EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
He is well aware of the status of the project as I was questioned about the cost estimates earlier during the review of our financial estimates.
The funding for Pond Inlet is over $2 million, which we are trying to get approved here through our session and it will be for the project work.
This requires approval.
I know at this time that they are working on the (interpretation ends) geotechnical and environmental work, (interpretation) as this work requires completion.
Although it is almost completed, some of the work will be completed in January 2017.
The first portion of the funds requires pre-approval here in the House with respect to this $2 million fund.
Also, in the upcoming fiscal year I expect the Nunavut Impact Review Board to invite all stakeholders for expression of interest in intervener status as they need to be able to voice their concerns at the review.
If this review proceeds smoothly and if the project is approved, we expect to have the small craft harbour construction commencing in the summer of 2018.
In June of this year public consultations concerning the project were undertaken in Pond Inlet.
Both the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization and the Municipality of Pond Inlet expressed their support for the project.
One of the specific recommendations that were raised by the Municipality of Pond Inlet concerned the need to ensure that “timelines for executing the small craft harbour project should be communicated in advance so the hamlet can develop and implement training initiatives to prepare community members with skills required for the construction and operation phases.”
I want to ask the minister if she can assure me that this recommendation is being followed by our government.
I also thank you for asking about that matter.
Yes, our preference is to see local residents working on these projects, at least for the majority of the positions for community projects. I am also aware that certain work training courses may be needed, as communities can plan every year on employment training. This is also under consideration.
Can the minister confirm when the design for the new Pond Inlet marine facility will be finalized and formally unveiled?
Hon. Monica Ell-Kanayuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for asking about this aspect of the project.
As per my earlier response about approvals for the project review, including consideration of support and the approval of the funds, we expect that in 2018 or in the fall of 2019 the harbour would be open for use by locals.
Question 483 – 4(3): Overtime Paid to Health Employees (Angnakak)
Good morning. (interpretation ends) My questions are for the Minister of Finance today.
Yesterday the minister tabled a corrected response to the written question that I had asked him back in our spring sitting and I compliment the minister for his sharp eyes.
Almost $12 million was paid in overtime during the 2015-16 fiscal year to the employees of the Department of Health.
Mr. Speaker, I am not questioning the need to ensure that hard-working frontline health care workers and nurses are fairly compensated for the many hours that they devote for caring for our constituents.
However, I am concerned that this amount of overtime reflects a shortage of staff, especially frontline health care staff, and too much overtime for existing staff.
From the perspective of the finance minister, can he indicate if the majority of this overtime is going to staff at the community level or to folks at the administrative level?
I was the Minister of Health for a couple of years. Prior to that two-year stint I was hearing stories about all the overtime being earned in the Department of Health.
When I became the Minister of Health, I asked for that information, and this is going back to 2010-11.
I was quite astounded by the amount of overtime and I started requesting monthly overtime reports for all the departments and territorial corporations.
Now I am very happy that the MLAs have requested this information because it should be public information.
That story yesterday or two days ago about overtime, I have to say that was a bit erroneous.
If you take all the employees in the Department of Health and divide them into $12 million, it doesn’t mean they’re all making an equal amount.
The administrative staff don’t make that much overtime. The bulk of the overtime or the largest overtime earners in the Department of Health would be health professionals.
I agree that this kind of information does have to come out. We need to talk about it openly so all Nunavummiut understand what’s going on with public funds.
I also noted that the total amount of overtime paid to health employees in the 2015-16 fiscal year was divided roughly evenly between casual staff and permanent staff.
Concerns have been expressed in this House by many members regarding the need to hire more full-time nurses and staff and reduce our reliance on casual and agency nurses.
Can the minister indicate approximately what percentage of overtime payments is going to agency nurses and what percentage is going to full-time nurses?
I don’t know if I have that level of detail.
There are three types of nurses.
There are the agency nurses, indeterminate nurses, and casual nurses.
As Ms. Angnakak knows, we have to have a full complement of nurses in all health centres.
As my colleague will attest, we’re in a real competitive situation and have been for many years with countries and all provinces and territories to hire nurses. The health department did have a project years ago called Trillium where they brought foreign nurses over to train them to work in our health centres.
They had the Nunavut Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy, a five-year strategy to try to address it, plus we’re teaching and training nurses in our health centres.
I don’t have that level of detail, but I can assure you that indeterminate and casual nurses both receive a significant amount of overtime.
I believe that the ratification period for the new collective agreement between the government and NEU ends very shortly.
