EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I appreciate that the minister and her officials are making efforts to train and hire more Inuit social workers, but more needs to be done.
I recognize that in the previous Assembly, the Child and Family Services Act was amended to better accommodate Inuit societal values.
Can the minister clearly explain how the newly amended legislation supports the use of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for Aivilik for that question.
I think I heard two questions in regard to social workers and also the potential social workers on the amended legislation. Did I understand the question?
Member for Aivilik, Mr. Mapsalak, please rephrase your question
My question is in regard to the legislation that has been amended.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values were going to be incorporated into the legislation. I would like to know what work has been done on the legislation.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for Aivilik for that question in regard to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values being incorporated into the newly amended legislation.
I can tell the member that social workers who are being hired… .
We’re now working on a training program for social workers, as well as traditional knowledge and Inuit societal values. They have incorporated Inuit societal values and now we’re starting to work on the training manual.
Mr. Speaker, until we are able to hire Inuit social workers for all of our communities, we will always have social workers who come from other cultures and backgrounds.
Can the minister describe what efforts are made to provide orientation and training to social workers to ensure that they act in accordance with Inuit societal values as required by the legislation?
The member is seeking clarification on the training program. I can tell the Member for Aivilik that we are now starting to hire beneficiaries as social workers at the higher-level positions.
We’re starting to see Inuit being hired at the managerial level and I am very pleased to see that.
We follow the recommendations of the communities and we expect to see more Inuit social workers in the future.
Arctic College has a training program and by working with Nunavut Arctic College, we’re working on strengthening the training program and including the incorporation of Inuit societal values.
Many of our social workers burn out under the pressures of the job.
Can the minister describe what supports are made available to Nunavut social workers to help them face the heavy challenges of working in Nunavut’s communities?
I thank the Member for Aivilik for that question and being sensitive to social workers. They do get tired and they need respite.
I know that the social workers have very good directors.
After the session, I’ll be able to provide a more detailed response to the member.
I would like to thank the member for being concerned about social workers in Nunavut.
When I was in Cambridge Bay, four people completed their social worker training for the first year and three people from the Kivalliq who are taking that training. I congratulated the students and shook my hands with them.
It was very good to see Inuit graduating with the social worker programs so that they can work within their homes without having to leave their communities.
Some potential individuals could take the training program and they don’t have to leave communities to take on the training, so I am very pleased about that.
Question 068 – 4(2): Support for Search and Rescue (Akoak)
In my Member’s Statement of yesterday, I paid tribute to Gjoa Haven’s search and rescue volunteers.
The Department of CGS’ 2011-12 annual report on emergency management indicates that “local search and rescue volunteers are supported with funding to cover gas, food and other expendables during a search.
There is an annual budget to cover these expenses. There is a current limit of $5,000 per community search.” Can the minister indicate if these funding levels are being reviewed?
As I indicated previously, we are currently looking at what other options we have in regard to search and rescue. Certainly, we will take everything into consideration.
It is at most times that our local search and rescue committees raise their own money to buy gas.
The department’s Community Search and Rescue Organization Support Policy expired on May 31, 2010. This policy addresses such matters as funding for training and equipment. Can the minister indicate when an updated policy will be completed?
As the member indicated, we are looking at other options as well and we will update the House once we have completed our work on this.
Can the minister indicate when his department’s next annual report on emergency management in Nunavut will be ready to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly?
As soon as I have that information, I will provide the information to the House. Thank you.
Question 069 – 4(2): Review of Harvester Support Programs (Mikkungwak)
My questions are for the Minister of Environment today.
A number of questions have been asked this week about the government’s plan to undertake a comprehensive program review. My questions today will focus on the issue of programs in support of our hunters and harvesters.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that many of our constituents are not going to be employed by government or the mining sector, and I believe that our full-time hunters should not be living in poverty.
Earlier this month, the Nunavut Food Security Coalition released the Nunavut Food Security Strategy and Action Plan. One of the objectives of the plan is to “establish a Harvesters Support Working Group” in order to “support harvesters so they can pursue traditional livelihoods.”
Can the minister describe how the Department of Environment is participating in the Harvesters Support Working Group?
In the government’s Sivumut Abluqta mission, our plan is to establish a good Harvesters Support Program.
One of the issues raised in a recent meeting is about support to the Nunavut Food Security Coalition. We are working with NTI on the Nunavut Food Security Strategy and Action Plan to make sure that we are working to establish a good Harvesters Support Program.
