EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, there are currently 24 CAP sites in 20 Nunavut communities.
These sites are run by various different entities, such as community libraries, or organizations, such as the Ilisaqsivik Society in Clyde River.
The fact that these sites are so heavily used, sometimes even necessitating time limits on users, is a testament to their success.
Mr. Speaker, as society evolves, the skill and competency of individuals using computers and accessing the Internet has a direct impact on their employability.
Mr. Speaker, I would further note that every year, at least 30 or 40 youth workers are hired and trained at campsites in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be tabling a book, The Road We Travelled, which contains stories from across Nunavut and across Canada that illustrates the best practices in adult learning of information and communication technologies in remote, rural, and aboriginal communities.
Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Community Access Program supports many sites and activities across the territory. It also delivers the Computers for Schools program on behalf of Industry Canada. Unfortunately, it seems that Industry Canada may not continue funding this initiative in the near future.
I call upon the government to make every effort to support the ongoing success of the Nunavut Community Access Program.
Member’s Statement 159 – 3(3): Women in Action: Steps of Hope (Taptuna)
I rise today to share an important initiative that is currently being planned by the members of the cancer awareness campaign called “Women in Action: Steps of Hope.”
This is an initiative that is gaining momentum in the Kitikmeot and also in Iqaluit.
This involves women working together to raise a sum of monies to support cancer research and healthy living.
Mr. Speaker, this initiative is being led by the Hon. Commissioner of Nunavut, Edna Elias, who was inspired to make this walk since losing friends and family to cancer.
She will be making this walk this spring.
Commissioner Elias will be joined by her sister Jeannie Ehaloak, friends Donna Olsen-Hakongak, Elisabeth Hadlari, Crystal Qaumariaq of Cambridge Bay, Jamie McInnis of Calgary, and most recently, Janet Brewster of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, the term “Women in Action” represents women working together to coordinate events involving fundraising in the communities, while the term “Steps of Hope” refers to the women making a trek which creates or draws our attention to the matter of making efforts that we must all strive to make and try to live healthy.
Mr. Speaker, fundraising events have consisted of penny carnivals, soup lines, and soon, my community of Kugluktuk will be hosting a dinner auction for this very important cause, while Cambridge Bay is gearing up for more soup and chilli lines, as small examples of what’s been happening within these Kitikmeot communities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time in the House today to congratulate the women involved in this venture and draw your attention to this very important initiative.
Mr. Speaker, I wish all those the very best success in their past fundraisers and trekkers.
Member’s Statement 160 – 3(3): Appreciation for Truth and Reconciliation Commission Process (Enook)
Good afternoon, people of Pond Inlet and Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend thanks and appreciation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the visit to the community of Pond Inlet in early February 2012.
Mr. Speaker, one of the roles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to document the truths of survivors, families, communities, and anyone personally affected by the residential school experience.
(interpretation ends) The commission plays an important role in providing opportunities for survivors to share their experiences.
Describing the memories can be emotionally difficult, but it is a step towards putting the past behind us and working towards a stronger and healthier future.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the Truth and Reconciliation Inuit sub-commission, Jennifer Hunt-Poitras and Robbie Watt, who came to the community of Pond Inlet to hear the stories of our survivors.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, over the two-day visit, 34 statements were collected as many individuals shared their stories and their pain.
Mr. Speaker, this event was an important step for many who wish for a healthier future.
I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the important role they are playing in this process.
Member’s Statement 161 – 3(3): Thoughts and Prayers for Coral Harbour Residents at a Time of Loss (Ningeongan)
I would like to wish a good afternoon to the residents of Chesterfield Inlet and fellow residents in Coral Harbour.
Mr. Speaker, my fellow residents in Coral Harbour are grieving over the loss of a community member. As they mourn their loss and are grieving, they are in my thoughts and I will remember them in my prayers.
I sympathize and support you, and I hope that you will overcome these trying times and that you will eventually overcome your grief. You are in my thoughts.
I rise today to recognize three of my constituents from Arviat who are in the House today.
I would like to recognize Mike Illnik and Jackie Otuk, who are both here working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation and also here as representatives for employees of the Nunavut Employees Union.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize Susie Johnson, who is in the House with us today, a teacher at the John Arnalukjuak High School, who is here chaperoning our pages.
I welcome you all to the Gallery.
We welcome you to the Gallery.
It gives me great pleasure today to welcome to the Gallery the Deputy Minister of Finance, Chris D’Arcy, sitting right behind me here.
