EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
To remind Members, this convention exists in order to ensure that legislators refrain from engaging in discussions, posing questions or making statements that directly interfere with, or which could be seen as attempting to influence the working of the Courts.
However, the application of this convention must be balanced; so as to ensure that the workings of the courts are not interfered with, while at the same time allowing Members of the Legislative Assembly to exercise their right to freedom of speech.
In matters that directly affect specific individuals in criminal cases, the convention is strictly applied.
In other types of cases, more leeway exists for Members to inquire into matters of public interest.
In short, Members may ask questions of a general nature about the Government's policy with respect to this case, so long as they are not formulated in such a fashion as to breach the governing principle of the convention that the question or the answer must not constitute improper interference.
I would remind Members, however, that while Ministers may choose to answer questions on this issue, they are perfectly entitled to decline to answer, as indeed they are with any question.
Back to our agenda.
Item number 2, Ministers’ Statements.
Ministers’ Statement 26 - 1 (2): Corrections Planning
As members are aware, Nunavut faces some serious challenges with respect to corrections.
There are more than twice as many inmates as there are beds in the Baffin Correctional Centre here in Iqaluit.
We would like to have more of our inmates here in Nunavut, but the Baffin Correctional Centre has no more room.
It is already very overcrowded.
To help address this problem, we have begun some serious planning.
The Nunavut Department of Justice has established a Corrections Planning Committee to review corrections program and facility requirements, and to make recommendations.
The Committee has representation from communities, as well as from the Nunavut Social Development Council, the RCMP, and the federal and the Nunavut corrections systems.
The representatives from our communities are:
Becky Kudloo from Baker Lake,
Natsiq Kango from Iqaluit,
Simeonie Natsek from Repulse Bay,
Elik Tologanaq from Cambridge Bay,
Mosha Akavak from Iqaluit representing the Baffin Correctional Centre, and
Elijah Erkloo from Pond Inlet, representing the Nunavut Social Development Council.
The Corrections Planning Committee is chaired by Rebecca Williams, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice.
I have asked the Committee to consider new approaches to the way in which inmates are handled, both in institutions and in the communities.
Committee members had productive meetings in Iqaluit for three days last week.
They will meet again in mid-July and will have a draft report by the end of August.
The final report will contain specific recommendations for action.
The Corrections Planning Committee will present their final report to me in early October.
I look forward to receiving the Committee’s final report and to sharing the report with my colleagues.
I look forward to working together so we can make improvements to Nunavut’s corrections system.
We received a letter from the Baffin Correctional Centre and it was also in the Nunatsiaq News.
It stated that there were a lot of improvements we can make in regards to the corrections system in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, we will be working very hard and diligently on this issue.
Before we proceed to question period, I would like to remind everyone to please keep in mind that we have interpreters when you are going to be making a response or a question.
This past week when there were some misunderstandings about the contents of some questions and responses, so, in order to get the message across, please remember to pause and go through the chairperson when you are asking questions or making responses.
Item number 3.
Return 7 - 1 (2) : Question 70 – 1 (2) GN Employees Eligible for Staff Housing
I am responding to the question raised regarding Government of Nunavut employees eligibility for staff housing.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform members that staff housing is an integral part of the staffing recruiting process in Nunavut, and provides many benefits in attracting and maintaining staff.
Mr. Speaker, to answer the members’ specific question, the following employees are not eligible to apply for staff housing:
casual and hourly wage employees;
employees where the employees or the spouse of the employee owns developed residential property within the boundaries of the community in which the employee works;
employees who were evicted from staff housing at any time within the twelve month period immediately prior to applying for staff housing with the Government of Nunavut; or
employees who already live in private accommodation.
Speaker (interpretation): Returns to Oral Questions.
Item 5 Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to acknowledge a group of sixteen grade 9 students and two teachers visiting Iqaluit from Sisimiut.
Speaker (interpretation): Welcome to the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to the Gallery a person originally from Greenland but living in Iqaluit now for many years and a good family friend, Mrs. Dorothy Kunuk.
I would like to welcome all the people in the Gallery and welcome everyone to our meeting.
Question 153 - 1 (2): Eligibility for Staff Housing
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Human Resources.
First of all, I would like to thank the Minister for providing an answer to my question.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if an employee who is living with other family members, whether it be in a private home or in public housing, if those individuals would be considered eligible for staff housing.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: That’s Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Speaker.
In respect to that issue, the circumstances about whether an employee would actually be eligible for Government of Nunavut staff housing, it depends on the individuals’ circumstances.
