EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Just to respond to your question about workplace harassment in which department, we don’t have the information here with us.
I apologize for that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
I look forward to hearing from the department on which department has the highest number of incidents and also, perhaps, the lowest number of incidents.
Could the minister tell us then, over the past two years, how many employees have been formally disciplined for having committed acts of workplace harassment or bullying?
Just to go back to Ms. Angnakak’s earlier question, I don’t know if I would even be willing to share that information.
To me, it’s not some kind of game where who’s got more and who’s got the least.
It’s government-wide. All the departments and territorial corporations are dealing with workplace harassment.
We’re training people where they are coming to an understanding. We’re hoping that it will be reduced or eliminated. I don’t think it’s worth pointing out which department is the worst and which one is the best.
All the departments are different. Some are huge.
The health department is a huge department. Some are small. Environment is a small department.
With respect to anyone being disciplined for workplace harassment, we have a binder that the department puts together for me on a regular basis.
I review the reports. Yes, I can confirm that people have been disciplined for workplace harassment.
Not all of them are supervisors or managers. There are employees who were also disciplined.
I would like to remind the members that we have interpreters.
Please try not to speak too fast.
Don’t speak too fast. When you speak too fast, you should slow down.
Fair enough for that about which has higher or lower... .
One of things that sometimes I think about when I hear some of the stories about bullying and harassment, it makes me think if you had more than two people in a department that came forward and said they were bullied or that the environment wasn’t very nice to work, that it was very hard to work in that division.
Does that raise any red flags?
Who is providing oversight?
How do you know when you have a lot of people coming forward... ?
How does it get to you that you provide that oversight where you can go to the departments and say, “We’ve had so many complaints”?
How would you go about investigating that?
Because Mr. D’Arcy and Mr. Chown deal with this on a daily basis, I’ll ask Mr. D’Arcy if he can respond to that question.
Our Employee Relations group and underneath there, the people who work with workplace harassment are an independent group.
We’re a central agency and we aren’t reporting to the individual departments.
Certainly, when Employee Relations takes a look and notices that there’s a trend or if there seems to be a problem in a department, they will work with the HR directors, their directors of corporate services, and the folks in that department to rectify a situation to make sure that it doesn’t continue.
Sometimes that’s difficult and that means that every once in a while Mr. Chown and/or myself will sit down with the deputy minister of that department and talk about how we can do things better and how we can be more responsive.
Sometimes candidly, we talk about individuals and how individuals should maybe change their approach to working within the workplace.
Finally, there is Mr. Chown’s Building Capacity Committee, which is the committee of deputy ministers that looks after human resource matters and matters of this type of government-wide significance are spoken about candidly and often at that committee.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Slow down for the interpreter.
All that sounds very nice.
Somehow, there are stories I have heard too and I know the one side, but they’re still worth investigating.
We really do have some conflicts of interest that come into play where relationships are connected. When we try to go to one, they’re actually friends or in some ways connected to the other.
When I have spoken to some employees, it’s because they’re at the point they don’t know where to go because they feel that it’s not safe to talk because of all those connections.
I don’t want this denial and all this stuff. It does happen and I’m not trying to paint the whole GN like that, but we really do need to address that.
I know you have things in place.
I know you really do try the very best that you can to ensure that problems are addressed, but there are some gaps there and I would just like to be able to address that.
I’m wondering: how do you deal with that when you have... ?
I’m going to use your Employee Relations staff just as an example. If they’re connected to somebody and somebody’s not in the union and they’re the ones you’re supposed to go to, how do you deal with that?
What steps should that person take when that’s the situation?
As Chairman, that will be the last question of the day.
I want to assure Ms. Angnakak that we do treat workplace harassment very seriously. There are more protections than ever for employees of the Government of Nunavut.
We have the ethics officer. We have the workplace harassment policy. We have the Code of Values and Ethics.
