EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Question 356 – 4(3): Conservation Officer Position for Grise Fiord (Shooyook)
Mr. Speaker, during my recent constituency visit to Grise Fiord, I was informed that the community does not currently have a conservation officer.
I was pleased to note that the department has posted an advertisement for such a position.
However, I note that the department is currently advertising this position as a three-year term.
Can the minister explain why his department decided not to advertise the conservation officer position in Grise Fiord as an indeterminate position?
I also thank my colleague for asking about that position.
The positions managed by the Department of Environment are focused on the continual need for our employees to conduct duty travel.
The reason why this position was made into a three-year term position is in order to try to hire more Inuit who are trained for these duties.
This is part of the reasoning for that change and it is also intended to lead to a review prior to the end of the three-year term, as we try to find a way to hire more Inuit and to determine if we are unable to find Inuit to fill the position.
I also note that the department is advertising this position with shared subsidize staff housing, which may not always be appealing to candidates.
While I recognize that housing in Nunavut is limited, it is important that a conservation officer be employed in Grise Fiord to deliver important wildlife management and environment protection initiatives.
Can the minister explain why his department is only offering shared subsidized staff housing for this position?
People who work for the government’s Department of Health and Department of Education are considered priorities for staff housing.
I can look into this further as to what is required for that position in terms of housing.
I can get back to my colleague once I have the information.
A conservation officer is responsible for a number of important duties in the communities, such as working with local HTOs, ensuring the adequate delivery of services, and enforcing relevant legislation and regulations.
Can the minister explain how his department is ensuring that Grise Fiord is provided with the adequate delivery of wildlife management and conservation services until the conservation officer position is filled?
As I stated earlier, our department’s biggest problem is staff housing. If it was any position other than for the Department of Environment, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Education, they always get priority housing.
Those priorities always have to be established first.
I can look into the conservation officer position with respect to staff housing.
I will also check to see when we can actually fill the position.
Environment is an important matter, especially today. Positions like that are important too.
If we can find a way to make accommodations for it, I can inform the House as to what we could do.
I can respond to the member in writing.
Question 357 – 4(3): Employment Status of Nunavut Midwives (Sammurtok, A)
Mr. Speaker, in 2008, Nunavut passed its own legislation recognizing the practice of midwifery in the territory.
As with many other health professions, midwives provide an important aspect of health care delivery.
The Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre currently has two full-time midwives who not only handle prenatal care, attend birth, and handle post-natal, but also provide counselling, health promotion and support to other health staff.
The other two midwife positions are generally filled on a short-term basis with midwives from the south. Our hard-working midwives also provide orientation and support to these temporary staff.
Can the minister provide an update on what consideration has been given to the employment status of our full-time midwives to ensure that they receive recruitment, retention, and frontline worker bonuses on par to other health care workers such as nurses?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for asking about midwifery.
Midwives are very important in Nunavut. We have that service available in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit.
I can say that in March 2016, there were amendments made to the (interpretation ends) midwifery standards of practice. (interpretation) It will help us get staff and retain the midwives we have in Nunavut right now.
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) It is no secret that the Department of Health faces huge challenges in recruiting and retaining health care professionals, especially professionals from Nunavut.
Our midwives are both Inuit beneficiaries and deliver an important health care service.
They have written to the Department of Health on numerous occasions to ask for a review of their employment status.
To date, however, they have not received any response to their requests.
Can the minister clearly explain why health care professionals, such as Nunavut’s midwives, have not been able to have their concerns addressed or even responded to?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for the question. I think I have lost what he is talking about, as I have never received any correspondence regarding concerns about midwifery since I have been minister.
I can say to my colleague that in Nunavut, there are 11 midwife positions.
Four midwives received training through Nunavut Arctic College and they were hired, two are in Rankin Inlet and two in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I can also say that the expenses for the past year for midwives and caretaking of infants were $496,000. This was increased to $3,172,277.
We believe it is very important and that is why that much money has been put into it.
She responded by saying that she never got a letter, so (interpretation ends) I’ll provide her with copies of the letters.
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that Nunavummiut will stop having babies any time soon. It is important that they can continue to receive the best care, advice, and support that our midwives can provide.
Will the minister commit to reviewing the employment status of Nunavut’s midwives at the earliest opportunity?
Yes, I will expect to see the letters he said that he would provide.
Question 358 – 4(3): New Health Centre in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
I have been bringing up the need for a new health centre in the community of Sanikiluaq for many years.
