EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
That’s what the organizational chart does, it shows you the number of bodies that you have, the number of positions as well as the organizational flow and reporting structures of the department.
In this case, Mr. Speaker, we have had concerns and the member is correct, I have heard concerns myself about the reporting structure as shown on the organizational chart.
However, Mr. Speaker, I have not had any correspondence, writing or otherwise saying that they have had problems with the way it was working.
They didn’t like the way it looked on paper, even though it was actually in place for over a year before we actually got it massaged enough and got it approved.
That is the reporting structure that we have used since April 1, 2000 when we assumed the health boards.
But the member is correct that it's something we need to take the opportunity to review and update the organizational chart.
That is something, Mr. Speaker that we will do.
Question 102 - 1(5): Language Bureau Staffing
The positions for his department in Kugluktuk, the interpreters and translators, are they fully staffed now.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister responsible for Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
I could answer him by saying that when we were in Kugluktuk we learned that some of the positions are not filled at this time.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I just want him to clarify who and what positions still need to be filled.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Kattuk.
In Kugluktuk there are nine positions that have to be filled by my department and right now there are seven filled.
They are with language services.
When these people are hired, are they responsible for all of Nunavut.
Will there be trainees under these people so they can train to be interpreters and translators.
Can these positions be available once these people are hired.
The member is correct when he said that these people are working for the whole of Nunavut.
We will consider his suggestion.
Speaker (interpretation): Last supplementary. Mr. Havioyak.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I didn't get the answer that I wanted. (interpretation ends) I think you have filled seven positions, that is correct.
Those positions that you filled now, are you planning to have trainees along with the people that are hired today.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Kattuk.
The member is asking whether some positions will be for trainees.
I am not really sure. We will look at your question and we will get back to you.
Question 103 - 1(5): Number of Nursing Students
Mr. McLean: Ma'na Uqaqti. Uqaqti my question today is to the Minister of Health & Social Services.
Uqaqti it is a known fact that there is a nursing shortage in Nunavut, and I know the minister is trying very hard to recruit nurses for Nunavut.
I have to give him credit, he is doing a good job. Two years ago, he made a major announcement opening a nursing course here in Iqaluit. Could the minister update me or the House as to how many students have applied and how many are currently in the course.
Minister for Health & Social Services. Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for asking about the nursing program.
As you know Mr. Speaker, it is one of the cornerstones that the Nunavut government advance Inuit employment opportunities in non-traditional occupations in Nunavut for Inuit.
I don’t have the number of people who have applied with me but it is my understanding that we have seven students in the first year program and we have three students who are in the second year program.
Mr. Speaker, those are good numbers, there’s three in the second year. Can the minister explain and tell me how many started.
How many started in the first year, that are now in the second year.
Mr. Speaker, I always pride myself on not taking any questions as notice I try to have that information in my head.
So Mr. Speaker, yes, to answer his question for Mr. McLean, how many students, I forget the question.
Mr. Speaker, what was that question.
How many students started, that’s a good question, I don’t know how many students started the program, I believe the attrition rate has been about 80%.
That is high Mr. Speaker, the attrition rate, in that type of program, like the Nunavut Teacher Education Program, when we first started off was quite high.
That’s why we’ve got the access year running.
So I believe, Mr. Speaker, the attrition rate is about that high.
I think we started off at 11 students originally, I think we have three right now.
The attrition rate of 80% is far too high.
It’s probably various reasons why these students drop out, is his department working with the Department of Education or Arctic College, to ensure these students who go into the program are upgraded and given the skills necessary to complete the program.
That’s the whole reason behind the access year program.
It is to bring not only the academic opportunities forward, but to orient students towards a career as a nurse, or in the health field in general. So the access year does what Mr. McLean has asked.
The access program is there to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Does he foresee that the seven students that are in the first year will complete the first year, and will want to proceed to the second year with this access program.
Mr. Speaker, the access year of the nursing program is, like I said before, Mr. Speaker, to make sure that the students who want to go into the first year nursing program have the science, have the math, have the academics to be able to be successful in the first year, second year and so on in succeeding years of the program.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t guarantee if you start off with seven, people will drop out of programs for X number of reasons. I believe three of the women dropped out because of pregnancies for example, some of them had to go back to their home communities. There’s always a high attrition rate in different college programs.
The program here has a high attrition rate, that is to be accepted and expected, Mr. Speaker, in this type of field.
