EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Rotel is run by the OHSNI group.
The Rotel is on the ground in Ottawa and services patients who had to leave from different parts of Ontario, not just from Nunavut.
If you are living in Smiths Falls, Ontario, you have to go to Ottawa for the hospital and you have an opportunity to stay at the Rotel.
When the Baffin Regional Health & Social Services Board, Mr. Speaker, put this contract in place they signed it with the Rotel because they were on the ground and they were facilitating clients.
Over the past two years we have had some concerns with the Rotel, indeed in my own family we have some serious situations with patients staying there. So we are acutely aware of those problems, Mr. Speaker.
But there is a contract in place for the next year and a half between the Rotel and the Baffin Regional Health & Social Services Board.
That contract Mr. Speaker, on March 31st, 2000 will be assumed by us, the Government of Nunavut.
Under the direction of the Premier, Paul Okalik, and myself as the Minister of Health and Social Services, we are acutely aware of some of the concerns that the members is bringing forward.
Indeed, we have had letters on them and we are looking into that contract right now.
But it is a legitimate contract for the Rotel and I as a minister in this government don’t want to put ourselves in the position where we walk in and cancel the contract.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, an Inuit organization, through Nunasi Corporation and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation based here in the Baffin, Mr. Jerry Ell’s group, they put in a building, they bought a building, renovated it and created their own boarding home in Ottawa.
I have had an opportunity, not only Mr. Speaker, to go through the Rotel, as you have, but also an opportunity to go through the Larga Home which is owned by the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, the Inuit of Baffin.
They have approached us to facilitate the client referral of patients from Baffin to an Inuit specific home owned by the Inuit.
Mr. Speaker we are working on that right now and as we are speaking today, my deputy minister of health and social services, Mr. Ken MacRury, is actually meeting with the OHSNI group to see if we can facilitate some kind of an understanding where we could facilitate people who are older, our elders for example, unilingual people to the Inuit specific home in Ottawa.
That’s one of the things that we are working on.
I again reiterate and state Mr. Speaker, I cannot talk about what someone said on the radio station, radio broadcasts or interviews are not before this House but I can say if the member has specific indications of someone being treated poorly, or any member of this House, or any member of the general public, then I would like to see it in writing and bring it forward, because it isn’t acceptable.
I reiterate that this government will not sit idly by if people, our patients, our constituents, the residents of Nunavut are being ill treated at one of the boarding homes.
Third supplementary Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I am not really sure if there was ill treatment of that patient but I have heard this through the media, CBC, that the escorts when they have alcohol problems are not allowed to go into this boarding home.
How are we going to rectify this situation.
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Health, what I have tried to do is get to the situation where I can actually go physically and see the boarding homes and other facilities that we are running as a government of Nunavut.
In that context Mr. Speaker, about two weeks ago I was in Winnipeg for the re-opening of the new boarding home there.
That boarding home, Mr. Speaker, has put in a sobriety clause, that anyone who has liquor on their breath, even on their breath, will not go through the door. Mr. Speaker, even when I was there a patient had written a letter who had to go to the boarding home in Winnipeg on a regular basis, how they hadn’t felt safe because of that. I say to you Mr. Speaker, that our government, if we have people coming into boarding homes, because people go to Ottawa and are referred there for medical services, because they are ill.
They are not there to get a holiday and if there is a problem with drinking or unruly behaviour, we heard last week or two weeks ago, when the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board met, that they had to put extra security on in the Rotel because of drunken behaviour.
Mr. Speaker that is not acceptable.
The model that is being used in Winnipeg is a good model and I endorse it.
What we have tried to do in the Rotel in Ottawa, is to try and clamp down on that type of behaviour and if someone is an escort, as the member was talking about, in most cases, 90% of the cases where I am aware of, it is not the patient, it is usually the escort that is with the patient that has the problem with alcohol.
I say to you Mr. Speaker, that in some cases some people don’t want to talk about these types of situations, but I say we deal with them.
If you are going down for chemotherapy or radiation therapy to Ottawa, you deserve to feel safe and be escorted by someone who is sober.
That is what we would like to put in place Mr. Speaker, so I appreciate the member’s support on this and if there is a case where he knows of escorts, again, a drunk, going into Rotel, if there is a patient who is unilingual and using one of these escorts, and their escort is drunk, then you bring that to me sir, and we will deal with it.
We are not going to sit around as a government, Mr. Speaker, and have our patients put in jeopardy by drunken escorts, I can guarantee you that right now sir.
