EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Standing Committee notes that the overall budget for Health and Social Services for the 2003/2004 fiscal year represents 25% or 1 out of every 4 dollars of the total proposed government spending.
Even though the department has received $610 thousand dollars more in operations and maintenance funding then in the revised estimates for 2002/2003.
Members recognize that this does not represent a substantial increase in base funding.
According to the budget speech, supplementary appropriation being brought forward during this session will include $10 million dollars to fund on-going programs in the Department of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Chairman, with such supplementary appropriations being brought forward on a regular basis to cover departmental deficits, the Committee has grave concerns that the base funding for Department of Health and Social Services remains critically low.
Members support the Minister and the Premier in their efforts to identify federal funding which will address needs specific to the North and look forward to clarification on the details of the recently-announced territorial health care fund.
Mr. Chair, the Committee was pleased to finally see more detail in the Department’s Business Plan on the services to be provided at the three new regional health facilities.
Again, Operations and Maintenance costs for these facilities will obviously require additional funding which must be accommodated in future allocations for this Department.
Committee Members were pleased with the Department’s plan to focus on developing midwifery services at the community level.
This initiative has been supported by the Committee for some time now.
Members are pleased to note the support for students in the Nunavut Nursing Program in the proposed budget and encourage the Minister to continue to work towards accessing additional sponsorship for individuals participating in this program.
The Standing Committee is aware that the costs associated with medical travel make up a significant portion of the Department’s budget.
Members would be interested in learning of any cost savings that have been realized or anticipated as a result of the revised medical travel policy or last year’s KPMG study on medical evacuations.
Members also look forward to hearing further detail on the plans for the decentralized medical travel office and its operations.
Committee Members will be seeking clarification on the status of other decentralized positions within the department, such as the Headquarters positions that were based in Kugluktuk.
Members recall from the February 2002 Evaluation Report on the Government’s decentralization process that the 14 departmental headquarters positions in Kugluktuk have remained mostly vacant since the fall of 2000.
The report recommended that these functions be reassessed Members look forward to hearing an update on this reassessment.
Mr. Chairman, in recent days, Members of this House have discussed some of the very serious social and mental health issues that face Nunavut.
In particular, youth suicide can be considered a crisis.
The Committee notes from the Business Plan that the Department’s primary method of implementing the Addictions and Mental Health Strategy is to hire a number of specialized personnel.
Members are concerned that there is not more of a focus on addressing mental health issues, family violence issues, and other related issues at the community level.
Members feel that the involvement and empowerment of community Members is the key to reaching the objectives of healthy communities and self-reliance, rather than reliance on imported professionals or services.
Members have noted a number of Requests for Proposals for the operation of the various group homes across Nunavut.
Members would like further clarification on the status of these RFPs as well as an update on the development of outreach detoxification services.
The Committee notes that the amount allocated for local Committees of Council has not increased from the revised estimates of 2002-2003.
Members had anticipated a review of the funding allocations based on needs identified in each community, rather than just on community size.
Mr. Chairman, a priority for this Government and all Members of this House has been to make the case to our federal partners that funding based on rigid per capita formulas simply does not work for Nunavut.
The Premiers of the three northern territories recently advanced this position in their negotiations with Ottawa.
Mr. Chairman, the same is true at home.
When the territorial government funds programs here, we must fund communities based on their actual needs, and not simply allocate resources based solely on the size of the community’s population.
The Committee further notes that a Request For Proposals on training for Committee of Council Members was issued some time ago and look forward to an update on the status of that initiative.
Lastly, Mister Chairman, Members of the Standing Committee on Health and Education look forward to reviewing legislation and program planning related to the Government of Nunavut’s Tobacco Reduction Strategy.
While the benefits and savings to health care as a result of this strategy will only be fully realized in future years, Members recognize that the investment must be made now.
I anticipate that individual Members will also have questions and comments as we proceed.
At this point we’ll have general comments but I’d like Members to note according to rule 77(1), you have ten minutes to speak and according to rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I move we report progress.
