EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
If the wife had the children and the father would be alienated from the family that he once had.
It finally sunk in to me when I went to visit the penitentiary and the total Inuit population was about sixty and the total population was about 7 hundred.
The total population of Inuit was sixty and some of these inmates who did not come from the Nunavut area would get visitors from their families.
They would get visitors from their wives and their children and their relatives and friends.
But the Inuit population could not get visitors from their friends and relatives.
But they weren't visited because the expense was too high to go and see them.
Because of these profound effects at the penitentiary we have been doing something better than the lifestyle of the inmates through our healing programs and that is one of the reason for saving up for a facility in Nunavut.
For summary convictions and possibly while they are here and the facility is established in Nunavut they will stay in touch with their families or family members.
Because a lot of the population down south get separated from their immediate families because of the length of their sentences their spouses find somebody else.
So we have to look at ways and means of how we can improve the lives of Inuit inmates and how they can come back to a better environment or possibly having visits from their relatives so they can come home to a friendlier environment. We also have to realise that if the man was sent to a penitentiary without resolving the problem, the spousal problem they might very well come back to the same situation.
So we are looking at the ways and means to improve the lifestyle of the inmates. I am not talking about all of them but some of them are sentenced to years of incarceration and even when their lives could have improved if they had alternative means of being sentenced they could improve.
If they are just put in a penitentiary and if they got visits things would not deteriorate as bad.
But because they do not get visits from their relatives, they deteriorate so we are looking at ways to improve the facility we want to also look at how the inmates can get visits.
Sometimes we go see the inmates down in Pembrooke and we are looking at how we can improve the system because to many inmates who could have had a better environment don't have anything to come home to. It is a friendless environment and having been in jail for a while is a shameful thing in front of the people.
Not only for the inmate himself but the whole community.
So we have to look at ways that we can improve the system.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Anawak for your wise words.
That is very clear, thank you.
At times I think about the men being incarcerated and sometimes their wives find somebody else and the children are left somewhere in between.
They are not bonded with their mother and they have a stepfather.
There are social ills.
Thank you for responding to my question.
I do not see any more comments or general questions, but if you would like to respond Mr. Anawak please do so.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The reason I mentioned the spouses is for a reason but of course there are the children that are hurt possibly because their father is taken away for five years and they can't go see him.
The facility is too far away.
If that child is small he might forget who his father is and if that child was in the south they could have weekly visits with their fathers but when you are up here sometimes inmates don't get visited for 5 years either by their wives or their children.
So we are looking at how we can improve that.
Inuit family ties are very strong and it is an abrupt cut when contact with the immediate family of the inmate is severed.
I do know that we will never have enough money to do what we want to do in Nunavut.
We have to be close to the people of Nunavut and make improvements.
I realize that some of the inmates did very hurtful things but not all of them.
Some times there is a hurt point and you overcome it and in the justice system a person is charged and usually at that time there is always room for reconciliation between the man and the wife but they are not given the opportunity and they will not see each other anymore.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): If it is ok with the Members.
I would like to put Mr. Akesuk as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.
If you do not mind if you can take the Chair.
I have some questions I would like to ask.
Mr. Akesuk: Hot seat. (interpretation) Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I will talk about my community in particular.
There has been a mistake made and this individual has been arrested and charged.
It was a mistake done and it must be very hard for the individual.
If somebody makes a mistake, what happens to him or her.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): This is separate item altogether and I am not in the liberty to say anything about it at this time.
If there has been a mistake and the individual is charged then it is the responsibility of my staff taken on individual bases.
If the person is charged and has to go through the court system, yes they could say it was a wrongful arrest and wrongful incarceration.
But this has nothing to do with us.
It has to go through the other system.
Perhaps if the individual could talk with our staff besides myself then they can talk one to one.
Because we can not talk one to one to the individual but the MLA could talk with my staff to resolve this problem that happened to the individual.
Yes ok I understand that.
When we were meeting in Rankin Inlet during a session.
There is an elderly person that bumped somebody else’s vehicle.
When he did not know what happened.
He was charged and because he bumped into somebody else’s vehicle and without the individual knowing what he did wrong.
Then it is very wrong to charge somebody and for someone to go to court.
What happens to those people.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Those are the types of things that we can not do anything about as long as they have been charged already.
There is nothing that we can do as a Justice Department.
But perhaps people have been charged for petty things such as this.
Wrongfully charged because what they have done.
What they do is they are dealt with the Justice of the Peace.
