EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Question 036 – 2(3): Update on Nursing Recruitment Strategy (Netser)
I will also direct my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, last March the Minister of Health and Social Services made a statement regarding the on-going success of the Department Health and Social Services International Registered Nursing Recruitment Strategy.
Less than a month ago Mr. Speaker, the Kivalliq welcomed a number of new nurses from India and the Philippines.
Can the minister provide the House with an update on the success of her department’s Canadian Registered Nursing Strategy?
The Department of Health and Social Services has undertaken International Recruitment Initiatives.
We have currently recruited up to 50 international nurses.
The department, in partnership with the Department of Human Resources, has done a number of orientations - a month long orientation in Iqaluit and once the orientations are completed the nurses are placed in the communities where there are vacancies.
So I am pleased to announce today that we have hired 50 international nurses to date.
The department goals of staffing all registered nursing positions were to have been achieved this September of 2005.
Can the minister confirm for this House if that goal was reached, and if not, why not?
There are various stages of the recruitment.
The first intake of individuals that came for their orientation came within the month of August.
Currently, the second intake is finishing off their orientation in Iqaluit and sometime next week is the third intake of additional nurses. They are at various stages.
One of the things we also assist in getting the nurses is getting their work permits completed. At the same time the international nurses are required to complete the national exams to work in Canada.
So we are at different stages and we are achieving what we set out to do.
Mr. Netser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister clarify to this House how many of the department’s newly recruited nurses are international recruits and how many are Canadian recruits?
The 50 I mention are all international.
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are told of different concerns from our constituents.
The nurses that are out of the country are replacing the nurses in the communities and they have been in the communities for a long time and they are being taken over from outside of Canada.
What are the plans for the present nurses in the health centres?
The international nurses that are being hired are being hired to fill current vacancies.
The nurses that we have on staff; some stay and some leave for their own personal reasons.
There are always on-going efforts to fill the vacancies that we deal with in the whole nursing field.
We try and keep our nurses, but for various reasons they leave and they are not being replaced by international nurses.
Question 037 – 2(3): Toll-Free Number for Cancer Patients (Barnabas)
Under Members’ Statements, I stated about the patients that are sent home after they’ve been diagnosed with cancer.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if there is a toll-free number where those patients can get some counselling over the telephone or that is available to them, or to their relatives?
Currently there is no 1-800 number for Nunavummiut to receive counselling related to cancer.
How are those patients that are sent home counselled or assisted, or even their relatives in regard to the cancer patients?
In the communities we have the community health representative staff, and we have the nurses there. We have social workers as well as home care workers that are available to provide that support to individuals that are in the final stages of their life.
In the smaller communities, most of the staff are Qallunaat, and the older people who are unilingual Inuit cannot speak English.
Most of the time, those are the ones that are sent home and the nurses can’t speak Inuktitut.
Is there somebody who is available all of the time for those Inuktitut speaking patients?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Aglukkaq.
All home care workers in Nunavut are Inuit and speak Inuktitut and they provide support to individuals who require care at home in the final stages of their life.
We also have available, translators that assist the nurses in the communities that provide home care services.
In some communities there are volunteers like women’s auxiliaries and some staff for the health centres.
For those whose patients need 24/7 care plus they work from nine to five during the day, they get people from the women’s auxiliary or just from the public. They get assistance.
I wonder if the Department of Health can provide funding for the volunteers so that they can get a bit of payment.
Homecare workers do make scheduled visits to homes to assist individuals who require care.
Homecare workers provide care not only to cancer patients but to other patients that require assistance in living.
The hours for homecare workers, when there is a need for assistance of cancer patients, are flexible to accommodate that particular individual needs. Those schedules are made at the community.
I know in the case in Gjoa Haven the workers rotate their hours in the final stages of a person’s life.
In terms of the people, the women’s group, the volunteer group, I would have to look into that whether there is compensation available to volunteers.
I would have to review that further.
Question 038 – 2(3): Preparing Nunavummiut for Mining Jobs (Peterson) (Peterson)
The 2005 Nunavut’s Economic Outlook was released earlier this month. In it was noted that mining has a significant potential for Nunavummiut to participate for contracts and employment. The report also stated that Nunavummiut will not be able to participate because they are not trained for the jobs.
Mr. Speaker, the minister stated that one of the greatest labour shortages in the foreseeable future will be for the mining industry.