Your final supplementary, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I also wanted to comment that when there is a suicide we do not like to see successful suicides and I understand that Inuit people who abuse alcohol, once we find out that they abuse alcohol we don’t know whether they are alive or not.
We value life and when the escorts go down there, they are still human beings and they are still alive, but they cannot even get into the boarding home. If somebody committed suicide we can no longer do anything about it. But a person who has abused alcohol, who is drunk, they are human beings, they are still human beings.
Rather than making that person look bad, is that going to be your normal practice now, because this has an impact on our lives.
As the minister are you saying that you don’t like the people who drink?
They are still at the level of human beings, there is opportunity for them to get healed.
Your question is out of order.
He is the Minister for Health.
You cannot ask the minister an individual question like that.
Question 76 - 1(3): Budget
My question is directed to the Minister of Finance in regards to the budget update that he gave earlier this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker in his statement he indicated that we were experiencing a decrease in revenue, about 5.7 million dollars.
Could the minister give some detail as to what areas this revenue is being lost.
Minster of Finance.
Mr. Speaker there have been some decreases in personal income tax.
Taxes, the collection rates were lower than expected, also there has been some reduction in the revenue projections for corporate income taxes, as well as the personal income taxes.
There is also other areas of taxation, fuel taxes as well that are coming in lower than expected and those are some of the main areas for the causes of reductions in revenues.
Mr. Speaker also in the minister’s update he indicated that we expected not to spend around 10.3 million dollars less than was originally projected. I believe he indicated that this was partly due to the hirings that have not taken place to this point.
Can the minister say whether the amount of 10 million dollars, whether that represents 60, 70, or 80% of the budget for hiring and associated costs. In other words how much of this 10 million dollars is associated with the decrease in hiring.
Mr. Speaker the 10.3 million dollars anticipated as amounts not being spent by all the departments, is inclusive of all their expenditures including the wages and salaries the honourable member is referring to.
If you want to put it in perspective though the Government of Nunavut salaries and benefits totals approximately 90 million dollars budgetary wise out of our 600 million dollars.
So if you put it in that perspective we are talking about 15% of the government’s budget in wages and salaries.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Speaker can the minister confirm that when we negotiated the formula financing agreement that, my understanding is, that included all of the positions and associated costs for the hirings that we were expecting.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Well, Mr. Speaker it is hard for me to answer that question.
I wasn’t involved directly in the negotiations for the formula financing.
As you know the Office of the Interim Commissioner, Government of the NWT, NTI were at the table in that respect.
All I can say is, based on the work that had been done, this government assumed the formula financing payments, developed the budget recommendations on the work that had been done by the Office of the Interim Commissioner, made some minor modifications as we are all aware and then made the 99/2000 budget and that is what we are trying to work with Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Supplementary Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Speaker it is my understanding that the minister and his staff indicated that we were at approximately 58 to 60% capacity in our hiring.
That would leave, just in general terms, 40% of the staff not hired yet, which I assume would also be the associated cost with the staff as far as hiring and benefits and so on.
I just find it difficult to understand that with 40% not being hired, how that could only equate to a 10 million dollar saving.
Actually it is less than 10 million dollars because you indicated there were other areas that there were savings in.
I am wondering if the minister could explain in more detail as to what that actually represents.
Mr. Speaker, I actually think it is quite simple to explain.
Of course, when I had these numbers I asked the same questions of my officials and what the rationale would be.
Quite frankly what it is, is that the numbers that we have been given, 53% of the staffing levels now of the Government of Nunavut, that is not inclusive of the boards and agencies, when you factor that in, the actual government staffing levels are 73%.
If you used the Government of Nunavut 53% one has to realize that is 53% staffing of the permanent positions that were budgeted, that we approved in this House.
But that does not take into consideration, Mr. Speaker, the casual staffing, the contracting back, the consultants that are hired in the interim to address shortfalls in the staffing levels.
In order to continue to provide services when we don’t have all the permanent staffing on hand, that’s how the departments are dealing with the provision of services.
That’s primarily the main reason.
The second reason being, Mr. Speaker, when they develop budgets, they recognized that all the departments wouldn’t be fully staffed on April 1st, I think we all recognized that as we are progressing through the year trying to staff all the departments, and they are trying to reach their full staffing complements.
Because of that at the same time, some of our staffing costs in the budget were what they called back end loaded, when they realize that the staffing levels increase over the course of the year that more staffing budget requirements would take place, there would be more need for staffing funds for the latter part of the year.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Before I recognize another member, I would like to recognize the world renowned Susan Aglukkaaq and her sister Vivian Aglukkaaq.
Question 77 - 1(3): Public Consultations
My question is directed to the Premier, the government leader.