If I was to suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, we can graduate one, two or even three nurses, than we’ve been successful because that’s three we did not have before we started the program.
Question 104- 1(5): Support for Nursing Students
Mr. Speaker, maybe I will continue on with a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services because he’s doing a fine job answering questions today.
Mr. Speaker, my honourable colleague from Baker Lake was talking about the nursing students.
Does the minister or is his department doing any specific support to ensure that these students that enter into the program are given every opportunity to successfully complete the program.
If, as he had indicated, the attrition rate is so high, have they identified some of the problems that need to be overcome in causing that attrition.
Mr. Speaker, just to make sure that I clarify that. When Mr. McLean asked the original question on the number, I was just thinking up something off the top of my head and that was the number I gave you.
It may be less than 80% but it's a very high attrition number.
It is a concern for us Mr. Speaker, and there has been student support given by Arctic College at the campus here. There are people on the ground at the Arctic College that provide student support services and so on. At the same time Mr. Speaker, as recently as last week I had our Deputy Minister of Health meet with the head of the campus here, Mr. Ludlow, specifically on the nursing program to see if there's any other support that we can put in place.
We've also had, Mr. Speaker, a review of the program itself and it passed with flying colours from the Dalhousie Medical School.
So there are support programs in place and there are student support programs in place but as the member said we might have to ramp up more if we see that the attrition rate is increasing.
Mr. Speaker, of the number of students that have been dropping out of the program, does the department do any questioning as to finding out or ask them why they are dropping out.
I'm just wondering if there is any statistical information that the department keeps on that.
The program is being run by Arctic College.
It's to train health professionals so I guess in the strictest sense it's not a health program it's being run by the Department of Education and so on.
They do exit exams and so on, on programs on a regular basis.
As I said before through personal reasons, family considerations and that, that seems to be the biggest indicator that we have for the attrition rate.
It's a tough program.
It's academically challenging, it's professionally challenging, it means work training and so on.
It's a challenging program to take so I would recommend at this time Mr. Speaker, if there were any Nunavummiut that would like to take this program it would be a great and worthwhile experience. We need more people in Nunavut to apply to be nurses and Mr. Speaker, as you know to train as nurses for our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I can certainly understand having gone to a southern college and taken a course where the nursing program was offered and a number of friends that went through such a program and acknowledged the fact that it is a very challenging program.
One of the things that I've also had raised to me by some students, Mr. Speaker, that live in my riding and I'm sure it's not just students that live in my riding but one of the problems, challenges that they all face. On top of a very challenging course is the challenge of being able to survive financially if they have to move their family away from their home community and come here to Iqaluit, to take the course.
They're finding that it costs too much for them and they are not being funded enough to take these programs.
I'm just wondering Mr. Speaker, if that's one of the concerns that has been raised and if the minister is looking at working with the Minister of Education in trying to find some solutions to that.
We know that Iqaluit is a very expensive place to live and we have had that concern brought forward many times by students.
I believe when Premier Okalik was the Minister of Education he initiated an opportunity within that department to review Student Financial Assistance.
Through his dedicated leadership being carried out now by Minister Kilabuk, indeed Student Financial Assistance or SFA, is being reviewed.
Hopefully, there will be some positive outcomes for students.
The Premier as you know Mr. Speaker, having gone through his own situation being a professional student, and…
… sorry, having completed his own professional studies, knows the effect of that.
That’s something that we are trying to look at with the help of our Minister of Education.
Last supplementary.
Mr. Speaker, it sounds better to hear last supplementary instead of final. Final sounds so final.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister, if one of the other reasons, and I know that again, raised by some of the students that I talked to a concern that they had was the accommodations.
I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, is that lack of and cost of accommodations one of the other concerns raised by any of the students that left the program or are presently in the program and if the minister is looking at working towards solving that problem.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier and I actually had an opportunity to go and visit the students at the college this past fall.
At that time we did hear some concerns about housing, especially with the students that are here with their families.
I know there has been a plan by the college for the college to look at possibly the housing for students in Iqaluit but also for their other campus locations like Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet.
My understanding is Mr. Speaker, that is being looked at by the college.
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Tabled Document 010 – 1(5): Response to Petitions 1 – 1(5) & 002 - 1(5)
I wish to table the following documents.
Response to Petition 1 – 1(5) and Petition 2 – 1(5).
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Item 16. Motions.
Motion 004 – 1(5): Adjournment
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when the House adjourns on March 4, 2001, it shall be adjourned until March 15, 2001 at 1.30 p.m. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Havioyak, would you like to read the motion again please.