I wish a very good day to the residents of Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet. I am quite pleased to be able to recognize fellow residents of Rankin Inlet.
One of the people here is someone I spent my childhood growing up with and I just used to know her as Qavangat. I would like to welcome Leonie Barry to the Gallery. I hope you enjoy your stay here in Iqaluit.
This person is a fellow resident of Iqaluit with whom I have participated on different boards and agencies and as employees of other bodies. I want to acknowledge the person who serves in the capacity of the President of NEU, Mr. Doug Workman.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize someone who used to work here in the precinct, Nikki Eegeesiak, sitting over there on my right.
Welcome to the Gallery, Nikki. Welcome back.
I also extend a warm welcome to the rest, I believe, of the collective bargaining team for the Nunavut Employees Union.
Question 231 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Contracting Practices (Curley)
I am rising again today to continue with the line of questioning I directed yesterday to the minister responsible for the contracting activities of the Petroleum Products Division of the government.
On December 11, 2011, the NNI Contracting Appeals Board, which includes representatives from the government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the business community, issued a decision concerning the department’s awarding of the fuel distribution contract in the community of Coral Harbour.
The appeals board identified a number of problems with the contracting process and recommended that the contract be terminated.
For the benefit of the listening public in Nunavut, can the minister clearly explain why his department decided earlier this week to reject the recommendation of the appeals board and can he clarify if he made the final decision in this matter?
I wish to thank the member as well for raising those questions, the representative for Rankin Inlet.
He raised a number of questions, so I will answer one of them.
There weren’t very many cases reviewed as per the issue raised in his question. The NNI appeals board only reviewed three cases, for which we received their recommendations.
We approved of two of their recommendations, but rejected their third recommendation.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The main question was with respect to why the recommendation, specifically the third one, was not approved. This is for the benefit of Nunavutmiut who are listening and who want to clearly understand the process.
According to the letter responding to the question I raised, which became public knowledge once tabled, the government response from the deputy minister was, and I quote, “sought the advice of outside legal counsel” in reviewing the recommendations of the NNI Contracting Appeals Board.
The actions of the appeals board were exemplary, as they were just undertaking the mandate given to them to review the appeal. I believe that the work of the appeals board was very clear and spoke for itself.
Can the minister tell us which law firm was hired by his department and how much its advice cost us in this matter?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not intentionally ignoring your multiple questions, but you just raised three more questions.
With respect to the first question you brought up, you asked me what the reasoning was for rejecting the recommendation of the NNI board for termination of the contract.
The NNI Contracting Appeals Board was not unanimous in their review of the recommendation, but we will not be terminating the contract as per their recommendation. The Nunavut government believes that contracts that were awarded were in accordance with contracting policy.
Further, in our estimation, the appeals board was correct in their assessment and due to that reason, the government didn’t want to terminate the contract that had already been awarded. Our position was that the procedures were followed properly in relation to the awarding of the contract and that is why this contract was not terminated.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Kusugak. Just to clarify, there were two questions there, not three, and you can choose to answer one or both. It’s up to you.
Again, just to remind members for clarity, for your own benefit to get the responses that you’re looking for, try to keep it at one question at a time, and then we won’t have to worry about miscounting questions.
Yes, I noted with the preamble that the earlier question was ignored.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is perfectly evident that there are serious inconsistencies with the government’s approach to contracting and procurement.
Last year, the NNI Contracting Appeals Board also issued a set of recommendations in the matter of the awarding of the contract for Kitikmeot air ambulance services.
In this case, however, the government was happy with the recommendations.
Can the minister explain how the business community in Nunavut can have confidence in the government’s contracting and procurement system given that the government seems prepared to ignore the recommendations of the contracting appeals board when it does not like its advice?
Can the minister explain why Nunavutmiut should have confidence in the government?
That was one question.
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) As you are quite well aware, under the government’s contracting and procurement system, once a contract has been tendered, we have to abide by all of the rules under the system.
There are specific rules to be followed for any contract that the government tenders.
(interpretation ends) All contracting procedures are followed very closely. All decisions are made following the contracting procedures that are put out by this government. The departments that are seeking contract services give our department the criteria for which they are looking for those contracts.
All legal contracting procedures are followed to the letter of the law. I could assure the member that there is no political interference whatsoever when contracts are awarded.
What Nunavutmiut are starting to notice is that the government treats contractors differently, as per my statement earlier, and that is why I raised that question.
