EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
In those cases, there are other issues that deal with the issue of homelessness, they may be social, they may be physical, they may be mental, and those types of issues need to be addressed.
The member is correct: under the Homeless Secretariat, we are trying to look at a Nunavut-wide strategy to see how we deal with it and where the crisis is the greatest.
So, for example, in the member’s community if there seems to be a larger incident of homeless people, and that’s absolute homeless people, then we would try to respond, and we are trying to do that, for example, for the women in this community because there are some who need that type of transition home.
Mr. Curley: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
In recognizing, as a minister, indicators that there are different categories of homelessness, particularly more relevant for short-term work for the young people, will the minister indicate whether or not there is a role outside of Iqaluit for charity groups who may be interested in providing short-term shelter for some of the homeless individuals?
If that is the case, could the minister explain to homeless people that there may be hope for them after all?
I indicated earlier that under the Homeless Secretariat, we actually have been sponsoring other programs. I gave an example of the good work that is going on right now in Cape Dorset to look at some of the issues, as well as some solutions to homelessness in that community.
At the same time, under the Income Support Program, I am looking at creative ways to be able to deal with this issue.
So for example, in the member’s community, if the women’s family abuse centre, for example, were available and could dedicate some beds to some homeless women, then, under the Income Support Program, we could actually reciprocate the shelter for doing that. We are looking at some options here, for doing that.
So Mr. Speaker, we would entertain proposals after this budget cycle is complete after the education budget goes forward after April first.
I will be doing a public advertisement in the newspapers and the media and so on asking for a call from interested community groups to put in proposals on the issue of homelessness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the minister for giving hope to the homeless throughout Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, there have been cases where charity groups in places like Rankin Inlet have been offered certain buildings that they could access, but the problem is, like the minister knows, that they did not have title or access to land.
Would these types of problems be addressed?
Charity groups in my community were willing, but they were not able to get any further help. They would provide actually two types of different buildings, but the cost of getting them into standing was a difficulty.
So would the minister indicate whether there will be a provision that allows charity groups an opportunity to apply for certain funding from the government? Thank you.
From day one with the setting up of Nunavut, the whole idea of the government has been to try to be faster in its response times to Nunavummiut, and also to be more compassionate in the way we deal with the issues we see in Nunavut and not so much from a bureaucratic standpoint.
This is a good example of that: if there are surplus buildings available that may be conducive to a shelter, the hard part is to come up with O&M money, as the member has indicated, to be able to sustain that.
And I will give the member a good example.
Here in this community at one point, a little over $1 million has been available through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative Funds from the federal government because the federal government has put in a National Homeless Strategy and we have been able to access those dollars.
They are not available outside of Iqaluit because Iqaluit is an urban area.
So this is something that we need to follow up on to see if there is an opportunity under all the programs that may be available to meet the need.
Specifically from the member’s point, if there is a group in Rankin Inlet that have access to a building and they need X number of dollars or funds to be able to bring it up to code or something and are using it for a homeless shelter, I would welcome an opportunity to review that proposal.
Question 227 – 2(3): Income Support or Housing Assistance (Alagalak)
Maybe we have the same subject in mind today, which is housing, but I would like to ask questions to the same minister on the same subject to the Minister of Education.
There are many people living in one house in Arviat that we know of who are requesting and are on the waiting list to receive housing. There are so many that we cannot think of how many there are. There is even no room on the list for the need of housing and there are elders who have been applying for houses since they were young and they are old enough to own houses.
They are able to hunt and they have to have a place to work with their hunting equipment as well as their pelts that they have to fix when they get back home.
I would like to ask and attend them to the question that was placed by my colleague, as well as there is no money in the income support group.
If there is a little bit of money there, maybe the minister can tell us how much money a person would have to be making to be able to receive income support program for their housing. How much money would he have to contribute to get housing under that program?
I thank the member for the question. It gives us an opportunity just to deal with a serious issue of housing and I can say I recently heard on the media how the House does not seem to be working together on issues. I think that here is an example where we are trying to find solutions.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, in the community of Arviat everyone recognizes, on natural increases alone is one of the fastest growing communities in Nunavut. I believe the last statistics numbers I have seen is that Arviat is the third largest community now in Nunavut in population and it is only a hundred bodies or less than what is in Rankin. This is phenomenal growth.
