EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Many times, more than once this has been a problem with the contractors that lost the contracts in Igloolik and other communities.
On October 31 the RFP closed and there was no criteria that said you had to have the delivery trucks to get the contract.
We didn't base the award on the availability of fuel delivery trucks.
I understand his question, because it was raised earlier.
At that time I didn't know how much that would cost, but I did understand that the company awarded the contract did not have trucks.
As a result the new contractors were not going to have delivery trucks and if that continued they wouldn't be able to do the work.
I think it was 150 thousand dollars for the purchase of the delivery trucks and that's how much it cost.
Is the minister saying that the Petroleum Products Division paid for the delivery trucks and the cost of transportation for two trips by the Hercules.
Is that why this cost 150 thousand dollars, for the purchase of the trucks and for the chartering of the Hercules for two trips.
They delivered two fuel trucks.
Is that all it cost, 150 thousand dollars.
In Igloolik they had no fuel delivery trucks from the previous contractor.
The previous contractor was told that they wanted to purchase his fuel delivery trucks.
He wrote a letter saying that he wouldn't sell his fuel delivery trucks.
He kept saying that he wouldn't sell the trucks, so therefore we had no other choice than to purchase the fuel delivery trucks.
The two vehicles cost 150 thousand dollars and the funds came from the revolving fund. It was paid from the revolving fund directly for the two delivery trucks.
I was trying to ask about the full costs, because the Hercules had to travel two times to Igloolik and they also had to pay for the two trucks.
In total how much did that cost the department.
There were no fuel trucks available in the community of Igloolik because the person that had these trucks didn't want to sell them.
We paid 150 thousand dollars for the two fuel trucks, and we are currently negotiating with Savik Construction and we were told later that they were willing to sell their trucks.
We will then be able to send those trucks to any of the communities that need them the most.
My question is not that.
I now understand that the two fuel trucks were 150 thousand dollars.
My question is, the Hercules went to Igloolik two times and brought in two fuel trucks.
From what I know, the Savik Construction Company truck was bought.
My question Mr. Speaker, is how much did POL pay for the transportation and for the purchase of the fuel trucks.
Hon. Manitok Thompson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand your question.
I have the cost for the purchase of the fuel trucks.
I don't have the cost of the charter of the two Hercules trips.
But we did have to bring in those two trucks because there were none available.
They were not available to deliver any of the fuel if they didn't have any trucks.
A separate contractor did not want to sell his trucks and he told us that in writing.
In the RFP it doesn't state that you have to have a fuel truck. The money will be coming back to us.
The money will be going back to the revolving fund.
For the chartering of the Hercules I don't have anything in front of me. I could give that to the member later on once I have that information.
Question 395 - 1(5): Polar Bear Management
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development, in regards to the polar bears.
Will your department be working on the polar bear issue that has been an on going issue for a very long time.
Speaker: Minister
In regards to polar bears it is very important in the people of Nunavut, for Nunavut and quite a lot of polar bears come into the communities.
We have Wildlife Officers to deal with polar bears and they do get very good support from the residents.
The HTOs and our staff will be working together to deal with the polar bears.
Polar bears come into the communities every year.
We try to do what is within our capacity and I know that they are doing all they can in the communities.
It’s quite dangerous. During the summer there were two little children that were being stalked by a polar bear, it's getting extremely dangerous when the polar bears come right into the communities, also into the camps.
Is your department going to be doing studies around the Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River area.
There has to be a resolution to these nuisance bears.
In more and more instances the communities are trying to find some solution and before we do that I would first of all like to ask your department to urge your Wildlife Officers to work closely with the people of our communities.
Question 396 - 1(5): Prescriptions and Insurance Coverage for Indigents
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am sure the ministers are all wondering who this question is going to be directed to.
It is to be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
I am sure the other ministers feel a lot better already.
My question is about income support.
I am sure that they need this extra support from the government.
We are covered by Non-Insured Health Benefits to pay for our prescription pills.
Is there a limit to the amount that you can use for free prescriptions.
For example, if I used prescription pills valued up to 100 dollars, and I reach a maximum, does that mean I would start having to pay for my prescription.
How does the whole system work.
We are in negotiations right now with NIHB and one of the problems that we have with NIHB, the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, is that we believe the uptake on the program for the size of Nunavut is not acceptable, it is 10 million dollars.
We have just recently written from me as the minister as to what happens when we go over budget on the amount.
