EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We don’t want to let that momentum drop.
We want to make sure that we’re dealing with the wait-list and then from thereon we can continue to other focused endeavours.
Your business plan indicates that your department has worked with Health Canada on a new Northern Wellness Agreement.
Can you describe what kinds of programs or initiatives will be funded through this agreement?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for raising that question.
Negotiations have been ongoing for some time with Health Canada.
As recently as I think it was last week there were some further meetings finalizing the memorandum of understanding on the Northern Wellness Agreement.
Just to highlight some of the funding aspects of it, it is through the First Nations and Inuit Health that we get the bulk of the funds.
We work very closely with Health Canada to make sure basically that the continued support that we receive for the wellness programming so that we have sustainable and steady capacity.
Some of things that get specifically funded through healthy children, families and communities are healthy living and oral health.
There are also some mental health and addictions dollars.
That’s where in the past we’ve had money for drug strategies and some of our tobacco strategies in the past.
Chronic disease and injury prevention, we get money in there. Our diabetes strategy comes out of those dollars. Primary care, when we’re dealing with home and community care, we get funds out of there.
Program management and health service integration, we’ve had funds in the past.
The agreement that we’re on right now expires March 31, so we’re just finalizing the new agreement.
I can’t say with certainty what type of programs are going to be on there, but basically we’re looking at making sure that we’re focusing on wellness programming and different education campaigns.
I was speaking with the member from Iqaluit-Sinaa on some of the tobacco reduction campaigns.
We held regional training for community representatives last fall where we want to make sure that communities are renewing their wellness plans.
I was able to meet personally with two of the three regions with the community wellness people that were here, the coordinators in the Kivalliq as well as here in the Qikiqtaaluk.
Basically the message that I have said there is the same message I have been saying here for the last day and a half.
We need the communities to let us know what programming they want to see so that we can target our investments and our program dollars to those initiatives.
We don’t want to be the big brother telling the communities what to do. We want the communities to tell us what they need through their community wellness plan.
That helps us with our negotiations with Health Canada to make sure that we get adequate funding so that the communities can put forward proposals and submissions, which we already have some waiting on the sides.
As soon as that agreement gets signed, we’ve got proposals that are ready to be initiated.
It’s a very important funding component that we have to be able to promote healthy living in the communities.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I can ask a question on H-7 about grants and contributions, your main estimates include $250,000 to be allocated to Health Committees of Council.
I don’t really understand that. What does it mean?
What kinds of community-based activities are supported with this funding?
That $250,000 basically is $10,000 per community. There have been sewing clubs initiated with it.
There have been artistic... . There have been youth groups. Again, they’re community-led initiatives that we want to see out of that.
There has been some on-the-land programming. There are a number of different initiatives driven by the community. That’s some of the core funding that we provide for them to allow them to do that.
The Northern Wellness Agreement also has monies available that we can initiate some of those programs. Some of these programs have implications on suicide prevention. Again, there are Quality of Life grants and contributions that those wellness committees can access further funds.
This is just a basic funding amount that we have allocated to each community to help them provide services to the community, which we can enhance on a proposal-based basis.
Your draft 2017-2020 business plan also indicates that your department is finalizing the new Maternal and Child Health Strategy. I’m sorry I don’t know what maternal is in Inuktitut. It’s the (interpretation ends) Maternal and Child Health Strategy. (interpretation) Can you describe some of the programs and initiatives you expect to come out of this strategy?
When we’re dealing with maternal health, as I’m sure we’re all aware, there are a number of initiatives that we want to make sure that the women that are having babies are having healthy babies and are living a healthy lifestyle. We want to make sure that Inuit societal values are included.
Again, a lot of that falls under the Northern Wellness Agreement.
We also want to make sure that we’re having responses and education on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and sudden infant death syndrome. We want to make sure that parents are learning parenting skills and not just the physical health but the mental health of the parents as well.