As it stands now, our policy is that we provide staff housing where necessary to support the staffing process.
So it depends on the individuals’ circumstances. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister stated that they provide it in order to facilitate the hiring process.
Does that mean then, Mr. Speaker, that if there is someone who may be living with other family members they are not eligible for staff housing?
Is that what the Minister is saying?
Mr. Speaker, I didn’t say that, I said that it would depend on the individual circumstances of that employee.
Mr. Speaker, in looking at the written response given to me by the Minister, I don’t believe it says in there anywhere about looking specifically on a case by case basis.
I would like to ask the Minister if the policy is there for everyone, or is it only there for certain people.
Mr. Ng: Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, our policy impacts all of our employees and as I indicated it depends on the individual need of each employee.
So it would depend on their personal circumstances of whether or not they would be eligible for staff housing.
Unfortunately, we don’t have enough staff housing units for every single employee within the government, so there are some criteria that determine where individuals would be eligible for staff housing.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. Your last question Mr. Tootoo.
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the Minister could provide us with cases where someone would not be eligible for staff housing.
As I look at the policy, I believe that if someone doesn’t own their own home, if someone isn’t already in their own home, they’re eligible for staff housing according to the policy.
If that isn’t the case I would like to ask the Minister if he could provide, it doesn’t have to be right now but at some future point in the near future, as to what situations an individual would not be eligible for staff housing outside of this policy.
Mr. Speaker, I guess to clarify again, the staff housing isn’t a right of employment or a condition of employment.
We try to provide it as much as possible, particularly in the circumstances where there are specific needs.
I had indicated to the Honourable Member and other members of this House, that we are reviewing all of the staff housing policies and procedures as they stand now and try to formulate and streamline the whole process to bring some consistency to it all.
On the broader issue, the staff housing, we need it primarily to try to implement our decentralization plans.
As it stands now, once we get some clarity to that, it certainly has to be one of the key criteria as it stands now, for eligibility for staff housing.
Question 154 - 1 (2): Wildlife in Captivity
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Sustainable Development.
There have been cases where wild animals have been taken as pets or sent to zoos.
For Inuit, it’s not a very pretty sight to see those wild animals in cages.
What are we going to do about wildlife that are taken captives, as Nunavut Government.
What approach are we going to be taking?
It is not very nice to see wild animals caged, because they suffer and it can be inhumane.
I would like to see some kind of approach as Nunavut Government and would like to know what kind of plans you have.
Possibly, first of all, since we are a new government, we have to work with the people of Nunavut and work co-operatively.
I would like to work closely together with the other organizations before we come with a different approach.
The wildlife are very much in demand by the people out there, but I believe we have to work harder and keep in mind that wildlife in their own environment are at home, even though they are out in the wilderness.
We should also look at the ways the wildlife are studied by scientists and biologists and so on.
So, we have to work closely together with the various organizations out there, consult with the people of Nunavut in regards to wildlife that are taken captive.
I think this issue is very important and I like the Ministers’ response.
Oral question, Mr. Irqittuq.
Question 155 - 1 (2): Financial Support for Student Exchange Trip
Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Minister of Education.
The students of Igloolik have asked me in writing whether they can get support when they go down south .
They are asking for financial assistance such as per diems for meals.
This question is to the Minister of Education, my question is; can the students get financial support.
We have reviewed this request.
We can give support to the students of Arctic College by way of financial contributions.
However we don’t have anything for the students up to grade 12.
If they are going to be going on trips outside of Nunavut, unfortunately we don’t have any money set aside for financial support up to grade 12.
However, with that in mind, this issue is being reviewed by my department to find out where we can make changes to our practices.
We don’t have anything right now but these types of situations are under review.
With that response in mind, I can tell the students of Igloolik that there is no money available.
Well, you can make that response to the students if you wish but, Mr. Speaker, I would want to find out from these students how they feel towards this issue as a government.
They are not going down south until this summer so in the meanwhile it could be very likely that we could accommodate their request before they go down south.
I would make that response to the MLA for Igloolik.
Question 156 - 1 (2): Correctional Facilities Plan Recommendations
My question this morning is to the Minister of Justice.
I was pleased to hear about the correction facility planning that is going on right now by the committee.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know we are all effected by corrections and as Mayors, Hamlet Councillors and MLA’s we are constantly being called and asked for help by incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities and their families.
I am pleased to see that the committee will meet again in mid-July to have a draft report by the end of August.
