EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the department of Health, as a government, we all realize that and hopefully over the next several months as we move toward greater self-sufficiency of the government and more increased capacity to alleviate some of the workload, indeed, pressure, being put on our dedicated, front line staff people.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Picco.
Mr. Tootoo, I believe that you have another comment or question.
Mr. Chairman, I wasn’t referring so much to the work load that the staff is currently under, I know that it is tremendous, what I am referring to is seeking staff input into how they see the department going and asking for their input into trying to develop, and seek their ideas, on how to achieve those goals.
I know that in any field, it is usually the people that are working in the field that have the best ideas on how the system runs and they have to work in it.
So they are the ones that know how best to maybe, accommodate some of these changes that need to be faced.
That’s more what I was referring to.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Chairman, we couldn’t agree more, and again that’s what Mr. Ramsden is doing when he is going into the communities and into the regions talking to the staff, to see what they would like to see in the department of Health, some of the problems that they encounter as employees, so that we can fix those types of things.
Take a proactive stance on the way Health & Social Services is delivered.
Not only at the regional level but at the local and community level, and indeed Nunavut wide.
Thank you , Mr. Chairman.
At this moment I ran out of names on my list, if there are no more questions.
I received a letter from my constituency just recently in respect to the health people in our community.
People have talked about the Human Resources and about the female/male staff.
When we want to look at equality, whether they are male or female, I know this has been dealt with for a while now and since we have Nunavut, I think more accommodations can be made towards this.
Could we ask if an individual is women or not, to me it effects me deeply.
I agree with women , I grew up with women.
I know they are very skilled, they are very independent.
As Nunavut residents, it doesn’t really make sense that we don’t have equality, we have to pursue equality and this concept, now just in our communities, this has probably been an issue dealt with by the department of Justice.
Mr. Minister, or your officials if you want to add anything to that.
I understand the member and I agree that we need equality.
Not just among the sexes, but among the races, the people of Nunavut.
I think that as a government that is what we are striving towards. As a department that is what we are trying to strive towards.
I appreciate the members’ comments.
Supplementary.
In Kitikmeot in the former government in respect to the boarding home.
I want to ask maybe more on this later, but I believe I have asked you this question, in respect to Lena Pederson and the contract on the boarding home.
With respect to Lena Pederson, back in the 70’s or 80’s the boarding home was opened.
Back then the contract was awarded to an Inuit firm and to date this contract is outside of Nunavut.
This is an interest now being taken on by my constituents, in respect to Article 24 and 23 in the Land Claims Agreement.
In view of that and this being within Nunavut, I believe that this contract should be taken by a firm within Nunavut.
How have you been effected by this within your department.
Mr. Chairman I just want to say that on the Lena Pederson boarding home contract in Yellowknife, it was prior to April 1 and it was signed off by the then Health Minister for the previous NWT Government.
After April 1, and becoming the Minister of Health I was requested to review the award of that contract and indeed to look at specific arrangements under Article 24.
That information was provided to me and indeed we provided it to the people that asked.
We are also right now in the middle, I believe, of responding to a similar query from NTI on the applicability of Article 24.
All of that information has been forthcoming to the people who questioned the contract and has been made available by the NWT Government, as signed off by that former Health Minister person, in that previous government, prior to 1999.
Thank you Mr. Chairman, I hope that answer the question.
Any further comments Mr. Puqiqnak.
At this time I don’t have any more names on my list for comments or questions.
I think we can move on to the finances.
Mr. Akesuk, do you have a comment.
I didn’t finish with my question, just a supplementary.
Maybe just ten more questions.
The first question I have is when we had Baffin House in Montreal it seems to accommodate everyone, but in Ottawa I just wish to know when an office will be provided that is much closer to the boarding home that Inuit now occupy.
At the moment people aren’t able to have easy access to the office.
What is being done or what plans are there for this area.
Mr. Minister of Health, sometimes it will be confusing who will be asking you questions but do you have a response.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu, you are doing a very good job today.
Thank you Mr. Chairman, I just caught the last piece of what Mr. Akesuk was asking because I was being advised on the epidemiology situation with Mr. O'Brien in my ear.
I am wondering if Mr. Akesuk, could just succinctly repeat his question for expediency.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Akesuk, could you rephrase your question.
Mr. Akesuk: I don’t know if you have the epidemiology problem or not in your ear so, thank you Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) My question first is with respect to back in Montreal the office was just below the boarding home.
In Ottawa there is no easy access to the office.
The patients don’t have easy access, so I was just wondering whether the health office would be relocated and be more accessible to the boarding home and the patients.
We are very fortunate today to have with us Mr. Ken MacRury who is a former CEO of the hospital and indeed, of the Baffin Regional Health & Social Services Board for many years.
