether they have been dealt with.
The member has worked very hard on behalf and for the people in Igloolik and Hall Beach, so his good efforts, as you know, Mr. Speaker, we just put out a tender in the last two weeks for a new health centre in Igloolik because the member had raised that issue so I think he needs to be commended for that.
The member is correct Mr. Speaker, after question period yesterday I contacted the Tammaatikvik Boarding Home to make sure that there are new rules put in place.
They faxed me a copy of them this morning and also to make sure Mr. Speaker, that there are vehicle available.
In the messaging that is provided, if the vehicle is out on another call, for example, it’s not able to be at the airport on a late call, then there is actually a direct line at the airport that people could phone the Tammaatikvik for a ride.
And we also Mr. Speaker, in that case of there is an immediate rush, we provide also taxi vouchers so that if a person that went to Tammaatikvik with a cab they would be paid for.
So these are issues that we have put in place directly as a result of the questioning from the member.
Yes, he mentions that they can provide taxi vouchers.
How can they be provided taxi vouchers if there is no people at the airport to meet them.
Mr. Speaker, when the person is at the airport and if we don’t have the driver available, a taxi is called, when a taxi is dropping the person off at Tammaatikvik then the taxi is paid for by Tammaatikvik staff and or issued a taxi voucher.
So there is no cost to the patient.
Yes, I'm pleased that there has been progress.
Because I bring up concerns regarding medical patients and the other issue, what is the situation when there is no room for patients at the boarding home.
Mr. Speaker, again, we are working on that.
I have had the departmental officials contact the college.
As most Members here know, we do have the Ukiivik Residence in town, it also has available cafeteria, TV room and beds and so on.
Instead of having to board people out, we are trying to see if that is a suitable place to have patients.
At that same time Mr. Speaker, we are reviewing and evaluating the private homes that are available so those are issues that are ongoing and I would hope to be able to report back to the member and to the House in the coming days that we have rectified the situation in regards to the patients, not just from Igloolik but other communities who arrive late and there is no room on the inn.
I should also add Mr. Speaker, we have over 40 rooms at Tammaatikvik, just an indication of how many people are travelling, some of the cost drivers that are there in the Department of Health.
I thank him for the response and he is actually keeping up with me.
The Ukiivik Residence is being considered as an alternative, what problems do you foresee or are those just initial discussions to make an alternate boarding home.
Is he trying to agree with the Ukiivik Residence and the Department of Health?
Mr. Speaker, those are just the initial discussions that are underway.
I’m trying to find out and ascertain what we have available on the ground, belonging to the Government of Nunavut that we can provide the very best of accommodations to our hospital patients if and when Tammaatikvik is full.
One of the opportunities that is present right now is the Ukiivik Residence, and if there is an opportunity then that is what we are trying to ascertain.
Again we have the work set out with the College.
The residence is under the auspices of the College.
And we want to make sure that our good friends and partners at the College are able to help us.
If that is not the case then we have to look at other avenues.
Question 460 – 1(6): Tabling of Recommended Rent Scale
I am losing my voice because I have not spoken up for a while.
My question is for the Minister of Housing.
I am hoping she will respond to my question regarding the Task Force’s recommendations, if she can Table them.
The recommendations for January 1, 2003, to recommend changes to the rental scales, I am requesting whether or not she can table them in the House?
Yes, I will table, maybe if he can clarify exactly which document he is referring to.
If it is the actual Task Force recommendations and responses, or is it in respect to the Public Housing rent scale, The new rent scale that is currently being implemented.
The recommendations by the Task Force, I would like to see them tabled as well.
The recommendations that were to be implemented January 1, 2003, for the rental scale.
I would also like to see that tabled in the House.
Those are the two that I am asking for.
Mr. Speaker, the Task Force recommendations have been tabled previously, but if he wants me to, we can certainly re-table that.
In respect to the new rent scale, yes I would be willing to table that.
I do not remember when they were tabled, but I am just finally taking notice, because I have some concerns.
I would also like to ask the Minister, have you reviewed the rental scale for staff housing, that they do not match the earnings of these people.
What are the new changes to this rental scale regarding the income?
Mr. Speaker, I believe that I said at least a half a dozen times, if not more, that we are looking at revamping the staff housing scale to bring it more consistent with the public housing rental scale.
In particular, looking at gearing the rent more towards a percentage of income versus a flat rate.
We are trying to bring our policies more closely together, recognizing that it will have to be done over a course of a certain time period.
Obviously, you have a transition period to minimize impact on those that may be impacted as a result of policy changes.
With the implementation, I don’t think they’re being phased in.