It’s all there. We have it on our website explaining how it’s important that all employees follow it, adhere to it, and treat people with dignity and respect.
The deputy heads have been instructed to treat it seriously and not to ignore it.
Employees can go to their managers, to their supervisors, or to their own deputies. If that doesn’t work, then they can go to Mr. Chown or Mr. D’Arcy.
They can go directly to the ethics officer.
I have even made an offer to Ms. Angnakak that people can come to me and let me know if they have specific concerns or issues.
I don’t know how it’s going to be possible to eliminate. People have that inherent fear that there are going to be reprisals.
Very clearly, the ethics officer in Part 6 of the Public Service Act, if wrongdoing was reported and if there are any reprisals, severe discipline can be imposed on any employee who is acting out of reprisal against someone who has reported wrongdoing. There is a fine of up to $10,000, so it’s quite serious.
I have also extended an offer to Ms. Angnakak.
I know she has made a comment on one side to the story. I have made an offer to Ms. Angnakak and I’ll make it here. If any MLA has a constituent that comes in with a complaint or concern, if the MLA gets their constituent’s authorization to review their HR file, I can also confirm that if they want to see their HR file, I will make that file available in a secure location with a human resources official for the MLA to review the file.
No cellphones, no cameras, and no note taking, just come in and look at the file and you will get the other side of the story. I’ll make that offer.
As per Rule 6(1), I know recognize the clock and will report progress to the Speaker.
Iqsuqtii, please assist the witnesses to leave the witness table.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Documents 73 – 4(2), 116 – 4(2), 140 – 4(2), and 70 – 4(3) and would like to report progress.
Mr. Sammurtok, Alexander Sammurtok.
(interpretation ends) All those in favour.
Item 22. (interpretation) Orders of the Day. (interpretation ends) Ms. Deputy Clerk, Ms. Tupik.
Deputy Clerk (Ms. Tupik): A meeting of the Full Caucus at ten o’clock in the Nanuq Committee Room.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Pages 2096 – 2144
Opening Prayer 2096
Ministers’ Statements 2096
Members’ Statements 2102
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2109
Oral Questions 2109
Tabling of Documents 2126
First Reading of Bills 2129
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2129
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2143
Orders of the Day 2144
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 2096
132 – 4(3): Hivuliqtikhanut Supervisors’ Series Graduation (Taptuna) 2096
133 – 4(3): Review and Reform of Income Assistance (Kuksuk) 2097
134 – 4(3): Review of Economic Development to Support Nunavummiut (Ell-Kanayuk) 2097
135 – 4(3): Iqaluit Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (Mike) 2098
136 – 4(3): Piqqusilirivvik Polar Bear Hunt (Quassa) 2099
137 – 4(3): Information Technology Strategy for Nunavut (Savikataaq) 2099
138 – 4(3): NAC Nursing Program Graduates (Ell-Kanayuk) 2100
139 – 4(3): Music Alive Program in Nunavut (Quassa) 2101
273 – 4(3): Recent Rash of Tires Slashed in Constituency (Okalik) 2102
274 – 4(3): Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board Community Engagement Tour (Akoak) 2102
275 – 4(3): Appreciation for Search and Rescue (Keyootak) 2103
276 – 4(3): 2016 Kimmirut High School Graduates (Joanasie) 2105
277 – 4(3): Qaqimat – Going Back Home (Mikkungwak) 2105
278 – 4(3): The Need for an Elders Facility in Taloyoak (Qirngnuq) 2106
279 – 4(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Shooyook) 2106
280 – 4(3): Appreciation for Airport Maintainers (Enook) 2108
281 – 4(3): Dog Mauling in Chesterfield Inlet (Sammurtok, T) 2108
366 – 4(3): Baker Lake Housing Authority (Mikkungwak) 2109
367 – 4(3): The Need for Women’s Shelter Funding (Akoak) 2111
368 – 4(3): Status of Sanikiluaq’s Sewage Lagoon (Rumbolt) 2113
369 – 4(3): The Need for an Elders Facility in Taloyoak (Qirngnuq) 2114
370 – 4(3): Plastic Bags in Nunavut (Okalik) 2116
371 – 4(3): Driver’s Licences and Photo IDs (Joanasie) 2117
372 – 4(3): Status of the Tenant to Owner Program (Enook) 2118