As the minister will recall, this House approved funding in the 2014-15 capital budget for a preplanning study for a new health centre in the community of Sanikiluaq.
Can the minister provide an update on how much money has been spent to date on the Sanikiluaq Health Centre replacement project?
It is true that Sanikiluaq has been requesting a new health centre for a long time.
In the budget planning, there has been $150,000 that has been set aside for the preplanning study.
To date, the work is progressing and we expect that in the 2017-18 fiscal year, we will request approval of this House for $1.5 million towards this project of the new health centre in Sanikiluaq.
As the minister stated, there was $150,000 previously approved.
I am wondering if the minister can update us today on some details on what that money was spent on to date.
As I mentioned earlier, this is for preplanning work on how the construction of the new health centre is going to be planned.
Work has been completed in Arctic Bay and other communities.
With respect to the work being done in Cape Dorset, necessary changes to the blueprints are being considered.
That was what the money was planned for.
As my colleagues are well aware, the government’s five-year capital plans can change from year to year. Plans are adjusted to accommodate delays in other projects, unforeseeable circumstances in certain communities, and to take advantage of economies of scale.
Can the minister provide an update on whether projects in other communities will cause delays in the building of the new health centre in Sanikiluaq?
Mr. Speaker, the capital planning process will be in 2017-18.
I can’t predict how the process will go.
At this stage, we are in communications with CGS and QEC to determine how this process will take place.
As you know, my colleague mentioned that the capacity that they have in Cape Dorset is sufficient for going ahead with facilities in Cape Dorset.
We are having communications with them at this time to see how that process will go ahead.
Dependent on whether there is a result of potential electrical power constraints in Cape Dorset, the member may see his project going ahead of Cape Dorset. At this time, these are not in place and discussions are happening.
Question 359 – 4(3): Baffin Island Caribou Management (Keyootak)
Mr. Speaker, in the Baffin region, we are all aware that caribou harvesting is now under a quota system with 250 tags.
Mr. Speaker, there was an announcement made that the tags will be renewed in July or at the end of June when tags become defunct.
Is the overall number of harvested caribou in the Baffin region anywhere close to the 250 tags set aside?
Good afternoon to Nunavummiut.
The 250 tags are nowhere near being used up yet. I’m following the latest harvest numbers I have been informed about, which is from April.
The total tags numbering 250 have not all been used to date.
From the 250 tags, the harvested animals have to be male caribou only.
Can the minister indicate if he has the information available as to whether all the harvested caribou were male or were there non-male caribou harvested?
If non-male caribou were harvested, how many were harvested and what types of consequences will that result in hunters who harvested non-male caribou?
At this time, the number of caribou harvested by April was 183 male caribou and 14 caribou harvested were cows. The circumstances are reviewed in those cases as to what may transpire.
At this time, the cows that have been harvested to date have been examined as to the age and to determine what options they may have for the community and HTO. This includes the conservation officer when examinations are done.
The hunters who harvested female caribou, as per the rules of the harvest, have broken the rules.
Now I wonder what will happen with hunters who harvested non-male caribou.
I imagine that it was not intentional, as some Inuit are not all familiar with the caribou sexes. Younger people especially are not as intimately familiar with them and probably harvested female caribou mistakenly. At least that is my assumption where a non-male caribou is harvested.
Are the hunters being apprised of the information? Does that mean all communities have broken this harvesting non-male limitation?
Indeed, as per my earlier comment, all harvested caribou are examined by the local conservation officer in conjunction with the HTO board members. Further, the conservation officer is involved in the process, and they have freedom to make the decision.
We all know that 14 harvested caribou were cows.
To date, the wildlife managers are considering their options on the cases where non-males were harvested and whether they have broken the rules. To date, I have not received any reports from my staff in the department about cases.
As I indicated earlier, this is looked at on a case-by-case basis.
The comment made by my colleague is that not all people know which are male and which are female. Some communities have absolutely no caribou and not all caribou around their area are male.
That’s what I can report right now.
There have been no enforcement issues to date.
As I indicated earlier, the conservation officers and the HTOs work together to consider options, but I can look further into this and have more up-to-date information on the caribou management system in the Baffin region.
Motion 027 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for South Baffin, that the time allotted for oral questions be extended.
The motion (interpretation ends) is not debatable.
The motion is carried to 30 minutes.