The individual that is elderly or older person and without intentionally doing something for us the Inuit people it is easy for us to apologise for not doing something intentionally.
Once the person is already charged there is no other way but to go through the courts.
I understand where Mr. Iqaqrialu is coming from.
Because the Justice system is so different from the Inuit traditional way of doing things.
These are the things that we are looking into.
But we can not do anything about it once the person is charged.
But they have no other course but to go through the court system.
What we are doing is we are trying to look into this so we can do it in a better way.
Yes I understand what he is talking about and I have no more comments.
I think you can come back to your chair.
My question is about the laws of the Federal Government.
I guess the Federal legislation is it impossible to amend the Federal legislation as a Nunavut Government.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): In English it says we can not change the Criminal Code of Canada.
I know that if there is someone that is going to perhaps amend the Criminal Code of Canada then we have to be involved as a Government.
We can not do anything about it.
We can amend the legislation that we as the Nunavut Government provide to the people.
Because we can not change the legislation and if the Federal Government does not like the legislation we make here in Nunavut.
I guess we will have to amend our legislation.
Would we be asked to go to court in order to if they were to sue us something like that because of the legislation that we make.
We are under the Federal legislation as the MLAs.
So as a Government if we are going to produce a legislation we can not break the Federal Laws.
But the laws we are making as a Legislature of Nunavut we still working with the Government of Canada.
So we would not be getting into the problem of Mr. Akesuk is talking about because we have to work with them.
We have to look at the legislation carefully if we are not breaking the Federal laws.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
Mr. Chairperson I will be asking this in English to the Minister of Justice.
It is about the Hay River drug treatment program.
(interpretation ends) To residents of Nunavut through Government of Nunavut Health and Social Services.
People from all walks of life can go there.
People going to this treatment centre from correction institution keep getting a weekly allowance while those are going to their court are not receiving any allowance.
Could the Minister perhaps with the assistance of Health and Social Services Minister clarify for us how the situation came to be.
Why would a correctional institution inmate get preferential treatment over people that are not there under court order or such other order.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Barnabas.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Perhaps it is the Department of Health and Social Services responsibility to take care part of the question your asking.
If there were going to be a program such as the one in Hay River then it would be under the responsibility of Health and Social Services Minister.
As the Department of Justice dealing with drug and alcohol treatment.
We can not do it at this time.
Perhaps it would be under our jurisdiction if we were asked to provide assistance in regards to anything related to Justice system.
But we can not.
If there were someone that wants to go to Hay River treatment centre then it would have to go through the Department of Health and Social Services.
Is there anyway to say for instance an individual from Nunavut would they be able to attend that treatment centre.
Or an individual that has been incarcerated and they get 30 dollars a day.
Would that individual be able to or for anyone from the public.
I just wonder why they would not be able to go down to the treatment centre for treatment.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): The ones that have to get some assistance through our Department are the ones that are at this time.
Say for instance.
We have been discussing with the Department of Health and Social Services.
There is a place called Inusiqsiurvik and we would like to be able to utilise this.
We were recently in talks with Health and Social Services.
We will look in other directions to see whether we can assist the people that might go through the Justice Department that have problems with drugs and alcohol.
That want to get assistance.
We have nothing to do with them at this time.
Any more comments.
I am looking at the Department’s business plan.
The environmental scan states that Nunavut compares badly in relation with the rest of Canada.
Specifically with the following crime rates.
Notably the violent crime, number of persons remanded before trial, incarceration rates and the youthful age of the offender population.
It goes on to say without improved social and justice related services for all the people of Nunavut in communities, particularly for the young, these problems will not likely decrease or will it continue to increase.
In the Department principles, one of them is on crime prevention and community wellness.
It talks about the co-operation with other Nunavut Departments.
The value of harmony of working together with other stakeholders.
I am just wondering if the Department has initiated any types of plans to work with other Departments.
Health and Social Services or Culture, Language, Elders & Youth in trying to come up with some type of a joint concerted plan of attack to try and help address these issues.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
Again, we look for ways to see how we can help those to cut the crime rate down.
We do have applications for more funding for crime prevention programs.
We have not yet got to the point of full discussions with other Departments.
Again part of it is that while we are pretty well set up and running.
I am not sure whether other departments are fully set up yet.
Once that happens say a department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Then we would want to get into a full discussion about how do we compliment each other in crime prevention or assistance or whether the Department of Health and Social Services how can we help.
Right now the one thing we have done is in the budget we are asking for 450 thousand dollars to place to have 4 probation officers for Nunavut.