He is very acutely aware of the situation here and the logistics of the Baffin House and our new set up at the Rotel, so I am going to ask Mr. MacRury at this time to answer the question posed by the Honourable Mr. Akesuk member for Kingait.
Mr. MacRury: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
If I might remind the member from the Baffin, in the Montreal situation where we had Baffin House, the actual Baffin Regional Health Board ran the boarding house.
It was staffed and operated by staff of the Baffin Board and the only thing that we were purchasing in Montreal was the health care.
We purchased the health care from the McGill program operating in several hospitals in Montreal.
When we made a decision to transfer the services from Montreal to Ottawa, one of the fundamental differences was we wanted the Ottawa providers to provide a comprehensive service.
So as soon as the patient gets off the plane in Montreal they are then the responsibility of the service provider.
So they provide the boarding, they provide the translation services, they provide the transportation and they provide the health care.
I think that there is a fundamental difference there that the people on the Baffin Regional Health Board wanted to see.
One of the concepts that they discussed in making this decision was that they wanted people to be, the patients that go down to Ottawa, to be more responsible for some of their own care when they are in Ottawa, as opposed to in Montreal, where everything was provided for them and many of them felt that they were being babied in that approach.
So one of the differences was is that it is not supposed to replicate the Montreal service. Thank you.
Mr. Akesuk, do you have a further question.
Maybe in view of the Inuit in Nunavut, whether it’s better for them or not, I think more people respond negatively to the current situation and having read many of the views people had, for example when you read them in Nunatsiaq News, some people would comment on how things could be improved.
I think my question would be are we going to be asking what the general consensus is on this issue in Nunavut.
Mr. Minister, do you wish to add anything.
The member brings up a good point and that is one of the reasons why we are actually going to Ottawa, to look at the operation and the Rotel.
I will be doing that in July, and indeed I think I mentioned this one, to look at the Nunasi corporations’ building, Larga Homes.
What Nunasi is recommending to us is that their Larga Home for unilingual people, to have it staffed with Inuit employees, and provide interpreting/translating, have Inuit food there and so on.
That appeals to me, I think it is a good way of looking at things, but I haven’t seen the facility or anything like that.
So that is one of my reasons to go down to Ottawa, and I will be going there with the chairman of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, Mr. Jerry Ell, to review Larga Homes in Ottawa and then looking at the Rotel operation.
The contract we have right now is in place, it is with Osney, and we have been accessing the Rotel.
Where it hasn’t met all of our needs, I think it is fair to say, it has come a long way since last year when we first started using them.
There are some things that could be maybe made a little bit better and maybe a bit more conducive to unilingual people, elderly people and so on.
As I reiterated to you earlier Mr. Chairman, it is for us to take the responsibility that we take within the Department of Health to make sure people are treated fairly no matter what part of Nunavut they come from, as a department.
Mr. Akesuk, any more.
My last question in respect to patients who have no escorts or who were not provided escorts.
When they go in the hospital although they are just unilingual you don’t have any interpreters provided or interpreters are not provided right away, what are you going to do about it.
Chairperson (interpretation): But you want to add anything further Mr. Minister?
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you.
No, you're correct Mr. Chairman.
That is what I'm looking at and making more conducive for Nunavut people needs.
We understand the difficulty and I should maybe just point out very quickly; there has been some controversy as an example, were Quebec was trying to send some of their people to the United States for cancer treatment and the Quebec Government kept talking about what about unilingual French speakers will they have translators in the States.
Same thing with us Mr. Chairman.
When we have unilingual people we have to send them to Ottawa.
We want to make sure that that in no way is problematic to them because they are residents of Nunavut and we have rights as individuals and indeed as a government to make sure that people are treated fairly.
That my friend, that is what we're trying to do as a department so I can ensure the member that we are reviewing that to make sure that our citizens are treated properly especially elderly people.
Mr. Akesuk. Any more?
I just have one question in respect to health centres in communities.
Do they also have procedures in place or based on population are the infrastructure so much work is done on the buildings, is it based on population or based on how the buildings are done or is there any such policy in place for such matters.
Mr. Minister. Any response.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I was speaking to the Deputy Minister concerning the review of capital projects.
It may be when we get to capital in the budget that we could review this with more detail or I could speak to a little bit about capital needs of the department in the review of the facilities that we have on hand.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): There is a hospital in Iqaluit, I don't know what year it was built and we were told that if there is any money available that you would do an extension on that hospital or make a new one.
It has been a hospital for twenty years now.
Do you have any kind of regulations on hospitals and health centres where they have to get renovated or you have to build a new one within a certain time frame?