What I can say to the member is that if you are a beneficiary as an Inuk under the land claim, an Inuk in Nunavut who needs prescription drugs that is under the formula that is in place and provided by NIHB then that is provided at no cost.
There is no set limits like for 100 dollars worth of drugs or 200 dollars worth of drugs under that program for the drugs that are under the formulary under NIHB.
My other question was, are there some prescriptions that have to be paid for by beneficiaries.
If I need prescription pills out of Ottawa, do I have to pay for it out of my pocket.
If I get them in Iqaluit they are free, but if I go down to Ottawa for my prescription I will have to pay for it.
Could you tell me the difference and how it works.
Mr. Speaker, there are two or three different ways that can work.
If you are a patient at the hospital in Ottawa for example Mr. Speaker, and you need medication and you are on your way back to in this case, Iqaluit, or if you were in Winnipeg or even Yellowknife or Edmonton. They usually supply on the ground, the hospital will supply enough pills to get you back to your home community, where the prescription would then be filled from the health centre in your community, or if you are in Iqaluit, then from the local pharmacy.
In the case Mr. Speaker, if you were on your holidays and you had to purchase prescription drugs as your order had run out, it depends on which jurisdiction you are in.
I know for example in one case with my wife we had to supply them but we were able to get the money reimbursed.
It all depends Mr. Speaker, on if you are a government employee for example, you have Green Shield coverage, which may cover some of the other items that may not be in the formulary of the Federal Government.
Now the formulary, and when I say formulary that means the list of drugs that the Non-Insured Health Benefits pays for and I believe there are over 1,500 right now on that formulary.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you for your response.
Not everybody knows exactly how they could get reimbursed for the prescription pills that they pay for. Where are these forms available if you should want to get reimbursement.
Are they available at the hospitals or if I am from a smaller community, do I have to make a request to the hospital to get the form.
How do you get reimbursed for the pills that you do pay for.
Mr. Speaker, for drugs that are prescribed as I said earlier there is a form in place for those.
It depends again for example on different jurisdictions.
There is a concern on what is available under the NIHB and that is why we put out a pamphlet over 6 months ago the Non-Insured Health Benefits when you got your health card.
Everyone should have their card in that package and an Inuktitut and English pamphlet that explains the Non-Insured Health Benefits, what is available and so on.
Mr. Speaker, if a person has purchased a drug that has been prescribed and had to pay for it themselves we have the forms available at the health centres.
Here in Iqaluit for example at the hospital.
If there was a concern with that Mr. Speaker, bring it forward to the health centre and we would get the reimbursement in place.
Question 397 - 1(5): Policy on Splitting Business - Pharmacies in Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I must commend him on not answering my question earlier.
I asked the minister earlier if he knew, or if anyone would have from his department informed someone if they inquired, whether it was a policy of the Department of Health and Social Services of dividing of the business of the department among competent local businesses and the minister never did answer that question.
Maybe if I rephrase it he may choose to answer it or not.
But I sure wouldn't mind finding out.
Would it be accurate to say Mr. Speaker, that if some individual was informed that it was the policy of the department to split and divide the business of the department among local competent local businesses.
Would that be accurate.
Mr. Speaker, if we were in a court of law the member would be considered to be leading the witness.
Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to dodge, jump, run away from the member's questions.
What I said I made it very clear that if you go for example, I know what he is talking about and everyone now knows we are talking about a business in town.
I don't want to infringe on their businesses and so on.
That is why I am trying to choose my words carefully.
When you go to a doctor in town here and the doctor says Mr. Picco you need x number of pills, and the doctors says where do you want to get those pills.
A or B. It is up to me as an individual to go to A or B for an individual prescription.
There aren't written policies on drug purchasing or suppliers.
Now I've read over the letter from one of the business people and as I said before we are looking into the concerns that are being raised and we take them seriously.
Mr. Speaker, maybe I will just put it straight as a yes or no question and maybe then the minister can answer it.
Would it be accurate if an official from the Department of Health and Social Services told someone that it was their policy to divide business of the department among competent local businesses.
Hon. Ed Picco: Mr. Speaker, under the rules of the House, as you know and I know, I can't comment on private conversations that may or may not have taken place.
I can't talk about hypothetical conversations that have taken place.
I can't comment on what someone else has said.
What I can say is that there is not a written policy in the matter that Mr. Tootoo has raised.
We are looking at the allegations and the concerns that have been raised and we take them very seriously.
But I can't comment on a conversation that took place in private, or what is said by one person or another person.
They don't speak for the Department of Health and Social Services, the minister does.