Can the minister summarize what major changes, if any, have been included in the new collective agreement with respect to overtime rates and rules?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I don’t have all that information with me.
It’s a very generous contract we have offered. It’s out for ratification.
We were hoping it would be ratified by today, but I believe the union is having some difficulties getting to all the communities and they have to go into all the communities to talk to their members.
We’re hopeful. I’m hearing positive feedback. We have negotiated provisions in the collective agreement that should assist us to lessen that work on extended hours for different categories of employees.
We’re hopeful that will help us alleviate the overtime.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in the past and in business cases, the House has approved additional nurses in the Kivalliq and office administrators in the Baffin to assist and alleviate the workloads of health professionals in the health centres.
Question 484 – 4(3): Office Space Deficit in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
I want to direct my questions to the Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, earlier today I asked the Minister of Community and Government Services whether any meetings had taken place between him and the Minister of Family Services concerning office space for the family resources worker in Sanikiluaq.
Again, I will go back to yesterday’s answer when I asked the minister the question. I quote from my question, “Can the Minister of Family Services confirm whether or not he has consulted with the Minister of Community and Government Services regarding the lack of office space for Sanikiluaq?”
In his response he said, “I’ve had discussions with the present Minister of Community and Government Services on the matter of positions or new positions and the lack of staff housing and it’s a slow process.”
Mr. Speaker, I can’t confirm the Inuktitut version of the answer.
Maybe my colleagues can do that at a later date for me on exactly how the questions and answers were translated.
For the record, I’m wondering if the minister can explain to the House why yesterday he stated that such meetings had taken place and then today the minister says that such meetings may not have taken place.
Can the Minister of Family Services please explain his answers from yesterday?
I apologize if any of my responses yesterday were misunderstood.
I tend to revert to Inuktitut when responding to a question and depend on the interpreters to relay my answer and I do not want to place blame on our interpreters.
It seems I have to clearly identify that when misunderstandings occur, it stems from my reticence to speak another language other than Inuktitut.
I apologize if the interpretation or the transcription in the Blues is erroneous. When mistakes occur, we submit edits as members, especially if the translation didn’t jibe with the response.
The member from Sanikiluaq was asking about the lack of office space and prior to asking his question, he stated this and I read his question in the Blues that the lack of office space impacts not just the Family Services but (interpretation ends) other departments (interpretation) and that was his question.
He also stated (interpretation ends) not just Family Services. The situation affects staff from a number of departments, not just Family Services. (interpretation) That’s what he said.
He raised a question as to whether I had discussions with other departments, although he was specifically asking about Sanikiluaq’s situation, which I know was specific to the position under Family Services, that has to go to competition and requires office space and housing.
When he asked that question, my response was yes, I have discussed this issue with the Minister of CGS. I clarified that I had tasked my officials to work with and discuss the issue with CGS officials.
For these reasons, (interpretation ends) in general (interpretation) I can respond that since Sanikiluaq was mentioned, the focus was on that community.
When I refer to communities, I tend to identify the community and that yes, this is what we are trying to accomplish. That is what I was trying to clarify.
Further, I was the Minister of Community and Government Services last year up to November.
I believe that was when the shuffle happened. Now, it is clear that my colleague raised questions regarding office space.
Yes, I stated that I committed to the Sanikiluaq MLA that we could reconsider the situation in Sanikiluaq, especially because of office and housing shortages or other reasons can delay it. I already agreed to that request for reconsideration, Mr. Speaker.
I realize that the Blues aren’t final yet and there is editing to be done.
However, I also know that when we do preambles to our questions, we can be very general and we cover a variety of areas, but when we get to our questions, we are specific.
I was very specific in talking about my community when I was asking questions. When we ask questions in the House, we expect clear, precise, and accurate answers from the government.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder, for the record, if the minister can indicate when he expects to meet with the Minister of Community and Government Services to specifically discuss the issues of office space in the community of Sanikiluaq.
I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Mr. Johnny Mike.
I have stated in the past whenever we speak about the local positions that these seven positions in the Department of Family Services as part of the reasons for the possible delay.
I believe I will have an opportunity to discuss this with the member, as I have directed my officials to have frank discussions with the staff working for CGS. In particular I have tasked my deputy minister to have open lines of communication with her counterpart.
This was limited to the matters which we are discussing here.
Once all the issues are fully analyzed, I will be able to respond properly, as I have asked for a briefing on this issue from my officials and I will have a discussion with my colleague at CGS.
I also know that the member is quite open to discussions.
At that time when Allan and I held a discussion in my office regarding these challenges, I appreciated the member’s availability.