Mr. Chairman the member makes a couple of good points.
As we know in 1988 Northwest Territories took over health from the Federal Government.
Up to that time the Canadian Government built and maintained all facilities in Nunavut.
And they built some new facilities.
Since that time, over the last ten years, it became the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
And as we know as a government we don't really have the money now within our capital budget to build new facilities.
And indeed in my capital budget today we only have two point one million dollars.
Which is basically for minor renovations and code violations and so on.
They're bringing those buildings up to snuff but the need is there for example in Pond Inlet, for example in Igloolik, when I was there a couple of weeks ago they got five nurses sharing one kitchen. That's not acceptable.
Where do we find the money to do those types of things.
The Baffin hospital Mr. Chairman was built in 1962, was built for a population when Iqaluit was probably fifteen hundred to two thousand people.
Today that population has tripled and they're serving a region of Nunavut that has tripled.
The need is for a new hospital that's recognized again we don't have the money for it so we have to do a P3 process.
So right now one of the things the department's doing in conjunction with the Department of Public Works and Services is looking at the facilities we have in Nunavut to find out where we can use our small limited capital dollars to make the renovations and code violations and so on, that we need to do in our facilities.
I can assure the member that one of my priorities as a minister is to make sure that we look at the facility in Pond Inlet.
Because I am aware of that facility and indeed we need to do some work there.
Jobie Nutarak.
I would like to thank you also for answering part of the question I was going to ask, so there. Thank you.
Since I don't have any more names on my list I'd just like to add that patient care and patient travel is very important to us from Nunavut and hope that the Department of Health will take good care of their patients and follow through with their policies that they have .
I think that we can be better co-ordinated if the health givers and the employees do their part.
I believe that we can start with 10-4 now.
Chairperson (Interpretation): First of all the directorate Operations and Maintenance.
Total Operations and Maintenance ten million, four hundred ninety-four. Agreed?
I'm sorry if I didn't pronounce that properly but everybody agreed.
My question is supplementary to a question that I asked earlier.
On salaries and wages.
My community doesn't have a Social Service worker and I'm sure that PY's salary and wages is in here somewhere.
My question is, is the PY included in here for Kimmirut?
Mr. Picco: I remember the question.
I remember it very well indeed.
The part about the social worker situation was dealt with the health board and that's why I say this indeed.
When I'm looking at the salary dollars here that's within the Department of Health and Social Services.
The directorate area.
The health boards is another page with maybe on 10-7 and so the member would like to hold that question on wages and benefits.
Health board monies that we give them is where we would find that line.
Mr. Akesuk did you get your response?
Total Operations and Maintenance, ten million, nine hundred, ninety-four thousand.
And going on to 10-5. Directorate Gjoa Haven.
Total is twelve thousand.
And for the Nunavut portion, total, various total, two million, one hundred, seventy-six thousand.
And Nunavut total, total capital, two million, one eight-eight thousand and going back to 10-4 total capital two million, one hundred eight-eight thousand. Agreed?
Total expenditures, twelve million, eight hundred thirty-two thousand.
Health insurance programs page number 10-6.
Operations and Maintenance. Total Operations and Maintenance, thirty-three million, one hundred eighty-three thousand.
And capital. Total capital, total expenditures, thirty-three million, one hundred eight-three thousand.
Agree? Agreed.
Primary Care Programs. Operations and Maintenance. Total Operations and Maintenance fifty-nine million, eight hundred eight thousand.
Agreed? Agreed.
On capital zero. Total expenditures, fifty-nine million, eight hundred eight thousand. And page 10-8.
Children's programs.
I apologize, Operations and Maintenance.
Total Operations and Maintenance four million, one hundred eighty-five thousand.
Total capital, total expenditures, four million, one hundred and eighty- four million, one hundred eighty-five thousand.
Community Health Programs.
Operations and Maintenance.
Total Operations and Maintenance, nine million, seven hundred fifty-seven thousand.
Capital zero. Total expenditures nine million, seven hundred fifty seven thousand.
Detail of Grants and Contributions.
Mr. Chairman looking at all these grants and contributions its looks like it's funding toward the regional boards. I'm wondering Mr. Chairman if we could ask the boards for a little bit of a more detail.
If the minister could ask the board to provide us with a bit of a detail of in each of those areas.
What the dollars are being used for.
Just for clarification purposes there is no capital in the Detail of Grants and Contributions to the boards.
I'm wondering if the members requesting for example if we use primary and acute care.
Would he want a break down by region of what we're using that money for at the board for example public health or health centre or whatever is that what the member, is that the level of detail that the members requesting.
I suggest that you finish all your sentence before you turn off your microphone.
