EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to my colleagues, my fellow Nunavummiut and residents of Arviat, as well as the people of Whale Cove.
Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize a visitor from my constituency, specifically from Arviat. I am very pleased that he was able to visit us today.
I want to acknowledge this person and ask everyone to share in celebrating his achievements.
Ever since I can remember, he has been constantly involved (interpretation ends) voluntarily (interpretation) of his own accord to help the community. As an example, back in 1979, he was the (interpretation ends) fire chief volunteer (interpretation) from 1979 up to today and he has led the Arviat fire department for many years.
He is also part of the Arviat search and rescue operations since 1990.
As of 2013, he was appointed to the (interpretation ends) Liquor Licensing Board (interpretation) and that is why he is present today, as he had to attend meetings in the role.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to recognize Joseph Kaviork, my fellow Arviat resident who is visiting the gallery today. Please welcome him to the Chambers. (interpretation ends) Thank you.
Question 420 – 4(2): Employment Equity in the Public Service (Angnakak)
The government’s annual report on the pubic service contains important and detailed information regarding the makeup of our territorial workforce.
For example, the most recent annual report indicated that the average GN public servant was 44 years old and had approximately seven years of service.
However, one area that we lack information on concerns representation in the public service by disabled persons.
Can the minister tell the House approximately how many disabled persons are currently employed by the Government of Nunavut?
Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that information. I can’t tell her how many disabled people are in the Government of Nunavut.
The federal Employment Equity Act recognizes four specific groups: aboriginal people, visible minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Can the minister explain what measures, if any, are in place to help disabled persons obtain employment with the territorial government?
I appreciate the information from Ms. Angnakak.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut is an equal opportunity employer. We don’t discriminate against anyone with disabilities if they are qualified for a job. As I said before, the Public Service Act, we hire on merit and we promote on merit.
On November 4, 2014, the minister tabled the government’s new Human Resource Strategy.
Can the minister describe what measures are in place to accommodate persons with disabilities who are currently in our workforce?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
Again, our government is an equal opportunity employer. We hire on merit and promote on merit.
All the government department officials are aware that we have a workplace that we want people to enjoy. If there are disabled employees in the department, then the department should make provisions for those disabled employees so that they can work and be productive in their workplace.
[Oral Questions].
Question 421 – 4(2): Gjoa Haven’s Swan Lake Bridge Project (Akoak)
Good afternoon, Nunavummiut, colleagues, (interpretation) and the residents of Gjoa Haven.
(interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, in 2010, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, through the Community Bridges Project and the Community Access Roads Program, announced that it would “provide the Government of Nunavut with more than $1.3 million to build and expand community access roads and upgrade or replace community bridges.”
Mr. Speaker, my community of Gjoa Haven was selected to receive and have installed “a new 26-metre Swan Lake bridge.”
Although my constituents welcomed this announcement with enthusiasm, the Swan Lake Bridge Project remains incomplete, nearly five years later.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister describe what specific actions her department is taking to complete this much anticipated initiative?
The 2010 project involved federal funds at that time and unfortunately, the funding ran out before the bridges were installed.
The Department of Economic Development and Transportation is currently looking at how to access funding to complete that project.
It has been identified that the community of Gjoa Haven does not have the appropriate equipment capable of moving the structure to the intended site.
Will the minister commit to working closely with the municipal government to address this issue?
I thank the member for that question. (interpretation) Yes, my departmental officials negotiate with the hamlet administrations to develop the project and to finalize the various details related to the bridge. They are looking at ways to extend the life of the bridge by fixing it.
The federal announcement of February 24, 2010 indicated that the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation “will coordinate the work and funding through its existing Community Access Road Program.”
The infrastructure for the Swan Lake bridge was delivered to the community of Gjoa Haven in 2011. However, it has not yet been installed and made operational.
What is the Department of Economic Development and Transportation doing to ensure that the appropriate arrangements are made to properly coordinate the completion of infrastructure projects?
The department undertook engineering work in 2014 and currently, the department is looking at available funding sources to construct a bridge for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Question 422 – 4(2): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Keyootak)
At this time, I have a question for the Minister of Environment.
As we all know, there is a moratorium on caribou hunting on Baffin Island.
