EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Maternal Care Worker/Midwifery Program is designed to strengthen the skills and increase the number of Inuit staff in the field of maternal and child health.
Mr. Speaker, work continues on what will become a Midwifery Protection Act for Nunavut. A tremendous amount of research and discussion has taken place already, and now, a legislative drafter has joined the process. I am hopeful the bill will be ready for the Legislative Assembly for the spring session.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note that in Nunavut, registered midwives have a working knowledge of and respect for traditional Inuit practices and childbirth. Low risk birth can and should take place as close to home for the mothers as possible when the appropriate resources are in place.
Mr. Speaker, the dedicated work of the Midwifery Implementation Committee over the past decade is making this possible and is to be commended.
Minister’s Statement 021 – 2(4): Parnautiit, A Foundation for the Future – Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy (Simailak)
I’m pleased to inform Members of this House about the launch of Parnautiit, the Nunavut Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy, which I released last week at the 75th annual meeting of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada in Toronto.
Parnautiit outlines a clear policy direction for the government. It provides the mineral exploration and mining industry with confidence that Nunavut welcomes sustainable mining and the benefits it can bring, and provides a stable environment for its development.
Mr. Speaker, printed copies of Parnautiit, the Nunavut Mineral Exploration and Mining Strategy will be distributed today to all members. We will also begin distribution of this strategy in Nunavut to representatives of the mining industry, economic development agencies, and communities.
The strategy is also available since its launch on the Economic Development and Transportation website. Mining holds a great promise for the growth of Nunavut’s economy, but we cannot take this growth for granted.
We must work to create a reliable regulatory environment including the creation of new legislation and policy to ensure this promise if fulfilled and that Nunavummiut benefit fully from the mining industry in our territory.
Our strategy provides a blueprint for how this can be accomplished.
Minister’s Statement 022 – 2(4): 2005-2006 Youth’s Grants and Contributions Schedules (Tapardjuk)
Today I will be tabling in the House a list of initiatives funded under the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth through the Grants and Contributions program.
The department funds individuals and community based non-profit organizations that undertake initiatives that protect and promote Nunavut’s languages, culture, heritage, arts, elders and youth, in addition to the recreation and physical activity area.
Mr. Speaker, as you will note from the list of funding initiatives, the department supplements its work to protect and promote Nunavut’s culture and language by providing Nunavummiut with the opportunity to contribute their efforts and ideas.
I am confident that these community based initiatives contribute significantly to the department’s mandate.
Member’s Statement 044 – 2(4): The Need for a Group Home in Arviat (Alagalak)
I rise today to draw your attention to the pressing need for a group home in the community of Arviat.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, as one of the fastest growing communities in Nunavut, Arviat is experiencing some growing pains. There are a number of young adults who suffer from behaviour problems.
The only way for them to receive support or counselling for their behaviour is to be sent out of town away from their families, friends and daily lives.
Mr. Speaker, although families want to provide support and care for their loved ones, sometimes they fear for the safety of other family members when one individual is going through troubled and sometimes violent times. The situation is made even worse when there is overcrowding in the home.
Having a group home in Arviat would help to alleviate some of these problems and improve the quality of life for all of the family.
I would like some urgent consideration to be given to establishing such a facility in this community.
Mr. Speaker, I have written to the Minister of Health and Social Services on this issue but I have not yet received a reply.
I would like the support of my colleagues to see this project put in the government’s next five-year Capital Plan.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Arviat is a rapidly growing community. We need more resources and facilities to help us meet the needs of our increasing population.
If we don’t plan now for those resources then we run the risk of facing even bigger problems in the future.
Member’s Statement 045 – 2(4): Elder Care (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House today about a serious issue that was recently brought to my attention in Cambridge Bay that affects our most vulnerable constituents.
Our elders’ coordinator wrote to me to tell me about a recent home visit that she made to an elderly couple in the care of her son.
She visited the couple with the home-care nurse and an RCMP officer. When they arrived, they found the elderly couple in serious medical condition. The husband had limited mobility while his wife was found sleeping on the bathroom floor.
They spent about 45 minutes at the house and then brought the elderly man to the health centre for a complete medical exam.
I do not believe this is an isolated incident in Nunavut.
Our elders are among the most vulnerable members of our society.
According to the government’s response to a question, which I posed to the minister last November, there are approximately 1,000 elders in Nunavut today.
When elders advance in age, I believe that they deserve to live in peace and security, regardless of whether they are in the care of relatives or the government.
I am very concerned that our Nunavut communities are not prepared or do not have the facilities to help those elders who cannot look after themselves.