I believe the member is also aware that in January 2016 the bidding process or (interpretation ends) request for proposals (interpretation) was issued in Sanikiluaq.
It was opened previously prior to my assignment to this portfolio of Family Services and I believe also prior to my appointment as the Minister of Community and Government Services.
The government is requesting proposals for office space in that community.
The previous RFP wasn’t awarded because no proposals were received.
I also informed my colleague of that fact in my office.
Another matter I want to clarify regarding Sanikiluaq is the directive I gave my officials was to provide the information. Now that I have the information the member is privy to, I tasked them to research this topic.
CGS continued to search for office space in Sanikiluaq, either for office space or a housing unit as a (interpretation ends) sole source (interpretation) contract, but it didn’t move forward either.
The Department of Family Services has plans in place to revisit the office space issue in 2017. We will submit another request in Sanikiluaq for a contractor or anyone who can provide office space. That is the approach we have taken there.
I would also like to clarify that I have set aside time for my colleague at CGS to discuss this matter and I will address that initiative.
The issue of office space in Sanikiluaq has been going on, from my point of view, from 2009.
I brought it to the government’s attention. The government went and did requests for proposals. They have done studies.
They have confirmed everything I told them in the very beginning and here we are eight years later and it’s not even in the planning stages to have office space built in my community.
Again I ask the minister: when can I expect a confirmation from his department on when we can expect some office space made available in the community for the family resources worker?
As per my earlier response, I stated that we will advertise another RFP for Sanikiluaq to request office space and this is scheduled for January 2017. That is what we have planned.
As per my earlier statement, the CGS minister in particular is a colleague I can discuss this matter with regarding the challenges.
I know the department is just as eager as the members to develop office space and housing for our employees.
We are moving towards that and my cabinet colleagues have the same goals.
I will ensure that a discussion occurs with my ministerial colleague by firstly discussing the issues we have been facing in Sanikiluaq and what the plan will be.
Question 485 – 4(3): English-only Telephone Survey (Okalik)
I will ask my questions in Inuktitut, as I am fluent in Inuktitut.
I fully understood my colleague’s response when I asked about the QEC purpose for contracting out a phone survey and what the reasoning was.
This is also a fairly simple matter to get an answer to, as I asked the minister if he would provide the response the next day to the members.
The minister sitting beside me responded that he would and that was yesterday.
It has been two days now, yet the minister hasn’t provided a response to QEC’s purpose for contracting out a phone survey from southern companies.
Can the minister now respond to this question?
I thank my colleague for raising that question again.
The documents weren’t quite ready yesterday for my response and I didn’t have any personal knowledge of the matter.
QEC started their surveys in the 2014-15 fiscal year. Whenever they contract out a survey, the relationship with the company was moved forward when another survey was contemplated for summer 2015. QEC had a phone survey during that time.
The phone survey being conducted right now is ongoing. QEC identified the company to conduct the survey and it is (interpretation ends) Forum Research Inc. (interpretation) based out of the south.
The survey is still being conducted and it was advertised that it will take place between October 17 and November 5.
The information provided stated that the survey questions would be entirely in English, yet some Inuit who can’t speak English are impacted by decisions of the corporation.
Doesn’t the corporation have concerns about our unilingual elders?
Why did a southern-based company using only English interviewers get the contract to call Nunavummiut?
This survey will cost approximately $40,000. The survey is supposed to be offered in three languages by the company performing the survey. Furthermore, the company is based in Ottawa and they do have one Inuk living in Ottawa who is part of the survey group.
The languages that are being offered are Inuktitut, French, and English if the person answering can speak any of the official languages, so they try to accommodate each client.
It is obvious that they pre-screen the clients to determine which language is most appropriate for the person they are calling so that answers are made in the language of their choice for the survey.
I was informed that the people conducting the survey stated that only English was available, which was regrettable.
The minister just responded that this survey has been ongoing since October 17.
Why weren’t Nunavummiut informed beforehand? Especially in light of today’s callers, such as telemarketers and scamming attempts, I wonder if QEC will be able to provide future notices so that the constituents we represent are aware of the call. This is also to ensure that they don’t assume that a scam is taking place without prior knowledge.
Let me respond first to the scamming issue.
What I am about to tell to you may be humorous or unbelievable, as I have personally been scammed.
A scammer called me, but I thought it was the survey group that was calling me. I found out it was a scam as I wasn’t expecting a call other than from the group.
Due to that personal experience, I have tasked the QEC administrators to keep that in mind.