I would like to thank Minister Picco.
Thank you Minister Picco, Mr. Best and Maychruk.
Thank you, for coming.
You may ascertain the Speaker.
Speaker: Returning to Orders of the Day .
The committee has been considering Bill 30 and would like to report progress.
There is the Motion on the Floor.
Mr. Alakannuark you are the winner today.
Madame Deputy Clerk.
Deputy Clerk (interpretation): Orders of the day for Friday, March 21, 2003,
Speaker: Thank you, Madam Deputy Clerk.
This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 21st, at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
>>House adjourned at 18:58 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Friday March 21, 2003
Pages 3026 - 3069
Opening Prayer 3026
Ministers’ Statements 3026
Members’ Statements 3027
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3033
Oral Questions 3033
Notices of Motions 3049
Revert to Item 7: Written Questions 3050
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 3050
Consideration in Committee of Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3051
Report of Committee of the Whole 3068
Orders of the Day 3068
Friday March 21, 2003 3026
140 – 1(6): Justice Video Conferencing Technology (Okalik) 3026
468 – 1(6): Bill 1 – Education Act (Tootoo) 3027
469 – 1(6): Taluq Designs Handicrafts in Taloyoak (Puqiqnak) 3027
470 – 1(6): Pond Inlet Basketball Team (Nutarak) 3028
471 – 1(6): Caribou Commercial Harvesters in Coral Harbour (Arvaluk) 3028
472 – 1(6): Polar Bears Over Populating (Iqaqrialu) 3029
473 – 1(6): Thank Hairdressing Students (Okalik) 3030
474 – 1(6): Remembers Fighting as a Young Man (Alakannuark) 3030
475 – 1(6): Thank Hairdressing Students (Irqittuq) 3030
476 – 1(6): Basketball Tournament (McLean) 3031
477 – 1(6): Pleased with Hair (Kilabuk) 3031
478 – 1(6): Recognize Ben Kovic as a Great Volunteer (Picco) 3032
464 – 1(6): Look Into Providing Durable Packaging for Coral Harbour Caribou Harvesters (Arvaluk) 3033
465 – 1(6): Shelter Assistance Based on Gross Income (Havioyak) 3034
466 – 1(6): Local DEAs Process for Public Meetings (Iqaqrialu) 3036
467 – 1(6): Bad Heating Fuel (Tootoo) 3037
468 – 1(6): Testing of Bad Fuel (Alakannuark) 3039
469 – 1(6): Furnace Maintenance Workshop (Irqittuq) 3040
470 – 1(6): Unilingual Homeowners – Bad Heating Fuel (Puqiqnak) 3041
471 – 1(6): Program Review Exercise (Williams) 3044
472 – 1(6): Baker Lake – Private Airline Fuel Services (McLean) 3045
473 – 1(6): Capital Projects (Nutarak) 3046
474 – 1(6): Homeownership Impacts (Iqaqrialu) 3048
010 – 1(6): Ministerial Travel (McLean) 3050
020 – 1(6): Establishment of a Task Force on Suicide Prevention and Community Healing (Irqittuq) 3049
Bill 33 – A Tobacco Control Act – Notice (Picco) 3050
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Honourable Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker (Mr. O’Brien): I would like to call on Mr. Kattuk to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Good morning. Mr. Premier, Members.
Minister’s Statement 140 – 1(6): Justice Video Conferencing Technology
Mr. Speaker, our geographic size and our needs to communicate with the public make it especially important to build a on strong foundation for information technology.
With these goals in mind, the Nunavut Court of Justice has implemented and is working towards using video conferencing technology to create telecommunications link between the Courthouse and the Baffin Correctional Centre and the Nunavut Court of Appeal.
The technology is currently being tested between BCC and the Iqaluit Courthouse and will be used on a regular basis to be bail hearings and for other court matters.