In 2006, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated undertook a comprehensive review of the harvester support programs offered by both organizations.
The final report from this process noted that “linkages with the GN’s income support program need to be developed so that the two programs are complementary.”
Can the minister indicate if the government’s upcoming review of its hunter support programs will take this issue into consideration?
The Harvesters Support Program was agreed to in 2006. Some terms were agreed to and some were not.
At the present time, NTI’s Harvesters Support Program just recently was discontinued. I know that this fall, after we have discussed it some more, NTI will be bringing about and planning with us for the Harvesters Support Program.
At the present time, they are looking into it to make sure that it includes everyone. Once NTI has completed their study, we will be able to make some adjustments for this program.
I also thank the minister for his response. (interpretation ends) The Department of Environment has a memorandum of understanding in place with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission concerning coverage programs for harvesters.
Can the minister indicate if this MOU will be reviewed as part of his department’s work to update its programs in support of hunters and harvesters?
Hon. Johnny Mike: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can say that provides the support to the harvesters injured on the job. It’s already updated and renewed.
Question 070 – 4(2): Annual Reports under ILPA (Joanasie)
I would like to ask a question to the Minister of Culture and Heritage.
The Speaker’s list of tabling of documents or standing tabling requirements of the Speaker up to March 13, 2014 states that the Department of Culture and Heritage has two items of annual reports with respect to the Inuit Language Protection Act according to section 27 with respect to the annual report.
The 2010-11 annual report has not been tabled to date.
I would like to ask the minister: can the minister tell us when those reports will be tabled?
Mr. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, I will check into our department’s annual reports. I cannot respond to the member as of yet, but I will let the member know after I have checked on the annual reports.
Can the minister update us as to why those annual reports have been delayed?
Like I said, I was not a minister in the previous government and I will look into the annual reports and I will get back to the member.
With respect to the annual reports, we would like to read them as members.
I would like to ask one last question. How else can we make sure that these annual reports are tabled?
I will look into that and I will find out when those annual reports will be tabled in the House.
Question 071 – 4(2): The Need for a Children’s Group Home in Nunavut (Sammurtok)
Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier about my concern over the government’s decision to no longer operate children’s group homes in Nunavut.
Can the minister clearly explain why this decision was made?
I thank the Member for Rankin Inlet (interpretation ends) South (interpretation) for asking why there has been a decision to no longer operate children’s group homes in Nunavut.
On December 11, 2012, the children’s group home in Rankin Inlet was closed down and the group home is now being used by the Department of Health for their mental health or psychiatric office.
Children who need to be housed in a group home are now located down south.
If possible, we will have set aside a place in Nunavut where they can be looked after in private homes.
We’re trying to help the children out and it’s not very good when they’re sent down south, but they have to be looked after properly and that’s what we’re trying to do.
In every society, some individuals require more care than others.
Our children are one of the most vulnerable and sensitive groups in our population.
Can the minister explain why the decision was made to send Nunavut children away from home just because they need specialized care?
I thank the Member for (interpretation ends) Rankin Inlet South (interpretation) for his question.
Yes, I agree with the member that the children have to be looked after properly because they require better care.
We have to make sure that they receive that care, not just to be given to individual homes to be looked after.
If we can do it another way, we want to make sure that they’re looked after properly. If we can’t look after them properly, some children who require specialized care have to be looked after.
I would like to make sure that the member understands that these children need really good care.
The very fact that we have children who need specialized care that cannot be provided in a private home shows that we need a children’s group home in Nunavut.
Will the minister reconsider her decision to no longer operate a children’s group home in Nunavut, yes or no?
I thank the Member from Rankin Inlet, Alex Sammurtok, for asking that question.
He wants to know whether the children’s group home will no longer be operated in Nunavut. There’s already a group home open in Chesterfield Inlet.
At the present time, we are trying to provide better care for children in Nunavut who have to be in group homes and we want to make sure that we have best practices for those children.
We closed down that group home in 2012 and that building is now being utilized by the Department of Health.
If we are going to look after the children, I would like to make sure that I make the member understand the best way that we can care for the children.
Question 072 – 4(2): Arviat Water Treatment and Distribution (Savikataaq)
As I informed the minister during yesterday’s sitting, my questions today will focus on the water treatment and distribution needs of Arviat residents.