They’re being implemented right at date, with the implementation of the new rental scale and most of the changes were an increase in rent.
That’s the information that I’ve gotten so far and I’d like to get more information on that.
When is the implementation going to be finished?
Mr. Speaker, the member probably should clarify which policy he refers to.
Sometimes he refers staff housing rental policy and then he refers to the public rent scale policy.
I believe that the Members bringing up issues about the new public rent scales that are coming into effect January 1 where all the decrease is where individuals may have had their rents lowered; came into effect on January 1st.
April 1st is the target dates for those that may be impacted by increases.
Having said that Mr. Speaker, the majority of individuals, over 80 percent, I believe it’s 80 or 85 percent and I can get the exact numbers of tenants will have their rents lowered as a result of the new rent scale.
There have been issues factored in as a result of recommendations made from his task force that I believe he was a member of the task force on housing in respect of dealing with issues about overcrowding, dealing with issues in respect of housing conditions, issues in respect of family size, issues in respect of income, using net income instead of gross income, issues in respect of treating elders fairly, students fairly, not trying to disadvantage those trying to gain employment.
All those factors that the task force, and valid issues that the task force brought forward, and as well that was brought up during consultations with all the local housing authorities on three different occasions Mr. Speaker that I recall.
All the local housing authorities across Nunavut were involved, directly in the establishment and the formulation of this new rent scale that’s being put into effect.
Now, I recognise, there are individuals out there that are going to be impacted adversely and they’re going to pay more.
There’s no doubt about it.
Those higher income families or individuals, as they should Mr. Speaker.
Public housing, social housing is geared towards assisting those with lower incomes and treating them fairly.
And that’s what we’re trying to do by and large for the bulk of our tenants.
For those that can afford to enter into their own housing, to pay for their own housing, they should be paying more.
Those individuals or those families that earn more should pay more proportionately to those that can’t afford it.
Question 461 – 1(6): Medical Travel Routes – Skyward and Scheduled Flights
I spoke earlier regarding medical travel for patients especially.
I’m not speaking on behalf on non-medical patients but the medical patients have no choice but to travel and they’re given the route of where to go to their destination.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, about the contract with Skyward for medical travel.
Do they also need to fly through Skyward on scheduled flights?
Mr. Speaker, over the past few days, we’ve had some discussions and questions on medical travel.
In particular, I’ve noticed that some of the airlines are again represented here today awaiting indication on the RFP that we put.
Mr. Speaker, we put out an RFP Nunavut-wide to look at the best opportunity for our patients with scheduled travel, as well as medivac travel.
Scheduled travel being when patients have to travel on a scheduled flight. Medivac, when we have a medivac of patients.
Mr. Speaker, I would hope to be in the position over the coming couple of days to be able to make an announcement on the scheduled award to different Airlines.
I would suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, at that time, the people of Nunavut will be well served, not only by the logistics, the administrative, and the financial savings, but also by the best possible care given to the patients as asked for by the Member.
I also understand that the Minister has awarded a contract for medivacs for Skyward.
I am not disputing that.
What I was asking was right now today, or yesterday, that do you have a Policy to send patients who are going to medical check up in Winnipeg or Churchill, on the scheduled flight, do they have to fly Skyward, which has no washroom, all the way from Repulse Bay, for example, or Coral Harbour, all the way down to Winnipeg. There are three or four stops.
Where does the patient have the freedom to choose what kind of aircraft they would like to fly on?
They do not really care what Airline.
What kind of plane?
Is there a washroom; as long as they have the washroom and anything else that the Pilots do not have?
Do they have that choice today, when they are going on a medical check up?
Mr. Speaker, just to clarify, no contract has been awarded as a result of the RFP for scheduled travel in the Kivalliq region.
The Member is correct, Mr. Speaker, in the RFP that was put out, that has been evaluated, and that has been reviewed.
One of the major concerns that have been raised by the Members, not only ordinary Members, Mr. Speaker, but by the Ministers representing the Cabinet, has been concerned with patient comfort, and so on. The Member is correct.
We will, Mr. Speaker, in the contract that is coming forward, that will be announced very soon, ascertain, and ensure that washrooms on flights, for example, that may be over one hour, will be available to patients, that a patient would be able to stand up on the plane, where at all feasible.
Some cases we cannot do that.
For example, Mr. Speaker, right now the only service to Kimmirut is a Twin Otter.
I cannot just suddenly say you can land there.
So in certain cases I may not be able to do that, but in ninety-nine percent of the cases we can.
And I want the Member to rest assure that the concerns that he is raising will be addressed in the award to be made in the coming days.
We appreciate that very much.
