EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the answer. I know the residents of Grise Fiord will be upset because, on my most recent visit, they were actually expecting something this year.
My next question is that the QEC has talked about the idea of using a public-private partnership approach to financing major projects, such as hydroelectric development near Iqaluit.
Is this approach also being considered with respect to constructing new power plants in communities outside of Iqaluit?
Currently, with the hydroelectric development near Iqaluit, we are looking at funding from all sources, but we have only been approved for the planning stage, not for the construction of this hydroelectric development.
We are going to keep looking for sources of funding.
If there is money available and if they are approved, we can start with the development of the hydroelectric project after the planning stage is completed.
In his responses to my questions last week concerning the status of the GN’s debt position, the Minister of Finance appeared to pour cold water on the idea of QEC taking on significant new debt.
Can the Minister responsible for the QEC indicate how the corporation is working with the GN through its Public Agencies Council to address this issue?
I’m not sure if I understood his question properly. Can you ask him to ask it again?
Mr. Elliott, can you clarify your question, please.
Yes, I would be pleased to.
In simplest terms, I asked the Minister of Finance last week, “Do we have the money to pay for this huge project?”
And he said, “The coffers are empty, we’re broke, and we don’t have the money.
We’re balancing our budget and trying to make it work, but we don’t have the cash.”
I’m saying to the Minister responsible for QEC that if we don’t have the money, why are we spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to work towards planning something that we can’t build?
There must be something in the minds of QEC somewhere out there thinking of where they’re going to get the money, whether it’s a P3 project, whether it’s talking to Quebec Hydro or Newfoundland Hydro to finance it, or one of the Inuit organizations or the birthright corporations.
I don’t know, but there must be some way of coming up with $500 million to build it.
It’s not going to magically appear. Obviously, if we don’t have the finances within our territorial budget, the other option would be, and I don’t know, maybe I’m answering the question…
…would be the federal government stepping up and saying that this is a great way to save carbon monoxide gasses going in.
It’s the biggest community that creates the most electricity.
It would be a great cost savings. It would be great on the impact for the environment for the federal government to come up with the funding to do it.
We don’t know on our side as regular members. The minister must be working with QEC and the GN to move forward on this. Otherwise, we’re just spending money for nothing.
Hon. Minister Monica Ell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, we are looking for alternative ways of funding.
Question 529 – 3(3): Status of Sewage Lagoon Improvement Project for Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
I’ll try and let the minister answer my questions if I can.
Mr. Speaker, one of the projects that have been on the government’s capital plan for Sanikiluaq for several years is improvements to the community’s sewage lagoon.
This project is intended to improve wastewater treatment in the community. Funding for this project is in the amount of $4.3 million and has flowed through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
For the benefit of my constituents who are following the proceedings today, can the minister provide an update on the status of this project?
Without asking for solutions from Mr. Elliott, I thank my colleague for the question.
Mr. Speaker, the work is proceeding.
Unfortunately, last summer when they were doing the geotechnical study on the environment before the lagoon work goes forward, while that was happening, the piece of machinery that they were using to do the testing broke.
So that stopped all the work on the site. Hopefully when the weather permits, they will begin the work again and that’s where that’s at right now.
They’re still doing the geotechnical study on the land before they proceed with the work, Mr. Speaker.
The community was looking forward to this project moving forward and I see more delays.
I have been in close communication with the municipality concerning this project. Can the minister confirm that his officials are working closely with the municipality?
We appreciate the patience given to us by the municipality. Our department and our staff want to see this project come to a conclusion also, but unfortunately, equipment does break down and in the environment we work in, when equipment breaks down, you can’t just go down the street to Canadian Tire or what have you and repair the equipment.
In this case, that’s the delay. We are working as close as we can with the municipality and those involved in ensuring that this project will go on in as timeliest manner as possible, barring all equipment breakdowns.
I thank the minister for his response. Can the minister confirm that the government’s current timeline for this project will see construction beginning next year?
Pretty much in a nutshell, the timeline we have right now is to be able to put out the tender documents by December and then the actual earthwork to begin immediately following the barge season next year.
Question 530 – 3(3): Status of New Power Plant for Cape Dorset (Schell)
The QEC’s 2011-12 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on October 26, 2012.
The annual report indicates that the QEC’s application for the replacement of Cape Dorset’s power plant was approved in June of 2011.
However, it also indicates that “limited progress [has] been achieved as QEC is unable to secure an appropriate site to construct a new facility.”
Can the minister update the Legislative Assembly today on the QEC’s efforts to resolve this issue?