It often falls upon or is expected that the children will look after them. In many cases, this expectation cannot be fulfilled. Many adult children do not have the training, experience, or financial resources to look after elders, many of whom suffer from conditions that require professional care.
In the Kitikmeot, we do not have any assisted living or long-term care facilities to provide 24-hour care to elders. Sending our elders away to live in the south or elsewhere in Nunavut is not the solution either.
This runs counter to our commitment to following Closer to Home health care principles.
The elders’ coordinator wrote in her letter, “This is a sad situation, and I only hope someone, someday, will see what we have witnessed. It has been going on too long and it has to stop.” I echo her sentiments completely.
When the Government of Nunavut begins to prioritize our capital plan projects for 2008-2009, I urge it to shelve the expensive legacy projects and concentrate instead on projects in all Nunavut communities that will provide desperately-needed facilities to help our elders and other residents to enjoy an improved standard of care and quality of life.
Member’s Statement 046 – 2(4): Tribute to Susan Spring (Tootoo)
I rise today to pay tribute to a long-time resident of Iqaluit, a former co-worker, a great constituent of mine, and a good friend.
Life-long northerner Susan Spring has been a well-known and well-respected member of this community for a significant number of years.
It has been my privilege to have the opportunity to work with Susan on a number of occasions.
Susan has been the manager of the Iqaluit Housing Authority since 1993. In this demanding role, she has earned the trust and respect of the community. This would probably explain why if you phoned her up and asked her how she was doing; her comment was always "tired and grouchy".
It’s something that job will make you do.
Susan has been a dedicated and tireless volunteer.
She has sat on the board of directors of the Iqaluit affiliate of Habitat for Humanity; she has been the president of the Rotary Club of Iqaluit, and is a past recipient of the Andy Theriault Citizenship Award for Volunteer Service.
Susan will shortly leaving us to pursue new opportunities in the housing field.
Her commitment to the Iqaluit Housing Authority over the last 14 years, as well as her commitment and contribution to this community will be greatly missed.
I ask all Members to join me in wishing her well, and thanking her for her service to this community.
Member’s Statement 047 – 2(4): Sustainable Community Planning Meeting in Iqaluit (Picco)
Our mayor, Her Worship Elisapee Sheutiapik from the City of Iqaluit, is currently exploring how to get started on developing a comprehensive long-term sustainable vision and plan.
Mr. Speaker, a long-term vision and plan will help Iqaluit to become a more sustainable community; a community that provides a high quality of life for us, for our visitors, our children, and grandchildren by enhancing and balancing our economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing.
Mr. Speaker, in support of this initiative, the mayor has invited three guests that are at the leading edge of sustainable community planning here in Canada.
His Worship Mr. Ken Melamed, Mayor of Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler has one of the most comprehensive sustainability plans in Canada and aspires to host the most sustainable Winter Olympic Games in history here in Canada in 2010.
Ms. Patricia Gordon is the manager of the Imagine Calgary Project from Calgary, Alberta. Imagine Calgary is the largest visioning project for a sustainable city ever carried out in Canada involving over 18,000 citizens.
Ms. Isabel Budke, Senior Associate with the International Centre for Sustainable Cities, or the ICSC is a not-for-profit organization, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
They spoke at a special council meeting yesterday and will make presentations at a community meeting here tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Arctic Winter Games Complex.
We hope that everyone with an interest in creating a more sustainable and prosperous Iqaluit will come out to share their hopes and dreams for our community.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all Members of the House, the private sector, community and Inuit organizations, and all residents of Iqaluit to attend this important event tonight at the Arctic Winter Games Arena at 6:00 p.m. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 048 – 2(4): Income Support Guidelines (Arvaluk)
Yesterday I heard and it seemed like I was in shock and surprise about the questions being asked about social assistance.
The social assistance recipients, if they get assisted by their family, the government takes away a little bit of money that is for social assistance payments.
Because I have known people that have not lived in Nunavut for a long time, go to social assistance, and when they get paid by cash, and then they go to social assistance as well and receive social assistance.
People in Nunavut, when we find out that there are people facing hardships; we try to help them out because that’s the Inuit way of doing things.
We were told yesterday by the government that the person that is in need of social assistance, the people can help the individual. That’s what we do according to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and they tell us that we’re breaking Nunavut’s legislation because they take so much money off the social assistance recipients if they get assisted by the family.
This is the concern that I have. During Question Period I will be asking a question in regard to social assistance payment guidelines to see whether they’re not breaking the law.