Mr. Speaker, Arviat currently has six water trucks that share access to the water reservoir’s only pump outlet, and the wait time for each truck can be up to 35 minutes, depending on the time of the year and the water conditions in the reservoir.
Mr. Speaker, this restricts the flow of regular water deliveries from the reservoir to the residents’ homes, a reservoir that is already insufficient for the demand of the community’s fast-growing population.
If a second pump outlet is installed at the existing reservoir, more frequent water deliveries can be made to Arviat’s residents, which in turn would reduce the number of residents who run out of water on a regular basis.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit to working with the community to install a second pump at Arviat’s water reservoir?
Yes, my department has already undertaken to assign an additional storage facility for the water reservoir.
I don’t know if my question was not clear. I’m asking the minister if he will work with the community to install a second water pump outlet to the existing reservoir. I am not demanding another reservoir this summer.
Yes, I would be very happy to look into installing another water distribution unit to the existing water reservoir.
Arviat’s integrated community infrastructure sustainability plan indicates that the useful lifespan of one of its water reservoir cells will expire in 2016. “Cell #1,” the larger of the two cells in the community’s reservoir, was installed almost 20 years ago.
I think the minister sort of answered this, but can the minister indicate when his department intends to replace “Cell #1” of Arviat’s water reservoir?
I think I alluded to that already in one of my answers.
However, at this point, in 2013, the water consumption in Arviat was a little over 82,000 cubic metres of water, and the existing reservoir has a capacity of 143,000 cubic metres.
However, we are developing to install another reservoir in Arviat at some point based on the population projections for the next three years.
Question 073 – 4(2): Legal Services Board of Nunavut (Hickes)
I have a question today for the Minister of Justice on a report that he has tabled in this House.
Mr. Speaker, one of the advantages of being an elected member of this legislature is that we get to practice our lifelong learning.
I was hoping for a little bit of an education from the Minister of Justice.
Yesterday, he tabled an annual report for the Legal Services Board.
I noted with some interest within the mandate, due to the amount of growth and demand on the justice system, the Legal Services Board has responded by increasing its legal resources and developing better internal procedures to ensure that Nunavummiut are well represented in circuit courts across the territory.
I realize that it’s not a government department, but I’m sure there is a lot of communication between his office and the Legal Services Board. What type of internal procedures were made to improve the services for Nunavummiut?
The Legal Services Board, from what I know, has added more staff because of the increasing number of judicial cases that they need to work on, especially within the expanded court circuits.
Mr. Speaker, also within the annual report, it mentions that the Legal Services Board processed 312 applications for criminal representation, of which 252 were approved by March 31, 2012.
Due to the hiring of other lawyers through the Legal Services Board, what other options do Nunavummiut have to access legal representation outside of legal aid?
Does this infringe upon access to legal representation?
They are their own entity and they have to review the applicant for legal aid properly to make sure that they don’t make too much money and that they qualify to be under legal aid, for instance. They have to follow these policies.
I can’t answer why some of these people could not get represented because each one is looked at on an individual basis.
I think the minister might have misinterpreted a portion of my question.
Access to legal representation in Nunavut, when you don’t qualify under the Legal Aid Program, could be an arduous affair, from what I have understood.
Also in the annual report, the Legal Services Board handled 68 civil poverty applications up to March 31, 2012 and an additional 276 requests for referrals and assistance outside the court process.
The minister may recall some recent media coverage on foreclosures that Nunavummiut are going through.
One of the concerns is access to legal representation to these very vulnerable members of our territory.
They are just not financially able to obtain proper legal counsel so that they can deal with their application through the courts to maintain their house possession. I’m just wondering if it’s on the radar of the Legal Services Board to include this type of representation through the Legal Services Board.
I like the idea that my colleague just mentioned. We are always looking for ways to improve things.
The review will be completed in the near future and I will be meeting with the Legal Services Board again to see where we can find more resources. I will mention that to the board at the next meeting.
Question 074 – 4(2): Nunavut Tourism (Angnakak)
My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and [Transportation].
As I noted in my questions to the Minister of Finance yesterday concerning the government’s upcoming review of its grants and contributions spending, Nunavut Tourism receives approximately $1.8 million per year in core funding from the Department of ED&T.
I am sure that the minister will agree that the Members of the Legislative Assembly who approve this funding and the taxpayers who supply this funding need to have confidence that Nunavut Tourism is using its resources prudently.