Before we proceed, members, let’s welcome to our legislature our Information and Privacy Commissioner, Elaine Keenan Bengts.
(interpretation) Thank you. Oral Questions.
Question 360 – 4(3): Consultations on Education Act Amendments (Okalik)
During our meeting on June 2 in question period, I had asked the Minister of Education if the community consultations could be moved to the fall.
The minister responded by saying that his officials will keep on planning for that.
We hear in the news that the consultation meetings have already started.
They are in Rankin Inlet today.
Can the minister explain when the consultation visits will be planned? Can he elaborate further on that?
I thank my colleague for asking about that matter.
If you recall, I spoke to this issue in the House related to the set-up of the process. I laid out the information carefully because Nunavut residents and my colleagues have to understand the implications about the actual language or announcement I made.
Now, I clearly outlined the information that in this month of June, this process will proceed to lay out the information to the public as part of our community tours that we had planned to visit. This process went ahead, primarily due to the reason that we need to provide the information about the system on how the consultation would gather feedback on the issues we want to hear about.
Now, after this was completed, the extension was applied. As part of this, we extended the consultation period to September 2. That is the new extension date.
Some time in August or September, we will tour the communities to request feedback from the information we provided earlier. We would like to collect their opinions on these issues.
I would like it clearly understood by my colleagues and residents in the communities that the first communities that will be visited will receive the documentation on what the department wants feedback on.
This is how it is laid out. The first one is information sharing at this time and then the later visitation will revolve around collecting feedback.
“This is what we wish to change and these sections are unacceptable” is what we wish to hear about.
The process has two phases, just so members are aware of the workings.
I clearly explained it at that time.
They have identified which communities: the DEAs in Rankin Inlet, which is today, Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, and Pond Inlet.
Can the minister indicate whom they will be talking to and what they will be discussing?
Minister of Environment, Mr. Quassa.
We are visiting those communities to meet with the DEAs, for example, in Rankin Inlet and with the chairs of the DEAs in the Kivalliq communities.
We will also meet with the chairs of other DEAs. At the same time, we will also hold public meetings to go over the same issues.
We will just be giving information on the proposed amendments to both the DEA chairs and the public during our community visits.
We will be doing the same thing when we do another round of community visits.
If I understand the minister, they will be going to the communities to provide information on what they plan to do, and then later on when they visit, they will do consultations to hear from the community wishes.
Can the minister indicate when he will be going back to the community? I am sure there are concerns and I know that they do not want to rush.
Yes, that is exactly what will occur. During the first visit to the communities, we will provide them detailed information on the proposed amendments and what sections will be removed.
At the second visit, we will be hearing from the communities on what they would like to see amended or added.
I would also like to say that we will be meeting with other groups, such as Nunavut Tunngavik, which we have informed by way of correspondence on exactly when they can make their submissions.
All the letters have been sent out so that they can provide submissions, such as Nunavut Tunngavik and the coalition of district education authorities, and other entities that we need to hear from, such as the Nunavut Teachers Association.
We have sent letters to these various entities, even the local hamlets.
Everyone is aware.
I know that this process will succeed because we have extended the consultation process during the review of the Education Act.
Question 361 – 4(3): Nunavut Tourism Training Course (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, on March 1, 2016, the government tabled its response to the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Public Accounts regarding the 2012-17 Strategic Plan for Nunavut Tourism.
That response indicated that Nunavut Tourism worked closely with Nunavut Arctic College to develop a multi-course certificate program, but the funding then lapsed.
Can the minister provide an explanation of why the funds lapsed and why the course was never delivered?
I would like to tell my colleague that I’ll have to look into this issue so that I can provide a complete and detailed response. (interpretation ends) I will take it as notice. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 362 – 4(3): Cancer Programs for Nunavut (Joanasie)
I have questions for the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, for several years now, members in this House have been raising the need for a Nunavut-wide cancer screening and early detection program. Such a program could identify patients based on specific risk factors and, hopefully, such a screening program could lead to early detection and early treatment.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps, if any, have been taken to establish a Nunavut-wide cancer screening program?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for asking questions in regard to some issues that are being felt by Nunavummiut.
For example, there are various forms of cancer and they say that the northern residents have one of the highest rates of cancer compared to the rest of Canada.
I can say that Nunavut’s Public Health has now started looking at various avenues, such as breast cancer screening. They can send out the test that is being used in other provinces.
For example, we are looking at ways of how we utilize that program called the (interpretation ends) mobile and portable mammography unit. (interpretation) That’s what it is called in English.