We have discussed it within different departments, NTI, and regional Inuit organizations. We correspond with Family Services.
One of the things that I brought in last session was the baby beds just to help promote healthy sleeping habits for parents with infants.
One of the most common mortality causes is sudden infant death syndrome, which is horrible.
With the implementation of that, we’ve had over a hundred of those beds delivered as of December 2016.
There are a number of initiatives specific to the mental and physical health of the mother and the baby and other family members that are involved in the raising of those children.
I can go on and on now on this topic because there are so many different partners and so many different initiatives. Not just Health but we’ve got Family Services, we’ve got different health research groups, the Inunnguiniq parenting program, and I could go on and on for what we’re getting out of this.
It’s again going back to a healthy community. We want to make sure that mothers are aware of the dangers of drinking, smoking, and how to take care of their baby after the baby is born; promote breastfeeding programs. We want to make sure that we’re doing whatever we can with regard to prenatal nutrition and postnatal nutrition.
We work very closely with a lot of different partners out of this funding.
I have another question and in the English version it’s on page 127, one of the top bullets.
“Evaluate,” I’m not exactly sure what it is or maybe I’ll just ask it in English because I don’t even understand it in English.
(interpretation ends) “Evaluate the implementation of the Sexual Health Framework for Action.” (interpretation) What does that mean?
Is it some kind of a review or are you looking at setting up a new framework for action?
In 2012 there was a syphilis outbreak declared in Nunavut and it’s still ongoing almost five years later.
When it comes to sexual health and education, it’s a very important component not just for our youth; for all people through the spectrum of their life.
We distribute safe sex supplies; condoms, condom dispensers. We produce resources on sexual consent to make sure that people are in healthy relationships. That’s also a component to it.
We want to make sure that there is in-person sexual health education and training to community health representatives in all three regions. Right now we’re in year 4 of a five-year implementation schedule. When it says “implementation,” it was a five-year initial plan.
Basically the entire framework is focused on promoting sexual health and preventing disease.
If my question is out of line or if it’s inappropriate to ask that particular question to the Minister of Health, please let me know.
I believe you have some kind of program about sexual health awareness in the schools, family planning, and so on.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe there’s some type of a program that is geared for the schools.
On more than one occasion I have been told and I have seen 12-, 13-, or 14-year-old girls pregnant.
In the Criminal Code of Canada the age of consent is 16 years, I think, and I’m not a legal advisor or anything, but that’s what I think it is.
I know this is more for the Minister of Education, but you have a close working relationship.
Do you also include the Criminal Code or criminal activities, the age of consent and everything else that is involved in the Sexual Health Framework for Action, including girls becoming pregnant before the legal age?
I know that the minister might not be able to answer that question if he doesn’t really deal with it.
It is a relevant question and I appreciate the member asking.
When it comes to content or consent... . I don’t want to get that personal.
It depends on the age of the partner for one, if you’re within a certain age parameter. Again, I’m not a lawyer. I’m sure the Minister of Justice would be able to give more accurate details, but it does depend on the age of the partner.
We do promote and provide information with regard to sexual consent to all communities. It gives me an opportunity to highlight a website address that we work with. It is www.irespectmyself.ca.
I encourage all people, parents, grandparents, and children to take a look at that website. It has specific Nunavut context and we want to make sure that people understand what their rights are.
It has been brought up in the past of child abuse and Family Services deals with issues like that. Health sometimes is the identifier of it when people go to a health centre.
We want to make sure that people understand not only their rights but their children’s rights so that people are aware that they do have the right to say no, that they do have the right to have people respect themselves and respect each other.
I understand, but I would like to get further clarity.
What kind of working relationship do you have with the Department of Education on the sexual health curriculum and so on, or is this under the portfolio of the Department of Education?
Is the curriculum from the school itself?
If it’s health-specific, is it your department and the Department of Education that collaborate deliver those types of programs?