There are scammers who call and even ask for a postal address. This is part of these scams.
We want to ensure that these scammers are understood fully by our officials when they are contemplating surveys through phone calls to Nunavut.
As a matter of fact I told them that they have to start off with Inuktitut so that it is very clear that this is coming from the survey.
I wanted to clarify that to my colleague.
Improvements are forthcoming, but the survey has continued from 2014-15. A continuation of the previous survey to continue and communication of the survey to Nunavummiut was ordered to be begun.
I tasked the senior managers in QEC to resolve this issue and to ensure Inuktitut is the first language used when calling Nunavummiut, as most of their clients are Inuit who speak in Inuktitut.
That is how I directed them.
I would like to thank my colleague for introducing this topic in the House.
Motion 034 – 4(3): Extension of Question Period (Okalik)
Pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, seconded by the Member for Uqqummiut, that we extend question period.
Opposed. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is carried and question period is extended for an additional 30 minutes.
(interpretation) Following the list of names for Oral Questions, Member for South Baffin, Mr. David Joanasie.
Question 486 – 4(3): Men and Boys Programming (Joanasie)
My question is for the Minister of Family Services and I’ll base it on his Minister’s Statement.
Mr. Speaker, this relates to men and boys programming that will be created down the road by the department.
Let me start by asking this question. It states here that the Department of Family Services is “supporting community-based programs and their work with men and boys to promote health, healing, and recovery from the impact of violence” Will all the communities be provided these programs?
Yes, all Nunavummiut will have access to these programs. The work has commenced in a number of communities with more applications arriving. We anticipate that all communities will eventually introduce that program.
That is good news for men and youth, as the barriers are numerous and we want to focus on healing our communities.
Just recently after I spoke to the issue of men’s groups created to support and introduce programs to battle that, this was supported by the members.
Now I would like to ask this question. With the lack of healing centres in the communities and with programs begun already in the communities, as an example, I would like to know if he can commit to working with the Minister of Justice to ensure that purpose-driven and directed healing programs for men and youth be introduced. I would like to ask if he will collaborate with his fellow minister to introduce stronger programs.
Indeed men and boys have been impacted drastically primarily due to family violence, suicides, or through break-ups of relationships and via other means.
The Department of Family Services can’t unilaterally provide the programming, as it is obvious it will take cooperation with other departments such as Health and Justice as well as programs specific to youth via the Department of Culture and Heritage.
All programs will be affected, especially since healing and counselling services have to begin from the community level, as they retain ownership.
I believe this and the work we have done and the work that is ongoing for men and boys is something we will support.
Some of the groups are quite active and more groups are beginning, particularly the person providing his expertise, Noel Kaludjak, has been quite visible in his advocacy for programs specific to men and boys, tied into their lifestyles.
Yes, I will work with my cabinet colleagues to resolve this issue.
The follow-up question I want to ask relates to counsellors who are available as frontline workers in various communities to offer support to people in dire need or as the minister alluded to where clients break up or in cases of family violence or suicidal tendencies.
It seems the lack of counsellors is the biggest challenge, especially those specific to men. Further, my colleague next to me, the MLA for Quttiktuq, has been advocating for repatriating Inuit traditional counselling practices as part of the incorporation of IQ into our government.
I wonder if the minister will offer training programs to the people of Nunavut to teach counsellors specific to men and youth healing programs. That is my question here.
I thank my colleague for asking a question clearly identifying a need.
I was recently at the Baffin regional workshop here in Iqaluit which lasted for two days on October 24 and 25.
I went to make a presentation to the group related to the Family Services’ mandate and programming.
The component including Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has to be added. When I was meeting with that group here for the workshop, both men and boys comprised entirely of Inuit from the communities.
They had an opportunity to ask questions, especially the possibility of support for new initiatives either by this government or my department.
I informed the group that this will be considered.
With the group composed entirely of Inuit, it became obvious that the person who advocates for such groups, a man named Noel Kaludjak is well-versed in these issues specific to men.
As a government we will also incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into this initiative.
I was quite happy to see this kind of meeting, as that was my first time at such a meeting.
In seeing this group, they are quite motivated to get started in their communities, in some cases to strengthen the community and Inuit traditions, and this will be included as they explore various avenues.
Question 487 – 4(3): Mining Activity (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of ED&T read out a Minister’s Statement regarding mining activity that sparked my interest.
My first question on her Minister’s Statement for her is if the minister can tell us how her department works towards ensuring that our mining environment in Nunavut is competitive and an attractive one to mining.