The Government of Nunavut, since 1999, has built over 400 social housing units, and yet we know we need 3,000. On the specific issue of homelessness in the community and income support, what the Income Support Program does is that it’s a program of last resort for individuals in Nunavut.
If there is an opportunity under the Income Support Program to help, for example, with housing, then our Income Support Program officers have that ability within the guidelines and regulations of the program.
If someone is eligible for income support, that, again, depends on their wages they are making and sometimes it depends on each individual community and the household income.
It is difficult to state properly exactly as to how much has been used for the Income Support Program and also what is available in the market today in housing.
It is hard to estimate how much will be required if there is a policy on housing as to how much a person would be making in order to be able to be eligible for the Income Support Housing Program. They can also make money on the side, but still be able to be eligible for the Income Support Program.
All residents of Nunavut above the age of 18 are eligible to apply for income support and a person who is in need, who applies for income support by reason of an inability to obtain employment, loss of the principal provider, illness and so on, they are eligible for income support.
On the amounts they are eligible for; again, it depends on each individual. Each individual is different depending on what their individual status or situation is.
With regards to housing, again, that substantiation will be made by the income support worker in the community and we also have appeals of the income support program in place also where you actually can appeal a decision made by the income support person.
So those types of checks and balances are within the system and that can give some good news to the member’s community in Arviat.
Maybe he can also tell us who the official responsible for the Income Support Program in Keewatin is.
Is the income support person locally responsible for making the decisions on housing for income support recipients, or is that regionally decided upon?
I don’t know which of those people he would have to approach.
The different issues being raised over the last hour or so in Question Period on income support and housing, I want to be specific to state to the House and to the listening public that income support doesn’t direct or allocate housing; that’s done by the local housing association and authority based on the number of units that are available.
However, income support has an opportunity to help out, where possible under the regulations, for an income support client that’s actually seeking a house. There are monies available within the Income Support Program on a case-by-case basis to help those Nunavummiut and we gave some examples that we are aware of here in Iqaluit and the issues in Pangnirtung.
So I wanted to make sure that we are clear that the income support worker is there.
For clients in Arviat, who go to the income support worker and says, “Look, there’s a house available for rent and I can put up $400 of it, but the rent is still $1,000 more than I could afford.”
Is there an opportunity with income support; is that something we can look at? Under the program itself, that’s something that we would be able to look at and help facilitate, but it’s the local housing association that actually allocates the units.
That is exactly what it is.
Maybe there are three types of housing in larger communities and also these other kinds of housing, as well as government housing, public housing, rental housing. And homeowners, do they rent their own houses as well?
When they move away from the community, do they all start to look for somebody to rent their houses to?
Homeowners who are renting their own house, can they also rent them out?
If we are in a position Mr. Speaker, for example, we used to have programs like HAP programs and DAT programs. And lets say, for example, I was working and I had a HAP house, I had my own home, and whatever happened to circumstances, I lost my job and my spouse wouldn’t be working, and I still had my own home. Income support, in that case, may be able to step up to the plate and help out with the cost of that home because the person has to continue to live.
However, if a person starts to rent out their house, and they’re for example on income support, then the income they receive from the rental of the house would have to be subtracted from their income support because that is unearned income. It would be clarified as such.
I think the good news here Mr. Speaker, is that the Income Support Program is pretty flexible as we’ve discussed, and there is the right of refusal.
So if someone goes into the income support office and are not happy with the decision, they can actually appeal that decision. That’s something that has not been made well known throughout Nunavut. Our income support workers do an excellent job for Nunavummiut under very trying circumstances, and it can be a very stressful job.
Question 228 – 2(3): Energy Audits – Assisting Homeowners (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Housing.
Mr. Speaker, earlier, I questioned the minister in regard to the possibility of the corporation looking into bringing someone to do these energy audits. And also, Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that this year is the last year of the program; it ends in 2007.