Mr. Havioyak: Did I say 4.
Sorry I will try that again.
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Cambridge Bay that, notwithstanding standing Rule 4, when the House adjourns on March 9, 2001, it shall be adjourned until March 15, 2001 at 1.30 p.m. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): That was very clear.
Thank you, Mr. Havioyak.
All in favour of the motion. Against.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills & Other Matters.
Bill 1, Appropriations Act 2001-2002.
According to the authority vested in me by Motion 002 – 1(5) the committee shall stay in session until it reports itself out with Mr. Irqittuq in the Chair.
We will take a fifteen-minute break.
>>The House recessed at 4.41 p.m. and resumed at 5.07 p.m.
Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills & Other Matters
We will be going into Committee of the Whole.
Yesterday, we concluded the Capital Estimates for the Housing Corporation.
Is it the wish of the members to continue with the Housing Corporation Main Estimates.
We want to go to Bill 1 Appropriation Act 2001-2002 Main Estimates for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are we in agreement to deal with Bill 1 Appropriation Act 2001-2002 Housing Corporation Main Estimates. We will be starting on page 12-5.
Would Ms. Thompson please approach the witness table.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): I am on my way and I will bring my officials.
Chairperson (interpretation): Sergeant-At-Arms please bring in the officials.
Thank you, Madam Minister.
Please introduce your witnesses Ms. Thompson.
On my right is the President of the Housing Corporation Ms. Pam Hine, and to my left Policy Director Chris Darcy.
I would like to draw members’ attention to the information item starting on page 12-6.
When members are discussing page 12-5 they can refer to the information items.
The only page that needs to be approved by the House, is on page 12-5.
Prior to approving 12-5 questions may be asked on the information items.
Do the members have any questions.
I don’t know which page it is exactly but reading through 12-5, the public housing renovations and so on.
My question is if it includes the architectural and engineering, in that line item, or whether it’s on a different page.
Did you direct that question to me.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I directed that question to the minister.
Is the architectural and engineering included on page 12-5. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, I’m on page 12-5, it says Nunavut Housing Corporation.
In response to the question just posed, the architectural and engineering are in the Capital Estimates, which was approved yesterday.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you. We are referring to page 12-5.
The only page that needs to be approved by the House is on page 12-5 and prior to approving page 12-5 questions may be asked on the information items.
In the main estimates, probably it is only talking about the regular employees for example the Housing Corporation employees, do you have architects and engineers as employees in the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
In regards to your question I will redirect that question to Ms. Hine.
We have a technical division and one position is Manager, Design and Development, and in our organizational chart we also have a position that is an architect position.
However, that position is vacant at this time.
We haven’t staffed that position yet.
Mr. Arvaluk: So, you don't have the actual PY filled for the architect.
Do you, I assume there are some at Public Works.
What do you use at the moment to do your designing and you design plans.
Do you contract this out or do you borrow some from public works, what's the set up right now.
Most of the designs that we are using now are designs that we have received from the NWT Housing Corporation and any revisions to those designs that are required, we've been using their staff at this time until we are staffed up.
It seems that the Canadian code seems to be operating like a fad of some new style and goes away and changes.
Are these designs from the GNWT still valid and up to code.
We use the designs from the NWT Housing Corporation and we do make revisions to the drawings as necessary.
But in order to be clearer I'll direct that question to Ms. Hine.
Ms. Hine: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The designs that we are currently using are up to date.
Some of them may have to have some revisions but they are up to date.
I asked the other day in the capital area if you would be looking for the most economical or most efficient equipment or I don't know what you call them, facilities like furnaces or water pumps and anything else that homeowners and rental housing could be using.
Is this search for that kind of most efficient household item included in this page.
The minister has stated that she'll be looking into this kind of thing.
Will you be using this fund to search for these kinds of things.
If you get this position filled will you be using one architect for all Nunavut to design or find the right design that is affordable and the most heat efficient for the public housing.
Although we only have one architect on our organizational chart we have other technical staff, including the manager of design and development so the task of finding efficient designs will be taken on by the whole technical service division.
Chairperson (interpretation): Is that it Mr. Arvaluk.
Do you invite well-known companies to give you, not a proposal necessarily, but information as to what kind of housing designs they have that you may be interested in introducing for Nunavut.
I have been in conversations with Canada Mortgage and Housing.
They have a large research and design development division.