I also have to thank my fellow MLAs for raising questions on these issues. There was a question directed to me, as I am now responsible for QEC, and I thank the member for that question.
The reason for that is due to the topography of Cape Dorset, particularly the land where they want to build a new power plant. They had to collaborate with the local hamlet to finalize this placement, and I am happy to announce that QEC has the support of the hamlet in the community to construct a new power plant. The land that was initially chosen for the placement of the power plant abuts the existing power plant and that is where they will build the new power plant.
The QEC’s annual report also indicates that it had “included within the plant designs the potential for a wind-diesel-hydrogen hybrid power system in an effort to move towards more sustainable electrical generation within Nunavut.
To that end, QEC will erect wind monitoring equipment during the summer of 2012 to gather information for the assessment of the wind resource within the community.”
Can the minister confirm whether or not that work has been completed?
QEC has submitted an application to NRCan for funding for a wind-hydrogen-diesel demonstration project and we are still awaiting decision.
The QEC’s annual report also indicates that Cape Dorset’s “new plant design also includes residual heating systems to utilize generated heat from the generators.”
Can the minister confirm if this is still part of the new power plant’s design?
I don’t have the information at the moment. As soon as I get the information, I will get back to the member.
Can the minister indicate what the QEC’s new timelines are for the construction of a new power plant in Cape Dorset?
The Cape Dorset division continues to plan for new acquisitions. As per my earlier announcement, the three communities are Cape Dorset, Qikiqtarjuaq, and Taloyoak. The land availability was the reason for the delay in the project and once the issues have been resolved relating to lots and once the landscaping has been done, the project would commence, as the funding is already allocated for the projects.
Item 12. Responses to Petitions.
Tabled Document 326 – 3(3): Speaker’s List of Outstanding Statutory Tabling Requirements (Speaker)
Members, I wish to table today a list of outstanding statutory tabling requirements. This list is current as of the end of the March 4, 2013 sitting of the House.
I ask members to remain in their seats. We will go directly into Committee of the Whole.
Chairman (Mr. Ningeongan): Members, it has been noted that the potential witnesses for the minister are not present in the Chamber, so we’re going to have a very short break.
Once they’re in the Chamber, we will put the chime on to call you back into the Chamber. (interpretation) Thank you.
>>Committee recessed at 14:18 and resumed at 14:30
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you for coming back. (interpretation ends) I would like to call the committee meeting to order.
We wish to continue with the review of the main estimates for the Department of Health and, if time permits, the Department of Education, followed by the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Are we in agreement that we first continue with the main estimates for the Department of Health?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Are we in agreement to have Minister Peterson and his officials to go to the witness table?
Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. (interpretation ends) For the record, Minister Peterson, please introduce your officials.
To my right is Deputy Minister Peter Ma and to my left is Bill Neish, Acting Director of Corporate Services, both for the Department of Health.
Members, I would like to ask you to turn to page H-4.
As you will recall, yesterday, we had Mr. Elliott on the floor.
For the record, I would like to ask Mr. Elliott to repeat the question that he asked yesterday so that the new witness will have a better chance in addressing his question.
The question that I was asking was in regard to patient travel and individuals. I know there were questions brought up by you.
The chairperson actually brought up concerns in Oral Questions regarding patients and accommodations in the Kivalliq.
I’ve had some concerns brought to my attention in regard to some issues within the High Arctic about Nunavut residents who are not under the non-insured health benefits, who are not Inuk, and who are not GN employees. When they travel and come to Iqaluit or to Ottawa for treatment, what type of care do they receive or what type of accommodations do they receive?
I think it was at the point that Mr. Peterson wanted one of his other officials to change and that’s where we left off.
I thank Mr. Elliott for recapping his question yesterday.
Mr. Chairman, I have a new witness, Mr. Bill Neish, who can provide a detailed explanation on extended health benefits.
Mr. Neish.
Mr. Neish: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, the department does provide some benefit coverage for people who have run out of any other insurance options. That program is called the Extended Health Benefits Program.
Basically, it covers the co-pay for the airlines, it covers the ground transportation, and it assists with the accommodations and meals.
The rates aren’t the same as some of the other insurance programs, like what might be available through the GN or through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, but we do provide coverage.
The information is available on how to apply for that program at all the health centres and it’s also on the HSS website.
It is an application process, but that information is fairly easy to fill in.
Hopefully that answers the question that the coverage is available.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Neish.
I believe the answer that we were given in the House for individuals in the Kivalliq was that it was under the non-insured health benefits. I think it was $100 for home stay, which included accommodations for an individual staying at a personal residence who provided meals.