Member’s Statement 049 – 2(4): The Need for Arctic College Facility in Grise Fiord (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the Nunavut Arctic College to be established in the High Arctic.
I talked with some officials from Arctic College and talked about the plans that they have in place.
The government has provided accommodations for the students but I wanted to find out whether the hamlet employees will be running properly without having any Arctic College courses.
There are also going to be courses for people who will be working at Housing through Arctic College.  They had courses in the communities in Grise Fiord not too long ago, but the federal government bought the building that was being used for accommodations.
The Arctic College that was located in the school had to be taken out because the students needed that room.
To date, Grise Fiord does not have Arctic College courses, so I wanted to find out what kinds of courses the people of Grise Fiord will be receiving because there are no Arctic College programs there.
At the appropriate time I will be directing questions to the Minister of Education.
Member’s Statement 050 – 2(4): RCMP Use of Tasers (Curley)
I rise today to talk about the visit that we were given as the Ajauqtiit Committee to see the RCMP answering machines, and I talked to the Commanding Officer about using TASER guns because the RCMP uses them to calm down suspects, or people that they’re trying to assist.
Mr. Speaker, the concern that I have is I think we have to know what the rules are when the RCMP uses those TASER guns.
Recently I was told by a young person in Rankin Inlet that they haven’t been working at their present job for two years now because he is under a lot of stress.
He works for the Government of Nunavut. He and his children, and wife were to be kicked out of their house, and they’re trying to sell the house through the courts.
He has not worked for over a year because of a lot of stress because his shoulder was fractured, and it tried to heal for over a year.
He’s been to the Nursing Station so many times, and was out on medical travel to a southern hospital and the doctors in Rankin Inlet have dealt with him a regular basis.
But, even if he got a lawyer, the house that they had a mortgage on was taken away by the court, and he has never gone to court.
Like I said; what happened to that young man is just a sad state of affairs because he is also a hunter, and because of the fractures in his shoulder he cannot go hunting.
It happened as a result of the RCMP using a TASER gun.
Perhaps it was not allowed. I think he should go to court.
Apparently he was TASERed not once, not twice, not three times, but 13 times.
They used it on his shoulder.
He has no home, he’s got no house, and he cannot get a house. So, what he has to do is move to Chesterfield Inlet.
I don’t think this should be happening. This kind of stuff should not be happening. The RCMP need to restrain themselves if they are going to use TASER guns.
I would like to recognize my constituent, our Mayor of Iqaluit, Elisapee Sheutiapik, and to also welcome the other individuals that are sitting beside her.
Welcome to the Gallery, Madame Mayor, and the other individuals.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the Gallery Her Worship, Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik, and His Worship, Ken Melamed from Whistler, British Columbia.
We have two other guests working with them on the Sustainable Community Program Plan that we spoke about earlier, Mr. Speaker.
And, we have Ms. Patricia Gordon, who is the Manager of Imagine Calgary, the project from Calgary, Alberta.
We also have Ms. Isabel Budke who is the Senior Associate with the International Centre for Sustainable Cities, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. I would like to take this opportunity and welcome them to the Gallery.
Question 049 – 2(4): Government of Nunavut’s Partnership Agreement with the Keewatin Business Development Center (Tootoo)
It’s probably a good thing he wears the Minister of Finance hat as well on this question.
Mr. Speaker, I know during the last sitting before Christmas I was asking questions in relation to a contribution agreement that his department has with the Keewatin Business Development Centre in Rankin Inlet.
I was able to obtain a copy of last year’s contribution agreement.
I would assume that these contribution agreements have been in place for some time.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister is: when they enter into these contribution agreements with these organizations, or societies, or non-profit organizations, do they follow all the government policies, as the previous minister indicated that they did, prior to entering into those agreements?
Minister responsible for Economic Development and Transportation, Honourable David Simailak.
Our guidelines have to be followed if there is going to be a contribution agreement.
It is good to hear that.
I would like to ask the minister if he is aware if one of the guidelines of the policies, I believe it’s in either the Financial Administration Act or the Financial Administration Manual, that outlines the grants and contributions to these organizations or societies requires that organization or society to be in good standing and has filed the appropriate forms with legal registries to maintain their good standing.
Yes, that is the way they are supposed to be; the organizations that we give contributions to have to go through legal registries.
I guess my next question is, is the minister aware in the particular case of Keewatin Business Development Centre, that the last statements they filed with the legal registries was four years ago, in 2003.
I am not aware of this situation.
It is the first time that I have heard of it.
Speaker: Your final supplementary. Mr. Tootoo.