They also export a lot of housing technologies to Russia and other circumpolar areas.
I have asked them to assist us in the search for the most economic designs and technologies that are available.
Last one on this page.
Do you know that in Yellowknife there is a builder who claims that his building designs where the corners do not meet and insulation is made of Styrofoam he said he could put it up in 3 days or 5 working days. Complete.
With that in mind, do you have a catalogue of these companies who they say can do those kinds of things for Nunavut.
If we don't have them in our offices, we can certainly ask for them and get those copies from Yellowknife.
Mr. Arvaluk: Supplementary to that.
You don't have anything at all, some kind of a cataloguing system from different companies that may be interested in designing and building efficient homes for Nunavut.
Do you have anything at all at hand that you can use them for reference or comparisons.
I was made aware that we do have some publications in this area in our department.
In here, it mentions 40 million, grants and contributions and it states in the program summary, that they will be using that for elders’ facilities.
What kind of elders’ facilities do we have in the communities.
Yesterday, when we dealt with the Capital Estimates we discussed it.
There used to be elders’ facilities such as row housing, they have bigger washrooms.
These are elders’ facilities and we do have those facilities in the communities.
I am not too sure which communities they’re in.
But for the elders we supply housing for elders who are capable, who are able bodied.
We do have those facilities.
For elders’ facilities, do you have any plans to review the communities that don't have elders’ facilities so that they can have access to elders’ facilities in their communities.
Yes, we can review it.
But the funding that you approved yesterday was geared towards Capital buildings in the communities.
If they're going to supply units to the communities, you can have the option of changing it to elders’ facilities instead of public units.
But we don't have any budgets for elders’ facilities at this time but it's up to you as to whether you want to change that unit to an elders’ facility from public housing.
If the funding is adequate and you want to get an elders’ facility, and the designs are up to date.
We can review it at this time and I guess this is a bit of urgent case right now.
Your response is very interesting and it's very nice to hear.
But for people who have physical difficulties they don't seem to be mentioned here because I don't see one.
I'm sure it should be included in this or under this 40 million line.
I was wondering why they're not included in this line item.
This is for operations and maintenance.
We are supposed to be dealing with the Main Estimates, the operations and maintenance and we have already approved the capital estimates.
So we are now on the operations and maintenance part of it.
I can speak to that issue although it's not on this page, if they were physically disabled people they can renovate the homes so these physically disabled people can have access to the house.
That is in the capital estimates, we're on operations and maintenance.
Maybe I don't understand.
We approved the capital estimates yesterday and I just want to remind the members at this time we are on operations and maintenance.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know that we completed those yesterday, but according to the way the program summary is written that's why I'm asking these questions they're in the main estimates.
If I'm correct, main estimates, they're in there and I'm asking a question in regards to that.
I hope you can understand me.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on the main estimates, page 12-5.
If you have any questions on this page, you may ask your questions.
You can go on and look at the information items.
Nunavut Housing Corporation provides public rental housing, homeownership renovation programs and related services to residents of Nunavut and to the elders with the assistance of our partners the local housing organizations.
The contributions to the corporation are the Government of Nunavut's share.
That's where I'm asking this question.
It's under line item 40 million dollars.
Under this program summary in the Inuktitut version, it mentions here the elders’ facilities.
That is my question, do we have to pay for elders’ facilities from this line item.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I thank Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I didn't exactly know where, but in Inuktitut, it says Inakurvik Elders’ Facility but in English, there's no elders’ facility.
So that's where the confusion came.
In the English version it says the residents of Nunavut.
Part of the funding, these are elders’ facilities and we give them subsidies for oil and power and the energy use.
So that is what it's trying to say.
It's ok now I understand.
I mentioned the other day the youth of whom many are searching for their own homes.
They want to begin to get their own housing.
When there are too many within the household, it becomes a problem.
In the future for instance, even though this is not the Housing Corporation, in Taloyoak they are looking for a youth centre even though it is not through the Housing Corporation.
If there were more of these available throughout Nunavut even though the Housing Corporation doesn’t build those units, maybe the private companies can do those and they can be leased.
Is this is a place where funding can flow from.
I think we are all aware the young people in communities are increasing in population and even when they want to move out of their parent’s home they have no place to move into even though they want to live on their own.
I am sure the number of young people is increasing and this is understandable.
But the funding that was approved yesterday for the Capital Estimates was geared towards the construction of housing units.
I understand you, if the community or a private company wanted to build a unit could we lease it.