EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Mental Health and Wellness Division in Cambridge Bay is responsible for coordinating the delivery of ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᓪᓗᒃ!/Uqaqatigiilluk!/Talk about it!
(ASIST) workshops.
The division’s two territorial suicide intervention specialists have been assigned this specific responsibility.
These positions are the first point of contact for any community requests to have a workshop, although interest can also be expressed through community health centres which will notify the identified suicide prevention specialist.
To date, there are 11 T4T trainers in the department.
The breakdown by division is:
Mental Health - 8
Social Services - 2
Health Centres - 1
To date, 35 individuals have completed the T4T training.
Of those who have completed, 19 are registered trainers, which mean they have taught three workshops after graduating, and 16 are provisional trainers pending teaching three workshops.
The department will be contacting trainers on a regular basis and providing them with updates, information, and support around training.
Monthly telehealth/conference calls will be implemented to inform and share information regarding communities that need as well as those that request workshops and to develop future T4T trainers.
In addition, there are plans to have regular “team building” sessions for the T4T trainers as well as biannual conferences.
Trainers are matched with communities and coordinated by the suicide intervention specialists.
The key contact person in the community, the identified T4T trainers and the suicide prevention specialist, will jointly plan and deliver the workshop in a timely and effective manner.
A workshop planning checklist is provided in the T4T training manual.
The goal is to match a trainer from the community, if available, or a trainer from within the region.
Interested community leaders and/or community members who wish to arrange workshops for the Kitikmeot and/or Kivalliq regions may contact the suicide intervention specialist in Cambridge Bay at 867-983-4179.
In the Qikiqtaaluk region, they can reach the suicide intervention specialist at 867-975-5559.
The suicide intervention specialist positions will coordinate the availability of trainers, determine funding, and assist the community leader and trainer with ordering course materials and making workshop arrangements.
If there are difficulties in contacting the suicide intervention specialists, contact could be made with the territorial director, mental health and wellness at 867-983-4198 or through the local community health centre (supervisor or community health representative).
Those individuals would forward the request to the designated specialist.
School principals who wish to arrange workshops for the Kitikmeot and/or Kivalliq regions may contact the suicide intervention specialist in Cambridge Bay at 867-983-4179.
The suicide intervention specialist positions will coordinate the availability of trainers, determine funding, and assist the school contact person and trainer with ordering course materials and making workshop arrangements.
Return to Written Question 002 – 3(3): School Non-attenders
Asked of: Hon. Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Education
Date: March 2, 2011
Nunavut’s new Education Act came into force in July of 2009.
See attachment I
See attachment II Non-Attender Report for Qikiqtani
Return to Written Question 003 – 3(3): Municipal Governance and Financial Management
Asked of: Hon. Lorne Kusugak, Minister of Community and Government Services
Date: March 3, 2011
As indicated in my letter on September 7, 2010, within the meaning of section 144(4) of the Hamlets Act, CGS confirms that the Municipality of Baker Lake complied with the Act and filed audited financial statements not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year for all of the years listed in the question.
It is further confirmed that the contents of the financial statements contained the information requirements of section 144(2) (a to h) and section 144(3) (a to d) of the Hamlets Act.
No information regarding procurement, contracting, or leasing activities of the municipalities have been filed with the minister.
There is no requirement for municipalities to report these activities to the minister.
The Municipality of Baker Lake, as an independent local government, is responsible for its own procurement activities and, as such, is not required to report those activities to CGS.
The annual general meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities is not scheduled until the week of May 9 in Rankin Inlet.
The consultations with NAM will take part at that event.
Community and Government Services has not participated in any applications to the Nunavut Court of Justice under section 5 of the territorial Conflict of Interest Act.
Information relating to independent filings, if any, would be between the applicant and the Nunavut Court of Justice and therefore, CGS would not have access to information.
We are not aware of there being any assistance in obtaining legal counsel from departments, boards, or agencies of the Government of Nunavut in connection with an application by a voter to the Nunavut Court of Justice under section 5 of the Conflict of Interest Act.
Premier; Minister of Education; Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for the Status of Women
Minister of Health and Social Services; Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation; Minister responsible for Homelessness; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Pages 622 – 708
Opening Prayer 622
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 622
Report of the Committee of the Whole 707
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 622
Witnesses Appearing on the Nutrition North Canada Program – Consideration in Committee 622
Speaker (Hon. Hunter Tootoo): Before we start, I would like to ask Mr. Ningark to lead us off with a prayer, please.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ningark. (interpretation ends) Going to the orders of the day.