373 – 4(3): Qikiqtarjuaq Solid Waste Site (Keyootak) 2120
374 – 4(3): Crime Prevention Strategies and Programs in Nunavut (Angnakak) 2122
375 – 4(3): The Need for a New Air Terminal Building in Naujaat (Mapsalak) 2124
149 – 4(3): Update on the 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Follow-up Report on Child and Family Services in Nunavut (Kuksuk) 2126
150 – 4(3): 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Department of Education (Quassa) 2126
151 – 4(3): Communiqué – Outcomes & Priorities for Action to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls (Ell-Kanayuk) 2126
152 – 4(3): Letter of Expectation for 2016-2017 for the Following Crown Agencies: Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, Nunavut Development Corporation, Nunavut Housing Corporation, and Qulliq Energy Corporation (Peterson) 2126
153 – 4(3): Opening Comments for NHC’s Appearance Before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples – March 23, 2016 (Hickes) 2127
154 – 4(3): 2016 Northern Premiers’ Forum (Taptuna) 2127
155 – 4(3): 2016 Western Premiers’ Conference (Taptuna) 2127
156 – 4(3): Update on the Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut (Kuksuk) 2127
157 – 4(3): Angirraqangittuliriniq 2015-2016, A Framework for Action for Nunavut’s Absolute Homeless (Kuksuk) 2127
158 – 4(3): Nunavut is Facing a Severe Housing Crisis (Hickes) 2127
159 – 4(3): Report of Members’ Absences from Sittings of the House and Meetings of Committees and Caucuses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Time Period of January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
160 – 4(3): Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Retiring Allowances Act Effective January 1, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
161 – 4(3): Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act Effective January 1, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
162 – 4(3): Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Fund Iqaluit, Nunavut Financial Statements March 31, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
163 – 4(3): Legislative Assembly Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund Iqaluit, Nunavut Financial Statements March 31, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
164 – 4(3): Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances, Benefits and Expenses to the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for the Period Ending March 31, 2016 (Speaker) 2128
008 – 4(3): Management of Human Resources in the Government of Nunavut (Angnakak) 2131
Bill 16 – An Act to Amend the Travel and Tourism Act – First Reading 2129
Bill 19 – Unlawful Property Forfeiture Act – First Reading 2129
Tabled Document 073 – 4(2): Human Resource Strategy 2014-2018 – Consideration in Committee 2130
Tabled Document 116 – 4(2): Public Service Code of Values and Ethics – Consideration in Committee 2130
Tabled Document 140 – 4(2): Public Service Annual Report 2013-2014 – Consideration in Committee 2130
Tabled Document 070 – 4(3): 2014-2015 Public Service Annual Report – Consideration in Committee 2130
Speaker (Hon. George Qulaut) (interpretation): Mr. Qirngnuq, can you say the opening prayer, please.
Minister’s Statement 132 – 4(3): Hivuliqtikhanut Supervisors’ Series Graduation (Taptuna)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give advanced congratulations to the 19 participants of the Hivuliqtikhanut supervisors’ series graduation taking place on June 15 here in Iqaluit.
The Hivuliqtikhanut leadership development program aims to strengthen Nunavut’s public service and provide the necessary tools and skills to become effective future leaders.
This first series, developed specifically for supervisors and managers, had seven modules of three days each held between September 2015 and June 2016.
One of the seven modules took place in Arviat last month.
Mr. Speaker, assistant deputy ministers, deputy ministers, and elders were involved throughout the program as guest speakers, offering their insights, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
As I have mentioned, Dalhousie University is reviewing the entire program to determine if the Hivuliqtikhanut leadership development program meets their requirements towards accreditation. It’s very exciting for both the participants and staff.
Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the need to build capacity from within. We are committed to providing training for leadership development and supporting our public servants.
Having the skills to develop policies and programs that respond to the government mandate and meet the needs of Nunavummiut is critical to success.
I look forward to congratulating participants from both the emerging leaders and senior managers’ series. As we strengthen our employees’ leadership capabilities, we will see a direct result in the quality and proficiency of our programs and services.
Minister’s Statement 133 – 4(3): Review and Reform of Income Assistance (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Good day to my fellow Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the release of the Report on the Review and Reform of Income Assistance and Economic Development.
The report is a joint effort between my department and the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
This past fall, we completed public consultations in all 25 communities and the input we received informed the content of the report.
On behalf of Family Services, I would like to thank the communities that welcomed us and the hundreds of Nunavummiut who participated and expressed their vision for a better, more supportive income assistance system.
Your ideas, perspectives, and stories continue to provide the guidance needed as we step forward together.
Mr. Speaker, during the consultations, Nunavummiut brought forth many ideas to strengthen our programs and services.
The Report on the Review and Reform of Income Assistance and Economic Development builds on what we heard and proposes ways we can improve income assistance and economic development across the territory.
Importantly, we want to hear what Nunavummiut think about the changes to our programs that we propose. In the next few weeks, my department will be asking for further feedback from individuals and organizations on the report and the proposed reforms.
Mr. Speaker, under Sivumut Abluqta, our government committed to review and reform income assistance to ensure that those who need help receive it while investing in economic development to secure a prosperous future for all Nunavummiut.
We look forward to fulfilling this commitment and sharing our progress in the coming months.
Minister’s Statement 134 – 4(3): Review of Economic Development to Support Nunavummiut (Ell-Kanayuk)
I, too, would like to add on my colleague’s comments.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation and, as he said, the Department of Family Services have joint leadership on the Sivumut Abluqta priority: Reform of Income Assistance. As a result, we have been collaborating in developing the “Review and Reform of Income Assistance and Economic Development” that will be tabled in the House today.
This excellent report, which builds on extensive community engagement, articulates proposals for reform to reduce dependence and support communities through economic development as well as identifying the next steps to deliver on the proposed reforms.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation will focus on supporting job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship; removing barriers to employment; and simplifying and streamlining economic development programs and services.
Mr. Speaker, as a territory, we have made great strides forward in economic development over the past 17 years. Nevertheless, there is much still to be done.
This report is a further step in creating a strong and prosperous territory for all Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 135 – 4(3): Iqaluit Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (Mike)
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for giving the Department of Environment an opportunity, people of Nunavut and Pangnirtung, my fellow community members.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my department is proud to share that we have recently completed the Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program in Iqaluit.
The Iqaluit N-CAMP trained participants how to collect arctic char biological data for the purpose of fisheries monitoring.
There were eight participants that completed both classroom training in Iqaluit and on-the-land training at Sukanga Lake.
The Nunavut Literacy Council also participated in the training and fieldwork.
This group is working with the N-CAMP team to ensure that the program fully incorporates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and improves how knowledge is shared among participants.
The N-CAMP provides communities with the training necessary to engage in aquatic monitoring at the local level and empowers participants to seek employment in related fields.
Mr. Speaker, my department is happy to report that some of the graduates from this camp are in the process of being selected to work for DFO this summer on arctic char sampling in the Sylvia Grinnell River. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 136 – 4(3): Piqqusilirivvik Polar Bear Hunt (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, my colleagues and fellow residents of Igloolik.
I am pleased to be able to rise in the House today to announce a successful polar bear hunt undertaken by the instructors and students of Piqqusilirivvik.
Piqqusilirivvik received a polar bear tag for the current program. The instructors and students went on a 10-day land program that included land skills, fishing, and a polar bear harvest.