Hon. George Hickes: Absolutely, Mr. Chairman.
Again I appreciate the member for allowing this topic to gain some more momentum because I think it’s a very important one.
With regard specifically to the relationship that we have with the Department of Education, one of the key components to it is through our Quality of Life Cabinet Committee.
We do meet regularly and as recently as our last discussion, we have talked about some shared policies and some shared examples. Through my associate deputy minister’s research, we have identified programs that are used in other jurisdictions that we feel can be used very relevantly here in Nunavut, probably as is but maybe with some minor tweaking.
I have attended conferences where I know in Northern Quebec they have a safe touch course. It is brought into the schools and it is something that we have talked to the Department of Education about initiating.
Like you had mentioned earlier, 12 and 13 years old, but people younger than that are often victims of molestation and unsafe environments. We want to make sure that we’re reaching our youth at an appropriate age for the terminology and for the content of the material.
We work very closely with the Department of Education as well as Family Services and other members on the Quality of Life Cabinet Committee to coordinate our approaches to a lot of these topics and maximize the efficiencies of them.
I mostly wanted to focus on that and I am sure that the information has to get out possibly from your department or the Department of Justice or the Department of Education on when a female is deemed to have given consent.
Within the Criminal Code of Canada, I don’t think a child is said to have given consent if he or she is under 14.
Even though that is the case, we see children around that age who are pregnant, who very likely don’t know what their rights are or what dangers they face.
Under the law, it’s possible that few realize what dangers they face and that should be considered.
This could possibly be communicated through schools or wellness programs.
I think we have to get that sort of information out there because we want to take proper care of our youth and make sure they know what inappropriate touching is and how it relates to the law.
It’s just a suggestion and it’s not really a question.
From here I have another question. When a law is enacted in Canada, it applies to all of Canada, including Nunavut.
Right now Canada is preparing for the legalization of cannabis.
When the Liberals got elected, they talked about the legalization of cannabis and once that’s adopted, we’re automatically under it.
What kind of plans does Nunavut have on that? Of course it’s going to have potential impacts if cannabis is legalized. What plans have you prepared since we will be affected?
Do you already have plans to be put in place or are you having discussions on this issue?
Is there a date on when cannabis will be legalized?
Again I appreciate the member for bringing up this issue. It’s an important one as well.
We’ve had special briefings on this topic at federal-provincial-territorial Health ministers’ meetings. We have talked about it internally with the departments of Justice, Finance, and Family Services.
We’re working together to make sure that when... . I say “when” because it sounds like it was a campaign promise, so it sounds like it will be when.
I have also been assured that it’s going to be phased in so that it’s not going to be like next week.
Once the legislation passes, it’s not going to be immediately effective. We have been assured that there is going to be some time.
Those are the challenges. We need to make sure we’re correlating our responses and policies with the departments that I mentioned for one.
Even when you look at alcohol, alcohol is legal in this country, yet we’ve got communities that it’s illegal to have and to posses alcohol.
What type of independence do we have is something we’re exploring with Justice to see if we have to make it legal in all of our communities.
I know from a health standpoint, there are people that have medicinal marijuana permits by prescription from a doctor. I know somebody down south, an elderly person that I have known all my life has never touched the stuff in her life, has recently got a prescription to try to stimulate some of the health benefits of it.
There are continual challenges and continual discussions going on.
It is on our radar and we’ve had discussions, again, with my federal counterpart and Health Canada officials. I’m sure Justice has had numerous discussions with their counterparts across the country and federally.
I know that’s not the specific answer the member is looking for because it’s still in the evolution process.
We’re on page H-5. Public Health.
Recognizing the clock and we have been trying to keep on time, I now move to report progress.