When we first got elected we stated to the people of Nunavut that we would be closer to them and that we would be open and transparent.
Is this government going to be making decisions and making regulations prior to consulting with the people of Nunavut.
Yes I can say today all the bills are now under review by the task force on legislation and we keep saying that we want to do our budget consultations in all the communities and the Minister of Education, we will do another consultation with the communities.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): I don’t think you understand me.
I’ll use an example because one single time zone is very important to us.
Rather than working with the people you have set out and made a decision which will change our clocks back on the 31st and yet when the government first started initially we kept saying that we’d be open in consulting with the people of Nunavut.
Prior to this decision being given to the people of Nunavut you did not consult with the communities as to how the single time zone would be dealt with.
You did not get input or consult with the people of Nunavut so that’s why I had asked you if you’re going to be doing this.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker, we had consensus on April 1st and there was agreement in the Association of Municipalities AGM to set up one time zone for Nunavut.
We are implementing that today.
It’s just going to be one hour here for the Baffin Region.
We are going to set up one time zone for the whole of Nunavut if anybody wants to call us, no matter where they are from, to the office they will be able to get assistance because we’ll have the same times.
Speaker (interpretation): Before I recognize anyone I would like to let you know that this should be dealt with at the Committee of the Whole.
I don’t believe that we should deal with it during oral questions. (interpretation ends) You are out of order.
Question 78 - 1(3): Outpost Camps for Offenders
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
I have a question for the Minister of Justice.
I know of a people from Nunavut who have been just put into jail but I also know that there’s outpost camps where they can bring young offenders who have not committed indictable offences.
How do you go about making a proposal to set up a camp that would be used for youth who have committed crimes.
Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I would like to thank you.
Are you talking about getting assistance for building such facilities or what were you asking for specifically.
If you could make a supplementary comment or rephrase your question Mr. Irqittuq.
What I’m trying to ask Mr. Speaker is that if I had an outpost camp, and if I wanted to help youth who have gone through the court system or have been incarcerated, how do I go about making a proposal.
Some of the communities are starting to establish camps to take in clients from the correctional centres.
Any community whether they be small or large could take on these youth and that’s being established in some of the Nunavut communities.
If you would like to get further information you could call the Department of Justice or go through the Justice Committees that are established in some of the communities.
You could ask for information from these departments.
The Department of Justice is more than willing to see more camps set up for the youth.
Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, I have had some people approach me and said that there were previous camp owners who could get assistance for some of their expenditures, like for travel costs.
Is there any financial assistance or has there been a decrease in the amount that could have been used for the camps.
Anyone who would like to set up a camp to take out young people and who want to have clients in their camps, the criteria is still the same.
We could look into it but what we do is we give them financial assistance to help them with their transportation, food and so on.
So if one of the youth would like to use one of these outpost camp facilities, who would they direct their request to.
Either myself or whose department.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): You could either get help from the Department of Justice or if they want to, they could call my office directly.
Question 79 - 1(3): Staff Issues with Decentralization
I would like to ask a question to DPW.
I have heard that the department is going to be moving up to Pond Inlet.
I was talking to one of the employees who lives in Iqaluit and doesn’t want to go to Pond Inlet because the department is moving up there.
What’s going to happen.
There are some people who do not want to move from their place of residence to another community because their department’s moving.
What happens if there are some vacant positions because the employees don’t go up.
Would you have training programs available for local people in Pond Inlet so that these positions could be filled.
The member has been concerned about some of the employees not wanting to move to Pond Inlet.
My Deputy Minister and I will have to meet with the Hamlet in Pond Inlet so that we could discuss the possibility of setting up a training program or sending someone from Pond Inlet down here for further training.
These are the plans we have in place.
Question 80 - 1(3): Project Surname
It gets tiring after sitting for quite some time but Mr. Speaker a few days ago, under member’s statements, I made a statement that our surnames and birth dates are not properly recorded or spelled.
Mr. Speaker, I have a question directed to the Premier.
Mr. Premier, since you’re the Premier for the Nunavut Government, the misspelled and wrong birth dates of people of Nunavut, in regards to these, what does the government plan to do in that the government is supposed to be very close to it’s people.
So I’m encouraging you to make changes.
How much work would it require.
Yes I know that a bit myself and we have tried to give you support and when you try to make changes to the name it tends to go through a lot of procedures like through the court system.
Especially when the elders want to make changes to their names, the way they’re spelled.
Perhaps I could get the law reform committee to look into this issue too and I could also include that.
I have urged the members of the legislative assembly asking them what kind of issues they want to be looked at by the law reform committee.