And the minister says that we are investigating and looking into the allegations and the concerns that have been raised.
Minister I just wanted to caution you that we are very well aware of the rules and whether that was a hypothetical question or not, I allowed you the discretion to decide whether you wanted to answer that or not.
I am speaking to you Mr. Minister.
Mr. Speaker, I guess I will take that as a very long no.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that they are looking into and investigating the concerns that were raised and I know that was just one concern that was raised in the letter.
When does the minister anticipate being able to conclude their investigation and deal with the matter.
Mr. Speaker, I received a fax and an email on the 15th of November.
I responded with a hard copy letter to the proprietor on November 22, which was one week after I received the initial complaint.
The review is underway and I would hope to have an answer to the questions raised and concerns raised in a very short period of time.
Question 398 - 1(5): Number of Children in the Care of Social Services
Do you know how many children are being fostered in Nunavut and how many are in the care of Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, there are 170 children who are receiving services through the Department of Health and Social Services.
Specifically 122 children are in foster care, I believe there are 29 children in out of territory placements at this time and I believe there are 19 in Nunavut group homes.
The 122 foster children in Nunavut, what about the children who are living in communities that don't have social workers.
What kinds of services are provided for these children.
Speaker: Minister. Minister Picco.
Mr. Speaker, in communities where we have children in foster care and so on, and that don't have a resident social worker, there are processes and steps that take place to ensure that the children are being monitored. Also, that of course, as the member knows, also when you place a child in foster care there is an extensive check on the family to make sure that we are putting this child in a good home.
So those steps are taken Mr. Speaker, and monitored and evaluated on an ongoing base.
In his response he didn't say what kind of support is given to those foster children.
Their homes are monitored and they are given support in the schools but what is provided by social services.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the Child and Family Services Act there are legislative requirements for health and social services including children in foster care.
Those legislative requirements are followed.
That is what I am saying Mr. Speaker, when we place a child in foster care in a community where there isn't a social worker then there is a process where we follow up with the family as well as with the foster child to make sure that things are going well in that extended family group.
At the same time, as the member points out, there are also councillors in schools and all those support mechanisms in place for the children.
They are not put into a community and left there, they are followed up as per the legal and all the legislative requirements.
We all realize that the communities are different, some communities do not have social workers.
A lot of communities do not have social workers.
Would the minister be in support of foster parents forming a committee.
Would he be in agreement with this.
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker at the present time there isn't a Foster Parent Association in Nunavut and Mr. Speaker I would and I am sure that the parents would be in complete favour of an association of foster parents being set up.
I think it would be a good advocacy program for foster children.
At the same time Mr. Speaker, we are still in the process of looking at the opportunities for a child advocate, if we could bring this forward based on an operational ability to do so.
So I would endorse the member's recommendation, that if there was a group who wanted a foster parent association for Nunavut we would be very conducive to that.
Question 399 - 1(5): Status of Saint Theresa's Hospital Replacement Design
My question is directed to the Minister Responsible for the Department of Public Works.
The hospital in Chesterfield Inlet is planned for replacement, but the Chesterfield Inlet people want to find out the status of the plans at this time.
Speaker: Minister. Minister Thompson.
This was started by the Minister of Health & Social Services.
Another department was involved when they were first planning this hospital for Chesterfield Inlet.
My Deputy Minister Ross Mrazek talked to the SAO in Chesterfield Inlet and tried to find out from Chesterfield Inlet how they wanted this facility built and what the needs were.
The study is now with the Department of Health and Social Services at this time.
I didn't quite understand the answer.
Are they done with the plan and it is now with the Department of Health and Social Services, is that my understanding.
Is the architectural drawing already done.
At what stage are the plans.
Can you tell us whether the architectural plans are done at this time.
I think I the member may have misunderstood.
What I was saying is that the Health department has been leading the RFP and they needed assistance from Public Works to do the assessment of the design and functionality and for mutual discussions on the facility.
As far as I know we were there to assist the Health Department as a service department.
Today my staff inform me that the assessment part of the design has been given back to Health with our comments from Public Works and it is now in the hands of the Department of Health and Social Services because they were leading the process.
I may have to ask a different minister on my supplementary.
Perhaps the Minister of Health can tell me the status of that work now.
Because I thought Public Works would be responsible for the design of the hospital at least of the building and to review them.
But maybe the Minister of Health can tell me the status of it to date.
Speaker: Members just another caution.
Mr. Arvaluk, normal procedure would be to direct your question to a minister and stay with that minister.