Mr. Speaker, the hunt was documented in photos and on video and Piqqusilirivvik will be creating learning materials from these to use in future programming.
The meat was shared with the community and an elders’ feast was held at the centre.
The students learned how to clean and dry the hide and it will be used to teach traditional clothing-making.
Mr. Speaker, by providing the opportunity for students to be immersed in their own culture, language, and heritage, they will be able to practise the skills that were used by our ancestors for thousands of years.
This practice will enable them to survive and thrive in Nunavut’s challenging climate.
Minister’s Statement 137 – 4(3): Information Technology Strategy for Nunavut (Savikataaq)
I rise today to give my colleagues an overview of the Information Technology Strategy for Nunavut.
Information Technology, better known as IT, is deeply integrated in the Government of Nunavut’s daily business.
The Informatics Planning and Services, IPS for short, Division within Community and Government Services (CGS) is the principal ‘whole-of-government’ informatics service provider for the GN. The IT strategy is designed to fully support and provide value to the government’s functions and operations.
I am pleased to report that the first phase of the IT strategy was completed in January of 2016.
This process established five priorities which will guide the approach to overall planning, budgeting, analysis, management, and evaluation.
The next phase involves developing business plans for each priority area and this is where the specific needs will be identified.
The IPS division will collaborate and strengthen relationships within the GN, other levels of government, Inuit organizations, and the private sector to implement the plans, develop partnerships for investments in infrastructure, and provide secure connectivity and information management in the long term.
The current objective is to have the government’s core business network deployed to provide comparable telecommunications services within all 25 communities.
Mr. Speaker, this is a long-term strategy and that will require major investment dollars.
In the meantime, the IPS division will continue to provide secure information management and find innovative technology solutions to improve existing broadband services across the GN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation):Thank you.
Minister’s Statement 138 – 4(3): NAC Nursing Program Graduates (Ell-Kanayuk)
I am pleased to congratulate the graduates of Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) Pre-Nursing and Bachelors of Science of Nursing students on their successful completion of these programs.
They have successfully demonstrated their passion and commitment to health care and can be proud of their accomplishment.
Nunavut continues to experience nursing shortages. That is why the Department of Health has been active in providing scholarships and bursaries for nursing and pre-nursing students at Nunavut Arctic College, encouraging program completion and providing educational incentives.
For the 2015-16 academic year, the Department of Health provided $100,000 in scholarships and bursaries.
Of these, $18,000 is allocated toward the Queen Elizabeth II scholarships for nursing students where $3,000 is given to the top six nursing students and $82,000 is dispensed in bursaries where up to $5,000 per year is awarded to students in need.
Additionally, the department secured a one-time funding of $70,000 for the pre-nursing bursary from Health Canada.
Health was able to find another funding source and has linked NAC to Indspire so that pre-nursing students can access ongoing funding.
The initiative to support the growth of Nunavut-based health care professionals and strengthen the participation of beneficiaries is showing. On June 2, NAC has graduated six students from the Bachelor of Science of Nursing Program and two beneficiary students from the Pre-nursing Program.
Mr. Speaker, these initiatives support the growth of Nunavut-based health care professionals and strengthen the participation of beneficiaries.
Health is committed to educating, graduating, and supporting our nursing students.
We look forward to having more Nunavummiut nurses who understand our culture, the unique needs of our people and communities, provide care, and work towards healthy Nunavummiut.
Minister’s Statement 139 – 4(3): Music Alive Program in Nunavut (Quassa)
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to speak to my colleagues about inspiring work that has been done through the National Arts Centre Music Alive program in Nunavut.
The Music Alive program works to build knowledge and self-confidence in children and youth through the arts, enrich communities through music-making, [develop] music education skills among educators and teaching musicians, celebrate Inuit culture, and showcase Nunavut artists.
Mr. Speaker, since 2010, the Music Alive program has been reaching out to communities and this year, my department provided $93,000 to support its activities.