EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
You will see in the supplementary bills that we are in deficit in medical travel of $3.7 million in addition to the funding that we spent internally just on medical travel and medivacs.
In terms of the member’s concerns related to the individual, I can look into why the five days and I need the person’s name, and each case differs.
I don’t know why, it could be because there are no flights to that community such as Grise Fiord; I believe they get one flight a week. I don’t know about Resolute Bay, but I need to research each and every one of those because every situation is different.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Madame Minister. Your first supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
First Air was already identified, that is the only airline that is provided up here and they identified that they will be providing four times per week when the weather is good.
The patients that are staying at the boarding home, the doctor is completed with them and they are ready to go home, but the patient boarding home is still filled to capacity.
Once the Qikiqtaluk hospital is completed, just looking at the size of the patient boarding home, if it is not going to be enlarged, then there will be more patients having to wait for their trip home.
What kind of plans does the minister have to improve the patient transportation?
Minister Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
The issue around boarding homes and patients staying in boarding homes, in the New Year, we will be doing a request for proposals for construction of a new boarding home in Iqaluit.
We will also be doing a request for proposals for the one in Rankin Inlet for the construction as well.
Later, for the one in Cambridge Bay, we will be doing a request for proposals for operations of the facility as the facility is already there.
So we are looking to address the issue around the boarding home situation in Iqaluit and we are moving forward in that.
I’ll keep the member updated as to where we are at with the request for proposals process, but the plan is to issue that request for proposals after Christmas.
Question 408 – 2(3): Baffin Medivac Contract (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, the minister just mentioned they are going to be issuing some requests for proposals, but I would like to ask...I’m certain there was a request for proposals issued last year.
It closed in December 2005 for the medivac contract for the Baffin region.
I’m just wondering if the minister can indicate what progress has been made on that file.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for Health, Minister Aglukkaq.
From what I understand of that file, the requests for proposals were reviewed. There was a decision made; one of the companies that put forth a proposal appealed the decision through Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI). NNI has reviewed the file with some recommendations and I understand those recommendations are being reviewed presently.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I would like to apologize; I was supposed to state: Minister of Health and Social Services.
I want to apologize, too, on it; earlier I was supposed to say hello to a constituent of mine I know who’s watching me on TV: it’s Jutani Davidee. I just want to say hi to him, I forgot earlier.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that those proposals had been reviewed and that they’re looking at other proposals coming out. I wonder if she could explain the rationale or why they chose to go with the request for proposal, or what’s the purpose of going for a request for proposal for the medivac contract; was it to look at who could provide the best service?
Why not just put it out to tender instead of going to a request for proposal?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Minister Aglukkaq.
It could have been a tender; it could have been a proposal. I’m not sure which process was followed. I do know it was a public advertisement where the companies can put forth their proposals and so on.
In my first response to his question I mentioned that there was an appeal and the NNI Committee was set and put forth some recommendations.
That’s where it’s at right now; we’re not entertaining any new proposals at this point in time, but I could stand to be corrected whether it was a proposal process or a tender process, and I’m not sure on that as to how they proceeded.
For the benefit of the minister, it was a request for proposals that was put out, it closed in December 2005.
My understanding of the process is that you get a proposal; and the reason for going with a proposal instead of a tender is you can look at the best proposal, not necessarily the best price, but you can look at what the best proposal is.
I guess my question to the minister is: when reviewing the proposals for the medivac contract for Baffin, what kind of weight is given to things like the time taken to get a patient from whatever community they are in to a critical care centre? Is that something that’s looked at and how much of a factor is that in reviewing the proposals?
The areas he mentioned those would be obviously considerations in any request for proposals process with that type of service. There are probably other criteria in that request for proposal: response equipment and the types of aircraft and so on. Cost is also a factor, and in terms of the percentage or weight for that question, I don’t have that level of details on that.
I guess, given the fact the minister stated that there was an appeal under way, the government did make a decision and award that contract to somebody. I know it has been the practice in the past that the medivac contract has been approved or brought to the cabinet for approval.
I’d like to ask the minister if she can indicate when that was brought forward to, whether it is Finance Management Board or her cabinet colleagues for approval prior to the award.
Minister Aglukkaq
I mentioned earlier there was an appeal, the NNI Committee is reviewing the file, and that recommendation from that review or appeal has not gone to Financial Management Board or the cabinet at this point in time.