I am wondering if the Minister would commit to giving all the Hamlet Councils and the MLA’s some input into the final recommendations that are coming down in October.
Minister of Justice, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will do that as soon as I have something to send to the Hamlets in terms of soliciting their recommendations, keeping in mind that we want to wrap this up fairly shortly.
We will ensure that the Hamlets are consulted.
That is good to hear from the Honourable Minister.
Will the MLA’s have any direct input into the final report?
Before any final report is done, we will ensure that all MLA’s have a chance to provide input into it.
Question 157 - 1 (2): Certification for Inuit Experts
My question is directed to the Minister of Education.
The unilingual Inuit in Nunavut, there is supposed to be a certification program for Inuit who have no formal certification but are experts in their own traditions.
They are able to teach their specialized skills to the younger generation and even though we have this expertise existing in the communities, sometimes others are brought in from outside Nunavut to teach these courses.
I would like to know the status of this issue.
To the Minister of Education. Mr. Arvaluk.
We are looking at that.
There are Inuinnaqtun and Inuktitut unilingual people who graduated in a program who were able to get certification.
I think that there were four or five people.
We want to look at ways how we can be utilizing Inuit of Nunavut to teach the programs so we can have more unilingual Inuit taking our programs and get certification to teach in their communities in terms of language and survival skills and other programs.
They are experts in their own right and we are looking at how we can get them certified.
Our department is currently reviewing how we can accommodate this, but we have to keep in mind that these may not be recognized as a credit program in other educational institutions in southern Canada.
The way it is right now the students are given credit for taking programs, for example grade 10, 11 and 12 and they have to earn so many credits in specific subjects.
These may not be part of the recognized subjects but I have asked my staff in the department to look into this very area.
I would just like to clarify my question.
Those people who are going to educational institutions outside the community, and I have taken part in that as an oil burner mechanic and heavy equipment operator trainee.
We still see some Nunavummiut who are going to southern institutions to take part in these programs.
We will continue to see these programs being taught elsewhere outside of Nunavut.
I think that many people have done this work, we have welders and mechanics that have had to go outside Nunavut to learn those things.
I think that we have people in Nunavut available to teach those courses.
I think that many people can be certified to teach those courses in Nunavut.
The Arctic College is currently looking at that very subject and we are asking them to review their policies for programs that can be taught to unilingual Inuit.
We do have certified people in Nunavut who would be able to teach such courses, whether it be housing construction, welding or mechanics, and I think that they have been working in Nunavut for a long time and these people have had to go down south to take their courses, whether it be in Chilliwack, B.C. or somewhere in Alberta.
There have been programs that were designed for unilingual people, there were also courses available in electrical field and currently Arctic College and our department are working together and consulting with each other to update those programs.
The building codes are changed from time to time and qualifications for electricians with new technology have to be upgraded.
That is also true in the mechanics’ field with the new models of cars, so some of these courses are ongoing and to remain qualified in the new technology professionals need to be available to keep them updated.
In Europe, for those people that don’t speak English at all, they are certified and they know their areas and I don’t see why that we cannot make some similar accommodation for that.
Mr. Puqiqnak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, this is directed to the Minister of Education.
I know that this is being considered by the department and Arctic College and I am happy that the department and the Minister are looking at this area.
Question 158 - 1 (2): Search and Rescue
My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation.
In the north we see hunters lost out on the land who have to be rescued by airplanes.
I think aircraft are used mostly for searching and sometimes they miss the people even though they might fly right over them.
I think this is a very expensive exercise when it has to be conducted.
Now that we have a new government, I wonder how the government is going to improving methods for search and rescue.
Minister responsible for Search and Rescue, Mr. Anawak.
Search and Rescue is very difficult at the best of times in Nunavut.
I know that this touches a lot of people in Nunavut when someone is lost out on the land.
Last winter we had to do many searches near Rankin Inlet and when we have to use an aircraft we need to have people who know the land in the aircraft and we have kept that practice.
But, search and rescue is not only done by aircraft. We need to look for new ways to complement the search and rescue efforts that are carried out in the communities and to use more people who are knowledgeable of the area and the land.
We are starting to review this area and what our policy is going to be.
We will keep the members and the communities informed on how we are going to be dealing with this area.
But we will be utilizing people who are knowledgeable of local conditions.
I think that we have conducted search and rescue at any given time of the year.
Sometimes an aircraft will be in the area but will not spot the people that they are searching for.
