EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Sammurtok: Mr. Speaker, as our population grows and as the regional health centre in Rankin Inlet is more staffed and equipped to provide medical services, the number of medical clients staying in the community is increasing. Can the minister clarify what steps are being considered to handle the increased need for accommodation for medical travel clients?
As I just mentioned, the Department of Health supports having boarding homes in regional centres to reduce the amount of out-of-territory travel for clients and to provide a facility dedicated to our clients.
Currently, hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, and private billets are currently used to house patients travelling to Rankin Inlet and to Cambridge Bay for medical purposes.
At this present time, we have been having conversations with Health Canada to establish new boarding homes, but this requires further discussions and adding a service requires staffing.
At this present time, we are constrained by the lack of staff housing in the centres. Also, we would have to work with private companies, such as regional development corporations, as an example.
Speaker (interpretation): Your final supplementary, Mr. Sammurtok.
Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I believe the minister responded partially to one of the questions, but I will proceed with the question in any event.
(interpretation ends) The community of Rankin Inlet needs a central boarding home for medical travel clients, similar to Tammaativvik in Iqaluit and the boarding homes in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Yellowknife.
Will the minister commit to considering the establishment of a medical boarding home in the community of Rankin Inlet?
Yes, the Department of Health will be committed to speaking and communicating with Health Canada on an ongoing basis.
Question 025 – 4(1): Passport Photographs (Joanasie)
In 2007, the Government of Nunavut provided equipment and training to each municipality in the territory in order to allow local officials to take passport photographs of residents.
Concerns have been raised with me that the equipment in Cape Dorset’s municipal office is no longer suitable. There may be similar situations in other communities.
I know of at least one situation where a resident had to fly to Iqaluit to get his passport photo taken at his own expense.
Can the minister indicate if his department’s (interpretation ends) government liaison officers (interpretation) are working with municipalities to ensure that their passport photography equipment is up to date and operational?
Mr. Speaker, the driver’s licence issue has been ongoing right from day one, but at this time, we do have 21 GLOs which are established now within our communities and we’re working to increase the numbers for all the communities.
One of the things that they’re going to be doing is exactly that, taking photographs with the Department of Transportation’s assistance in, I guess, furthering and making it more efficient for people to get their driver’s licence.
As we all know, Arctic Winter Games are being held in Alaska this year, and it will be necessary for our athletes to obtain passports in order to cross the border.
Can the minister indicate how the government liaison officers have been working with Sport Nunavut, Service Canada, and other entities to ensure that everyone who needs a passport can obtain one?
Mr. Speaker, acquiring passports is a federal initiative and with the process of getting passports through the website, it’s easier and takes less time. We will certainly work with our GLOs and Sport Nunavut to further the process for getting the athletes their passports.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Joanasie.
Can the minister indicate if his department is working with the Department of Community and Government Services and the Municipal Training Organization to ensure that all Nunavut communities have at least one place where residents can get passport photos taken?
Mr. Speaker, we will work with our GLOs, the municipalities, and our partners, the Department of CGS and Sport Nunavut, to expedite the process of getting federal passports and other necessary documents that our athletes may need. Not only with that, there are also other federal documents that our community members need.
With our GLOs, we’re hoping that we can expedite some of these processes a little quicker than in the past.
Question 026 – 4(1): Grise Fiord Water Supply (Shooyook)
My questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services concerning the issue of Grise Fiord’s water supply.
The plan indicates that the Department of Community and Government Services “will be undertaking a study on the prospects for water supply and sources over the next 50 years.” Can the minister indicate if this study has been completed?
Maybe I misunderstood his question. Was he speaking about Grise Fiord or Resolute Bay?
Mr. Shooyook, please clarify your question.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Will the minister commit to tabling in the Legislative Assembly a copy of his department’s study on Grise Fiord’s water supply?
Grise Fiord’s water supply is currently in the works. I think we are all aware that they have a leaking water tank.
In September 2011, the plan was completed and we are currently working and the completion date was slotted for February 2014.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Shooyook.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Concerns have been raised by the community of Grise Fiord with respect to the capacity of the community’s existing water tanks. Will the minister commit to having his department review this situation?
We are currently studying the situation and we have an ongoing review on the water supply situation.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Shooyook.
Question 027 – 4(1): Implementation of the Public Service Act (Angnakak)
I send best wishes to my constituents and relatives as well. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance since he doesn’t get very many questions.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most significant bills to have been passed by the previous Legislative Assembly was Nunavut’s new Public Service Act.