Is it the same dollar value for people who are under the extended health care benefits?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Mr. Neish.
No, the coverage under the extended health benefits is not the same at dollar values for accommodations as the Extended Health Benefits Program.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What is the dollar amount for an individual as referenced earlier under the extended health care benefits?
The dollar values for accommodations for the first night’s stay would be at the standard hotel rate. We cover the full hotel for the first night. Meals are at $20 per day and the second or subsequent nights would be $50 per night.
There is a little bit of a difference in private accommodations. In non-commercial accommodations, it is $50 per night. In commercial accommodations, it drops down to $20 a night.
Our practice varies on that a little bit.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Neish. Mr. Elliott.
Additional funding provided through the Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative will expire on March 31, 2014.
What discussions have you had with your federal counterparts to ensure that Nunavut’s needs for additional funding of this kind will continue?
Mr. Chairman, my territorial counterparts and I had a preliminary discussion with Minister Aglukkaq at our FPT health ministers’ meeting in Halifax in late September.
What were the outcomes of the meeting? It is fine to say that there was a meeting, but we have meetings all the time. What was the outcome?
Yes, we do have lots of meetings, and meetings drive productive decisions.
It was not a very long meeting with Minister Aglukkaq, but we told her that we are very interested in having a good dialogue with the Government of Canada on THSSI and that we agreed that we would meet again at some point early in 2013, two territorial health ministers and the Minister of Health for Canada.
Were issues such as breakfast programs in communities and the Nutrition North Canada Program as well as funding under nutritional eating and educational planning all part of what the discussions were?
The discussions with the three territorial health ministers and the federal minister were not in the details of the existing program.
We generally discussed the importance of THSSI to all three territorial governments and to our constituents.
With respect to Nunavut, of course, we rely heavily on the $10 million through that program for medical travel, and of course, there is close to $5 million for programs in the Department of Health that we offer to Nunavummiut. It is very important to us.
They’re just general discussions. We want to talk about having a more in-depth meeting later this spring. That was general discussions.
In the meetings in the spring of this year, 2013, that is when you will be rolling up your sleeves and asking for dollar amounts. 2014 is fast approaching, and I would just be curious to find out what the Government of Nunavut is actually asking for.
I realize it’s sort of a pan-territorial approach, but I’m sure there are certain figures and dollar amounts that we would be asking for as a territory under our unique circumstances with travel, distances, and the costs.
As Mr. Elliott knows, I always have my sleeves rolled up in the Department of Health. Not today, but metaphorically, they’re rolled up.
Mr. Chairman, we have officials in all three territorial governments who teleconference and meet regularly to discuss the program, how it’s benefiting the three territories, and what the needs and priorities are.
They meet with their federal counterparts as well. There have been ongoing discussions and dialogue. At the very minimum, we have been seeking the level of funding that we currently receive.
As a territorial government, we would probably like to see a longer period of time.
Initially, when the Government of Canada rolled out the THSSI program, it was a five-year agreement, and then it was extended two years, and then extended a further two years. Of course, we would like to see a longer period of time because that allows us to do some longer term planning. It provides for continuity, that our officials and communities across Nunavut and all the territories have some certainty that the funding won’t be eliminated after two years.
So it’s just that we would like a longer period, but those are discussions that we had with the federal minister.
I would like to ask a few questions around the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan.
The document was scheduled for September 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014.
In terms of one of the ongoing initiatives within the Government of Nunavut and Health and Social Services as the lead with all other government departments, there was the idea of identifying and mobilizing initiatives across the GN. One of the actions or tasks was to “Create and chair a GN ADM Steering Committee to guide and monitor the implementation of the Action Plan as it pertains to the GN.” I would like to find out if that committee still meets on a regular basis to follow through on the anticipated results.
Yes, the committee meets regularly. We recognize and committed that the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy is very important to all Nunavummiut, so we made that commitment. All the commitments are being worked on and achieved or being rolled out.
Is there a specific name given to this committee or is it just a loose committee of the ADMs?
I know that there is turnout once in a while. The Quality of Life Committee comes up once in a while. It’s hard sometimes distinguishing between which committee is meeting within all of the ADMs.
So if there’s a specific name that we could be given.
My deputy advises that the name is pretty straightforward, ADM steering committee.
Under the same objective, one of the tasks was to “Ensure two full time indeterminate positions continue to be staffed at the Mental Health & Wellness division…” Is that still the case? There are two positions being held, one of them including a suicide prevention specialist?
Yes, there are two positions and they’re staffed.
One is in Cambridge Bay and one is in Iqaluit.