If you want this to be a priority I could do this.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Thank you for your response.
Prior to our government being established, our previous Government of the NWT had initiated this.
It was territory wide including the Nunavut area.
The GNWT had initiated a project called operation surname and I know that it costs money to do it.
Since it was GNWT who made all those mistakes, why should the Nunavut Government have to pay for all those mistakes.
So I would like you to consider this carefully.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you.
First of all it was not by the GNWT, it was initiated by the Federal Government.
The project surname was initiated for anybody who would like to change their names or change the spelling.
It has to go through the court system and we had inherited this act.
Therefore, I could ask the Law Reform Committee to review this so that it will make it easier for Nunavut residents to make changes.
Question 81 - 1(3): Kimmirut's Water Reservoir
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Public Works.
I received an urgent letter from Kimmirut because their reservoir is quite far and they have a pipeline going into the community.
I would like to know since there was a study done, what has been done to date.
We haven’t received the results to date.
Could you let me know what the status is now on this issue.
We can only start working on it if we get direction from the Department of CG&T.
I can talk about the budget portion of it but it was in the B list.
As you know we deal with urgent situations where there’s safety, health and so on.
We first have to get money from Mr. Anawak’s department before we can do anything about it because my department is just to do public work.
Mr. Anawak probably knows how to respond to your question better because he’s the one with the money.
Question 82 - 1(3): Assistance to Clyde River for Power Costs
I have a question for the NTPC.
The equipment has arrived in our community and we know that the community of Clyde River is in a deficit situation.
We’re going to be paying 40% of that.
What kind of assistance can we get from the Nunavut Government in regards to paying for that equipment.
Mr. Picco, Minister responsible for NTPC.
Mr. Picco: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
I guess I should start with thanking the member for his question.
As you know Mr. Speaker, earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit Clyde River with the member.
I met with the Hamlet and the Mayor to discuss the construction of the new generating station in the community of Clyde River.
In Clyde River's Case, Mr. Speaker, the best information available to the Power Corporation, to NTPC itself is that power rates would rise anywhere between 35 – 40 % based on the new infrastructure that we're putting in place in Clyde River.
Now let me back up just a little bit to explain the situation Mr. Speaker.
As the member knows and some members of the House, the GNWT and through the Public Utilities Board, went to community based rates for our power supplied to us and in that case when there's new infrastructure being installed in a community has to pay the infrastructure costs and I think that's what the member is trying to say.
The cost relationship with the increase with the new capital infrastructure in Clyde River is about 35 – 40 %. After saying that Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut, we know indeed, that most people would realize that 35 or 40% increase is not bearable by the constituents, by the taxpayers, by the residents of Clyde River for that matter, for anywhere in Nunavut.
So what the Government of Nunavut is looking at doing and what the community of Clyde River can do as I explained when I was in Clyde this past summer, first of all, that generating station needs to be in Clyde River.
We need to be able to provide power, electrical power to Clyde.
In partnership with the people of Clyde and the Hamlet, we've been able to facilitate some employment opportunities with infrastructure so there are some good points to this.
On the 35 – 40% increase as I explained when I was in Clyde this past summer, that the community, the Hamlet of Clyde has an opportunity through the Public Utilities Board when the rate increase occurs to be able to be intervene.
Their costs will be covered for that.
Mr. Speaker, we have to make it very clear that the increase in rate will not occur before a hearing is held and we're not looking at that happening for another 15 or 16 months.
In the mean time, as a government and as a minister for the Power Corporation, NTPC officials, having briefed my Cabinet colleagues, we're trying to look at a process in place so that we can negate.
Mr. Speaker, the work here is to negate any extraordinary or enormous amount of rate increases for the people of Clyde River.
I'm sure that there's going to be annual increases right up to the 40% mark.
I understand the reasoning behind it.
Even if that's the case, we will get effected one way or another because of course we're paying out of our pocket for the electrical bill.
The gradual increase over the years will effect us residents.
Have you done a review on how this could be implemented?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Mr. Iqaqrialu. (interpretation ends) Minister responsible for NTPC, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, I'll try to be concise and try to articulate that the rate impact on the Community of Clyde for our best estimates right now could be and the operative word here is could be, 33-40%.
The rate will not be determined until a Nunavut Public Utilities Board has been formed and reviews a General Rate Application where the community of Clyde River under that General Rate Application would have intervenor status which would be paid for on any cost increase.
I think that's important to note.
Thank you Mr. O'Brien for your support over there.
You look like a thespian.
So the community of Clyde River, no increase will occur before a Public Utilities Board application happens.