Your committee has been considering Bill 34 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
Mr. Alexander Sammurtok. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This House stands adjourned until Friday, February 24, at 9:00 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 19:00
Friday, February 24, 2017
Pages 3296 – 3336
Opening Prayer 3296
Ministers’ Statements 3296
Members’ Statements 3299
Oral Questions 3306
Tabling of Documents 3321
First Reading of Bills 3321
Second Reading of Bills 3322
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3323
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3335
Orders of the Day 3335
Friday, February 24, 2017 3296
238 – 4(3): Fur Freight Subsidy Pilot Project (Savikataaq) 3296
239 – 4(3): Update on Tourism Development (Ell-Kanayuk) 3296
240 – 4(3): Partnership with the Legislative Assembly on Simultaneous Interpreting Experiences (Quassa) 3297
241 – 4(3): Qilaut, Nunavut’s Inuktut Songwriting Contest Winners (Kuksuk) 3298
242 – 4(3): Pan-Canadian Climate Change Framework (Taptuna) 3298
449 – 4(3): Chesterfield Inlet Qajaq Program (Sammurtok, T) 3299
450 – 4(3): Mamaqtuq Nanook Cooking Club (Angnakak) 3300
451 – 4(3): Baker Lake Long-term Service Awards (Mikkungwak) 3300
452 – 4(3): Marine Infrastructure (Qirngnuq) 3301
453 – 4(3): Recognition of Firefighter Pauloosie Qaumagiaq (Joanasie) 3302
454 – 4(3): The Nunavut Agreement Not Being Implemented (Keyootak) 3302
455 – 4(3): Celebrating Black History Month (Okalik) 3304
456 – 4(3): Snowmobile Shipped to Wrong Community (Mike) 3304
457 – 4(3): Ordering Vehicle Parts from Ontario (Kuksuk) 3305
602 – 4(3): Construction and Purchase of New Public and Staff Housing Units (Sammurtok, A) 3306
603 – 4(3): Staff Housing for Nurses (Shooyook) 3308
604 – 4(3): Language Services at Qikiqtani General Hospital (Angnakak) 3310
605 – 4(3): Marine Infrastructure (Qirngnuq) 3313
606 – 4(3): Staff Housing for Health Care Professionals (Akoak) 3314
607 – 4(3): Status of New Housing Construction in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) 3316
608 – 4(3): Kimmirut Airport (Joanasie) 3317
609 – 4(3): Bullying in Nunavut Schools (Mikkungwak) 3318
259 – 4(3): Clyde River Integrated Community Infrastructure Sustainability Plans (Keyootak) 3321
Bill 32 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 5, 2015-2016 – First Reading 3322
Bill 33 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017 – First Reading 3322
Bill 35 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018 – First Reading 3322
Bill 32 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 5, 2015-2016 – Second Reading 3322
Bill 33 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2016-2017 – Second Reading 3323
Bill 35 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 1, 2017-2018 – Second Reading 3323
Bill 34 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2017-2018 – Health – Consideration in Committee 3324
>> House commenced at 8:59
Ministers’ Statements. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Joe Savikataaq.
Minister’s Statement 238 – 4(3): Fur Freight Subsidy Pilot Project (Savikataaq)
I am very pleased to announce that my department is introducing a new pilot project which will subsidize the cost of shipping raw wolf pelts to buyers outside of Nunavut.
This project will allow hunters across Nunavut to ship undried wolf pelts to buyers such as taxidermists and fur dressers in the south.
Further, this pilot project will help us to determine if and how the program will be implemented more broadly.
This pilot project will run until March 31, 2018.
By introducing the freight subsidy program, we hope to encourage and support sustainable development in the territory and give Nunavut harvesters an opportunity to achieve a steady income through hunting and trapping. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Environment and Transportation, Ms. Monica Ell-Kanayuk.
Minister’s Statement 239 – 4(3): Update on Tourism Development (Ell-Kanayuk)
As the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, I am pleased to provide my colleagues with an update on tourism development responsibilities in the territory.