Therefore, training is needed for Nunavummiut so that they can fully benefit from those activities.
My question for the Minister is: can the minister explain what the Government of Nunavut is doing to prepare them for the mining sector?
As I indicated in my statement earlier this week Mr. Speaker, there are some opportunities within the mine training right now, but at the same time the Government of Nunavut and many other stakeholders are involved the Nunavut Mining Training Group Mr. Speaker. That group has the potential for different occupations within the mining industry.
Mr. Speaker, in the past we thought about mining as an underground with a pick and a shovel Mr. Speaker. The jobs around the mines now are many and include heavy equipment operators. Mr. Speaker, and if it is located at an isolated site, as an example, you need snowplough operators, people to clear the runways; you need administrative support, logistic support, and so on.
So Mr. Speaker when we are talking about industrial or mining training, it takes in a whole number of occupation that are not just unique to a mine, Mr. Speaker that work is continuing with the Nunavut Mining Focus Group.
I thank the minister for that update. I am glad that there is work underway.
Mr. Speaker, in May 2004 I asked the minister about the status of his department’s funding application to the federal government Aboriginal Employment Skills Partnership Program.
At the time he told me they submitted their proposal to train Nunavummiut for mining.
My question to the minister is: can the minister update the House on the status of that proposal that was submitted in 2004?
Hon. Ed. Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The member is correct indeed.
We submitted the Aboriginal Employment Skills Program, AESP, proposal to our federal partner.
After the House sat this past spring I had an opportunity to meet with Minister Bradshaw, the labour Minister responsible for the AESP. It was my understanding at that time the Nunavut proposal was in the top four percent received across the country.
However, because of issues with financing or funding from our federal partner they were looking at more of a moderate approach in training or skills program development.
So they wanted a modified approach from the department and from Government of Nunavut and we proceeded with that and the latest update we have is again that everything is now contingent on what happens federally with the election. We would hope to be in a position to receive funds for the program that we had applied on under the federal program. So that is where it stands right now.
I thank the minister for that update.
As I noted in my question, I asked that question in May 2004. It seems it takes a long time for approvals from Ottawa. It looks like to we are facing a potential delay because of a pending election.
Mr. Speaker, there is an initiative underway in the Kitikmeot to acquire the assets of the Lupin Mine for a mine training school? It’s very important to train Nunavummiut for jobs in the mining sector.
My question for the minister is: can the minister confirm that his department is seriously considering the potential that this initiative has to train Nunavummiut for jobs in the mining sector?
In the last couple of weeks, senior members from the department, including our lead capital planner and so on, have met with individuals from KEDC, the Kitikmeot Economic Development Corporation, to review their opportunities for the Lupin Mine site, and I would suggest to you that the proposal that is being put forward from the Kitikmeot, I believe, is a strong one.
What they are recommending, what they are saying in the preliminary discussion, again they are all preliminary, is that the KIA, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, and the Development Corporation would operate a training site at the mine using the infrastructure that is there. Let’s say they wanted to run a heavy equipment operator course, then the Government of Nunavut would be able to purchase seats on this course and the training would be delivered at that mine site.
I think that it is a good move. It’s the private sector moving forward on a training initiative.
It involves the region and it supports the local economy.
That is something that we are interested in doing. We are trying to plan right now an on-site visit to the Lupin Mine site and follow up the discussions from there.
It’s well known that the government can’t do everything on its own. It should seek out partnerships and the private sector as well should seek out partnerships. I hope in the spirit of partnership that the government can find a way to work with those folks over there.
Earlier this week the Commissioner’s Address mentioned that the government proposed to invest $10 million in a trades school.
My question to the minister is: can the minister tell me if there is any money available from the Northern Strategy or other sources to invest in a mine training school in the Kitikmeot?
As I said earlier, I think there are a couple of points that need to be made with the focus on mine training and strategies and the position that we are moving in with the PVD School.
I think all of this is connected to trades and the work that is underway.
I would suggest that in the next couple of weeks, after we have an opportunity to do an on-site review, hopefully we would be in the position to make an announcement with the KIA.
Question 039 – 2(3): Review of Wildlife Regulation Changes (Mapsalak)
The minister stated in the Minister’s Statement that they will be reviewing the wildlife regulations and he stated that that was completed in the regions and in the communities.
He stated that there were going to be some changes and after this is completed he would be giving it out to the public.
From what I have heard only half of the work that is required has been completed.