Question 409 – 2(3): Impact on Funding Cuts (Peterson)
My question is for the Minister responsible for the Qulliit Status of Women. Violence and domestic violence in Nunavut is a serious issue and seems to be rising despite the excellent work that the Qulliit Status of Women organization does to educate the public about this issue.
A question for the minister, can the minister tell the House what impact the recent federal cuts would have on this organization?
Minister responsible for the Status of Women’s Council Minister, Aglukkaq,
The recent announcement from the federal government for cuts to the Status of Women will have an impact. We had a federal, provincial, territorial ministers meeting in Saint John in October to discuss the federal government’s position on it and they have assured us that the cuts will not have an impact.
The Status of Women’s Canada provides a lot of support to Status of Women’s Council groups across Canada around research on equity issues or poverty or violence against women as an example. So they have provided a lot of support.
The recent report that was released by Stats Canada on the violence against aboriginal women, First Nations as well as Inuit is one example of the work where we collaborated with the Status of Women Canada, to raise the issue and awareness around the Status of Women in Canada around violence as an example. So those are the kind of work they were involved in that brought a picture of where we’re at in Canada around women’s issues.
So we had concerns that that will be lost in the cuts. And yesterday, they announced further restructuring, so, again, that announcement was not shared with provinces or territories before it was made. So we’re having to go back again to the Federal Minister on Status of Women, who seems to be working to dissolve her own organization; at this point to get the rationale again behind their recent announcement.
Mr. Speaker, I have been reading a lot of reports in the last couple weeks about domestic violence across Nunavut and across Canada and it’s a not great picture, and it amazes me and surprises me and saddens me that the federal minister, and federal government would cut funds to valuable organizations like the Status of Women’s Council.
I wonder if the minister could tell the House if she’s had discussions privately with her federal counterpart to clarify why in Nunavut, where the magnitude of incidents of domestic violence is five to ten times higher than the provinces, that it’s getting less funding rather than more funding as a result of the federal budget.
I mentioned earlier that we had Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers meetings in New Brunswick, that is the time when we sat down with the ministers to release the violence against women statistics and at that time we all had an opportunity as Provinces and Territories to discuss with her the state of the violence around women in Canada.
Based on that report, what concerned me even further was the federal government made an announcement through the Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister, who will be here this weekend; he made an announcement to support First Nations women and allocated $6 million for shelter assistance and excluded Inuit.
Some Members: Shame!
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: So from that I know, our Premier has raised it and so have the other provinces. The three territories had worked really hard the last four years to include Inuit to the Stats Canada Report to be recognized.
All our hard work seemed to have just been ignored. So again, this is another issue that we are trying to raise with the federal government. It does have an impact on our services in that we still need to address the current state of our own territory around violence.
Can the minister tell the House if, similar to the questions I asked the Minister of Education, if her department will be reviewing their 2007-08 main estimates with a view to finding additional funding for the Status of Women’s Council to carry out their critical programs in Nunavut?
I’ll be meeting with the Qulliit Status of Women’s Council this afternoon to discuss some of these concerns as well as the recent announcement of the federal government.
At the same time the work of the Status of Women’s Council, the Premier will be releasing that report next week, around the first ever symposium we’ve held in Nunavut to address violence against women and children.
In that there will be a number of recommendations made from the symposium participants where over 100 men and women participated to address violence.
Arising from that report will be a number of initiatives that we will, as government, need to address and it will be more than just health, because housing is a part of it, education is part of it, and so on.
So we will be looking at those recommendations coming from the symposium, as well as the Status of Women’s Council, and to try and move forward.
The main estimates process, in terms of the current funding we provide to our Status of Women’s Council for operations, will remain the same. We are not changing that. What will change are the initiatives and programs from government to address violence in Nunavut as a result of many of the recommendations arriving from the symposium conference.
Committee Report on Bills 010 – 2(3): Bill 08 Statistics Act (Tootoo)
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has reviewed Bill 8, the Statistics Act, and wishes to report that the Bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
In accordance to Rule 68(6), Bill 8 will be placed on the order paper for Monday December the 4.
Committee Report on Bills 011 – 2(3): Bill 16 Family Abuse Intervention Act (Mapsalak)
The Standing Committee Ajauqtiit has reviewed Bill 16, the Family Abuse Intervention Act, and wishes to report that the bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
In accordance to Rule 68 (6), Bill 16 will be placed on the order paper for Monday, December 4.