However, the last time that the annual report for Nunavut Tourism was tabled in the Legislative Assembly was on October 23, 2003, over a decade ago.
Will the Minister of ED&T commit to resuming the practice of tabling Nunavut Tourism’s annual reports and business plans in the Legislative Assembly?
I say “good afternoon” to fellow residents of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we heard from the finance statement that we have to be very careful in our spending. We have to make sure that we spend the money properly.
Mr. Speaker, at the Kugluktuk meeting, this was defined and our department is following that with all of our programming to make sure that everything runs smoothly and make sure that we use the finances properly.
We can make proper plans for the future to make sure that we stick with guidelines that we receive to make good use of our finances.
It is my understanding that the Department of ED&T negotiates a formal contribution agreement with Nunavut Tourism on an annual basis.
This agreement specifies the results that Nunavut Tourism is expected to achieve with the funding that we provided.
Can the minister indicate what specific goals Nunavut Tourism is expected to achieve this coming year?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Nunavut Tourism has their own board and they run Nunavut Tourism and we provide funding for them. The organization is running well.
In regard to your question, I don’t have the answer in front of me, but I can provide you with an answer at a later date, not today, though.
Mr. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, I do want it. Thank you, Mr. Minister.
My next question is that Iqaluit is the capital city of our territory and the primary gateway for visitors who are travelling from the south.
It is important that we support our local businesses and operators in the tourism sector.
Will the minister commit to having his department work with Nunavut Tourism to directly consult with Iqaluit stakeholders over the coming year to address the needs of this community?
All communities are part of this tourism. There are other communities where tourists visit and they participate through their work. As a government, we support every single one of those other tourist organizations and that is what we have to do.
As a department, we will be well prepared in terms of addressing the issues and concerns about tourism. The smaller tourism organizations are also very important to the territory. They provide good services not just with our government.
Question 075 – 4(2): General Managers of LHOs (Enook)
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for the housing corporation.
My question is based on what is written in the May 27, 2014 Hansard.
Mr. Speaker, I do know that it is unedited, but in reading them, when I asked a question, I was provided with a response.
If I read it correctly, it doesn’t look like my question at that time was really answered properly.
Let me first of all ask a question.
In relation to the board members for housing associations and housing boards in the communities in relation to the general managers, they sign agreements that are properly and duly noted.
The chief executive officers deal with issues concerning agreements. It is stated that every single thing must be proper, the i’s must be dotted, and every single little thing must be met first. My question is related to removal of general managers.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. member for that question.
I have stated repeatedly and I have provided an answer that there are different things that could be utilized by the housing association, not a single regional one. The Nunavut Housing Corporation also deals with rental housing units and public housing units.
In relation to his question of what we would do in a given situation, there are many issues that needed to be looked at in relation to the removal of a general manager.
If I understand the hon. member’s question properly, whether the local housing associations have the power to move and fire, there are procedures already in place for dealing with issues such as these.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. (interpretation) Sorry.
Let me try and clarify my question as briefly as I can.
In the very words of the hon. minister relating to the local housing boards, the way I understand him, if we are on the same page and in relation to the general manager, if everything is lovey-dovey and hunky-dory and there are absolutely no problems anywhere in relation to any of the responsibilities and their living, can the Nunavut Housing Corporation, for their own reasons, remove the general manager of the local housing boards?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kuksuk.
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, let me try to provide a short, concise answer.
I keep stating that there are agreements in place, even within the Nunavut Housing Corporation. There are always understandings that are reached in working for various boards.
In relation to the hiring and firing of general managers, they have policies and procedures in place and there are usually many considerations that would need to be looked at.
That’s the kind of answer I can provide to him.
Let me, then, frame it this way.
Has there been a situation in a community where a local housing board wanted to keep their general manager, but the Nunavut Housing Corporation overruled them and removed a local general manager of the local housing board? Have there been any situations like that?
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell the hon. member the same as before. There are policies and procedures.
If a local housing manager needed to be removed, there are proper procedures and policies that would need to be utilized. All of the various kinds of boards have proper structures like this.
That is what I can tell the hon. member, Mr. Speaker.
Question 076 – 4(2): The Makimaniq Action Plan (Hickes)
I have a question for the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, in Minister Peterson’s Budget Address for 2014-15, he mentioned that the government will complete and implement the Makimaniq Five-Year Poverty Reduction Action Plan.