EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I look forward to getting that response from the minister.
While he’s checking with his officials, I noted that the last time, my question was as to when he plans on coming forward. But I would also like to ask them if they have any idea or anticipation as to how long it would be in place for.
I know that we budgeted $10 million for this fiscal year and am wondering if there’s going to be a requirement for further subsidy in subsequent years.
Hon. David Simailak: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will also get that information.
Question 099 – 2(1): Policy in Place for Escorts (Kattuk)
I would just like more information for the people that go to hospital and who have escorts.
Is there any kind of policy or regulation?
Do they follow the escort, because they are going to be looking after them while they are in hospital, or are they there to interpret?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of for Health and Social Services.
Yes, there are a number of times, for the elders, where they need escorts.
If they are going for major surgery they will need an escort, or if they are terminally ill, or if they are too young, or if they are underage.
To my understanding, that is what the escort does. If they are underage, if they are old, if they are elders, and if they are unilingual they are able to bring an escort.
If you come from Sanikiluaq, you go to Winnipeg. When you go to the hospital, they do have interpreters in the major places, they interpret during the trip.
The question that I am asking…. We do have a concern in our community, especially for the people that are escorting a patient, when the doctor has to tell the patient that they are terminally ill, that the escort has to interpret and this is very difficult.
Even if I am related to this person, if it is my brother, my father, I would be the one that would have to tell them.
That hurts, when you have to tell somebody that they only have a certain time to live.
As I stated, we go to Winnipeg from Sanikiluaq. It is a good idea that only during the trip should the escort look after the patients.
I am saying it is not right for this person, who is an escort, to be doing the interpreting when this is very serious.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister responsible for health.
Yes, I will look into your concern. I will direct my staff to look into this.
Question 100 – 2(1): Homeowner Savings – Other Options (Tootoo)
My question is for the minister responsible for finance.
I know that over the last week there were some questions raised and comments made back and forth in regards to the government’s decision to cut the school tax, to benefit homeowners throughout Nunavut.
I know that in the minister’s budget there, it indicates that there is roughly $500,000 in savings, and they indicate that it is going to go to the homeowners as a result of this tax cut.
I know I did some looking into it myself here in discussions with the city. I understand that of the $500,000 that was collected last year, here alone in Iqaluit it was $410,000 that was collected.
That leaves around $90,000 for all the other 25 communities throughout Nunavut that was collected.
Of that $410,000 that was collected here in Iqaluit, 70 percent of that was not collected from homeowners.
So, I would like to ask the minister: were there any other options looked at to target specifically homeowners on this tax savings? Because it appears on the surface that it was targeted towards homeowners, but the big winners are the non-homeowners.
Say, up to 70 percent of that money that was collected here is non-homeowners’.
I would like to ask the minister if there are any other options that were looked at to specifically target the homeowners for savings.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Finance.
I think in our discussions the last couple of days, I had mentioned that the savings from the education component of the taxes go back to the general revenues of the Government of Nunavut and the savings go directly to the homeowner; I didn’t say that the funding would go to the homeowners.
The benefit to homeowners is that they don’t have to pay the education portion of the tax to the city or to the government.
That is the direct savings to those individuals.
Now, in terms of allocations of taxable assessments between residential and commercial property tax in Nunavut, 66 percent of that was residential and commercial was 33.6 percent. So, in total throughout Nunavut, including Iqaluit, it was 68.2 percent for residential and 31.8 percent for commercial.
I just want to clarify for the minister: I wasn’t asking where the saving were going to go or any revenue was going to go.
I know that there is no revenue being saved and given out; in this it’s just a direct tax credit to the consumer.
I was asking the minister if there were any other options that were looked at instead of just cutting the credit all together, or the education component altogether. Maybe like the idea of having a rebate for the homeowner so that the people that are targeting this….
Maybe I don’t know where she’s getting her numbers from but in my checking with the city, 70 percent of it was commercial, 70 percent of the $410,000 last year was commercial.
I would just like to ask if any other option was looked at to specifically target the homeowners.
This is one savings that we looked at.
There are other incentives that are being looked at through the Housing Corporation, through the home ownership program, as far as trying to increase the funding for potential homeowners in Nunavut. That is one option that we looked at, and it’s one that will provide some savings.
The information I’m getting in terms of the allocation of taxable assessments comes from the department for the entire Nunavut territory, not just the city of Iqaluit, and this benefit is applicable to all Nunavummiut homeowners as well as commercial lease holders, and not just the city of Iqaluit.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the minister if she would be willing to table a copy of the breakdown, by community, by residential and commercial, for all of Nunavut so that we can see first-hand and be able to look into it after.