Mr. Speaker, we also know that through the agreement that led to the moratorium, the government has to work with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board. After these three have worked together, I believe they are required to determine how things are going to date.
Can the minister indicate to us if he is working with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board?
In compliance with the land claims agreement, this has been an ongoing work in progress with respect to the moratorium on caribou on Baffin Island. We have worked with QWB and NWMB on this issue.
Personally, however, I haven’t heard much from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and so I don’t know if they have participated in any part of the moratorium.
If I understood the question correctly, I haven’t heard from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
It is clearly written in the agreement that the Qikiqtani Inuit Association has to be involved because they are a representative body for Inuit, along with the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board.
A lot of people out there are expecting some kind of announcement as it was announced that this moratorium would be in effect until March, when it is expected to be revisited. It states here that the moratorium will be in effect until March.
Can the minister state what involvement Inuit representatives have had or is just uncertain as to whether the moratorium would be dealt with in March or that it would be lifted?
These organizations were constantly involved, especially NTI as well as NWMB officials.
Baffin region wildlife groups have also taken part. We have been working closely with those organizations from the very beginning ever since QWB identified caribou as a major concern.
This week, NWMB is going to be holding hearings here in Iqaluit on the moratorium on caribou hunting on Baffin Island.
I heard the QWB chair on the radio and he indicated that in the month of March, the minister will be able to make a decision on the caribou issue.
The government itself has never made a statement that the caribou ban will expire in March.
The member asked about this issue, so I am grateful that he wanted more detail. That is what I am responding with on the past process for this issue.
Would I assume that we can’t expect his response this year? Would the response come after his staff has done their work?
As it states in the agreement, the Inuit organizations have to be involved in terms of wildlife management and any changes to that as outlined in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
The support must come from the Inuit organizations with the minister having final say.
This is in accordance to changes that are outlined through the land claims agreement.
Are we going to have to wait for their involvement in this process before this ban can be lifted?
Currently, in accordance with the NLCA, NTI, NWMB, as well as the Government of Nunavut are collaborating on various wildlife issues, with the current emphasis being caribou management in the Baffin region. With the collaboration of these bodies as per the requirements of the NLCA, the groups also try to work on the requirements listed in the agreement.
At this point, NWMB is following the process laid out in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement that states that NWMB is the main instrument of wildlife management in Nunavut.
As part of this wildlife management process, NWMB is currently holding a public hearing on the Baffin region caribou management issues.
I am expecting the results of the public hearing either this spring or this summer, which records the comments voiced at the public hearing. I expect them some time around the summer or spring.
I, too, am expecting the results of the public hearing process that my colleague asked about, and I thank him for clarifying the legal requirements in his question.
I certainly hope I answered him properly.
Question 423 – 4(2): Status of Medical Transportation Contract (Mikkungwak)
I say “good day” to the fine residents of Baker Lake and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister will be aware, Baker Lake residents often face transportation difficulties in getting to the airport for their medical travel appointments.
The Hamlet of Baker Lake has raised a number of concerns in this area.
Can the minister provide an update on when a request for proposals for local medical transportation services for Baker Lake will be tendered?
As of today, only three communities, namely, Whale Cove, Coral Harbour, and Arctic Bay, have been recognized for the provision of this service by the federal government programs.
The federal government provides funding for ground transportation.
To date, only these three communities have been recognized by the federal government.
It seems obvious that we will have to revisit this issue and restart our dialogue with the federal government on the list and criteria.
Not everyone in Baker Lake had ready access to a vehicle and it is well known that health centre staff are not able to use their vehicle to transport patients to the airport.
Can the minister clearly explain what consideration is being given to providing transportation between the community and the airport to medical clients who need to travel out of the community for appointments or treatment?
This requires discussions with the federal government about the other communities that require ground transportation assistance.
Yes, we are aware of the need in communities where the runway is quite distant and we know they require assistance.
This will require that I urge my officials to review these cases where service is needed so that they can be discussed when we get back to the table with the federal government.
It is important that our government provide all the necessary support to medical clients.
Can the minister confirm that a medical transportation contract for Baker Lake will be finalized by the beginning of the new fiscal year?
