EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I have seen crowd funding and I have seen local charitable organizations getting involved.
In our discussions with the other departments from a government standpoint, we’re looking to clarify it for all members of the public so that they can know what avenues are available to them and we’re going to be working on getting that document together as soon as possible, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, having to face a significant expense while dealing with the grief of losing a loved one puts an extra burden on the family.
I believe the minister stated that he can look into it.
Will the minister commit to looking into this issue and providing an update to Members of the Legislative Assembly and the public on where to seek assistance in paying for funeral costs? Perhaps he can give us a report before the winter session is over.
As there are other parties at play, I can only commit to what Department of Health deadlines we can adhere to.
I can assure the member that this has been a priority that I brought to my officials within the Department of Health and I’m sure they’re all listening as well and I’m sure officials from the other departments that I had mentioned are listening.
Although I can’t commit to a timeline, I can assure the member that I will have that available to this House and to all Nunavummiut as soon as possible.
Question 471 – 4(3): Smoking Cessation Campaign (Okalik)
It seems we have chosen this member to pick on, so I shall add another question for the minister and I apologize for seemingly being part of the gang.
My question relates to the Department of Health that administered the program related to lowering the numbers of smokers. This was through their offices.
However, in travelling throughout Nunavut, the number of smokers in the territory has not dropped at all and it seems that it will continue.
Smoking destroys physical health throughout the body.
I am asking what further initiatives they will start with their program ending. My question to the Minister of Health is: what are you doing about this?
Again I thank the member for bringing forward an issue that we’re working on right now.
As a matter of fact, Health is in the process of launching a comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco enforcement and education program.
It will be running concurrently with the “Tobacco Has No Place Here” mass media campaign.
One of the things that we want to make sure that we’re enforcing is the 3- and 15-metre rule to distances from exits and entrances that I brought up with another member earlier this week.
As well, one of the other focuses that we want to really make sure that the public is aware of is that giving and selling tobacco products to minors is illegal if people are under 19 years old.
I was driving here today and I saw a person that couldn’t have been more than 15 or 16 years old walking down the street having a cigarette. It begs the question: where do they get it from?
I think we all have a public responsibility to make sure that we educate the populace on the harms of tobacco use, in addition to the people that are around us, second-hand smoke.
We have talked recently about some of the lung issues that our children have, not smoking when you’re pregnant, and not smoking in the household or in the vehicle.
They are all very key components to better the health of all Nunavummiut.
I thank the member for allowing me to be able to promote some of the initiatives that we’re undertaking right now.
It seems obvious that we have to awaken the public’s perceptions on smoking as it has no health benefits to a person.
Although I find them a bit repulsive, Americans have TV ads showcasing patients who have lost their voices or parts of their bodies or who require a ventilator to be able to breathe.
These respiratory machines are keeping them alive and they are quite noisy.
These patients are at the end. Their bodies were destroyed by the effects of smoking cigarettes.
As we know, many of our residents in Nunavut suffer from these ailments.
Perhaps if we advertised these reality types of health illnesses to our Nunavut audience, then they may put more weight into believing the effects from smoking by seeing them.
I want to ask the minister if the Department of Health can do more research on preventative programs for people who want to quit smoking and preventing our youth from smoking cigarettes.
Again it allows me an opportunity to promote some of the programs we are in the process of running, and I look forward to measured success in a lot of these things.
We’ve got a tobacco cessation mass media campaign with a 60-second public service announcement on APTN and CBC North, the hunters, in which the video encourages youth, young adults, and young pregnant women to quit or reduce the use of tobacco products.
We’re providing free nicotine replacement therapies within our health centres.
At the Astro Theatre here in Iqaluit, we’ve got trailers that are going on before movies play. We’ve got Facebook campaigns going on.
We’re collaborating with the Department of Education to develop a series of classroom books and teachers’ guides that will contain tobacco prevention information.
We have done community consultations throughout the territory and as a result of that, with youth centres and youth coordinators to include cessation programming.
We’re looking at developing Nunavut-specific tobacco cessation training for nurses, physicians, midwives, public health staff, community prenatal nutrition program facilitators, community health representatives, and community development workers.
There is work that is ongoing and some of these programs have been ongoing for some time.
Even with those, it still takes more, like the member said, of public awareness, of people seeing members of their family smoking or seeing their kids smoking or a lot of times it’s the kids that are putting the parents on guilt trips when they see them smoking.
I think the awareness is growing and I think we’re actively engaged with that awareness.