Speaker (interpretation): Hon. Leona Aglukkaq.
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Mr. Speaker, I can look into that.
I’d appreciate the minister looking into it. But, I’d like to have a little bit more of a commitment from her to table the information that is apparently there at her disposal so that the all the members of this House can see exactly, from the department’s point of view, how much is being saved and where. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Hon. Leona Aglukkaq
I’ll make that commitment.
Question 101 – 2(1): Statistics on Homelessness (Peterson)
I don’t want to waste our eight minutes without talking to the minister responsible for homelessness.
I rose to talk about the issue of homelessness.
I wonder if the minister can tell us if there are statistics that exist for homelessness in Nunavut, if that information is available, and if it could be tabled for us.
Speaker (interpretation): Hon. Ed Picco.
A lot of that which is available that could be tabled in the House will be provided to the member. Most of them are based on percentages on the situation of homelessness in Nunavut.
Mr. Peterson: That’s good to know there are a lot of stats around. I’ll have to get that information.
Can the minister tell the House what he’s doing to address homelessness in Nunavut?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister responsible, Hon. Ed Picco.
Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in the country, except for the federal government, to actually have a minister responsible for the issue of homelessness.
Minister Bradshaw is the current minister for homelessness in the federal government and, indeed, we’ve had an opportunity to have her in Nunavut at least twice. I’ve had an opportunity to meet with her.
Under this portfolio we’ve been working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
We just recently, in the last several months, have appointed a position that is dedicated to the file on homelessness.
We have accessed money through the SCPI fund to be able to facilitate some projects that are underway.
For example, one of the residences that were built, several multi-plexes in Taloyoak, were accessed through the SCPI fund under the homelessness initiative.
We’ve been able to do some good work here in Iqaluit under the SCPI fund from the federal government as well as bring forward the issues around homelessness.
The member talked about earlier and just very briefly…. There are two categories for homelessness that the federal government of Canada uses.
The first category is absolute homelessness and that’s what Mr. Peterson talked about earlier.
Absolute homelessness is what we see in southern Canada, Toronto for example, on Yonge Street, people on the street.
Here in Nunavut it is what we call relative homelessness; they would freeze to death.
It’s funny they use these acronyms, an acronym like SCPI.
We’re talking about a serious issue and we have an acronym called Skippy.
I’m wondering if the minister could tell us what his department defines as homelessness in Nunavut, please. Thank you.
I wasn’t trying to be flippant.
I’m being very serious when I’m talking about the issue of homelessness.
The Skippy funds are supporting community partnership initiatives under the federal government, which this government has been successful in leveraging from to do a range of projects.
What we see here in Nunavut as homelessness, I believe is at the present time…. There are over 1,000 families on the waiting list for housing in Nunavut, and that in itself, I think, points out the seriousness of the issue in Nunavut.
I was happy to hear earlier that the minister is working with the Minister of the Housing Corporation on a bill of homelessness in Nunavut.
Again, I would like to refer to the Auditor General’s report, that the government had spent $3 million on tenant improvements for a building it had already owned. At the average cost of $200,000 per house, that would have built a lot of houses.
But I’m wondering, can the minister tell the House if there is a dedicated Government of Nunavut budget for homelessness initiatives.
The issue of homelessness is found within the priorities of different departments.
Under the Department of Health and Social Services, the core funding, for example, for the homeless shelter here in Iqaluit is funded through that department.
So, there is a line item in the budget.
As I said earlier, under the Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services we actually have a dedicated PY for the issue of homelessness.
So, there are monies, again, there.
There are also monies that are being leveraged from the department in the Nunavut Housing Corporation as well as Health and Social Services to deal with some of the issues around homelessness.
For example, under the strategy announced under the federal government we have just completed the Continuum of Care program here in Iqaluit for the issue of homelessness.
So, there has been quite a bit of work done.
I can also point out that there have been several meetings on the issue of homelessness that I had an opportunity to attend a few months ago here in Iqaluit, which brought together several stakeholders. I will provide the member at the break a copy of the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Housing: Hidden Homelessness and Health in Nunavut which is a comprehensive review just completed before Christmas.
Question 102 – 2(1): Update on School Inspections (Tootoo)
Earlier in the session I asked the minister responsible a question regarding inspections in our schools, after the roof on the school in Inuvik collapsed. And the minister had made a commitment to provide me with that information as to when the schools’ in Nunavut, not just for the roofs, but also the other technical inspections for safety and health, inspections were done.
I would like to ask the minister if he could provide me with an update on that, on when he expects to have that information available.