It makes it difficult when you are jumping around to different ministers.
I believe it is up to the discretion of the Minister of Health if he wishes to address the question.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister Thompson said or I have said in this House to the member's earlier question on this area, the building plans were sent to Public Works and Services after the RFP for assessment of the design as well as the functionality of the functional program for the facility that was proposed in the RFP.
That has been completed now Mr. Speaker and it has gone back to the Department of Health and Social Services.
Discussions are continuing with the two proponents with the Chesterfield Development Corporation.
Question 400 - 1(5): Emergency Expenditures Approval/Authority
Do we have to authorize funding to departments for expenditures that weren't previously authorized.
For example half a million dollars or a quarter of a million dollars.
Does the cabinet have to approve this type of funding if it was used for emergency purposes.
I was asking about the fuel delivery trucks expenditures in Igloolik.
Would this amount of money have to be approved by the cabinet.
Speaker: Minister Ng.  Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it depends on the nature of the expenditure.
As members know the Supplementary Appropriation was before the House.
Those are things that ministers recommend to the Financial Management Board, which if they approve it, it comes back to the House for approval, review and scrutiny.
In the case of something that would be in the revolving fund for example, then the minister responsible for that particular area would have the discretion to advise their officials to deal with that matter from within those statutory limitations that they have under the existing legislation.
So the Petroleum Products Division had to use some funding that was not originally planned for.
I didn't receive an answer to my question when I was asking about this spending.
I didn't understand the response, so I would like to find out if the cabinet can spend this money outside of the minister's discretion.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that under the particular statute, the legislation that governs certain areas, such as the revolving fund for petroleum products that there is authority in there for expenditures from that fund.
It is my understanding that those expenditures are recovered over the course of revenues that are generated that go back into that fund.
I was trying to find out whether this could be done at the minister's discretion.
Perhaps I was not clear.
I am just using petroleum products as an example.
If they are going to charter a Hercules twice, should the cabinet be informed about how much they would be spending to hire this aircraft at such high costs.
Again, Mr. Speaker, it depends on the circumstances.
For example, to use the situation of the Pond Inlet sewage lagoon that was a special warrant situation in yesterday's Supplementary Appropriation.
If there is an immediate requirement for something to take place outside of the normal course of business, then we have the authority to sign off on a special warrant to come back after that for approval in this House to expend the money because of the emergency nature of the situation.
Now there may be a situation that would still, and the member uses the example of the possible transportation of a vehicle that is required for Petroleum Products for the delivery of fuel products.
If there was deemed to be a need in that situation, it may not be a requirement to report back on that if it is authorized under the Petroleum Products Revolving Fund.
Because that fund is set up to establish and provide services for the deliver of fuel, and if it was substantiated then that requirement to report back might not be there.
That's what I was trying to get at Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
The question that I am trying to ask Mr. Speaker, I will try to make it clear. My question is, we approved the budget for operations and maintenance so aren't we supposed to be informed if you are going to spend money outside of the government's budget.
It seems like there is no information whatsoever about this where they had to hire a Hercules to go to Igloolik two times.
Aren't we supposed to receive information as to how much money the government spends.
My question is, doesn't it have to be approved or relayed to the cabinet before an amount that large is expended by any department.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Irqittuq. Minister Ng.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been trying to answer the question from the honourable member.
I think I will try again Mr. Speaker from the perspective of, the revolving fund doesn't require an immediate reporting for unusually large expenditures because the revolving fund operates where they always have to recapture their costs at some point over a certain time period.
There is a maximum limit that's allowed and if they have to go over that, then it has to be legislatively approved or under special circumstances go back to the Financial Management Board for a temporary increase.
However, having said that, if there were any extraordinary expenditures in that revolving fund it would be picked up in the annual audit that is provided for all of our revolving funds and reported in the consolidated financial statements of this government.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Ng. Members will note that question period is now up.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to return to Orders of the Day, item 5.
Speaker: Do we have agreement members to return to item 5.
As today is our last day in this session before we meet again in February, there are two people here from my community and I would like to recognize them because they won't be here all the time.
Jamesie Attagutak and his wife from Pond Inlet.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker for allowing me to recognize them.
I would also like to recognize Nicole Sikma from Rankin Inlet.
Speaker: Welcome. Item 7.
Report of Standing and Special Committees. Report of Standing and Special Committee.
Report of Committee on the Review of Bills.
Report 001 - 1(5): Review of Bill 14 - An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act