As I noted in the preamble to my line of questioning, the minister’s department is responsible for the government’s Petroleum Products Division, which is located in the community of Rankin Inlet.
Can the minister explain what happened to the former director of the division?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): When speaking of any employees within the public service of our government, some of them resign while others retire from their positions. The deputy ministers deal with human resource issues. I don’t want to get into the details in this House, as it was handled by the proper authorities, including the deputy minister of the department.
Question 232 – 3(3): Status of Exams for Sanikiluaq High School Students (Rumbolt)
Mr. Speaker, I was very concerned to learn that a number of Sanikiluaq’s high school students, students who are looking forward to graduating and some even hoping to go on to post-secondary studies, may now have their dreams delayed due to a bureaucratic error.
Apparently, Sanikiluaq high school students were unable to take their English departmental exams last month because someone forgot to update the Alberta testing division of Sanikiluaq’s new school name.
Can the minister confirm that she is aware of this situation and explain exactly how an error of this nature could have occurred?
I also want to thank the member from Sanikiluaq for asking about that matter.
I’m not aware of the situation, so I will have to request more information on the matter.
Educational issues are, indeed, very important and I totally understand the member’s concern. I will have to get back to the member after I have looked into that issue.
Both teachers and students worked long and hard to prepare for these exams only to be failed by bureaucracy.
Can the minister update this House on what steps are being taken to ensure that Sanikiluaq high school students will be able to take their English departmental exams at the earliest possible opportunity?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt.
As I said earlier, I was not aware of that. I am very concerned about the concern that the member has as well, so I will get those details and get back to him as soon as I can.
Question 233 – 3(3): Medical Escort Policy (Oshutapik)
My question relates to wanting more clarification for Nunavummiut and my fellow residents of Pangnirtung so that they can understand more about the issue of patient escorts.
I would like to know what the escort policy speaks to. That is my first question on what kind of policies you use for medical patient escorts.
Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Minister Peterson.
I thank Mr. Oshutapik for the question.
Mr. Speaker, there are two types of medical escorts: there’s a medical escort that is provided by a physician or nurse and there’s a client escort that might be an adult to a family member who would accompany the patient.
Normally, the decision would be made by the attending physician or health professional who recommends who should receive an escort. I believe, in certain circumstances, if you’re a unilingual elder, you would probably require an escort. If you’re in medical difficulty, you would probably receive an escort.
It’s quite complicated, but I assure you that the health professionals, health centres, and the hospitals are quite proficient in making decisions on who should get an escort.
I thank the minister for responding on the matter I wanted clarification on.
However, with respect to the various communities, people are starting to believe that there are different policies applied to different communities.
The policy applied to our community seems to be inconsistent, as some patients can be escorted while others are unable to be provided escorts.
I would like to cite this example. It has been close to two years since my mother, who personally raised me, who cannot speak a word of English and also cannot read syllabics, as she never learned how to read and write, was sent to Ottawa without an escort.
Several patients with the same lack of language have subsequently also been sent down without an escort and it isn’t always due to old age. People who are sick generally know where the pain is emanating from and although they have stated that they don’t want to be sent out alone, they are sent out without an escort.
That is why I raised the issue regarding the escort policy and what is followed.
The regional staff ought to apply this policy consistently and I would prefer if they could be directed to follow the policy.
I would also like to ask if there can be some type of ombudsman or appeals committee that could be struck to review these types of cases.
I thank Mr. Oshutapik.
I’ll get his name correct one of these days.
I agree that the policy is there. It is a policy that governs the health and social services, health centres, and hospitals. It is to apply to all people who may or may not require a medical escort.
I can’t speak to specific issues, but if there are problems in communities where an individual is unilingual or an elder is not receiving a medical escort, then that person should bring it to the attention of the nurse-in-charge, who would bring it to the attention of the executive director for the region.
I do believe it is consistent and I will instruct the department to ensure that the nurses and other officials who work with that policy understand that it is to be applied consistently and uniformly across the territory.
I also thank the minister for his answer to my question.
Our communities are disparate, both in geography and distance, which includes the distances involved in travelling to hospitals.
In our community, another instance I am aware of which I want to raise another question on for my supplementary question is when some medical patients have seen their doctor and are cleared to travel home, they find that their travel arrangements have not been finalized when their travel dates come up.
Some patients relate that they experience problems at a time when their bodies are healing and they want to return home, as most people prefer to be with their families. Difficulties have arisen with their travel arrangements and some have problems with passenger seat availability. Due to excess seating, some patients encounter problems.