As per my earlier responses, only the three communities have been recognized through this federal government program.
We will have to meet with our federal counterparts to discuss these issues. After a meeting with them, we will have a better idea of what we get in the future.
Question 424 – 4(2): Aviation Program Positions (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, last week, the minister informed the Legislative Assembly that her department is eliminating three aviation program positions in Rankin Inlet and Kugluktuk as a consequence of the government’s decision to end its agreement with NAV Canada regarding community aerodrome radio station services.
As the minister is aware, a fourth aviation program position in her department is currently located in Pond Inlet.
Can the minister assure me and my constituents that this position will not be eliminated and that it will remain in located in Pond Inlet?
The three matters that I talked about are with respect to those who work in this area and who are the senior management and regional staff.
There are also the two positions that we haven’t determined what new jobs they will be.
As I stated previously, they are being negotiated. With respect to the repurposing of their jobs, it doesn’t necessary involve their immediate duties, but other tasks they perform from time to time. They are involved in finding solutions to their job duties.
Hopefully I will get this right in the end.
That position in Pond Inlet has not been mentioned at all with the other jobs.
Will that position in Pond Inlet stay there? It hasn’t been mentioned.
I will get more information and get back to the member asking about that particular position. Once I have the information, I can provide it to the member.
Right now, I don’t know which job position he is specifically referring to.
As the minister stated, they are talking to the workers who will lose their positions in Kugluktuk and Rankin Inlet on whether they would be transferred to other duties.
What is the status of those talks with those workers?
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleague.
Those positions were funded by the Canadian government through NAV Canada.
I know that one of the workers has agreed to take a job with the NWT government, but the other workers are still being dealt with.
Question 425 – 4(2): Gaps in Homelessness Planning (Hickes)
I have a question today for the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, last June during Committee of the Whole proceedings, I was asking the minister a question regarding what kind of financial resources or human resources are being improved to provide shelter services.
At that time, the minister committed that they would be going back to the communities outside of regional centres to hear more from them and assist in identifying any gaps that are considered to be there.
I was wondering if the minister would be able to update members on what progress has been made on that.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleague for Tasiluk for asking that question.
We know that there are only two homeless shelters and they are both in Iqaluit, the Uquutaq shelter for men and the Agvik YWCA for women.
One community has approached us about creating or establishing a homeless shelter, the community of Gjoa Haven.
There have been discussions, but we have not yet arrived at any decision.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for that information.
Part of my question was, through the regional offices, they are going to be exploring gaps from non-centralized communities.
I was wondering if the minister could again update me and the other members on what type of work is being done in the smaller communities to deal with the homeless.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Family Services, Ms. Ugyuk.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for Tasiluk for that question.
We initiated discussions with the community GLOs on that issue.
Interested organizations that want to operate the homeless shelters query the department on how to begin the process of creating a shelter.
However, to date, there have been no decisions, but it is being reviewed currently.
When communities request information on the creation of a shelter, they are provided with the Tunngasuvvik policies and procedures to give them a better idea of the steps involved and how to submit proposals for funding.
During the study in 2014 that came up with the amount of I believe it was 90 or 98 true homeless people in Nunavut, it was substantially different from the Nunavut Housing Corporation study that was done in 2010.
One of the issues that have been identified is identifying true homeless or people who have challenges with… .
What is the wording I’m looking for here?
There is true homeless and then there are people who are at risk of homelessness and people who are couch surfing and staying with family on a short-term basis.
The difference between those two numbers was over 1,000 residents of Nunavut.
I’m just wondering: is the department looking at collaborating that information together or if they’re looking at doing a further study to identify the homelessness need in Nunavut?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for Tasiluk for that question.
One of the findings resulting from this review was the fact that any resident can lose their house or they can be evicted. The figure can increase or decrease depending on the person getting accommodations.
However, the social workers try to provide assistance to the locals who are trying to access housing by assisting them to write up applications, reviewing the life situation of the client, and they work together to either apply for housing or if they were evicted.
The people who board at other people’s units have been included in the housing corporation’s study on housing. The housing corporation is one of the departments we collaborate with on the actual situations we are facing in the communities.