One of whom would be in Iqaluit.
Another one would be somewhere in the Baffin.
One in the Keewatin.
One in the Kitikmeot.
Realising that is not enough at the same time that is the only amount of money we can get right now.
What we would like to do is continue to get more money in the later years to get more probation officers in order to work better with say the Department of Health and Social Services.
Because right now what happens is the social workers in most communities act as the victim support helpers as well as counselling the perpetrator, which is a contradiction.
So what we are trying to do is assist and get full probation officers which would have responsibilities outside of that community.
In order to elevate the work that is done by the social worker.
So as I said right now we have not got to the point of full discussions with other departments.
But we expect to do that as soon as the Departments are up and running fully.
As I said we are doing this.
We are continuing to try to get more funding for crime prevention.
What we want to also make sure is that we are looking at other ways of dealing with crimes and not necessarily.
I mentioned in Rankin Inlet at the time.
Rankin Inlet was trying to do a diversion protocol where in some cases and only with the approval of the victim.
If a spousal assault occurred we might try to work out some other ways of coming to a conclusion.
A positive conclusion.
If it can be done with the spouse.
We are continuing to seek funding under the community wellness program.
So what we are trying to do is make a positive spin into this.
The kind of things that always tend to work against the population as a whole.
Because of the Justice System they are not culturally relevant.
In some cases not culturally relevant.
We do have the Justice System that is what we have to live with.
But we are trying to find ways to do more to cut crime but also to put more emphasis on healing and treatment.
So again we hope to have full discussions with the Health and Social Services and Culture, Language, Elders & Youth and Sustainable Development to find out more ways of cutting down on crime and assisting more with healing and treatment.
Mr. Tootoo: I can appreciate the Minister comments on the magnitude.
I know it is not an easy thing that can be dealt with right away.
I am just wondering if my guess the approach would be to sit down with the other Departments and trying to find areas that are a common concern or common nature the Department of Justice shares with some of the other areas in coming up these.
Probably the hardest part would be just sitting down to try to identify these areas of what they are.
Once that is done maybe give a clearer picture or a better idea what can be done in those areas.
I do not mean a commitment of time whatever right now.
I would like to ask the Minister if that is the stage the plan they are trying in the future.
At some point in the future could they provide the Members with a list of areas like that that are common to share a common concern with the other Departments.
If anything just for you know where we may have some ideas or suggestions once we see that information and we can pass it on to the Department.
Something that might be helpful.
He stated that it does not mind if you do not have a response for him.
If you like to respond Mr. Minister.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): To assure Members of the Legislative Assembly that yes we will be continuing to have discussions with other Departments and any measures we are going to put forward.
If we want to make sure of course we want to make sure with the support of the Members.
The way we will get it is by keeping the members informed.
So any measures we will undertake in terms of what we just discussed.
We will not only provide the Members with the information but also ask for assistance.
At this point I do not have any more names on my list.
I do not think there is anybody else to make a comment.
Before we go on to the details.
I would like to take a short break. 10 minute short break.
When we get back we will get to the details.
Welcome back to the House.
Before we begin, Mr. Akesuk would like to make a few comments.
The people from my community are here sitting behind me.
I would like to recognize Lucy, Louisa, Martha and Elisapee.
I would like to recognize these people from Cape Dorset.
I have one question that was just given to me recently.
Why is it that the Department of Justice pays 30 dollars per day per inmate.
Is this for when they are in a detox centre.
The reason this question came up was that the people who go to the detox centre are paid a per diem but the inmates who take the program are paid 30 dollars a day.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): We misunderstood a little bit.
We do not have any per diem payments for inmates who take the program.
Mr. Anawak, supplementary.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): We will just look into it because I do not believe that we pay a per diem for inmates.
Since I do not have any more names on my list we will go on to page 5 – 5, Department of Justice.
In the 2000/2001 Capital Estimates.
Page 5 – 5, Department of Justice, Registries and Court Services.
Total Baffin region, 100 thousand.
In the Department of Justice new courthouse planning 50 thousand, what are they planning for.
Any one of the witnesses can respond to that question.
The 50 thousand dollars is for planning for a new courthouse.
The other 50 thousand dollars is for maintenance and renovations of the courthouse.
The other one is for planning for the building of a proposed new courthouse.
It is just in the planning stages.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman for that explanation.
Is that for the architectural drawings or blueprints of the new courthouse.
What kind of planning are we talking about here.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Well we are not even at the architectural designs yet, just the initial planning stages of the proposed new courthouse.