So would the minister commit to looking at the possibility of the corporation finding out and assisting homeowners in being able to access this program for this fiscal year because construction and renovation season is going to be coming up over the summer and people need to get their materials ordered on the sealift. So those audits need to be done prior to those deadlines and again, next fall after completion.
Will the minister commit to doing that so that homeowners could access this program for this building season?
I will do the best I can for this year.
A suggestion for the minister, I know here in Iqaluit they have a Homeowners Association of homeowners. Would the minister, through his officials at the corporation, write a letter to the homeowners associations here to find out if any of the homeowners here would be interested in participating in that program?
This might help expedite things for the corporation for this building season.
I will do so and see what is going to be the best way to go and who I should be meeting with.
I’m sure that the Iqaluit homeowners will want to be involved, but I would like to assure the member that I will look into it and find out who should be contacted. The Nunavut Housing Corporation works extremely hard and is very capable.
We’ll do the best we can and have a meeting with the Homeowners Association if needed.
I wasn’t really looking for a meeting with the Homeowners Association, although they seem eager to be meeting with minister, so I don’t imagine he would have a problem arranging a meeting with them.
My question I guess was; would the corporation write to the Homeowners Association asking them if they have any members of their association that would like to participate in this Natural Resource Canada Program to reduce and make their homes more energy efficient for this coming building season? And would the minister be willing to commit to copying myself and other members, if he wishes, with a copy of that letter?
I would have to. Like I said, we’ll do our very best to make sure Natural Resources Canada agrees to meet with us, anybody from there.
Again, if that happens, I’ll make sure we invite the appropriate people here to be involved with that.
I’m not really asking for the minister to meet with Natural Resource Canada officials. I’m asking him if the corporation could write the homeowners who would like to participate in the Energy Efficiency Program offered by Natural Resource Canada. And then, if the interest is there, would the minister be willing, through the corporation, to bring in a certified individual from Yellowknife to do these energy audits and energy guide evaluations on these units so that they could participate in the program and access federal dollars instead of our own territorial dollars?
Yes, I will do that and it’s important that we try and access any money from the federal government. It’s been very hard for our government to access some money. So we will make sure that we do our very best to get individuals to access any monies from them.
So yes Mr. Speaker, I will look into it and I will do my very best to make sure that we bring in somebody from Yellowknife or anywhere in Canada that is qualified to do that.
Question 229 – 2(3): NTI Elections (Kilabuk)
I’m a strong believer that volunteerism is probably one of the strongest forces we have anywhere in Nunavut, either within the government itself, or the communities themselves, or even within the different groups in these communities.
Volunteerism is something that, I know, promotes a lot of healthy living and one that this government should really promote.
Now, I think it needs to be said Mr. Speaker, because as you know there was a news release put out by NTI called the ‘I am Inuk Initiative.’ Through this, in trying to promote voters’ turnout, bracelets are being handed to people who come out to vote.
Now, I want to try and promote volunteerism further and ask our Premier and see if this government has been in discussion with the Inuit organizations as it is expected under the protocols that they have close working relations.
Have they been in discussion with the Inuit organizations at all on this issue about the ‘I am Inuk Initiative?’
We haven’t been in contact on the ‘I am Inuk Initiative,’ but we have had past discussions on sharing Election Returning Officers.
We do have a Chief Returning Officer and we have discussed with Ajauqtiit about cost-sharing the Office of the Returning Officer, but other than that, in relation to elections, we haven’t had a lot of discussions.
As I opened my line of questioning, I indicated that I truly believe that volunteerism is one of the best things that this government can lean on.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I want to get assurance from the Premier that this government will not go anywhere near promoting, rewarding, or paying voters within the government and/or its subsidiary companies’ elections; so can I have the assurance of our Premier that this government will not go towards rewarding voter turnouts?
In the government, we work with all members in elections and elections are matters that are at the purview of this House. It will be up to the House as to how elections are conducted. That is something that we cannot do ourselves.
The Members of this House determine the rules for elections and we work with our members and make sure that, like we have had very good turn-outs in our last two elections, and I do not think we have to even consider it.
I can assure the member that that is not something that we are even considering at this time.