When you travel outside of Iqaluit, you see a different reality in the smaller communities. You can see the increase in the numbers of smokers.
We need educational programs for the public on the detrimental impacts of smoking on one’s body.
Further, I have lost loved ones due to this substance.
We should incorporate our actual experiences to combat this insidious substance and to educate our youth of the unhealthy effects of smoking and chewing tobacco.
The substance is a destroyer of bodies and lives, so I believe we need to emphasize that more throughout Nunavut.
Some of the programs that I spoke to earlier were territory-wide programs, and I agree with the member.
It takes more community engagement and that’s another thing that we’re doing. It allows me to make mention of a community-led cessation program. There are on-the-land programs and sewing groups for pregnant women.
We have developed ten pilot communities and it’s in the process of being implemented this fiscal year in ten communities: Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Baker Lake, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Pangnirtung, and here in Iqaluit.
I just wanted to highlight that we’re not just putting out commercials and messages. We are working with the communities to develop programs that they feel will work within their communities.
Again I appreciate the member allowing me to promote some of the hard work that the Department of Health and the tobacco reduction team are taking and initiating across the territory.
Question 472 – 4(3): Blueprint for Action on Housing (Mikkungwak)
I have more questions today for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation concerning his Blueprint for Action on Housing, which I continue to review with care.
Action 36 in the blueprint indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will “engage with Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs) and their associated business arms on potential public-private partnerships (P3)…for housing developments, block land development, and the development of Inuit Owned Land (IOL) within municipal boundaries...”
Can the minister indicate which of the three regional Inuit associations has been the most receptive to the idea of undertaking P3 projects in the housing sector?
Mr. Speaker, this (interpretation ends) Blueprint for Action on Housing, (interpretation) as we call it, was developed not just by our department but in conjunction with our (interpretation ends) stakeholders (interpretation) outside of the government that the member referenced, such as the Inuit organizations like NTI or the regional Inuit associations.
Mr. Speaker, I can inform the member that this blueprint is still being developed, and my colleague is well aware that I just recently tabled this document. It is very clearly stated that annual reports will be tabled.
These require some work within the (interpretation ends) action plan (interpretation) to complete the work as many items are listed.
This includes sharing with the stakeholders outside of government, which I mentioned as per his question.
Nonetheless, I can’t speak to these new issues at this time since I haven’t received any briefings on this initiative, as we are just starting the work.
I just recently approved the plan and all members should be aware of that fact.
Action 39 in the blueprint indicates “The NHC will develop a method to engage directly with the private sector on relevant areas of the Blueprint for Action, such as affordable rent, homeownership, and land development.”
Can the minister indicate what specific recommendations have been made to date by the regional chambers of commerce and other private sector bodies with respect to these issues?
Let me reiterate that this blueprint is still being reviewed. Furthermore, an (interpretation ends) annual report (interpretation) outlining the details will be reported by NHC and we will continue our collaboration with agencies outside of government.
Therefore I can’t respond to the member’s question today as we have yet to receive a report on the issues he raised.
Action No. 58 in the blueprint indicates that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will look at the “viability of other financing options, such as community land trust, social investment bonds...for their potential to increase investment in housing.”
Can the minister describe how social investment bonds would work in Nunavut?
I’ll restate that the Blueprint for Action on Housing is only one week old and our staff at the Nunavut Housing Corporation are listening to our debate here and they’re working on it today.
I can’t answer his question right now.
It will be worked on and it will be in our annual report with the contents of the action plan.
We’re working with many entities outside of government, so I can’t respond to his question today.
Question 473 – 4(3): Family Resource Position for Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
I would like to say “good afternoon” to my grandson Jayden, who is watching me today.
Mr. Speaker, during our spring sitting, it was noted that filling the family resource position in Sanikiluaq has been put on hold due to the ongoing lack of available office space in the community.
Mr. Speaker, it can be extremely frustrating for potential employees and the community as a whole to have positions frozen due to such circumstances as a lack of office space.
Not only that, the current overcrowded conditions put extra stress on the workers currently sharing what space is available.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps are being taken to fill his department’s family resource position for the community of Sanikiluaq?
Hon. Johnny Mike (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for Sanikiluaq for asking that question.
Yes, this is being worked on.
There are four communities that are going through a similar situation and the lack of office space or lack of staff housing is presently being worked on by Family Services.
That’s the same update I got back in June, it was being worked on.
Mr. Speaker, the lack of office space in Sanikiluaq is an issue that I have raised many times over the past eight years both inside and outside of this House.