A key feature of the new legislation is the appointment of an ethics officer, who will have the responsibility of undertaking independent investigations into allegations of wrongdoing in the workplace.
Can the minister update the House today on when Nunavut’s first ethics officer will be appointed?
I was a little taken aback by Ms. Angnakak’s comments that I don’t get many questions.
In fact, I do get several questions.
Mr. Speaker, that was a very important component of the Public Service Act and it has been discussed in this House many times over the years, more commonly known as whistle-blower. The government took it very seriously.
We incorporated it in the House in the legislation as an ethics officer and our department is working on it. I believe it has to be implemented by April of 2015, but I will have to take it to my cabinet colleagues to keep the ball rolling.
Your first supplementary, Madam Angnakak.
Well, I’m really happy to hear that because Part 6 of the new Public Service Act provides whistle-blower protection for employees who disclose wrongdoing in the workplace.
In speaking with a number of my constituents who work for the government, I believe that these provisions are very important, as they provide for a clearly defined process for investigating allegations of wrongdoing.
Mr. Speaker, Part 6 of the new Public Service Act will come into force on the earlier of April 1, 2015 or a day to be fixed by order of the Commissioner.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly support bringing this section of the Act into force as soon as possible.
Can the minister indicate when he anticipates that this section of the new Public Service Act will be proclaimed in force?
I thank Ms. Angnakak for the question.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t predict the outcome, but I can assure the member that it is an important component of our Public Service Act and my staff is working on it.
We do have a date that we will work out to April 2015.
At least we know the date and we will endeavour to move as fast as we can on it.
Your final supplementary, Ms. Angnakak.
I like to hear “as fast as possible.”
Mr. Speaker, the new Public Service Act defines wrongdoing to include “misuse” and “gross mismanagement” of public funds or property.
Last week, I asked questions in this House concerning questionable spending at Nunavut Tourism, which receives significant amounts of public funding.
However, until such time as Part 6 of our new Public Service Act comes into force, our government’s employees currently lack legislated protection for the disclosure of wrongdoing.
Can the minister clarify how Government of Nunavut employees should be currently reporting incidents of wrongdoing in their workplace?
The issue that Ms. Angnakak raised last week is covered under the Financial Administration Manual Grants and Contributions Directive 801.
The deputy heads of all departments are responsible for overseeing grants and contributions, including reporting requirements in agreements.
There are also, I believe, clauses in the agreements requiring accountings and audits.
If there’s a member of the public service who believes that there is something that isn’t being delivered properly, they should bring it to their supervisor or higher, to their deputy minister, because it certainly is the responsibility of the deputy heads of all departments to oversee contribution agreements and grants.
Question 028 – 4(1): Implementation of Amendments to the Liquor Act (Hickes)
My questions today are also for the Minister of Finance.
In September of last year, amendments to the Liquor Act were passed by the previous Legislative Assembly.
During the Legislative Assembly’s consideration of the proposed amendments, the minister indicated that the government would be moving towards undertaking a pilot project for a retail store in the territory.
Mr. Speaker, from the many discussions that I have had with my constituents on this issue, there is significant support for moving in a responsible manner towards a more modern and mature approach to the sale of alcohol here in Iqaluit which would also help to reduce our hon. colleague from Arviat South’s concern on the demand for bootlegged alcohol.
Can the minister update the House today on the status of the government’s plans in this area?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Finance Mr. Peterson.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, when we spoke of the legislation last year, we talked about a pilot project in a community in Nunavut. We didn’t name any specific community. If there’s a community that’s interested, it’s up to them to approach us.
We did say last year that something like that would be introduced in a measured approach.
We would want to consult with the communities interested, plus all surrounding communities.
My departmental officials are currently in the process of developing a methodology, if there is a request that comes forth, of how we can talk to the communities and the surrounding communities that are affected.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Hickes.
Along that same line, during the previous Legislative Assembly’s consideration of the proposed amendments to the Liquor Act, the minister stated that, and I quote, “A retail outlet would not be opened in any community without further consultation and community support.
The community would be involved in key decisions around location, hours of operation, product availability, limits to quantities, and policies to reduce potential harm.”
As the minister partially answered in the previous question, given the size of Iqaluit’s population, can the minister clarify the process by which his department would plan to undertake these consultations in this community?