I would like to ask the minister why only half of the document is getting reviewed when we have the HTOs here for a conference.
This is the first time that I hear that only half of the documents have been given for review.
I will look into the issue but we’ll do all we can to finish the review.
We are working with Nunavut Tunngavik and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
This is the first time that I have heard that they have half of the documents to be reviewed.
I will look into the issue and see exactly what is happening, but then again, from what we know Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board have been working closely together with our department and we have full participation from the HTO.
I will look into the comments to see if it’s correct that they only have half of the documents.
I would like to thank the minister for agreeing to look into the issue.
I am well aware that there is a lot of work to do when you are going to be reviewing the regulations for three days.
They only have three days to do the review and that means they have to put in a lot of work to get it completed.
Are they going to be given more time to review the regulations, or what is going to be happening afterwards?
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board as I stated earlier has been working closely with our department and after the consultation we will see exactly what is going to be happening.
Afterwards we’ll see how much work will be required to make changes to the regulations. We will be working on that this year.
When are you going to inform the members as to whether it is true if those organizations only have half of the documents?
We have given them the draft and we are seeking input from the HTO and we’ve also told them if they have any other concerns they could write to our department and they will be included in the follow-up.
We are more than open to getting input from the communities.
My question was: when are you going to be informing the members? As the minister stated he will look into it; when are you going to let us know if only half the documents were made available?
We will have a meeting with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and I will very likely inform the members possibly next week as to what the situation is in regard to the conference that is held in Iqaluit.
Question 040 – 2(3): Maintenance of Community Freezers (Kattuk)
I was pleased to hear the Minister’s Statement yesterday when he said his department will be reviewing the Nunavut Harvesters’ Support Program.
One issue that I would like him to look at is community freezers.
The HTO in Sanikiluaq has asked me to raise the issue of the community freezer.
As the minister knows, most communities have these, but they are often old and not working.
Community freezers help to support traditional harvesting practices.
On February 17, 2000, a former minister said in this House that the GN was working on a discussion paper on the community freezer program.
At that time, community freezers were the responsibility of the former Department of Sustainable Development.
My question for the minister is: what assistance is available from the Department of Environment to help communities with the repair, replacement, and maintenance of community freezers?
The community freezers were built quite a while back.
With the Department of Environment, I’ll see what we can do with the community freezers.
We’re not exactly sure whose responsibility the freezers are within the Government of Nunavut.
We have been talking to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and I will see if the community freezers were part of the discussions.
I’m well aware that the community freezers are fully utilized.
I will talk to my staff and to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and see if they have been part of the discussions.
Will his department be responsible for that community freezer? Will the department’s upcoming review of harvester support programs also look at the community freezer issue?
I think it is important that we work on something that will contribute towards the community.
A community freezer would be a very good capital project for any of the departments that are willing to deliver it.
Yes, I will look into it with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and if it goes under the policy of harvesters support, certainly I’ll look into that, but then again, it’s hard for me to say yes or no right now, whether to start community freezers and again, I think it’s something that we could consider under our review on the policy.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): The minister stated that he will be reviewing this matter.
Once you have looked into it, are you going to inform the House as to the outcome?
I will inform the member as to what the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. are doing on this issue. I will inform the member as to which department will be responsible for the community freezers.
If the Environment Department is not responsible, I will see whose responsibility it is and look into the issue.
Question 041 – 2(3): Discussion on Arviat Water Quality (Alagalak)
We know that we are men of our trades; some of us are good at motor vehicles, heavy equipment, and I’m very glad that we don’t have any missiles or destructive equipment up here. I will be directing my question to the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services.
Yesterday, I was talking about...well, I’m going to be an expert in water because we do anything.
I asked some questions about the quality of the water or the lack of it in Arviat.
If we are looking into the future, there’s nothing planned for Arviat on this issue.
Starting from the 1960s, we have had poor quality water in Arviat. The minister stated that she was aware of this problem we have in Arviat.
The people out there know and the Hamlet of Arviat lets the public know about this problem; it’s becoming more and more of a problem in our community. Have there been any discussions about the quality of the water in Arviat and is your department aware of this growing problem we have in Arviat?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown.
The quality of the water has been...well, I have been briefed on the quality of the water in Arviat and I was told about the problems, I think it is part of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Also, I was informed by the Inuit that in the winter, after the sea ice has thickened, if the water is too low, the quality of the water becomes inferior and there’s an odour in the water.
