EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Yesterday the minister spoke of the Health Integration Initiative, which has the goal of improving the health status of Inuit in Nunavut.
Can the minister confirm whether this Initiative will involve other Inuit populations across Canada?
Earlier in October, when Mary Simon was first elected to her new job, I had the opportunity to meet with Mary Simon to discuss some of the common interests and initiatives that we’re working on for Inuit of Canada. In Nunavut, 85 percent of the population is Inuit.
So I did meet with Mary and had planned to go to the Health Summit in Vancouver with her, but session was sitting, so I was not able to go with her to the conference. We discussed many issues around common concerns, particularly around initiatives to develop programs in the communities in Keeping People Healthy, which is part of this report that I tabled yesterday.
So we are trying to work together with the Inuit Organizations. One of the other things that we discussed as well was related to Pauktuutit. Pauktuutit represent the Inuit women of Canada.
The concern that I had shared with Mary Simon at the time was that Pauktuutit was distancing itself from ITK, and leaning towards representing Inuit women of Canada separate from ITK, which is a concern to me, because again, we represent Inuit women of Nunavut in my job as well.
Those are the kinds of things that we talked about, but at the same time I have also offered to ITK to have them involved in working with the Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut in developing the Public Health Strategy for Nunavut.
Can the minister clarify for this House what initiatives that she’s talking about are on the way to address the issue of wait times, as they affect the health services for Nunavummiut?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. My apologies to you. That was your second supplementary.
The wait times that were identified through the First Ministers Conference are in the five areas related to cancer treatment, or knee surgery, and so on. I had spoken many times in this House the wait times that we work with around those areas are, the jurisdictions that provide the services; their wait times are our wait times. The treatments that they receive are not offered in our territory.
We have to work with the other provinces in trying to address the wait times around the five categories identified.
For example, Kitikmeot patients travel to Yellowknife and Edmonton for their surgeries; Kivalliq travels to Winnipeg for their surgeries; and Iqalummiut travel to Ottawa. So we have to work with those jurisdictions collectively to address the wait times because their wait times become our wait times in our initiative.
So we are working closely with them. At the same time, as we look at trying to move forward in providing more healthcare services in Nunavut we hope to be able to provide those services in our territory, but we are a long way from that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aglukkaq. Your final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.
Can the minister update this House on what initiatives are under way to ensure that Nunavut’s arctic communities are prepared for a pandemic and will not be seen as the weakest link in national crisis.
I think I have covered four subjects in this one line of questions today from pandemic, to wait times, to ITK and so on. The information, in terms of the pandemic planning, we have been working with the health centres in putting our plans together, how we would respond in the case of a pandemic in our communities and each community was required to put a plan in place in terms of how we would respond.
We have also stockpiled medication to provide at the time there is a pandemic, but the planning for that is much broader than just Department of Health. We need to work with, as an example Community and Government Services to look at what we would do in the case of trying to contain the illness. We would have to shut down airports, close down schools, perhaps offices, and so on.
So the plan was also to be integrated into an emergency response plan for Nunavut.  In the case of Department of Health we worked with our health centres to develop the plan and from what I understand each community had a plan in place as to what we would do in the area of health care to respond to, should there be a pandemic in our territory.
Question 394 – 2(3): Upgrading for Post Secondary Studies (Peterson)
Almost a year ago the minister told the House that Nunavut’s Grade 12 graduates were on the rise. Graduation levels, we thought that was an important achievement. However, I am aware that in a number of cases across Nunavut, Grade 12 students have to go back for upgrading to get courses to enter post-secondary institutions.
My question for the minister is: can the minister tell us why so many of our so-called Grade 12 students require upgrading before they can be considered for post-secondary studies.
Through our education system in Nunavut we do give an opportunity to actually bring back up their mark and they can actually challenge different programs and correct it. So for example, if a student was doing English 1, they have an opportunity also to be able to challenge the English 2 exam. If the student would like to, has graduated and has an opportunity, and is of age, below the age of 21 and would like to bring their mark up, then we welcome them back into school to do that.
According to our latest statistics, in a little over ten years, as an example, in 1999, seven years, we had 128 graduates and in 2005-06 we had 173, and 181.
So, that is good, it’s good news, but it is no different than some other jurisdictions where students can go back and upgrade their marks, whether that’s in summer school, or a night program, or indeed through the K-12 school system.
Your first Supplementary, Mr. Peterson.
We had a lot of grade 12 students, ages 17 to 18 who are taking grade 12 courses who fully expect to graduate and not have to go back for upgrading, yet when they write their exams, they’re finding out that they’re not qualified for diplomas.