I seek unanimous consent to proceed directly to Item 19 in the Orders of the Day.
Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to go directly to Item 19, Consideration in Committee of the Whole.
There being none, we will proceed directly to Item 19.
Bills 6, 7, and 8, and Tabled Documents 248 – 3(2), 249 – 3(2), 251 – 3(2), 274 – 3(2), and 275 – 3(2) with Mr. Schell in the Chair.
In accordance with the authority provided to me by Motion 6 – 3(3), the Committee of the Whole shall stay in session until it reports itself out.
I would ask that all members remain in their seats and that we proceed directly to Committee of the Whole.
Chairman (Mr. Schell): Good afternoon.
The Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
In the Committee of the Whole, we have a number of items to deal with: Bill 6, Bill 7, Bill 8, five tabled documents, and witnesses appearing on the Nutrition North Canada Program.
We wish to invite Mr. Michael McMullen from the North West Company and Mr. Andy Morrison from the Arctic Co-operatives Limited into the Committee of the Whole.
Are we in agreement that we deal today with witnesses appearing on the Nutrition North Canada Program?
Witnesses Appearing on the Nutrition North Canada Program – Consideration in Committee
Chairman: Do members agree to invite the witnesses to the table?
I would now ask our witnesses to introduce themselves.
Mr. McMullen: I’m Michael McMullen from the North West Company.
Mr. Morrison: I’m Andy Morrison from Arctic Co-operatives Limited.
I now wish to make an opening statement concerning these proceedings.
As members are aware, the Committee of the Whole is considering the testimony this week of invited witnesses concerning the Nutrition North Canada Program.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank our guests today from the North West Company and Arctic Co-operatives Limited for taking the time to appear before the Committee of the Whole in response to invitations that were extended to them earlier this year.
As Mr. McMullen and Mr. Morrison are aware, the issue of accessibility to affordable and nutritious food for Nunavummiut is a major priority for all Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I am confident that today’s hearing will provide an opportunity for a productive dialogue to take place between Members of the Legislative Assembly and our witnesses.
As members are aware, our witnesses also appeared last fall before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on the occasion of its hearings on the Nutrition North Canada Program.
I anticipate that the testimony of witnesses this week will be of considerable interest to federal Members of Parliament and I understand that our staff will ensure that the appropriate officials in Ottawa receive copies of this week’s Hansard.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the many residents of Nunavut who have taken the time over the last several months to share their concerns about this program with their elected Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I would like to now briefly review our order of proceedings for these hearings.
At the conclusion of my opening remarks, I will invite Mr. McMullen and Mr. Morrison to make their opening statements.
After the witnesses have made their opening statements, I will open the floor to general comments from members.
I will first recognize the Member for Quttiktuq, who moved the motion to invite witnesses to appear before us. I will then recognize the seconder of the motion, the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet North. I will then recognize other members according to our usual procedures.
In anticipation of all members wishing to participate in today’s proceedings, I will be strictly enforcing our 10-minute rule.
After a member has spoken for 10 minutes, I will then recognize other members on my list.
After all members wishing to make general comments have spoken, I will open the floor to questions.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Speaker by yesterday’s motion, the Committee of the Whole will remain in session today until it has reported itself out.
Recognizing that we have further hearings tomorrow, it would be my hope that we will conclude with Mr. McMullen and Mr. Morrison today.
I thank all members for their attention and I now invite Mr. McMullen to make his opening statements on behalf of the North West Company.
Mr. McMullen, you may proceed.
Mr. McMullen: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Nutrition North Canada (NNC).
The North West Company (NWC) believes the program has delivered the intended goals within our stores in Nunavut. The average price reduction has been approximately 6 percent on the eligible products across Nunavut.
All of the subsidy has and will be passed on to the consumer.
The primary objectives for the Nutrition North program, as understood by the North West Company, are:
Lower the average cost of a healthy basket of products to remote northern communities across Canada.  Make this healthy basket of products readily accessible to the majority of northern residents.
(Food Security)
Make these cost savings transparent and clear to the end consumer.
Have a clear accountability and auditing process assuring the subsidy is passed on to the end consumer.
With those goals in mind, I will address the actions and results from the North West Company experience and perspective to date.
The Transition of Food Mail to Nutrition North Canada
The primary changes in the Nutrition North Canada Program address the major concerns that existed in the food mail model.
The food mail model was hindered by transparency and a lack of clear accountability.
The most significant flaw in the food mail system was that the customer never knew if they were indeed benefiting from the subsidy.