It is the stage before the architectural drawings.
We will then move on because there are no other names.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total building and works, 100 thousand. Agreed.  Some Members: Agreed.
Chairperson (interpretation): Total capital expenditures, 100 thousand.
We will then move on to the next page.
Page 5 – 7, Department of Justice, Community Justice and Corrections.
Detail of Capital, building and works, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, 90 thousand.
Total Baffin region, 310 thousand.
Total building and works, 400 thousand.
Contributions, headquarters region.
Total headquarters region, 100 thousand.
Total contributions, 100 thousand.
Total capital expenditures, 500 thousand.
Page 5 – 8, Department of Justice, distribution of budget.
The capital estimates are completed with the Department of Justice.
Chairperson (interpretation): Moving to the Main Estimates 2000/2001.
Page 5 – 7, Department of Justice.
I apologize it is page 5 – 4 in the Main Estimates that we are going to start with.
Department of Justice, 5 – 4, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 1 million 394 thousand.
Total expenditures, 1 million 394 thousand.
Page 5 – 5, Department of Justice, branch summary.
Department of Justice, Law Enforcement.
Total operations and maintenance, under 5 – 6, 13 million 964 thousand.
Total expenditures, 13 million 964 thousand.
Turning over 5 – 7, Department of Justice, branch summary.
Department of Justice, Legal Services Board, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 2 million 780 thousand.
Total expenditures, 2 million 780 thousand.
Department of Justice, Legal Services Board, branch summary, page 5 – 9.
Page 5 – 10, Department of Justice, Lawyer Support Services, branch summary, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 1 million 474 thousand.
Total expenditures, 1 million 474 thousand.
Page 5 – 11, Department of Justice, Registries and Court Services, branch summary, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 4 million 106 thousand.
Total expenditures, 4 million 206 thousand.
Turning on to the next age 5 – 12.
Department of Justice, Community Justice and Corrections, branch summary, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 12 million 819 thousand.
Total expenditures, 13 million 319 thousand.
Turning to the next page 5 – 13.
Department of Justice, Community Justice and Corrections, branch summary.
Page 5 – 14, Department of Justice, detail of work performed on behalf of third parties.
Chairperson (interpretation): Turning to page 5 – 15, Department of Justice, distribution of budget.
Then we will go back to page 5 – 3, Department of Justice, detail of expenditures, program summary, operations and maintenance.
Total operations and maintenance, 36 million 537 thousand.
Total capital 600 thousand.
Total expenditures, 37 million 137 thousand.
The Department of Justice budget has been agreed to.
Thank you Mr. Minister and your staff for being at the witness table.
I will give you an opportunity to say your closing remarks.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you very much to my colleagues and also to Rebecca, Nora and all my staff.
Also to the people who work in the Department of Justice, I would like to thank them very much because they have been working very hard and trying to stick to their mandate and to integrate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Also, with the review of the legislation I would like to thank our Premier for getting that going.
With the Department of Justice we are going to keep looking at improving the Justice system and we will always try to keep you informed and up to date on what we have been doing.
We will also be looking for ideas from you.
Tabled Document 85 – 1(3), Department of Justice business plan has been completed.
Chairperson (interpretation): At this time what is the wish of the committee.
I would like to move on to the Department of Sustainable Development.
There is a motion to start the Department of Sustainable Development.
We will then move on to the Department of Sustainable Development.
I don't see your staff here, did you want to start with your opening remarks.
I have everything all ready in front of us and would like to start with my opening remarks.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Kilabuk, Minister of Sustainable Development.
Since he is ready, do you agree.
You can then begin.
Department of Sustainable Development: Minister's Opening Remarks
I am very pleased to present the Department of Sustainable Development's Main Estimates for 2000/2001.
Before beginning my remarks I would like to introduce you to my team of officials who will be supporting my appearance today.
I am sorry some of them are not present at this time.
Perhaps when we get to the witness table I will introduce them to you.
There will be Katherine Trumper, Deputy Minister.
Peter Ittinuar, Assistant Deputy Minister, Jim Martin, Director of Corporate Services, and Mr. Joe Tigullaraq, Assistant Director of Wildlife.
A year ago I spoke to the committee about initiating a review of this Department's programs, policies and its legislation.
To do this I needed to talk with Nunavummiut.
So this year I travelled to each region of Nunavut and heard about the issues and the opportunities.
Throughout this past year I began formulating a map for the Department of Sustainable Development, the beginning of which is the 2000/2001 budget, which you have before you.
I am not really sure who I am talking to.