This is after they write their exams, after spending a year of studying, so my question for the minister: can the minister clarify for the House what a Nunavut grade 12 graduation diploma is, and specifically what a student has to accomplish in order to earn one?
The member is quite aware of the grade 12 diploma which you receive in Nunavut.
In Nunavut, if a student academically passes grade 12 and receives a passing grade, they will receive a high school diploma.
Through a combination of marks from their high school and if they write the Alberta exam then they pass academically.
At the same time some students might not challenge the Alberta exam and still pass grade 12 based on their current school marks that they have done to that nine month period in high school.
The grade 12 high school diploma is recognized in the territory and if the student has challenged the Alberta exam then that grade 12 diploma is recognized across Canada.
I’m glad the minister mentioned the Alberta exams. Last year, the Killiniq High School in Cambridge Bay switched from a semester programming to a non semester program and this resulted in making life difficult for mainly the grade 12 students who were planning to challenge the Alberta departmental exams. Most had to write six to seven departmentals in a two-week period.
These are extremely difficult exams to write. Imagine doing it all in two weeks.
My question for the minister: can the minister explain to the House how his department oversees the administration of the Alberta departmental exams before, during, and after they are written?
The Alberta exam and again it’s the Alberta exam from the Government of Alberta. It is used not only in Nunavut of course it is used in the Northwest Territories and Alberta as part of the Western Protocol which includes the Western Provinces and the three Territories.
We work on similar curriculum and that is why when our students write and challenge the Alberta exam and pass it is recognized nationally. At the same time, the member mentioned concerns with the semestered and non-semestered school system.
In Nunavut we have 13 high schools that follow the non-semestered system and we have 12 that use the semester system. And there are pros and cons to both systems. For example, some of the benefits of a non-semestered system including the achievement and academic retention levels seem to be higher, but if you look at the non-semestered, then teachers prefer to use that system because there are fewer students in the classroom.
The process before and after, I don’t know if there is time in the House, the process is the Alberta exam is delivered to the individual school and the school gives the exam which is called invigilation and from that it is sent back to Alberta to be marked.
Once marked the scores are given back to the school to the education system. And a combination of that mark and the student marks are combined for a passing grade or a failing grade depending on the student.
If I need to remind you the Question Period where responses are also given are one hour set each day.
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like to thank the minister for that answer.
The Killiniq High School in Cambridge Bay failed the grade 12 students and failed to support them after the exams, the Alberta departmental exams. When the marks came back, many of the parents couldn’t contact the principal to discuss options to upgrade the marks, or re-write, or challenge those marks.
I hope the minister is looking into that.  My question for the minister: can the minister clarify how high schools in Nunavut determine where to provide semester programming or non-semester programming?
You know, I think we should look at it as a glass half full and half empty. I just want to say very quickly and I know that we are limited for time.
Let’s look at some statistics. The fact is Mr. Speaker that 36 percent of students in the richest province in Canada, Ontario, are not at a grade six level in reading or math.
It was in the Globe and Mail. In Nunavut’s case we’re in the middle group and we’re working in English as a second language.
The options to go for non-semester or a semester are a decision made locally with the DEA and with the school, itself, the principal and the staff.
Question 395 – 2(3): Sinking of Boat Near Sanikiluaq (Kattuk)
During our members’ statements I raised an issue that I would like to bring up again.
In Sanikiluaq we were concerned about the environment.
There are a lot of islands down there around the Sanikiluaq area and the James Bay area.
I think that there was a boat that sank outside of Sanikiluaq. I’d like to ask the minister if he looked into it.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Environment, Mr. Netser.
That is the responsibility of the federal government, so my department wasn’t informed.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the minister going to look into this issue and see if the federal government has done anything about it, and will he inform the people of Sanikiluaq?
I would like to ask him if the Hunters’ and Trappers’ Organizations know of it, because they are our link in regard to the environment, the wildlife, and so on.
I‘ll urge the Hunters’ and Trappers’ Organizations to inform my department.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister.
Could the minister look into this issue and inform me, or the House about his findings?
Question 396 – 2(3): Medical Devices Provided Through Department of Health (Alagalak)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. (interpretation ends) In my members’ statement I spoke about the difficulties faced by my constituents in getting supplies for hearing aids.
Can the minister clarify for this House and for the public what kinds of medical devices are provided to Nunavut health clients through the government health programs?
The question of what kind of devices that we provide, I don’t know the exact models and kinds of devices that we provide for audiology, but I can ask my staff to provide me that type of information because I am just not aware of the models, and so on.