Another objective was to “Improve communications with HSS front line workers to address the needs of children demonstrating indicators of behaviours that put them at risk.”
This was supposed to be a partnered endeavour between the Government of Nunavut Health and Social Services and the GN Department of Education. The specific task was to “Agree on a referral process that maintains confidentiality and addresses the needs of children demonstrating indicators of behaviours that put them at risk.”
That timeline has expired and my question would be: has the process been established for a referral process?
Mr. Chairman, there’s another committee under this strategy and the name of that committee is the Making it Happen Committee.
They are working on the referral process.
Another objective was to “Strengthen mental health professional capacity in Nunavut.” The lead on this was the GN Health and Social Services with all mental health delivery agencies in Nunavut. I believe, in some of the updates that we have received from the minister, there has been the gap analysis done in terms of mental health services across the territory.
There was also the development of a “multi-year business case to address mental health and wellness resourcing gaps or shortages.” That was happening during 2012-13. Could the minister confirm that this has been completed?
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. Mr. Chairman, as Mr. Elliott knows, this work is all ongoing.
It’s not work that starts and then stops. It’s all work that’s ongoing in the Department of Health. I can ask the Deputy Minister of Health to take this line of questioning as he is involved in the daily management of the Department of Health and Social Services.
To answer the member’s question, the question that he just asked, there’s ongoing work. We expect it to be completed soon. The goal was 2012-13.
It may stretch a bit into the next fiscal year.
He also mentioned in his question something with respect to training. I can assure the member that we have rolled out some training, I believe, in January for some of our staff, not all the staff, but some of the staff.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ma. Mr. Elliott.
Under the same objective, there was work that was going to be completed with Nunavut Arctic College to “develop an enhanced mental health workers diploma program.”
Has this objective been completed?
My memory could be wrong, but I don’t think we have actually completed that work. I will note, however, that the department had previously been in partnership with Nunavut Arctic College to put together the mental health worker program, of which we got funding for in last year’s budget for 12 positions in the communities.
During another section of this departmental review, I was going to actually ask questions about the staffing of those specific positions because my understanding of the success rate of the program in terms of individuals taking the courses and actually getting jobs has not been very high.
I’ll save those questions for later.
One of the other objectives was to “Provide culturally and age appropriate grief counselling.” Under the partners, the Department of Health and Social Services was the lead, in partnership with NTI, the Embrace Life Council, and Inuit and community organizations. The specific task was to “Develop a plan to provide culturally and age appropriate grief counselling in the communities.”
The anticipated result was “Culturally appropriate grief counselling resources for communities, recognizing the community grieving process and background.” I’m curious to find out if this task has been completed.
I would have to follow that one up for the member.
I don’t recall off the top of my head. However, I am going to put a plug in for the Embrace Life Council. One of our other objectives was to increase the funding for them, which we did in the current fiscal year on a one-year pilot basis, and I think the results have been very good.
I will say that the Embrace Life Council has actually brought forward a number of good initiatives, some through other agencies, such as the Red Cross, and I won’t get into details.
I think it was well worth the additional funding and I think they have done a wonderful job. I have to give some kudos where it’s due.
Another objective that was the lead of the GN Health and Social Services was to “Improve the ability to respond quickly and effectively to suicidal behaviour by children.” The action plan was to “Identify specialized expertise to serve as a resource to HSS staff in the event of suicidal behaviour by a child, to provide additional specialized support for front-line personnel.”
I’m curious to find out if that objective has been met.
Again I would have to follow it up for the member.
In terms of another responsibility of the GN Health and Social Services combined with the Government of Nunavut Department of Education, there was to be “Ongoing collaboration to address suicide prevention within school curriculum.”
The task was to create an ad-hoc working group to coordinate the implementation of the plan to all organizations and through new curriculum development, especially in grades 7 to 12.
I’m wondering if the minister could give an update on what’s happening with that curriculum development.
We have been working with them, but we don’t have all the details with us.
Mr. Chairman, we can go down this long list that Mr. Elliott has, but maybe to save time, I can offer to provide a written update, table it here, and give it to Mr. Elliott that will show the work that all the partners in this Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy have done and what we’re doing with the RCMP, Embrace Life, and NTI. That would provide more clarity of the common purpose of this entire strategy.
That would be perfect in terms of answering a lot of the questions that would be coming up.
At the same time, I’ll let the other ministers that I have mentioned today in my questioning know that I will be asking similar questions to them.
Those were the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College in terms of the mental health program, as well as the Department of Education with some of the curriculum development that was supposed to be happening.