As my colleagues will recall, last fall I announced changes to the roles played by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation and Nunavut Tourism in support of the territory’s tourism sector.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Nunavut Tourism continues to advocate for their members and will remain a vital resource for the territory’s tourism industry.
The department has increased its support for tourism development initiatives, including initiatives in the areas of product development, marketing, culture, and the arts.
Mr. Speaker, the department is in the process of creating a new destination marketing branch for the territory and is also assuming responsibility for those visitor centre operations which were previously under Nunavut Tourism.
I would like to extend a special thanks to Nunavut Tourism’s CEO, Mr. Kevin Kelly, for his support in implementing these changes.
Under its new mandate, Nunavut Tourism can focus on advocating for and growing its membership, which is composed of large and small outfitters, hotels, lodges, and other tourism businesses.
Mr. Speaker, tourism is a sector with great potential in many Nunavut communities, and these changes will help us realize that potential.
I apologize for my error. I said Environment, but it’s Economic Development. I apologize.
(interpretation ends) Ministers’ Statements. The Hon. Minister of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Paul Quassa.
Minister’s Statement 240 – 4(3): Partnership with the Legislative Assembly on Simultaneous Interpreting Experiences (Quassa)
Good morning to my fellow community residents and colleagues.
I rise in the House this morning to inform my fellow members of the progress and great initiatives that are being taken by the Interpreter/Translator Program.  The program recently had an extensive review with stakeholders, graduates, and staff.
The courses were revised to provide the students in the program the best experience while they are in their diploma program.
In the winter term NAC has partnered with the Legislative of Assembly to provide the five second year students the opportunity to experience simultaneous interpreting in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the students in the Interpreter/Translator Program are trained to interpret professionally by applying a variety of complex skills and processes to mentally transpose and verbalize the meaning of the original message into the target language and to translate professionally in accordance with international certified interpreter standards.
Mr. Speaker and fellow members, help me welcome to the Legislative Assembly the following students and their instructors:
Peter Aningmiuq, Pangnirtung
Toby Otak, Igloolik
Joanna Qammaniq, Iqaluit
Maata Pudlat, Cape Dorset
Leah Kilabuk, Pangnirtung
Letia Qiatsuk - Instructor
Joe Otokiak - Instructor
Mr. Speaker, I know we all share appreciation for their choice of study.
We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks.
Minister’s Statement 241 – 4(3): Qilaut, Nunavut’s Inuktut Songwriting Contest Winners (Kuksuk)
Hon. George Kuksuk (interpretation): Good morning to the people of Nunavut, Arviat, and Whale Cove. Good morning to my fellow colleagues.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to report on Qilaut, Nunavut’s annual Inuktut songwriting contest.
This program celebrates Nunavut’s vibrant Inuktut music scene and promotes the use of Inuktut in all areas of daily life. By singing in Inuktut, Nunavummiut are contributing to strengthen and enhance the use of Inuktut in our daily life.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Culture and Heritage received a total of 18 submissions from Nunavummiut by the deadline of November 4 of 2016 with children’s songs theme.
It was not an easy task to select the top best songs. So many good songs were indeed submitted.
I would like to particularly thank the judges, being themselves well-known artists, for their time: Celina Kalluk, Rosemary Meyok, and Gideonie Joamie.
1st place: song titled 786 by Becky Han and Tracy May;
2nd place: Qaariaq by Becky Han and Tracy May, and
3rd place goes to the song called Paurit Qajaqturit by Looee Arreak.
Mr. Speaker, the top ten songs have been recorded professionally. A CD launch is planned this evening, February 24, at 8:00 p.m. at the Nakasuk School.
I would like to thank all entrants for their participation, and invite my colleagues to enjoy Inuktut music this weekend and all year round.
Minister’s Statement 242 – 4(3): Pan-Canadian Climate Change Framework (Taptuna)
Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Good morning to my colleagues. Good morning to Kuglukturmiut and Nunavummiut.