Mr. Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the response.
Mr. Speaker, patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are receiving treatment also need emotional support and other supports for their families to see them through.
Can the minister describe what kinds of one-on-one, group, or family counselling are available to those Nunavummiut who are dealing with cancer?
The patients fly to another city to receive treatment when Nunavummiut are suffering from cancer.
What I can state here is that to date, the expenditures related to medical travel are received from Health Canada as they are specific to these areas: medical patient travel; escort travel; accommodations and where they would board; associated hospital bills; meal per diems; and transportation costs in the city.
However, the funds are not pre-approved to date and that is why I stated that it was in a different area, such as the accommodation logistics where the patient and escort can room together.
It also includes the ability to receive pastoral visits, and visitations do occur. I know that nurses can also be scheduled to visit patients.
Mr. Speaker, several of my colleagues have addressed the issue of Nunavut residents being sent outside of the territory for an extended period of time to receive medical treatment and who are required to relocate to that other jurisdiction.
Can the minister clearly explain how her department addresses the issue of Nunavut residents who have no choice but to leave their homes to receive medical treatment outside of Nunavut for extended periods of time and why the Nunavut government forces them to give up their Nunavut residency?
I also thank my colleague for asking about this matter.
At this time, the extended travel periods apply in most cases, as the doctors prescribing the treatment tend to require the patient to attend to specialists who are not available here in Nunavut yet.
Further, with this being the case, some of the patients suffering from long-term illnesses have their cases reviewed. Sometimes it means the patient has to be treated without returning to their home community.
Today, in a case where a doctor’s appointment or treatment is not available here, due to the large expenses involved, the patient is sometimes moved south for treatment.
This occasionally happens in some of our medical cases.
Question 363 – 4(3): Need for Dust Control in Baker Lake (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I have stood up in this House on numerous occasions to address the issue of dust control in our communities.
I realize that the government does not have plans to pave the roads in Nunavut any time soon and I note that the department provides municipalities with the opportunity to choose which methods of dust control will work best in their communities.
However, this approach is not addressing the problem.
In my own community, the municipality is unable to use chemical dust suppressants on the road connecting the airport to the community.
This results in massive dust clouds that move across the community and in the terminal area.
Can the minister indicate if his department is currently undertaking any work to explore new options for addressing dust suppression across the territory?
I’m just wondering if my colleague has a microphone there because I have been talking about that very subject this morning.
I just got word that there are some new options that are available now. It’s too early to talk about it.
We will be looking at different options and might possibly even be doing a pilot project in Nunavut on one of the new options that are available.
The reason that calcium is used is because it’s most economical.
The member is half-correct in saying that calcium cannot be used on the airport road because it’s corrosive. In most places, it can be used halfway to the airport.
The problem is because it’s corrosive to airplanes.
I’m not sure, but I believe if an arctic airport is using any dust suppression on the runway, they can use that same dust suppression on half of the road leading to the airports.
We are looking at different options. We know it’s a problem everywhere.
It would be less of a problem if people could drive a little slower, but it is a problem and we are coming up with other options.
I would just like to rebut to the minister.
There are legislations in place for the transportation roads that lead to the terminal buildings and runways sites. I believe there are no suppressions used at the runway extensions where there is no pavement.
With that, will the minister commit to working with the Municipality of Baker Lake to explore ways that the community could reduce the dust on its airport road?
The member can rebut, but I can tell you that there is dust suppression that the airport uses. I don’t know if they’re using it right now.
They used it in Arviat a few years back. It’s a brown liquid substance. I know they used it in Baker Lake a few years back because I landed there with my own airplane and I landed shortly after it was applied and the bottom of my airplane got all brown.
I’ll tell you right now that they have used it. I can’t tell you right now if they are using it. You’re welcome to ask the Minister of Transportation to see if they are using it, but they have used it.
I would like to rebut to the minister.
As some cabinet members came to Baker Lake in the previous years, I believe they presumed and recall that they had to be driven to the community in a cloud of dust.
Mr. Speaker, Qamani’tuaq is the only inland community in Nunavut and sees some of the hottest and driest temperatures in the territory.
The absence of humidity makes the issue of dust rising in the community worse, negatively affecting residents with respiratory issues.
It is important to understand the extent to which the temperatures in Baker Lake affect dust in the community to ensure that adequate and cost-effective solutions can be determined.