I thank Mr. Hickes for covering all that and reminding me of what I said in the last Assembly. Yes, those are certainly still in effect.
We do want to consult with any community that is interested. Again, I do not know if Iqaluit is interested. If they are interested, they should contact the Department of Finance.
As I mentioned earlier, we are in the planning phase right now developing a methodology so that we can consult with any community on how a pilot project beer and wine store should operate and how it would affect local communities.
We certainly want everybody to be comfortable with a proposed pilot project before we implement it.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Hickes.
Along the same lines of providing that “comfort” to residents, last year’s amendments to the Liquor Act also provided that, and I will quote, “sums in the Liquor Revolving Fund may be used for expenses related to education campaigns promoting the socially responsible use of liquor, up to the prescribed amount.”
Mr. Speaker, it has been almost six months since these amendments were passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Can the minister indicate how much the government has spent to date on “education campaigns promoting the socially responsible use of liquor” using funds from the Liquor Revolving Fund?
I thank Mr. Hickes for the question. As Mr. Hickes is aware, we just had a general election.
We are in the process of catching up on a lot of outstanding items. One of the items is finalizing regulations. It allows the government to utilize funds from the Liquor Revolving Fund for social responsibility programs.
We expect that the regulation will be available in the first quarter of 2014-15, only a few months from now, and of course, cabinet will set the amount.
I have to remind Mr. Hickes that the revenues from the Liquor Revolving Fund are not massive amounts. We’re only talking about a sum of less than, I think, $1.5 million.
That’s our total net revenue.
We’re working with that to establish how much money we can use for social responsibility programs.
Question 029 – 4(1): Interpretation Services for Medical Travel Clients (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, last week, a number of questions were raised with respect to the Department of Health’s revised Medical Travel Policy.
It was stated that escorts would be provided to unilingual Inuit who are travelling to an approved centre where interpretive services are not available.
One concern often raised by Sanikiluaq residents is that there is a significant difference in dialect as compared to the dialects from communities in the Kivalliq.
Even though interpretive services may be available at a destination, the dialect may not be adequate to properly communicate health issues.
Can the minister clarify what steps are taken by her department to ensure that the interpretive services provided to medical clients travelling away from their communities are appropriate for the clientele?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister of Health, Ms. Ell.
Hon. Monica Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to thank the member for asking a very good question.
According to what I have heard, the dialect in Sanikiluaq is quite different from ours. At this time, there is a system in place where Sanikiluaq patients going for travel, either to Churchill or to Winnipeg, usually have their own interpreters escort them because of the differences with their dialect.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Your first supplementary question, Mr. Rumbolt.
It’s not really a question. I guess the minister has clearly stated that they do recognize the issue with the dialects from Sanikiluaq and they are taking steps to correct any issues we have with translation.
So I just thank the minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 030 – 4(1): Anti-bootlegging Initiatives (Savikataaq)
As I noted in my Member’s Statement earlier today, one of the key recommendations contained in last year’s report of the Task Force to Review the Nunavut Liquor Act was that the Government of Nunavut should, and I quote, “strengthen search and seizure provisions under the Act and introduce strong civil forfeiture legislation to deter illegal sales of alcohol.”
The government’s official response to this recommendation was that it will, and I quote, “continue exploring the possibility of introducing civil forfeiture legislation that will further deter bootleggers.”
Can the minister tell the House when he anticipates introducing civil forfeiture legislation?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Okalik.
This issue is under discussion and we have commenced its preparation.
I believe that next month, we will have a better idea of the next steps to undertake.
We have to ensure that we prepare legislation that is comprehensive, especially to ensure the civil forfeiture legislation is fair and enforceable when it comes into force.
That is why we need to very carefully scrutinize all relevant issues before the legislation is implemented.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Savikataaq.
As I noted in my Member’s Statement earlier today, last year’s report of the task force to review the Liquor Act indicated that seven out of ten Canadian provinces now have some form of civil forfeiture legislation.
Although I am aware of the importance of ensuring that legislation is not used in an unreasonable manner, it appears clear that we can learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions.
Can the minister indicate which province’s civil forfeiture legislation would provide the best model for Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) There have been some good stories and some difficult choices that have been made in other jurisdictions where mistakes have been made.
We want to be careful with any type of legislation so that it does what it’s supposed to do in our territory.