If I were a patient being told that I cannot travel due to a lack of seats, I would be indignant, at least personally.
There are patients who have experienced this.
When the airline is overbooked, the patient who is supposed to be on the plane is usually bumped off.
Additionally, another excuse used is that their airline tickets weren’t arranged.
Who is responsible for resolving this problem?
I thank Mr. Oshutapik for raising those concerns.
I apologize for inconveniences and problems that your constituents may be having in this regard.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know the exact title for their jobs, but I think there are two medical travel coordinators at the Qikiqtani General Hospital and two here in town.
The office was in Pangnirtung and I think the positions were transferred here.
They should be able to coordinate all the travel. If you’re at the Larga home in Ottawa, they should be able to help the travellers as well. If there’s an issue, I believe there’s a 1-800 number they can call and someone will assist them.
If they get home or if they get stranded somewhere, they should be able to call that 1-800 number and get some assistance.
Also in the department, we have what we call client travel coordinators who, if there are complaints about the service or suggestions on how to improve it, can also assist the people.
The concerns are duly noted and my officials will look into how to improve it.
I just want to mention as well that I believe the Medical Travel Policy is under review right now.
The current policy expires at the end of March 2012.
So I think there’s a review underway to try to improve it even more than it is.
I should mention too and I know that this is a large number, but there are approximately 40,000 one-way tickets issued for medical travel in Nunavut every year.
It’s unfortunate that some people have problems because of weather, planes going mechanical, and things happen, and it disrupts people’s travel plans.
I’m fairly sure we have all experienced that, but if your constituents have problems, they should be able to be helped.
Mr. Oshutapik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister.
I, along with those on whose behalf I raised the question, will expect to see the completed review on the escort policy after March.
This being my last supplementary, quite a number of us elected members require corrective eyewear.
In our community, the eye doctors, simply due to the number of communities, only come in occasionally, even though many residents of our community are numerous and on the occasion they arrive, the appointments are already overbooked. It takes perhaps just one day or sometimes two days after the optometrist’s arrival that their schedule is already full and this occupies their entire visit.
Many people have outdated prescriptions, as they haven’t had eye exams for over two years and longer in some cases.
I imagine that you can’t sympathize as your prescription would be up to date due to the ease of seeing an eye doctor.
With respect to optometrists’ visits to communities, who is responsible for their scheduling? Is this part of your department’s responsibilities?
I would like to ask for additional visits, but as I’m on my last supplementary, perhaps I ought to set up a meeting with the minister directly to deal with this issue.
If you’re willing to respond, that’s fine.
I want to ask if the visits can be extended in our communities.
I just want to remind members that the supplementary questions have to fall in line with their original questions and that was a different topic, so I’ll move on.
Question 234 – 3(3): Forensic Audit of Nunavut Housing Corporation (Elliott)
Mr. Speaker, when the minister was on this side of the House, he called for a forensic audit regarding the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s over-commitment to the Nunavut Housing Trust and Affordable Housing Initiative.
Can the minister advise us if this will occur?
Hon. Fred Schell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Elliott, for that question.
Yes, we are in the works of doing that and the housing board is in agreement with it. We’re going to use the same firm that did the original audit, but it’s going to be a little more detailed on exactly what happened on those two programs.
It has been many months since this over-commitment actually occurred. Can the minister clarify what his department hopes a forensic audit will achieve at this time?
Basically what we’re looking at is to see what actually happened, other than just the housing kept on saying that it was an over-commitment. I believe there are other issues. We’re not on a witch hunt to blame anybody for it, but if there were mistakes made, we want to know what the mistakes are and hopefully they won’t happen again.
In terms of trying to find out what the problems were with the Nunavut housing over-commitment, I’m a little confused and maybe would like a little more clarification on it.
I know the Office of the Auditor General did their report on what happened in terms of how spending was within the corporation. For the last couple of years, we have been told by different ministers that things are on track from the audit and lessons were learned, and then there will be no more overspending, yet now we are doing the forensic audit.
Maybe you could just clarify what exactly is hoped to be gained in terms of difference from what the Auditor General was actually saying.
I apologize for calling you Mr. Rumbolt off the bat.
Basically what we’re looking at is not at the finances and how the money was spent. We’re going to determine what decisions were made and if the right decisions were made as to, number one, the type of housing that was selected, who made the decisions on some of the contracts that went out, and was the best value for dollar done there.