Question 426 – 4(2): Management of the Public Service (Savikataaq)
In November of last year, I asked a number of questions to the minister concerning the government’s use of casual and relief workers, and I know that casual and relief workers will always have to be used.
At that time, I expressed concerns about the overreliance on the use of casuals and I pointed out the risks that this approach can lead to with respect to nepotism and favouritism in the hiring process.
Can the minister describe what safeguards his department has put into place to prevent nepotism and favouritism in the government’s hiring process?
I thank Mr. Savikataaq for being so diligent in following up on casual employment.
I think we have discussed it enough in this House over the last year that managers, deputy ministers, and other supervisors are well aware that they must follow the policies.
There is the Human Resource Manual. There is the Public Service Act. The department can only do so much.
We don’t have staff sitting on every department being sheriffs. There are rules and processes in place and we expect them to be followed.
If any MLA has any information that there is nepotism or favouritism being shown in the hiring of any government casuals in any government department, then I would be more than pleased to investigate.
A specific concern that I have received from many constituents is the practice of hiring individuals on a casual basis for a significant period of time and then opening up their job to competition to be filled as an indeterminate position.
Obviously this gives the incumbent a significant and unfair advantage in the hiring process.
Is the minister’s department working with the hiring department to address this issue?
One of the benefits, I guess, of casual employment is it does open up an opportunity for individuals in a community to seek and gain employment. They can learn on the job.
The department can provide training, as we point out in our Human Resource Strategy, to casuals and all government employees.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that we are opening up to hiring casuals just so we can give them the edge in future competitions.
It’s more of a function of us hiring people with certain skills.
They may not have all the skills to fulfill the functions of the position, but at some point, they may and if there is a competition, you would think they would have the advantage.
I must point out too that at certain times and intervals, we don’t just hire casuals without the input of the northern employees union. We also require the departments to provide us with an explanation for hiring casuals beyond one year.
There are some safeguards in place, but again, we expect the departments to adhere to the established and approved policies. The human resource directives are on the Finance website.
Every deputy minister is responsible for what goes on within his or her department.
Again, if the member has knowledge of any eccentricities in the hiring of casuals, then feel free to let me know. I’m more than willing to check into it.
Earlier this month, my colleague from Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu pointed out that the government’s most recent tabled quarterly employment report indicated the GN was employing over 2,700 casual and relief workers as of June of last year.
Can the minister just explain to us if there is a process where, eventually, the hiring department, if the casual is working to long, is told to advertise the job instead of keeping the casual on there for extended periods?
As the minister indicated now, he does not like casuals going on and on. Is there a point where the hiring department can be told to advertise the position?
Again, as I mentioned, the departments are expected to justify casual positions going beyond one year. There may be extenuating factors in a community.
As an example, there may not be any housing to hire a full-time person in a permanent position.
The person fulfilling the duties on a casual basis would have lesser skills, but they can perform certain functions.
There are some casuals on backfill positions, especially if there are employees going on internal transfer assignments for longer than a year.
Under an ITA, or internal transfer agreement, the person in that position, with 30 days notice, could go back to their original jobs.
Again, the departments are well aware of the concern about relying too much on casuals. We get the list of long-term employees.
If there are casuals who are longer than one year or two years, if they’re going up in the range of three, four, or five years, then there is definitely an issue there and the departments should be making some provisions to staff those positions on an indeterminate basis.
We have the ability as a government and cabinet to direct-appoint people to positions if they meet the minimum qualifications of the job.
Member for Rankin Inlet North, Mr. Sammurtok.
Question 427 – 4(2): Promotion of NHC Homeownership Programs (Sammurtok)
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, there can be great benefits to being a homeowner. However, it can be very expensive to maintain one’s home.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation has a number of good homeownership programs available for eligible Nunavut residents, including the Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program and the Home Renovation Program.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s 2013-14 annual report indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation spent $3,553,000 on homeownership programs that year.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate how these important programs are being promoted so that eligible Nunavummiut in all communities are aware of their existence?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank the member for his question.
These Nunavut Housing Corporation (interpretation ends) programs (interpretation) are all varied, as there are programs for homeowners amongst others.
Now, as to whether they have this information provided, there are various avenues to provide the information, such as through the LHOs.