This, despite the fact that Canada Post executed the Food Mail Program as it was intended and structured.
The food mail system was not an efficient supply chain as that model added expenses, time, and created quality concerns.
Nutrition North Canada Model
The Nutrition North Canada model has four basic differences when compared to the food mail system.
Supply Chain Streamlining. The Nutrition North Canada model is a supply chain system for eligible food items that is both more efficient and cost effective.
The streamlined distribution mechanics have limited the number of times the product is handled and the associated delays.
In particular, the elimination of entry points, inspection procedures, and inefficient routes will lower costs to Nunavut communities.
These changes should ensure a higher degree of food security on nutritious items.
A fundamental goal of the program is getting the right nutritious product to the right communities in a timely and efficient manner. The total annual cost savings to the consumers in Northern and NorthMart stores across Canada is estimated at over $6 million and approximately $2 million for consumers in Nunavut compared to the food mail system, and at North West, we believe that number can go higher.
Consumer Transparency.
The communication sign package in our stores clearly identifies the subsidy level in each community, the eligible products list, the before and after prices for the high-profile Nutrition North Canada eligible products in the launch phase, and an ongoing system for identifying Nutrition North Canada eligible products.
The communication process visibly demonstrates and substantiates the subsidy pass-through to the end consumer as intended.
Examples of the sign package in the North West stores have been distributed and we welcome members of the legislature to tour our stores and see our program at work.
I did submit a supplemental handout that is available to the members.
The Subsidy Transparency.
An auditing process has been established that tracks the subsidy through to the consumer. The process that has been established is directly linked to the eligible products. The auditing process put in place by INAC is the basis for any retail or wholesale claim for reimbursement.
The subsidy program is traceable back to its roots to the end consumer.
Health Focus. To date, the North West Company stores that are eligible for level 1 subsidies have sales increases in the eligible nutritious and perishable products that are significantly higher than the growth in other food categories.
The Nutrition North Canada eligible stores are also selling more of the nutritious product than the stores in our company that are not eligible for Nutrition North Canada.
We will share this information with INAC and Health Canada for future eligibility decisions and changes.
Initially it appears that Nutrition North Canada has had an impact on healthier eating choices.
It is too early in the program, less than two months in, to determine if the positive trends will be sustained. The North West Company launched our own Healthy Eating program in October of 2010 to guide our customers in making healthier choices when shopping.
The Nutrition North Canada model is a competitive model. It’s open to both the wholesalers and retailers in the north and south. Private individual orders from southern-based retailers and wholesalers are allowed.
The Nutrition North Canada model encourages all retailers, whatever size they are, to execute to the best of their abilities and utilize their strengths to lower food costs for the people in their communities.
The goal of the program is to make healthier food more accessible.
The northern-based retailers represent a strong local platform for ensuring food security directly in the community and accessibility to this product for all people in Nunavut communities.
The world around us is experiencing dramatic year-over-year price increases.
A Globe and Mail article on April 19, 2011 reported price increases in potatoes of 20.7 percent, fresh and frozen beef of 6.5 percent, fresh vegetables of 18.6 percent, and other food increases varying from 5 to 66 percent.
The World Bank reported in April skyrocketing commodity prices, including wheat at 82 percent, corn at 121 percent, and coffee at 80 percent.
The north is not immune from these increases.
With this background, the price decrease on a selected bundle of nutritious products identified by community members in Nunavut as important has decreased by 6.33 percent in Arctic Bay, 7.05 percent in Cambridge Bay, and 5.08 percent in Repulse Bay.
That specific information is in the package that was distributed by the North West Company as a supplemental.
The North West Company is part of your Nunavut communities. Our stores employ over 670 people with an annual local payroll in excess of $11 million in 2011.
We are the largest private sector employer of Inuit and First Nation people in Canada. Annually our stores spend $27.6 million in local goods and services in Nunavut.
The combination of local payroll and purchases of goods and services amounts to $38.6 million in Nunavut.
The economic multiplier impact of this money spent in Nunavut by the North West Company is significant.
The North West Company capital investment in Nunavut is $75 million, primarily in buildings, equipment, and inventories.
Additionally, and it was not part of my submitted notes, in 2011, we will invest another $6.5 million. The budget I’m proposing to our board of directors next week in Winnipeg will have another $10 million to $12 million in capital expenditure intended for Nunavut.
This investment is an economic asset that creates employment, contributes to community programs, builds the Nunavut tax base, and supports the development and growth of other local businesses, such as freight handlers, janitorial services, and other supply companies.