I have spoken with the ministers responsible for various positions and I have spoken with the ministers involved in accessing and allocating the office space for those positions to work out of.
This situation affects staff from a number of departments, not just Family Services.
Can the current Minister of Family Services confirm whether or not he has consulted with the current Minister of Community and Government Services regarding the lack of office space for Sanikiluaq’s family resource worker?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Family Services, Mr. Mike.
Yes, the member for Sanikiluaq is right concerning the office space and staff housing.
This is always under consideration.
It’s difficult to deal with the family resource worker position for Sanikiluaq. It’s a new position and I can state the reason for the delay is lack of staff housing.
I’ve had discussions with the present Minister of Community and Government Services on this matter of positions or new positions and the lack of staff housing and it’s a slow process, Mr. Speaker.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
I asked the minister if he had talked to CGS on the issue of office space, not the housing minister on the staff housing issues. However, I’m sure they equally relate and are equally as important for this position.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, it can be extremely frustrating for potential employees to have positions frozen due to such circumstances as a lack of office space.
Will the minister commit to addressing this issue as a priority and get back to me at the earliest opportunity on this issue?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Family Services, Mr. Mike.
Let me first apologize to him. I think I was mistaken in my response.
I think I was trying to talk about the lack of office space.
As I stated earlier, I’ve had discussions with the Minister Community and Government Services and our officials have been trying to work together.
I assure the member that I can look further into the situation in Sanikiluaq.
Question 474 – 4(3): FPT Health Ministers’ Meeting (Angnakak)
I decided to join the party and ask the health minister.
Mr. Speaker, last week following his meeting with the federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers, our Minister of Health stated that “the federal government is willing to explore proposals from other Canadian jurisdictions, including the territories, on accessing more detailed funding for mental health, including addictions counselling.”
Can the minister confirm whether his department is preparing any proposals or business cases to access more funding and resources to address addictions counselling for Nunavummiut?
An easy question, I think.
It may be an easy question, but it’s not an easy answer.
With our meetings in Toronto last week with my territorial and provincial counterparts along with Minister Philpott, the Minister of the Health with the Canadian government, those were some of the ideals that they want to explore when we’re dealing with our Health Accord. Those are some of the items that the federal government wants to promote.
That being said, there haven’t been any criteria; there haven’t been any actual commitments on part of the federal government at this time.
One of the priorities that we and most of my colleagues across the country have is making sure that our core funding through our Canadian health transfers and the long-term commitments are stable and sustainable for all jurisdictions, but I think especially Nunavut and the other territories, where we have much higher costs associated with providing care to our residents than the majority of other jurisdictions.
There are jurisdictions where they deal with a similar remoteness in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nunavik, just to mention a couple.
Until that criteria and the actual commitment is there, we don’t know how to develop the proposal to hit the request from the federal government.
As of right now I can say that, to my knowledge, there is no preliminary work being done.
It’s my understanding that Nunavut’s current policy for referring people to an addictions rehabilitation centre requires that the individual sees an addictions counsellor for several appointments before they could be referred.
In fact I had somebody come up to me and say that this posed a real big problem in their case, especially when one is suicidal and they need intervention as quickly as possible.
Can the minister confirm that this is indeed the policy and explain why individuals have to go through so many appointments before they can get treatment that they so desperately need?
This is a very sensitive topic. When we’re dealing with addictions treatment, whether it be in-territory or outside of territory, the first component of that is the readiness for treatment for the programming.
Sometimes it takes meetings with mental health professionals and addictions counsellors to make sure that not only the services are appropriate for the person; it is also to make sure that they’re ready to receive those services as well.
If the member has a specific instance in mind that she’s talking about, I would be more than happy to entertain a meeting to deal with that specific scenario.
I thank the minister for his invitation.
Mr. Speaker, I do recognize that staff and resources for addictions counselling in Nunavut are limited. Also, despite many promises by many governments, we do not yet have a rehabilitation facility here in Nunavut.
Can the minister clearly describe what initiatives are being considered to deliver more addictions counselling and treatment here at home in Nunavut?
We have added a number of new positions to Mental Health and Addictions. In addition to that, we do make sure that we’re working with our community health centres with the nursing staff there to refer people to the mental health side of things and to provide access to the addictions counselling programs.
That being said, it’s not an overnight process to fill all those positions.
We are working very hard with the Department of Finance HR to get those positions filled as quickly and with skilled people as fast as possible.