Mr. Speaker, members, please join me in recognizing the efforts of the staff of the Nunavut Court of Justice in bringing this new technology to the court operations.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. Item 2. Ministers’ Statements.
Member’s Statement 468 – 1(6): Bill 1 – Education Act
Mr. Speaker, I rise to day to express my thanks and appreciation to the members of the public who contributed to the standing committee on Health and Education’s review of Bill 1.
Mr. Speaker, many groups and individuals too the time to present their views, thoughts, concerns and suggestions to the members of the committee.
I was fortunate to be able to participate in the public hearings that the committee conducted here in Iqaluit.
I was impressed by the commitment that so many Nunavummiut have to building a quality education system that serves out youth well.
Mr. Speaker, I know it is not always easy to stand up publicly and be critical of the government.
I know that some people took heat for their stand.
Mr. Speaker, there is a wide diversity of views on how our education system should be designed and delivered.
On some issues consensus will not be possible.
However, I believe that the committee’s consultation process faster and open healthy debate.
I look forward to the government reflecting on the views that were expressed as it goes back to work.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the contributions made by the Federation of Nunavut Teachers, the Iqaluit District Education Authority, the French District Education Authority, NTI and QIA.
I’d also like to give special recognition to individuals that made presentations.
They are Ms. Mary Wilman and here sister Annie, Caroline Anawak, Madeleine Redfern, Aaju Peter, Carl McLean and Jonah Kelly.
I would also like to thank each and every member of a community DEA that took the time to come out and be heard during the review process as well as all the individuals that came out and made presentations to the committee.
Member’s Statement 469 – 1(6): Taluq Designs Handicrafts in Taloyoak
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue that I have been raising for the last few days.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about my other constituency of Taloyoak on behalf of the women of Taloyoak.
There is a workshop called Taluq Design in Taloyoak and this handicraft in front of you was made by the women there and also I would like my colleagues to know that these handicrafts are beautifully made.
These are made according to the oral legends of Inuit.
This one is packing a baby using an amauti, although it’s not a human figure but it’s depicting the oral legends of Inuit.
I would like to congratulate the Taloyoak women for making these handicrafts.
We like to see real ones rather than imitation art so these real ones are very nice Mr. Speaker, and they’re very beautiful.
Every time my colleagues go to Taloyoak there is a place called Taluq, make sure that you go visit that workshop.
They make various pieces of art.
I am very pleased to acknowledge the women of Taloyoak.
Member’s Statement 470 – 1(6): Pond Inlet Basketball Team
Yesterday I spoke about the Basketball team from Pond Inlet; I was going to mention their names once I got their names.
I do have the names of the winning team for the Basketball team.
Neil Henderson, Jerry Arreak, Andrew Arreak, Jimmy Pitseolak, Matthew Ferguson, Simon Sangoya, James Ootoova, Chris Merkosak, Jimmy Kunuk, and Barry Simonie.
So those are the team that had won on the Basketball Tournament.
Member’s Statement 471 – 1(6): Caribou Commercial Harvesters in Coral Harbour
A very good morning to everyone.
It is beautiful outside but we are inside working.
Mr. Speaker, the caribou commercial hunters of Coral Harbour, this is being managed very well.
They have harvested close to 3 thousand caribou.
And they employ over forty local who butcher the caribou, thy go hunting and they prepare the meat, they have cooks so they have all the stoves where they work on the caribou.
They employ over 40 individuals, and there is employment opportunity created from that.
Coral Harbour residents are very pleased with that.
They have an opportunity to earn income because there are hardly any employment opportunities.
There are about 700 people in Coral Harbour and with 40 people worling this makes a big difference to the community.
When I was asking why they cannot harvest over 6 thousand caribou, they were saying that there is a interest in marketing the caribou meat down south.
The packaging of the caribou meat is made of paper.
They cannot fill up those bags, so when they get too heavy, when they fall, they are not durable.
They are requesting bags that are more durable, so they can at least harvest over 6 thousand caribou. Why do we want to have 6 thousand when they have 3 thousand or a little bit over caribou.