I’m not an expert in water quality, but I do get briefed.
We are aware that Arviat is on the flatlands and the streams, creeks, or rivers are very shallow.
So the water gets stagnant because there’s no flow going through.
In the winter, like anywhere in the world, there are germs or little insects that are caught in the ice, there are bacteria in there, and when they die and go down to the bottom, they affect the quality of the water.
I’m sure that the people of Arviat have been concerned about their quality of water for a very long time. Our department has been asking the consultants or the engineers to do a study on the water, and they started a study in August and they completed the study in October 2005.
Yes, I know that you are aware of this but I don’t understand what your department is going to do.
Yes, we are aware of all this because there was lots dirt in there and I think you were talking about the bacteria.
I didn’t hear you say what you are going to do about the water in Arviat.
What I am trying to say is the engineering consultant did a water supply study.
(interpretation ends) They started in August 2005 and they had hoped to have it completed by the end of October 2005.
Project funding of $25,000 was approved in May to undertake a water supply study for the Hamlet of Arviat.
Perhaps if I know that the results will come out eventually we will be able to initiate something. I would like to get a copy of the report from the engineering consultants.
Also Mr. Speaker, we heard last year they did a study on the surrounding area lakes; whether they are good water or not, how deep the lakes are and how far away.
They did a study on that and we haven’t heard the results of the study. Perhaps you can give me the results from that study as well.
Yes, definitely we have to share that information and share the results.
I agree with you and yes, I will do so.
Oral Questions are now over.
Written Question 005 – 2(3): Performance Bonuses, Settlements (Peterson)
My written question is for the Honourable Paul Okalik, Minister responsible for the Senior Personnel Secretariat and it concerns Performance Bonuses, Settlements and Termination Pay for the 2004-05 Fiscal Year.
For the 2004-05 fiscal year, broken down by department and Crown agency, but not including names of specific individuals, how much was paid in performance bonuses to members of the Public Service of Nunavut and employees of Government of Nunavut Crown agencies?
For the 2004-05 fiscal year, broken down by employing entity, but not including names of specific individuals, how many persons were eligible to be considered for performance bonuses to be paid by the Government of Nunavut?
For the 2004-05 fiscal year, broken down by employing entity, but not including names of specific individuals, how many persons were actually paid performance bonuses by the Government of Nunavut?
For the 2004-05 fiscal year, broken down by department and Crown agency, but not including names of specific individuals, how much was paid in termination pay, negotiated settlements, lump-sum payments or any other form of monetary payment or compensation to executive-level members of the Public Service of Nunavut who departed the Public Service?
Item 8. Orders of the Day.
Tabled Document 015 – 2(3): Annual Report of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005 (Okalik)
I wish to table the following document: the Annual Report of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the period of April 2004 to March 31, 2005.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 016 – 2(3): CLEY Schedule of Votes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Grants and Contributions for the Fiscal Year 2004-05 (Tapardjuk)
I would like to table the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth’s Contribution and they are numbered one, two, three, four, five, and these are the applicants from that year.
Tabled Document 017 – 2(3): Canada’s Northern Strategy by Federation of Canadian Municipalities (Peterson)
I would like to table a document by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The title is; A New Deal for Northern Communities, submitted to the Minister of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada’s Northern Strategy by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, on August 3, 2005.
Tabled Document 018 – 2(3): 2004-05 Annual Report – Nunavut Development Corporation (Kilabuk)
I would like to table the following document to the Members of the Legislative Assembly: the Nunavut Development Corporation 2004-05 Report.
Tabled Document 019 – 2(3): 2006-07 Nunavut Development Corporation Business Plan (Kilabuk)
I wish to table the following document: the Nunavut Development Corporation 2006-07 Business Plan.
Bill 08 – Statistics Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin, that Bill 8, Statistics Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 05 – An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will clarify that the Act applies to public agencies as defined in the Financial Administration Act. The bill also changes references to the Northwest Territories Supreme Court so that the Act will refer to the Nunavut Court of Justice.
Bill 5 has had second reading and can be referred to a standing committee.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow the second reading of Bill 8, Statistics Act.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 62(1) to have Bill 8 read for the second time today.
There are no nays, please proceed Mr. Okalik.
Bill 08 – Statistics Act – Second Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pangnirtung, that Bill 8, Statistics Act, be read for the second time.