Question 475 – 4(3): Innovations at the Nunavut Court of Justice (Joanasie)
I would like to ask the Minister of Justice a few questions.
Last week the minister made a Minister’s Statement on renovations at the Nunavut Court of Justice. I would just like to get some clarification on those renovations. He said that “The court has installed three touch-screen public legal information kiosks.”
I would like to ask the minister first of all: are these kiosks mobile and will the courts be bringing them along to smaller communities and court circuits?
Mr. Speaker, no, they are not mobile.
They’re about this wide, this high, with a large screen and kind of like your computer, you can press buttons and get justice information in all languages. They’re not mobile.
The other question I had on that was he mentioned they’re like computers.
In his Minister’s Statement, he said that the courts deal with a great deal of other publicly available legal information from the Department of Justice.
What I’m trying to get at is this information is already available. Is there a need to bring these kiosks into the courts? Was there a needs analysis done on the number of people going through the building?
These are interactive kiosks, so they’re all touch-screen and they have links to the CanLII program if you want to look at old legal opinions. They have links to the justice department and various divisions and all sorts of information.
It comes up on the screen so that you can read it in all dialects.
There are people who require that. They’re not actually in the courtrooms themselves; they’re out in the foyer.
It’s following in the modernization of the Nunavut Court of Justice, following other jurisdictions in Canada.
There are people still in this day and age in Nunavut who like that kind of information. They can read it and I’m sure they can pass time while they’re waiting for decisions to be made. They could research and other stuff.
Yes, I’m glad that the department is trying to make information available as much as they can.
*See Appendix for table of Return to Written Question 15 – 4(3).
My last question is I would like to get the cost analysis or the breakdown of how much each kiosk is incurred by the department.
I’m sure I can get that information for Mr. Joanasie.
I don’t have that information, obviously, available with me; they’re at my desk.
Mr. Speaker, when we were on the tour, we had an opportunity to... . Mr. Joe Kucharski, my executive assistant, and I had a very detailed tour. We did extensive renovations to the courthouse to add more office space for staff and additional judges.
I just forget the number.
If you can imagine, at the time the courthouse was built, it was built to space that was required at that time, but even in nine or ten years since, there has been a huge expansion of the court.
There is more staff we have to fit into the building and more judges.
He did a very good job of redesigning and making that possible.
That was part and parcel of the renovations to add interactive kiosks in the courthouse, but also expand the office spaces for the staff and judges, and then an area outside where people coming to their day in court would have a place to be... .
I’m not sure what the word is, but they come from the Baffin Correctional Centre to their court appearance.
Return to Written Question 015 – 4(3): Government of Nunavut Expenditures on Overtime Pay (Corrected Version) (Peterson)
Thanks to the sharp eyes of my hard-working staff at the Department of Finance, a couple of minor arithmetical errors in Return to Written Question 15 – 4(3), which was tabled in the House earlier in our current fall sitting, have been identified.
I would like to take this opportunity to provide the corrected version of the return to the House.
Expressing the information in a comparable format to the which was provided in Returns to Written Questions 11 – 3(3) and 7 – 4(2), what were the Government of Nunavut’s expenditures on overtime pay for indeterminate, term, casual, and relief employees during 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years for each of its departments, Crown agencies, and territorial corporations?
This format mirrors that of the 11 – 3(3) and 7 – 4(2) Returns to Written Questions provided by the Department of Finance in 2012 and 2014.
Item 13. (interpretation) Tabling of Documents. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Keith Peterson.
Tabled Document 198 – 4(3): 2015 Annual Report – Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (Peterson)
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling the 2015 Annual Report from the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Bills 20, 22, 23, and 24 with Mr. Akoak in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:18 and Committee resumed at 15:42
Chairman (Mr. Akoak): Good afternoon, Inuit, people watching TV and listening to radio.
In Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with: Bills 20, 22, 23, and 24.
Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 24 and commence with the review of the capital estimates for the Department of Health.
Bill 24 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2017-2018 – Health – Consideration in Committee
Chairman: I would now like to ask the Minister of Health if he has officials that he would like to appear before the committee.
Yes, if the committee will indulge me.
For the record, Minister Hickes, please introduce your officials.
If the Chairman will indulge me, I would like to introduce them during my opening comments. Can I proceed?
Chairman: Proceed with your opening comments, Minister Hickes.
Hon. George Hickes: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members.
I am pleased to take this opportunity today to present the 2017-18 Capital Estimates for the Department of Health.