The reason why they want to harvest 6 thousand caribou is because when that Island, Coats Island, or Southampton Island, when their caribou over populates, they eat all the vegetation and they end up starving, and it takes a long time to get the population back up.
So what the Coral Harbour residents are trying to do is that to make sure that the caribou do not over populate so that they will not all die off.
At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions about if they can get more durable caribou bags, so that they can be used in their next season.
Member’s Statement 472 – 1(6): Polar Bears Over Populating
Mr. Speaker, I probably look younger this Friday morning.
I rise today to talk about polar bears as usual.
In my two constituencies the polar bears are over populated and they’re now starting to maul each other and kill each other and they’re very skinny because they’re probably short of their food.
When the polar bears start dying off, it will take a long time to get the population back.
As people from the north know that when the animals die off by themselves, they over populate and die off, but when you maintain the population by having sustainable harvests the population is maintained better and that has been our knowledge from the past.
In my constituency of Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq according to their issues, according to all their concerns I try to speak out on their concerns in the House.
I appreciate them for giving me their concerns so that I could speak about those issues in the House.
Member’s Statement 473 – 1(6): Thank Hairdressing Students
I rise today to thank the people from the hairdressing school and would also like to thank Minister Kilabuk for arranging that and we do look younger today.
He looks younger today because his hair colour has changed although I envy him for being able to make his hair look better, I was told that my crown can’t be fixed, I was not too pleased about it but my colleagues over here, Jobie, and I’m sure that what happened to him.
I had told Mr. Irqittuq that I didn’t realize that he could look any better but actually he does look better after the haircut.
I would like to thank Suzanne, the instructor and also the hairdresser Elisapee Quassa who did my hair and I thank all the students in that hairdressing course.
Member’s Statement 474 – 1(6): Remembers Fighting as a Young Man
Since today is Friday I will make a very short member’s statement.
I rarely make long member’s statements.
When I was younger, when I started hunting, I would go out with my hunting friend who lives in Kugaaruk. I'm sure he’s going to recognize me on TV.
As we grow older, every time we see each other, after we got married they were constructing homes in Kugaaruk and I started working with him and we fighting over a pipe and we fought for so long, perhaps 2 or 3 hours and people started watching us while we’re fighting over this pipe.
After fighting for a few hours we ended up not using it.
Member’s Statement 475 – 1(6): Thank Hairdressing Students
I have to show myself now to the person who did my hair.
So I have to show off now my beautiful hair.
I am very proud for those students who are in the Hairdressing Course.
Especially Delilah Karetak, from Igloolik.
She is a very young person and she did my hair.
Member’s Statement 476 – 1(6): Basketball Tournament
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to say that it is nice to see some MLAs give up their seats today and send their sons into the Assembly.
On that topic, I would like to thank the Hairdressing School for inviting us all for a haircut last night, but myself, James, and Mr. Puqiqnak, we wanted Afro perms, but they did not work out the way we wanted so better luck the next time.
But on a more serious note, I would like to mention that last weekend; I had the opportunity to watch some very good Basketball by some young ladies in Nunavut.
Iqaluit was a great host.
They hosted the Junior Girls Basketball Team Tournament last weekend.
Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, Pangnirtung, and Baker Lake participated.
At the end of the day, Iqaluit triumphed, by a hard fought game between Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay.
Baker Lake came in third and was the bronze medal winner.
I would like to recognize Samantha Pattuk, Lianna Pattuk, Leanne McLean, Lorraine Tunuq, Amy Tootoo, Diane Iyago, Justine Killulark, April Aupaluktuq, Katherine Kalluik, and Sheila Sweetland, the coach.
And I would also like to thank all the hard work and every time we turn around there is bunch of volunteers out there that do not get recognized.
I would like to recognize all those volunteers out there, the coaches, the referees, and all the supervisory staff at the Inuksuk High School.