Mr. Tootoo do you have another question?
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman just to clarify it is I guess regional break down of programs in the regions just so that you know one all three regions you can take a look and compare the regional figures but also break down of the services being provided because just a very broad general overview of what's being provided and I would just like a little bit more detail on what the boards are actually doing and what services are actually being offered by the department and the board.
It doesn't have to be right now, it can be provided at a future point and time.
Did you want to make a response.
I thank the member for clarifying the original question.
I will request the department, we're taking a note of it right now to find out indeed under the program as he has identified under the details on Grants and Contributions what monies are available there between the different regional Health Board program areas.
Mr. Tootoo, do you have any further questions or comments.
I have a question, Mr. Puqiqnak if you would take the Chair please.
>>Mr. Puqiqnak takes the Chair.
Mr. Chairman the Minister was speaking earlier about epidemiology and I believe his Deputy Minister mentioned the publication Epic-North.
I am just wondering if the Minister is going to give some consideration to having an Epic-Nunavut, or are we still going to be part of the Epic North documentation that surfaces once every three months.
Mr. Chairman over the past three years, I have been an avid reader of the monthly Epi- North.
Epi-North is a brochure or a magazine that is done monthly by the department that shows the tracking of all contagious diseases and all instance of disease, for example, syphilis, gonorrhoea, the rates by community based on region, very interesting stuff.
So I would commit right now that over the next several months that we would have our own Epi Nunavut magazine that, I say magazine, it is not a magazine, it is a four page newsletter.
Kevin has one in his hand right now.
So yes, Mr. Chairman I commit to putting out that and maybe I would have an opportunity to have an editorial page in there for the members to read.
I would like to thank the Minister for his enlightening comments and I hope that the editorial that he writes will also have a photograph of the Minister.
Thank you.  Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. O'Brien.
Hon. Ed Picco: Why yes, Mr. Chairman, I would make sure that indeed I would be there and probably with the guy who will replace me or the guy I replaced, I think it would be fitting.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman. If we look at the Child, Family and Special Services section.
What does it mean, there is 2.1 million here, what kind of services are we talking about under this particular heading.
Mr. Minister, Picco.
Mr. Chairman I would like to ask the Assistant Deputy Minister maybe to elaborate a little more on the specifics of the Children's' Programs and Services.
On the members' question on the 2.1 million I don't see that figure here, could the member clarify if he is on 10 – 8.
Chairperson (interpretation): Assistant Deputy Minister, Ms. Cooper.
Ms. Cooper (interpretation): If we look at number 12 and if we go back to number 11, it gives you further details on monies that are geared towards children; wellness, and adoption.
That's what these monies are used for.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Cooper.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman. I have yet to see specialized services that are geared towards child and family special needs.
I am not quite sure what these services include.
When we say adoption, are their transportation expenses paid for by the Department of Health & Social Services, if they are going to be adopting.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Minister, are you going to respond to that question.
Mr. Chairman, Ms. Cooper the Assistant Deputy Minister will try to clarify the members question.
Ms. Cooper (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
In regards to children, for example, if you have a concern regarding a child's need for a healthy lifestyle, we have identified here that services can be provided.
Can we ask questions while we're sitting here?
Chairperson (interpretation): Maybe I can ask the member if he's concerned about money that's allocated for the children.
That's under this is going to be utilized for Children's Services.
It's not to be allotted to the communities.
Mr. Iqaqrialu: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Yes, I understand a bit what it is for but I still don't understand this time what it is exactly why the doctors who get the funds rather than the children?
For children's services.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Iqaqrialu. Mr. Minister. You can either respond to it yourself.
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Chairman, I believe under Details Grants and Contribution 2-1.
When we mention children that's only one small part of it.
When we are trying to explain what the money was used for.
For example, if I had an adopted child with mental problems or psychiatric problems I would use the services at the health board for counselling that would be covered under there for example.
Of course the cost of bringing my adoptive child if they were from Pangnirtung, or Clyde River back and forth to Iqaluit to see the psychologist that would be covered under there.
So it were be geared towards Social Services as an example.
I don't know if that helps but maybe explain why the amount is there but it's a multi-faceted component.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu do you have any further comments or questions?
Mr. Iqaqrialu: Yes, at least now I understand what its used for and also in regards to children's services, children's programs for boards of management that provide services to eligible Nunavut residents in the areas of children care and the intervention service, three million, two hundred, ten thousand.
Is it still for children's programs?
Like children's programs. Are we talking about family allowances?
Chairperson (interpretation): What kinds of children's programs are you talking about in there?
Maybe the words are a bit misleading when we say children's programs. It just a type of it just a word that we're using to explain the process here for that line item.