The North West Company has a committed presence and investment in Nunavut that helps create and sustain a stronger local economy. We have grown to our current size after 340 years. It has been a long road to get to where we are in today’s economy.
We are an integral community partner that contributes to many local organizations and charities, including Habitat for Humanities and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The Nutrition North Canada Program is the creation of two federal departments aimed at increasing the accessibility for the majority of Nunavut residents to a healthy basket of nutritious products.
Healthy communities are a goal we share and endeavour to support.
I thank you for your attention.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. McMullen.
We will now invite Mr. Morrison to make his opening statements on behalf of the Arctic Co-operatives Limited.
Mr. Morrison: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Legislative Assembly, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today on the Nutrition North Canada Program.
My name is Andy Morrison. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Co-operatives Limited.
Arctic Co-ops is a service federation, owned and democratically controlled by 31 community-based Co-operatives located across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. These 31 multi-purpose Co-operatives are also owned and controlled by more than 20,000 individual owner members in communities across the north.
The Co-operatives in the Arctic have participated in the previous Food Mail Program for many years.
The original program was an essential tool for the delivery of perishable nutritious foods to the remote communities of the north.
The Food Mail Program, while essential to the communities of the Arctic, was mired in rules and regulations that greatly reduced the effectiveness of the program and resulted in increased transportation time, reduced product quality, and higher costs for the people of the north.
For almost three years, Co-ops participated with other stakeholders in the extensive review and consultation process undertaken by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).
Throughout this review, we have provided an honest assessment of the program and have consistently offered constructive suggestions to improve the program.
The new Nutrition North Canada Program was announced just over a year ago.
Our initial assessment of the new program was both positive and negative.
We were very pleased that the old Food Mail Program had been replaced. No middleman in Canada Post, the elimination of specific deposit days and designated entry points, and the ability to file claims for poor service will result in a much better consumer-based freight subsidy program.
We were very disappointed in the timing of the announcement of the new program. As you are all painfully aware, businesses in the Arctic cannot begin to place sealift orders late in May and June.
Unfortunately that was the situation that Co-ops and other retailers were faced with last year. 2010 sealift orders had been completed and in some cases, product was on the way to the dock by the time the new NNC program was announced.
Retailers had to very quickly gain an understanding of the new program, review all sealift orders for 2010, and immediately order additional inventory to compensate for the many products no longer eligible under the new program.
We were disappointed with the extensive changes made to the list of eligible products.
Co-ops in the Arctic utilize resupply to the greatest extent possible. However, more and more products have best-before dates.
Resupply is not a transportation alternative for products with a short shelf life.
Much of this problem has been temporally resolved when INAC expanded the list of eligible category 2 products earlier this spring.
This reprieve will remain in place until October 2012.
We were also disappointed with the long delays before detailed information on the new program was released.
It was impossible for retailers to design and implement new procedures for supply and logistics, as well as new tracking and reporting procedures when we had no idea what would be required by INAC.
The new Nutrition North program is not a retail support program; it is a consumer freight subsidy program. The new program does not provide any financial benefits to the retailers in the north.
The freight subsidies in the new program are consumer subsidies. If anything, the new program will increase administration costs for retailers as we report to government and educate consumers on this important new program.
The objective of the Nutrition North Canada Program is to provide improved access to healthy foods to consumers across the north.
Is this new Nutrition North Canada Program perfect?
No, it is not perfect.
Has the new program addressed some of the major deficiencies of the old program? Yes, it has.
Is there more work required to ensure consumers receive the best value possible?
Yes, there is a great deal of work needed to ensure the program is efficient and effective.
Please do not let the news reports and political grandstanding that has taken place over the last year fool you. The old Food Mail Program was not just flawed, it was broken. Major changes to the old program would not fix the problems.
A major overhaul of the program was required. Problems were much worse the further north you went.
Also, please do not accept the reports that the freight subsidies in the new Nutrition North program will directly result in lower prices for perishable nutritious foods. In our opinion, the new program attempted to maintain the status quo for the price of the most perishable and nutritious food products.
The new subsidy rates that are in place in some communities will accomplish that goal.
Unfortunately, the subsidy rates in other communities have resulted in price increases. The potential for price improvement will result from improved supply change management by retailers.
We have recommended to both INAC and the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board that subsidy rates be increased in locations where the new program has resulted in higher prices for healthy foods.
The Food Mail Program and the new Nutrition North Canada Program have a major impact on food prices in the north. However, there are many other factors affecting the price of food around the world and especially in Nunavut.