Tabled Document 199 – 2(3): Ministerial Meeting Report – Canadian Parks Council October 2006 – Department of Environment (Netser)
I wish to table the following information item: Ministerial Meeting Report of the Canadian Parks Council Meeting. It was held on October 11, 2006 in Yellowknife.
Tabled Document 200 – 2(3): Sales Transfer of AT&T Enterprises Assets – Letter to Brian Zawadski (Tootoo)
I wish to table today further documentation in relation to the matter that I have been raising with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. This document is two pieces of correspondence from 1999 concerning the assets of AT&T Enterprises.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Please bring the tabled document to the Clerk’s table.
Tabled Document 201 – 2(3): Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women’s Council Annual Report 2005-06 (Aglukkaq)
I wish to table the Qulliit’s Annual Report for 2005-06 as required by the Nunavut Status of Women’s Council Legislation. In this report they also highlight some of their priorities, as well as some of the initiatives they have undertaken and I encourage members to read the report.
Tabled Document 202 – 2(3): KBDC Loan – Internal Memo (Tootoo)
I’d like to again table further documentation in relation to a matter that I have been raising with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
This document is from Nunavut Business Credit Corporation memorandum from January 2003 and a portion of it states and I’ll quote it “what counts is there maybe an opportunity here to allow KBDC to make serious progress in selling the PTY directly and thereby reducing the outstanding portion of the outstanding commitment.”
Tabled Document 203 – 2(3): KBDC Loan – Email from NBCC to the Deputy Minister of ED&T (Tootoo)
Again, I wish to table further documentation in relation to the matter I have been raising with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. This document is an email dated January 31, 2002 from a Nunavut Business Credit Corporation official to a senior government official, and also note that the minister’s office was cc’d on it.
Tabled Document 204 – 2(3): Ministerial Meeting Report – FPT Energy and Mines Conference in Whitehorse, Yukon August 27 to 29, 2006 from ED&T (Akesuk)
I wish to table the following document. The FPT Energy and Mines Conference in Whitehorse, Yukon August 27 to 29, 2006.
Provide the tabled document to the Clerk’s table.
Tabled Document 205 – 2(3): Ministerial Meeting Report – Ministers Responsible for Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut October 10, 2006 (Netser)
I wish to table the following item. Intergovernmental Ministers responsible for Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Meeting on October 10, 2006 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Netser. Provide the tabled document, please.
Tabled Document 206 – 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College Management Response to the External Review Status of the Recommendations from October 2006 (Picco)
Tabled Document 207– 2(3): Nunavut Arctic College Annual Report 2005-06 (Picco)
Tabled Document 208 – 2(3): Energy for Our Future: Approaching Ikummatiit: Developing a Nunavut Energy Strategy, December 2006 (Picco)
I wish to table three documents. I wish to table the following document first: Nunavut Arctic College Management Response to the External Review Status of the Recommendations from October 2006. As well I wish to table the following the document Nunavut Arctic College Annual Report 2005-06.
I’d like to also table at this time Energy for Our Future; Approaching Ikummatiit: Developing a Nunavut Energy Strategy, December 2006.
Tabled Document 209 – 2(3): KBDC Loan – Letter to ED&T (Tootoo)
I wish to table further documentation in relation with the matter I have been raising with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. This document is a note dated March 31, 2003 from a resident here in Iqaluit to the office of the minister on the matter.
Provide the tabled document, please.
Tabled Document 210 – 2(3): KBDC Loan – Letter to KBDC from Browning Crocker Inc. dated August 15, 2006 (Tootoo)
Again, further documentation I’d like to table in relation to the matter I’ve been raising with the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation. This document is correspondence dated August 15, 2006 from Browning Crocker Inc. to KBDC. On there it indicates an amount a claim of $196,704.76.
Tabled Document 211 – 2(3): KBDC Loan Email to Terry Rogers from Browning Crocker Inc., September 13, 2006 (Tootoo)
Again I’d like to table further documentation into the matter with the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation. These documents are an email exchange with an official of Browning Crocker Inc. In there it notes that NBCC’s total cost is $112,912.49.
Can we have that document brought forward, please.
I do have one today.
Tabled Document 212 – 2(3): Youth Parliament 2006 – Hansard, Bill 01, and DVD (Speaker)
Members, I am extremely pleased and proud to table today a number of items from our first Nunavut Youth Parliament. These items include the video record of the day’s proceedings, and a copy of the special Hansard from the day, which includes the Formal Motion made by the students and a copy of the bill which was considered by the youth parliamentarians.