I guess the next question for the minister is why his department enters into an agreement with an organization where they continue to provide funding to them since 2003 when they weren’t in good standing with legal registries.
I would like to thank the member for bringing this issue up and I will make sure my staff look into this matter and rectify the problem if their office has broken our agreement.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation ends) Oral Questions.
Question 050 – 2(4): Application Forms for Grants and Contributions (Mapsalak)
This is an issue that I have brought up on more than one occasion.
I was very pleased that some money was being made available to the people of Nunavut.
But one thing I realized is that there is very high unemployment in the smaller communities. Usually they try to access the grants and contributions that are being made available from the government.
The problem is when you are applying for the grants and contributions, you have to fill out a lot of forms and go through hoops and everything just to access those funds.
I would like to ask the minister if they have made it easier so that the people out there could access those grants and contributions.
When we became a new government, we were directed by our Premier to make sure that all business-related grants and contributions are readily available to the public out there and to make sure that the forms and paperwork that are required is made as easy as possible.
We are working on making sure that the people out there who are making the proposals have an easier time accessing them.
I would also like to thank the minister for responding to my question.
The government has monies that are available but it seems like they make it as hard as possible to access it, which is something along the line of income support and accessing those.
When will the minister be able to show us the forms and paperwork that are required to access these funds?
As I stated earlier, we are working on it and at this time I can’t tell you when they will be made available but as soon as they do, we’ll make sure that the information goes out to the Nunavut communities.
It’s totally useless if they’re not easily accessible.
The hamlets are providing training and support to the people who are trying to access those programs.
There’s support out there available from our employees and we will keep working to make sure that they’re as easy to access as possible.
In regard to finances, will we be able to see the changes after the beginning of the new fiscal year because a lot of people are discouraged from making proposals because of all the paperwork that is required.
The economic development officers are trained to help any individual who requires help.
You can also use the staff at the regional offices if you need further information, or you can also write to our department so that there’s proper support being made available to the people of Nunavut.
There is support out there; all you have to do is ask for it.
Question 051 – 2(4): Income Support Guidelines (Arvaluk)
I would like to supplement some questions that were posed yesterday.
We were astonished to find out about the government and how they treat the income support recipients.
This is handled by Social Services and the Department of Education. Could the minister tell me if there’s an agreement on how they can help the people out there through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, for example, going out hunting and then sharing the meat in the community.
There is apparently a policy that states that if you help this income support recipient, a portion of their monthly monies would be clawed back.
If I help an individual with food, are you not breaking the traditional laws when you claw back on such incidents like that?
Minister responsible for Education, Honourable Ed. Picco.
I appreciate the member raising the issue because there needs to be clarification.
What the member is saying is incorrect.
There isn’t a policy in place to take back income received or food donated or anything like that. Under the Income Support Program, if you are a single person on the program, up to $200 per period of receiving a cheque from income support for unearned income and earned income you are able to keep that as a client.
Up to $400 for a family has been put in place, and those changes were put in place proactively by this government over the past two years, it was 2004.
So earned income exemptions have increased to $200 for a single person, and $400 for a family.
The issue that was raised yesterday in the House is a separate issue; that’s the issue of where you receive a gift of an airline ticket in this case and how would that be factored in to that person’s income support payment.
What we did say is: if, for example, you gave a ticket for someone to go to a funeral or on a compassionate case, then it’s not deducted.
However, if someone is on income support and you give them a ticket and they fly from Iqaluit to Pond Inlet for example, and they’re in Pond Inlet for three months, then they’re not looking for work, they’re on a vacation if they’re visiting for that period of time.
In that case, the income support worker, when that person goes in and says I would like to have income support, I’m up here visiting Pond Inlet, I’ve been here for several weeks … the idea of the Income Support Program is to help people who are in need and help people make healthy choices.
That program and the directions haven’t changed for the last ten years even when the member was the minister. Those programs were in place. What we have done is enhanced the program since that time as I’ve just explained.
I used to be the Minister of this portfolio, but what we’re saying is that there has to be a change so that we can include Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
What I’m trying to say is that you’re looking at them in segments, for example, airline tickets.
We all know that this individual’s sister in Clyde River has a brother in Igloolik, and we know that they haven’t seen each other for 20 years.
At times there is a family reunion for up to six months.
They haven’t seen their brother or sister for 20 years, so we help them to get back and get reacquainted.
My question is; are you revamping the policies and regulations so that we can include Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit?
I think the member just made a good point.
The point on the Income Support Program is that in each case it has to be judged on its own merits; it’s on a case by case basis.