I guess, in a way, it is reassuring to hear that it will be a matter for this House to consider if there ever comes a time. In having said what I did, I have made my position known that I am not for rewarding voter turn-outs through either pay or rewards of any kind because like I said, I believe this government needs to promote volunteerism and, not only because there are a lot of volunteers out there, but because volunteerism is the right thing to do in our territory.
I am with the member that a vote is a civic duty and it should be viewed that way.
And in terms of our overall elections, we have had good turnouts and I appreciate all our constituents for coming out on voting day each time. I think that is something we should encourage: all our constituents to continue to exercise their civic duty and come out and vote on Election Day regardless of what may be offered. It is something that we all cherish and we always have the freedom to choose who to vote for and who not to vote for.
I would like to return to Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Speaker (interpretation): The member would like to return to Item 5, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
Please proceed, Mr. Okalik.
I have some constituents here. This individual used to live in Pangnirtung before I was born and when she left for Iqaluit, the people in Iqalulik did not have a leader anymore.
Committee Report on Bills 002 – 2(3): Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act (Tootoo)
I wish to report that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability and that the bill is ready is for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Committee Report on Bills 003 – 2(3): Bill 06 – An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act (Tootoo)
Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee of Government Operations and Accountability and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 088 – 2(3): Environmental Rights Act Annual Report for the Year January 31, 2005 to December 31, 2005 (Akesuk)
I wish to table the following document: Environmental Rights Act Annual Report for the Year January 31, 2005 to December 31, 2005.
Tabled Document 089 – 2(3): Letter from Rocky Airut to Tagak Curley (Curley)
Tabled Document 090 – 2(3): Letter from Krista Tasseor to Tagak Curley (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a document that I have received dated February 22, 2006 from Rocky Airut, a student requesting to get a land camp, requesting for support, and also another letter from Krista Tasseor dated February 21, 2006 from Rankin Inlet wishing to get an Inuksuk Centre in Rankin Inlet.
Tabled Document 091 – 2(3): Water & Sewage Services Subsidy Policy – Summary Report & Recommendations February 2006 (Brown)
Tabled Document 092 – 2(3): Municipal Tax Programs February 2006 (Brown)
Tabled Document 093 – 2(3): Annual Re-Supply Evaluation December 2005 (Brown)
I would like to table the following documents: One, Water & Sewage Services Subsidy Policy - Summary Report & Recommendations; two, Municipal Tax Programs; and three, Annual Re-Supply Evaluation December 2005.
Speaker (interpretation): Please pass on the documents that have been tabled to the table officers.
Tabled Document 094 – 2(3): Programs Being Facilitated at the Baffin Correctional Centre (Okalik)
I wish to table the following document: Programs Being Facilitated at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Tabled Document 095 – 2(3): New Phone Number for Medical Travel – Baffin Residents (Aglukkaq)
I committed to providing the information as raised by Mr. Barnabas yesterday. I would like to table in the House today the telephone numbers for contacting the Medical Travel Coordinator for the Baffin Region as committed to yesterday.
Tabled Document 096 – 2(3): Return to Oral Question 189 – 2(3): Incorporating Pre-Trades Programs (Picco)
I would like to table a document that was not in response to a question taken as notice to Mr. Peterson.
Bill 13 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act # 3, 2005-06 – Notice
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 9, 2006 that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06 – Notice
I give notice that on Thursday, March 9, 2006, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister is seeking unanimous consent to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 13. Are there any nays?
There are no nays. Mr. Simailak.
Bill 13 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 13 has had first reading.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(2) that Bill 14 may be read for the first time today.
There are no nays, Mr. Simailak.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nanulik, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried and Bill 14 has had its first reading.
Bill 13 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defray the capital expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
Bill 13 has had its second reading and can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nanulik, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #3, 2005-06, be read for the second time.
Bill 14 has had its second reading and can be referred to Committee of the Whole.
Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Exemptions Act; Bill 12, Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2006-07, with Mr. Kilabuk in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:25 and Committee resumed at 15:49
Chairman (Mr. Kilabuk): Thank you.
Another first for the Chairman today.