And colleagues, you will note that the motion urges this House to give careful consideration to the issues and concerns raised by participants during the Youth Parliament.
I ask all members to join me in applauding the students who successfully took part in our Youth Parliament.
Speaker: Thank you. (interpretation) Item 14.
Motion 022 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment – Notice (Peterson)
I give notice that on Monday, December 4, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that when the House concludes its present sitting in Iqaluit, it shall be adjourned until March 6, 2007.
Could the member please provide the Notice of Motion to the Clerk’s table.
Motion 022 – 2(3): Extended Adjournment (Peterson)
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that when the House concludes its present sitting in Iqaluit, it shall be adjourned until March 6, 2007.
Further, at any time prior to March 6, 2007, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.
Bills 23, 24, 25, and 26 with Mr. Barnabas in the Chair.
Before we proceed with Committee of the Whole, we will take a break for lunch and report back at one o’clock.
>>House recessed at 11:59 and Committee resumed at 13:00
Chairman (Mr. Barnabas): I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
We wish to continue with the review of Bill 26 and the Capital Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services, followed by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
Does the committee agree that we continue with the Capital Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services?
Chairman: Thank you, Committee. The minister made her opening comments yesterday and now I ask the Chair of the Standing Committee of Health and Education if he has opening comments.
As the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, I am pleased to make some opening comments on the 2007-08 Capital Estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services.
The Department of Health and Social Services’ proposed capital budget for 2007-08 is significantly less than it has been in previous years due to the completion or near completion of the three regional health facilities.
Members appreciated their tour of the new Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit last week and look forward to the official opening next spring.
The committee was interested to note that the department’s proposed capital budget for 2007-08 includes extensive renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital as the services will continue to be provided at this institution as it becomes an extension of the Qikiqtani Regional Hospital.
For some time, members have questioned the status of the leasing or ownership of this third regional health facility.
The fiscal update revealed that the government has decided to take on final ownership of the Qikiqtani Regional Hospital as it has done for the other two regional health facilities. Members are pleased with this final decision.
Committee members are aware that although the new Kitikmeot and Kivalliq health centres are open, full services are not yet offered due to a lack of staff in at least one of these facilities.
The committee continues to have concerns that staffing problems may also occur with the opening of the Qikiqtani facility in March of 2007 and would appreciate an update from the minister on what specific plans are in place to address this issue.
The training of Nunavummiut to work in the health care field will be critical to the success of these significant investments in Nunavut’s health infrastructure. Members will be paying close attention to this issue when they scrutinize the department’s business plans and main estimates when they come forward in the new year.
As more Nunavummiut will be traveling to the regional centres to receive health services, the committee was concerned to note that there have been no new developments with respect to boarding arrangements, especially in Iqaluit, where the current boarding home is already frequently full to capacity.
Members have been given to understand that the lack of progress in this area is partly due to ongoing negotiations with Health Canada with respect to Non-Insured Health Benefits.
The committee urges the minister and her officials to move forward in developing a consolidated plan to present to Health Canada with respect to boarding home arrangements both within and outside of Nunavut.
It is important that the lack of accommodation for patients not become an obstacle to providing as many health services as possible closer to home.
Committee members note that progress towards establishing community-based continuing care facilities in Igloolik and Gjoa Haven is ongoing, despite some delays.
Members are concerned, however, that there has been little to no progress in establishing the third and fourth such continuing care facilities in Nunavut.
As members will recall, at our 2004 Full Caucus retreat in Arviat, we made a commitment to opening four such facilities before the end of our term of office.
To date, the committee has not been briefed on what locations are being considered for these next two facilities, although members are aware that proposals have been put forward from different communities.
Members were disappointed to see that the proposed 2007-08 capital budget for Health and Social Services does not include any community health centre projects.
In fact, according to the 2008-12 five-year capital plan, urgent capital projects for replacement health centres in Arctic Bay, Taloyoak and Repulse Bay have all been deferred for another two years.
For this department, along with a number of other departments, the practice of transferring significant funds from one project to another raises concerns.
Members continue to encourage the department to undertake capital planning efforts in consultation with communities to ensure that planning takes into account issues such as local transportation needs, population growth and other factors as identified by local health committees of council.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. I am confident that individual members will also have comments and questions.
At this time I would like to ask Ms. Aglukkaq if she would like to bring her officials to the witness table.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll be inviting two of my staff to the witness table.