We’re monitoring the other jurisdictions very closely and we hope to have some good work done by the end of this month with my department and come forward with more consultations with everyone in this Assembly. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Another one of the key recommendations contained in last year’s report of the Task Force to Review the Nunavut Liquor Act was that the Government of Nunavut should, and I quote, “facilitate collaboration and information-sharing and data collection on alcohol purchasing between licensing, sales and distribution, and law enforcement agencies.”
Can the minister indicate if the next shared directional statement between his department and the RCMP’s “V” Division will address this recommendation?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My colleague, the Minister of Finance, manages all of the sales of alcoholic beverages in our territory and I look forward to working with him in making sure that our two divisions are working properly. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member for Gjoa Haven, Mr. Akoak.
Question 031 – 4(1): Anti-homelessness Initiatives (Akoak)
My questions are for the Minister responsible for Homelessness.
Last month, the minister announced that the government will be undertaking a “point-in-time homeless count.”
In its announcement, the government indicated that it would be conducting a “direct count” of the homeless in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
It also indicated that “research is also taking place by telephone in additional communities.”
Can the minister confirm if Gjoa Haven will be one of the additional communities where the government will be doing work?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for Homelessness, Ms. Ugyuk.
I would also like to thank the Member for Gjoa Haven for asking a very good question.
The Department of Family Services is now doing a direct count on homeless people in the communities he just mentioned.
If the community is interested, please call my department or my office.
As a former Member for Gjoa Haven, I have provided a number of names so that they could be interviewed.
Your first supplementary, Mr. Akoak.
The government’s announcement indicated that “results of the homeless count and interviews are expected in April 2014.”
Will the minister commit to tabling these results in the Legislative Assembly during our upcoming spring sitting?
Thank you to the MLA from Gjoa Haven for asking that question.
The counting of the homeless will not be finished this month.
The count is still ongoing. However, even when they finish counting, homelessness will still continue to be monitored.
My officials are paying close attention to this issue.
If we can get the results from the numbers they get during the count, we think that we will be able show those figures this spring or fall.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Akoak.
In my Member’s Statement today, I expressed my support for a local anti-homeless initiative in Gjoa Haven.
Will the minister commit to having her officials work with the Nunavut Housing Corporation and local housing authorities in Gjoa Haven to identify what resources may be required to successfully accomplish the initiative?
Thank you to the MLA from Gjoa Haven for asking questions on behalf of his community.
We want to do something for homeless people, especially when they are evicted.
Gjoa Haven people have sent a letter to the housing manager asking how the local housing association can work more closely with the hamlet council.
I have seen that letter myself.
We want to work closely with the Hamlet of Gjoa Haven to work on homelessness initiatives and my colleague, the Minister of Housing, would like to work closely with me on homelessness in Gjoa Haven.
Question 032 – 4(1): Senior Fuel Subsidy Program (Mikkungwak)
My questions today are for the Minister of Family Services.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities in the current business plan of the Department of Family Services is to, and I quote, “Secure resources to complete a comprehensive review of the government’s income assistance programs, including the Senior Fuel Subsidy program.” (interpretation)
Can the minister update the House today on the status of her department’s review of the Senior Fuel Subsidy Program?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Ms. Ugyuk.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for Baker Lake for asking the question about the Senior Fuel Subsidy Program.
Less than 98 elders received assistance under this program last year. The eligibility is based on the income of the elders and some elders are not eligible to receive that subsidy as a result of the criteria.
The subsidy is added to the income declared in tax returns.
Federal rules for the subsidy program means we have to require income declarations because if too much subsidy is distributed, it could make elders ineligible for that subsidy program. That is why there is a limit based on income.
I hope that this was helpful.
Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) For the past several years, the department’s budget for the Senior Fuel Subsidy Program has not been fully spent.
For example, the budget for the program in the 2011-12 fiscal year was $478,000.
However, the department only spent $230,471 from this budget.
Given that the department clearly has room to increase the program’s income threshold provisions without requiring a budget increase, will the minister commit to making this change in order to allow more Nunavut seniors to immediately benefit from the program?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for Baker Lake for asking that question.
As I stated, there were 98 elders last year who received support based on their incomes.
If elders receive old-age pension cheques from the federal government, then they may not be eligible for the subsidy program.
We are unable to assist everyone and that is one of the reasons why the budget was not all spent.
In the Baffin and Kivalliq regions, people receive assistance. However, last year, nobody from the Kitikmeot received assistance.
It’s for that reason that the program will be reviewed by the Department of Family Services. It is under review at this time.