Speaker (interpretation): The Minister of Education.
As I indicated, last week I think it was, to Mr. Tootoo in regards to this question, those sections are carried out by the department that is responsible for maintenance of government buildings and so on.
I am still just waiting for that information.
As soon as I get that information, I will provide it to the member.
I know that it is the same answer as I got the last time.
Maybe I’ll ask the minister: did he immediately request that information from the department responsible, and did they give him any indication as to when they expect to provide that information to the minister?
I can say in all seriousness that the requests by the members are handled expediently and indeed expeditiously.
I would suggest to you that it is the case with that question, too.
Those questions by Mr. Tootoo are always taken seriously by the government and by this minister.
I would hope to have an expedient response, sometime before the end of this week, detailing the information that was requested.
Speaker (interpretation): Question Period is over.
Tabled Document 019 – 2(1): RCMP Telecom System - Letter to the RCMP Commanding Officer (Okalik)
I wish to table the following document, a letter to Chief Superintendent John Henderson, commanding officer, RCMP V division, expressing concern regarding the safety of Nunavummiut and the telecom system.
Mr. Evyagotailak: “Koanaqutit, Uqaqti.”
Notice of Motion 11, extended hours and days. I give notice that on Thursday May 27, 2004, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Nattilik, that the Speaker be authorized to set sitting days and hours as the Speaker deems fit, to assist with the business before the House.
At the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Mr. Speaker, I am seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Speaker (interpretation): The member is asking for unanimous consent to deal with his motion today.
Motion 011 – 2(1): Extended Hours and Days (Evyagotailak)
Motion, extended hours and days: I move, seconded by the Hon. Member of Nattilik, that the Speaker be authorized to set sitting days and hours as the Speaker deems to fit, to assist with the business before the House.
Item 20, “Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.”
Bill 2 – Appropriations (O&M) Act, 2004-2005, with Mr. Evyagotailak in the Chair.
First of all, we will take a 10-minute break.
>>House recessed at 15:25 and resumed at 15:56
Chairman: I would like the Committee to come to order.
In Committee of the Whole we were dealing with the 2004-2005 main estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
We were on Page H-11.
I would suggest that the Committee continue on page H-11.
Item 17: Committee Motions  Committee Motion 003 – 2(1): Deferral of Consideration of the 2004-05 Main Estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I have a motion in regards to this.
I move that the 2004-2005 main estimates of the Department of Health and Social Services be deferred.
Chairman: There is a motion on the floor to defer the Department of Health and Social Services’ main estimates. It is in order.
Do all members have a copy of the motion?
Mr. Curley (interpretation): The motion is straightforward.
I am sure that most of the questions have been answered, but I think it was on Friday, on page H-9 and page H-11…. My question is in regards to these pages, in regards to contract services for medivac air services and the contracts for medical travel.
The cabinet had deferred their responses, therefore I could not ask any more questions during the Committee of the Whole. So, I am requesting a deferral of the consideration of the department.
Perhaps the motion could include the concern of the member.
It does not state the reasons why, but it seems like the deferral is for an eternity.
Perhaps identify the budget line-items, and perhaps state how long the deferral could be.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Premier.
Just in regards to the motion and the Premier’s comments to the motion.
I think the mover of the motion made it pretty clear that the reason he was putting the motion forward is that there were some questions that were taken as notice, and he would like to wait to get that information before proceeding with the Department of Health and Social Services’ budget.
I don’t know if having that on the record of the motion is enough to satisfy the Premiers’ request for how long I’d be deferred for until those questions are replied , from what I understand from the movers’ comments to the motion.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): If you want to amend this motion, all the questions that I have asked were taken as notice under 69-2(1) Medivac RFP award.
It’s also in the response in the records. If the other side wants to make amendment to the motion, I have no problem.
On the floor I also had asked the Premier a question that was taken as notice as well.
That’s how it was ruled at the time, but it could also be one of the questions I wouldn’t mind hearing the answer to prior to moving, as well, with the department’s budget.
If the members are happy to take a break and have the motion amended, it’ll be a little more explicit, specifically on the motion. I’d be more than happy to do that.
To the motion, Hon. Ed Picco.
I just have a suggestion that if there’s a concern with the department’s budget, usual convention, a usual precedence, is that you’d continue with your budget debate. And when you get to the end of the budget deliberation with the department then you have an opportunity to say, we will approve the budget except for the department of health, or CLEY, or whatever the department is, if the following information is not forthcoming.
That gives you and the department an opportunity to be able to provide that information before the end of the budget debate.
In the beginning of the budget debate we haven’t even finished the pages in response to the budget, then you are causing a serious issue with the budget of the government.