I hear that the Minister is saying that the patient will have to be able to stand up in anything that flies over one hour.
Is the same true for those flights that are over one hour, are supposed to also supply washrooms?
Is the RFP will be reviewed on that basis?
Mr. Speaker, there were two major aspects of the RFP that we had put out; I believe that it was last August on the scheduled medical travel, and medivac travel.
On the scheduled travel, in particular, two major issues that we wanted to deal with.
One, Mr. Speaker, was on costs, and second, and more important, Mr. Speaker, was on patient comfort.
We have heard the complaints from the Member, and other Members, and from the Members of Cabinet, where patients that were on long flights, that were in duration of over an hour, there were no washroom facilities, there may have been cramped quarters, and so on.
So we move Mr. Speaker, to put an RFP in place, which would guarantee us the best logistic and administrative and financial things the government could in place and; Mr. Special in contracts and in conjunction with that, making sure that patient comfort was number one on that same list – parallel to that.
So Mr. Speaker, yes what I’m saying is on the contracts the wards will be in place over the coming days. What you will see Mr. Speaker is that there will be bathroom facilities on any airline that will be taking our patients to another community or outside of the territory.
So for example Mr. Speaker, from Repulse to Churchill or Winnipeg in a case like that Mr. Speaker, there has to be a facility, a bathroom facility on the airplane.
It only makes sense Mr. Speaker, when our patients are travelling, they are ill, they are sick, and they need extra help and Mr. Speaker that’s what were trying to do in the RFP and I must say Mr. Speaker, in all seriousness, that the airlines have been very conducive to the RFP and indeed to helping us making sure that those issues are put in place.
I suppose that after the RFP is being reviewed and selected what ever the airline is selected the public notice will be made.
With that public notice, will you also be notifying the health centres to ensure that RFP, the proposal is filled, the consideration for proposal for example, the height, being able to stand up, having a washroom in a plane etc. will be, the notice will be given to the health centres to ensure that that consideration is given to the patients on the health centres.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is spending over $30 million dollars a year right now and increasing on medical travel costs.
And I would suggest to you Mr. Speaker, that the airlines are realize that it’s a major portion of some of the airline traffic between communities as well as to southern jurisdictions and destinations and because of those, Mr. Speaker, the airlines have been conducive in working with us.
Mr. Speaker, the member is correct, the health centres and other associated staff will be made aware of the flights or of the schedules and of the airlines that will be commuting and will be offering service to our patients based on the criteria that we’ve put in place including the costs as well as and more importantly having these facilities on board the plane, a plane that is conducive to our travelling patient clientele.
Question 462 – 1(6): Rent Scale – Consider Family Size for Homeowners
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and I tell you its nice to see him speak with such authority and passion and hopefully that carries through with the work being through the Department of Housing as an issue that all Members of this house have been passionate about for the last four years.
Mr. Speaker, in his earlier response he’d indicated that in the revisions to the rent scale, one of the things they took into account was family size and I’d like to ask the Minister if this is something that they’re also going to take into account and looking at some of the home ownership programs offered by the corporation.
Mr. Speaker, yes we are actually reviewing that right now, the criteria, the income levels for assistance because there have been issues brought to my attention in respect to not taking family size into consideration for some corporation programs.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister indicate when we can expect to see something come forward on that?
Mr. Speaker, I would think in the next couple of months.
Can the Minister commit that those new criteria be in place for the new funding for the next fiscal year so that applications that go through for the whole year go through on the same basis.
Mr. Speaker, I could commit to try to put them into place as quickly as possible if in fact we do put them in place.
Obviously I would give the appropriate standing committee the opportunity to review and comment on any proposed changes that we might have.
Question 463 – 1(6): Homeowner Applications This Year
Maybe I should have asked this question earlier on, but in regards to the $25 thousand down payment that new home owners receive and I think it’s $15 thousand for home owners to purchase existing houses.
How many people tool advantage of this program this year?
A considerable amount.
I'm glad to hear that because the more people that apply for it the more people get into houses and hopefully those people that are in public housing move into private housing.
Could the Minister let me know exactly how many people purchased new houses with the $25 thousand and how many people purchased houses with the $15 thousand down payment?
Mr. Speaker, there was 25 individuals approved for purchase of existing homes and 9 for new construction.
My math says 34 housing units.
Does he know the numbers outside of Iqaluit, how many people took advantage of it?
Speaker: Minister responsible for Housing Corporation.
I don’t have that information right before me but I can certainly provide it for the member.
When he’s compiling that information for me to let me know, could he also let me know or if he could answer me today how much slippage or how much funds haven’t been used in the last fiscal year on these programs and where it went?