I can speak to the services that we do provide for audiology services in the Keewatin.
In the last year in the Kivalliq alone, 424 residents received the service. The service is provided by a Manitoba organization.
They come up north every year to provide this service. As compared to the other regions where individuals are seen in the Kivalliq for that service, but in terms of again, going back to the individual’s question, what kind of devices are provided, I have to get back to the member on that.
I think the people of Nunavut should know what is available out there and what kind of devices or medical assistance is available out there, not for a hair transplant.
There are hearing-aids; there are glasses, and medical supplies that are made available to the people. How long or how many years do you have to wait before you can get a replacement, say for glasses for example, or hearing-aids? We would like to have that information so the people out there will know.
There’s been a lot of effort in the last few years to try and open, and provide services for rehabilitation services in Nunavut around audiology and the other is physiotherapy, occupational therapy in each language and so on, for the entire territory.
Last November we opened a facility, the first of its kind, in Nunavut, here in Iqaluit, to provide some of these services.
We’re also looking at developing a Community Therapy Assistant Program through Nunavut Arctic College to train Nunavummiut to provide some of these services to the health centres. So again, it’s an initiative that we are undertaking where we’re not just looking at the treatment, but also trying to build a capacity within Nunavut to provide that service throughout.
And I agree with the member, we can do better in communicating what information we have available and how often people can receive a new hearing-aid as an example, or eye-vision care.
And as part of the Medical Travel Policy that I will commit to providing that, because a lot of that information is covered through the Non-Insured Health Benefit Program, that is covered by the federal government.
I will commit to providing that information to this House along with the Client Travel Policy.
I’m not going to be asking for a hair transplant, but when are you going to be able to make those documents available?
I have the information on the Non-Insured Health Benefits in front of me, and it’s available in English through the web pages. I can have that translated and shared, as soon as the translation is completed, to the members of the House.
Question 397 – 2(3): Impact of Federal Clean Air Act (Barnabas)
On October 19, 2006, Bill C-30, Canada’s Clean Air Act, received first reading in the House of Commons.
Given Nunavut’s dependence on diesel fuel to produce electricity, can the minister tell me what impact this legislation may have on our territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Education and Energy, Mr. Picco.
The Clean Air Act that was introduced in the House of Commons has lead to some derision on behalf and for the new government in Ottawa because it seems to be moving away from the Kyoto Protocol.
I want to remind the House that it was I and Minister Akesuk as the first jurisdiction in Canada that ratified the Kyoto Accord for on behalf and for the Provinces and Territories several years ago, with Minister Anderson.
The impact on Nunavut will depend on several factors which include the continual amounts of gasses, greenhouse gasses, and so on that are put in place, as well as the timelines that have been allowed.
At the present time, the timeline is several years into the future, and that’s part of the derision that has been brought forward by the Clean Air Act introduced in the House of Commons.
Going up to 2020 then we would be able to, can the minister tell me, what concrete steps the Qulliq Energy Corporation has taken towards the production of energy using means other than diesel-fuelled generators?
We’ve been very aggressive in the last year and a half, through the Qulliq Energy Corporation to look at other alternatives including hydro electric opportunities and potential.
I am hoping to be in a position in the next few days in the House to be able to table in the House an Energy Strategy from the Energy Secretariat on the direction that this government is moving in.
So we have been looking at alternatives, including hydro. We are still reviewing some of the opportunities under reheat.
I can add very quickly that under the reheating program, in Rankin Inlet and in Iqaluit, we will be eliminating almost 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions when these systems come into line in the next several weeks.
Can the minister tell me when the first non-diesel generated electricity will be available for purchase by Nunavummiut?
That’s an excellent question because a non-diesel generator would have...right now, all the generators that we have, have to run by either gas and/or diesel. That includes portable diesel generators that you would use in a camp or indeed, the larger generator.
What I suggest to you is that within the next ten years, as we move forward with the hydro potential, we would have a renewable energy source of hydro within ten years.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. (interpretation ends) Your final supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.
Mr. Barnabas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Last week, the Minister of Health gave us a tour of the new Baffin hospital and that new hospital is heated from the generator here at the power plant with the waste heat, and that was very good to see.
(interpretation ends) Can the minister tell me if the federal government has undertaken consultation with the provincial and territorial governments on this Act?
If so, what position has the Government of Nunavut taken?
Very quickly, in the preamble to his question, the member raised the re-heat at the hospital.
Again, I want to reiterate that when that system is up and running in December, that’s going to displace, that system and the Rankin Inlet system alone will displace 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses in Nunavut.