I would suggest that we conclude the department and you would allow that as a member. They have the right to do that. Any member can take something from the budget, you can’t add to it.
So, when you get to the end of your budget debate you’d be able to say that there was information forthcoming from the department of health and it’s not here; therefore and thus, we’d have a motion to defer that portion of the budget. That way, the rest of the budget can complete.
This way, you’re starting off the first department. We haven’t even completed the total budget, and we’ll have to go back to it and so on.
So, I would make that suggestion to the House and to the Members.
Chairman: Thank you, Hon. Ed Picco.
To the motion, Hon. Leona Aglukkaq.
In terms of the question I took as notice, a question from Member Curley, I can have that information tomorrow. I’ll have to get that translated, which we’re just finalizing today.
Something I need clarification on just now: Member Tootoo asked that the question he asked of a separate minister be included in my response to Mr. Curley’s question, which I think are two separate issues.
When I took the notice from Mr. Curley, it was a similar question, so perhaps we can clarify that.
Chairman: To the motion, stick to the motion, please.
One, a question I asked the Premier last week…. He said he believed the question was taken as notice and therefore no response was forthcoming on that. I believe the ruling today addressed that so that’s something I’d look for a response.
Sorry, to the motion, I just wanted…. Each member can speak to the motion once, please. Mr. Tootoo.
I beg the Chair’s indulgence, and he can correct me if I’m wrong. But just on it that, that it’s a separate response.
It’s a separate response on a question that was taken as notice.
It doesn’t have to come from the same minister.
I’m still looking for that information; it was taken as notice.
So, I still look for an answer on that question to include in the response that we’re waiting for, for the deferral of the budget.
Once that information is forthcoming then we can go back to the budget.
Mr. Chairman, also, in Minister Picco’s comments on the budget, I don’t believe they were 100 percent accurate.
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Tootoo. I’m sorry.
I’m going to give Mr. Curley the closing remarks to the motion.
To the motion, Mr. Curley.
Mr. Curley: My point of order is this: that my motion was in order to defer, subsequent to my comments that information that I required, with respect to my question, is not being tabled by the cabinet or the minister responsible for finance.
Subsequently, one of the members, the Minister of Education, put forward a different proposal altogether, which is separate from my motion.
I believe that his position would have really created difficulty for me in following up questions with respect to pages H-9 and H-11.
So, on that basis I made time to follow up questions if I’m not totally satisfied with the response from the Minister of Finance.
It will not, in my view, withhold any further because substantial questions are being answered, and we need a bit more time.
To the motion. All those agreed to the motion, raise your hand.
Chairman: All those opposed, raise your hands.
All those opposed, raise your hands.
All those abstaining, raise your hands, please.
Would you like to move on to the Department of Education’s main estimates?
Are you agreed that we will move on to Education’s main estimates?
Chairman: I now would like to ask the Minister of Education to make his opening remarks.
I am pleased to be here today to review the Department of Education’s business plan and main estimates for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
The Department of Education has a wide range of responsibilities from early childhood activities, schools, post-secondary income support, as well as adult learning.
The Department of Education will see an overall increase in its operating budget next year of $6.8 million.
The greatest part of this increase will be allocated to the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students program, to social-assistance food allowance, and to the impact from the FNT collective agreement.
I would like to point out that the department had to absorb a $3.6 million overall reduction carried forward from the 2003-2004 budget.
In spite of our fiscal difficulties we made progress over the last year.
On the school side, enrollment is up.
The number of grade 12 graduates continues to increase and the curriculum work is proceeding.
The discussion document entitled Developing a Nunavut Adult Learning Strategy was released in November of 2003.
The Department of Education, with various stakeholders including Nunavut Arctic College, are to prepare a strategy for cabinet that will address the full range of adult education and training requirements and provide direction for adult programs in for the future.
The Department of Education works closely with Nunavut Arctic College and contributes $14.528 million to the base funding.
The department also provides $1.877 million for the community teacher education program.
The department supports complete financial and program reviews of the college to ensure seamless programs for adult learning.
The department recognizes that reform of the education system is required in order for Nunavummiut to reach their full potential.
The major instrument in this proposed reform would be a new education and school act.
The new act must address issues with schools and bring the education system into line with the direction advocated by parents, district education authorities, educators, and other groups.
Extensive consultation will be required to ensure that the views of all groups are considered in drafting our proposed legislation.
The budget for our policy and planning division was increased to reflect that priority.
Inuktitut curriculum is the priority for the Department of Education.
The following three items were foundation work completed to support curriculum development.
Student assessment framework and classroom practices.