Member’s Statement 477 – 1(6): Pleased with Hair
Last night my colleagues and I enjoyed the evening when we went to go get our haircuts.
Just in case my constituents in Pangnirtung do not recognize me with my new hairdo, I am still the same person.
I do want to say that before they were actually finished with our hair, we tried to look into the mirror and they prevented us.
We were already pleased with our hair even before they completed it.
Member’s Statement 478 – 1(6): Recognize Ben Kovic as a Great Volunteer
Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to begin by saying that the Members look very good, and you remembered the Lady Grecian formula that you use to use when you were in Yellowknife, and I know that some of the Members have an opportunity now to bring that here to Iqaluit.
I believe that I’ll schedule you along with myself for another treatment next week, so I look forward to seeing at that.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. McLean just talked about some volunteers and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to a very interesting constituent of mine, from Iqaluit East.
Mr. Speaker, this gentleman is involved full time as the Chairman of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
In this role he has been a leader in the direction and the implementation of sustainable traditional harvesting practises.
Mr. Speaker, he is also one of the most experienced under water divers in Nunavut.
And it is well known here in Iqaluit for his harvesting of ammumayuqs, or clams, which he also distributes to people in the community, which is well welcomed.
Mr. Speaker, he also finds time to actively be involved with minor hockey as a volunteer.
He also runs his own very successful skate sharpening business.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ben Kovic, is an entrepreneur; father, volunteer, and I would like you in this House, to join with me to applaud the initiative shown by Mr. Kovic and the other volunteers across Nunavut in their activities every day on behalf or for Nunavummiut.
If not we’ll move onto Item 4.
I'm very pleased that I have an opportunity to recognize an individual in the House.
Before I mentioned the name, back in 1992 there was an individual who came from Nova Scotia who went to Gjoa Haven and for 13 years she resided there as a teacher.
During the long service awards I had her recognized for his long service.
She is a teacher, she is also the vice principal for the elementary school, and she’s also a member of the Hamlet council and my wife’s in-law.
They have two children, Susan Hillier.
Question 464 – 1(6): Look Into Providing Durable Packaging for Coral Harbour Caribou Harvesters
I would like to ask a simple question as it is Friday.
I would like to ask this question to the Premier.
In regards to my member’s statement and I believe that he made a statement too that they would look into the communities that are non-decentralized to make sure that they have programs.
I would like him to continue inputting programs into the non – decentralized communities.
Perhaps I should be asking this question to the Sustainable Development but I believe that the government can deal with bags that are use to package caribou meat.
When they package them in the plastic bags, they then put them in bigger bags.
I was wondering if they could get more durable packages so that they could handled more caribou because these packages have grades and they can’t even fill them to capacity because it gets too heavy and the bag is not durable.
I was wondering if the Premier could look into that to see if they could find better packaging.
This is the very first time that I have heard about this issue so I will ask the appropriate Minister to look into this and see how it can be rectified.
I know that it’s a bit too late in the season right now, but for the next season, and I'm sure they’ll have to order the supplies through sea lift.
Could he respond to me before the deadline to order is up.
Yes, I will look into that and ask the appropriate department to look into that and I will get back to the member with my response.
Speaker: Oral Questions. Mr. Havioyak.
Question 465 – 1(6): Shelter Assistance Based on Gross Income
Many of our MLAs look like young men again.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of the Housing Corporation.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the government offers a Shelter Assistance Program.
This program provides assistance for employees for those monthly shelter costs are more than 30 percent of their gross monthly income.
These costs include rent and utilities.
I just want to mention this part to the new housing rent scale which came into effect this January of this year provides that rent that assess the net household income, not gross.
My question to the Minister responsible is why is the Shelter Assistance assessed based on the applicants gross monthly income and not the net income, to be consistent with what they’re doing in public housing rent scale.
Speaker: Minister responsible for Housing. Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, actually in respect to the Shelter Allowance Program, that is run by the Department of Finance right now.
But there is progress being made to transfer that over to the Housing Corporation.