On the Clean Air Act that was passed in the House of Commons, no, officially through the Energy Office of the Energy Secretariat, we have not been consulted on that Act.
I did have a meeting with the Minister responsible for the Environment and Minister Lunn in Saskatchewan this past spring and we did not raise it at that time.
Question 398 – 2(3): Update on Administration of Sealift Services (Tootoo)
I thank my colleague, Mr. Kattuk, for raising an issue on sealift questions and incidents and things like that, that prompted me to ask some questions, as well.
I’d like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services.
I know that the sealift season is finished, hopefully, all over the place except for things that didn’t get to where they were going. I am just wondering if the minister could provide us with an update on the administration of the sealift services this year.
I understand that there were new contracts in place. Did they go well? Were there any incidents throughout the season that were brought to her attention?
The Community and Government Services Minister, Minister Brown.
The last season for shipping, usually the summer is very short for the ships to travel up here, but last summer most of the communities were pleased. Most of the municipalities were pleased.
The Department of Community and Government Services did not hear too many disappointments with the contracted ships.
NTCL had gone from Churchill and everybody else was quite pleased about it.
That’s good to hear, but according to the radio this morning though I don’t think Coral Harbour, or Sanikiluaq are too pleased. There’s still stuff of theirs sitting in Baker Lake.
My supplementary question is with the service providers that provide those services for the government, are they obligated to inform the department or the minister of any incidents that have occurred during that season?
There have been a lot of ships that have been sailing to 25, or 26 communities. Out of those there have been some incidences. One incident that I know of that I have information on is that NTCL had a few barges that are iced in Baker Lake, the member is right.
The freight has not been delivered yet to Coral Harbour. NTCL is working with the customers to resolve this issue. Once I have that information I can update the House.
I’d like to just ask the minister if she’s aware of any incidents that took place here in Iqaluit during this sealift season, and what they were, if there were any.
Community and Government Services Minister, Ms. Brown.
If the member could identify to me which community he is talking about so I could respond to his question.
I would ask Mr. Tootoo to clarify his question to the minister responsible. Mr. Tootoo.
I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear for the minister.
I had asked her if she was aware of any incidents that happened specifically here in Iqaluit, and what they were with the sealift provider.
I think he is talking about Iqaluit.
The people who unload the ships I was informed on what they were doing and it seems to have been smooth when they were unloading, but I am not really sure of the specifics that he is talking about and there has been four ships that came to unload here in Iqaluit.
I guess I just want to find out; someone mentioned to me that there was a fatality and piece of heavy equipment that went into the water. I am wondering if that was in fact the case and if the minister was aware of that.
Minister Responsible for Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown.
That question was nice of you and thank you to the member.
Yes, at approximately 2:21 a.m. on November 26, 2006 an accident occurred during a routine loading operation of the NNSI ship Anna Desgagnes. A 42 year old Quebec resident died after the front end loader that he was driving fell off the barge. The individual was not wearing a survival suit.
Iqaluit RCMP notified Worker’s Compensation Board, Transport Canada, and the Nunavut Office of the Chief Coroner. The Office of the Chief Coroner notified next of kin.
Now, the incident investigation is being conducted by Transport Canada and the Nunavut Office of the Chief Coroner and an autopsy will be conducted.
Just to let you know that the Question Period is now over.
Returns to Written Questions. (interpretation ends) Item 9.
Reply to Opening Address 004 – 2(3): Mr. Peter Kattuk
I would like to make a Reply to the Opening Address. What I’m about to talk about is about my knowledge and it is not going to be very long.
I know about the land in the north. It has been many years now since Nunavut was created.
We all know the tent rings and the archaeological sites where the Inuit in the past used to live and how the Inuit used to live. We see those archaeological sightings all the time.
We have been here for a long time in Nunavut but we were told not too long ago by the government that we have to negotiate our land because it has been our land and federal government’s land for a long time. When we were told that the older people were really shocked because they know they own the land because they have been living on the land for a long time and they said that to the federal government it’s not their land because the Inuit have looked after it for a long time. We were still told by the federal government that we have to negotiate to get our land back.
And during the negotiations of our Land Claims we did away with various rights that we had as Inuit such as different things that we had to let go of.
Some of our rights were taken away such as the right to the land and the right to the sea.  In my community what the people think now are they don’t really have the rights any more.
Our environment and our land is what we looked after for many years. And we looked after the wildlife because those are the things that we use and we used to know or we still have the knowledge of the weather and different seasons and how best to make best use of the different seasons.