Sometimes the aircraft will be very close to the lost people and won'’ spot them.
I wonder if this can be looked at as soon as possible.
Mr. Anawak if you would like to respond I will allow you.
Mr. Anawak Minister responsible for search and rescue.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, search and rescue is a serious subject at any time for the people in Nunavut.
I think that we need to look at ways other than aircraft for search and rescue exercises.
So we would like to take a good look at all the ways that we have done search and rescue.
I think that the member has been involved in this area and I think that we need this input because all of the areas and communities in Nunavut are all different terrain.
For example, in Keewatin we don’t have too many mountainous areas but in the Baffin region the landscape is very different than that area and the Kitikmeot.
We need to utilize the local people who know the land in their area.
I wonder if the Minister can look at this in the very near future.
Mr. Anawak, Minister responsible for Search and Rescue.
Yes, we will be looking at this in the very near future because we are aware that we need to do search and rescue at any given time.
Question 159 - 1 (2): Lack of Social Workers in Arviat
Mr. Speaker, a week or so ago I raised a question to the Minister of Health, Mr. Picco in reference to the concern with the lack of social workers in my community.
I believe there is only one individual there at a level one, when normally we would have four.
It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that still there has been no relief provided in this area and also an individual was interviewed to be hired in my home community but now this individual is going to be moved to Rankin.
So I once again ask the Minister if he would look into this matter and try to resolve it so that the people from my community can have a level of service that they should have.
Minister responsible for Health, Mr. Picco.
Mr. Speaker, after the issue was brought forward by the member, indeed, through the department we contacted the Keewatin Regional Health & Social Services Board and we followed up on the concern.
There were two social workers in Arviat with another one coming in from Rankin to help alleviate some of the pressure there, but I will follow up with the members new issue surrounding the staffing of the social workers in Arviat.
Question 160 - 1 (2): Housing Policy for Drug Dealers and Bootleggers
My question today is to the Minister responsible for Housing.
When I was making my questions to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Board, in regards to extra legislation to be tougher on bootlegging in our communities.
I wonder if the Ministers would commit to working together to draft up legislation regarding convicted drug peddlers and bootleggers living in public housing.
If they would draft up legislation that would have these convicted people evicted from public housing?
Hon. Jack Anawak: Mr. Speaker, I can just make a commitment to the member that we will look at the issue and deal with it as well as ensure that members do have input into whatever recommendations might come out.
Question 161 - 1 (2): Status of Housing Committee
My question is to the Minister of Housing.
The Minister of Housing has stated that he would be establishing a committee to deal with housing and how this committee would be set up.
I would like to ask the Minister of Housing what is the progress on this committee.
Mr. Anawak, Minister of Housing.
Mr. Speaker, I think it was on Thursday or on Friday I said that I would be dealing with this in the coming days.
We are looking at it now, but I can’t tell the House right now the progress we have made to date, but we will be keeping close consultation with the members regarding our progress.
Question 162 - 1 (2): Staff Housing for Iqaluit Employees
Mr. Speaker, my question again is to the Minister responsible for Human Resources.
He had indicated that the main focus for staff housing is to deal with decentralization.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if the staff housing that is available in Iqaluit is available for employees from Iqaluit, or are they just for employees that will be from outside of Iqaluit.
Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Ng.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that I have indicated when the committee was reviewing the department of Human Resources budget there is actually two processes in Iqaluit.
There is the regional housing allocations and there are the headquarters allocations, which we assumed from the Office of the Interim Commissioner.
I had said at that time and I will reiterate, that we are trying to combine those two to streamline the whole process of dealing with staff housing as a whole, not just in Iqaluit but in the Baffin, throughout all of Nunavut and all the regions, because there are different mechanisms and different leases that have been assumed.
Some, as I have indicated, through the Office of the Interim Commissioner, some through the Government of the NWT, that were transferred over to us and upcoming Nunavut construction units as well, Mr. Speaker, Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I would again like to ask the Minister responsible for staff housing is the staff housing in Iqaluit available for employees of the Government of Nunavut that live in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I will answer again that it is based on the individual needs of the employees that put forward their applications to the staff housing allocation committees.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Just another reminder respecting interpreters please.
Mr. Speaker, I guess what I am getting at is will the policy be used the way it is for local Government of Nunavut hires, or, for example, if a Government of Nunavut is living with a relative in public housing or in their own private accommodation, that is where you would have more than one poor family unit living in a unit, would that individual be eligible for staff housing.
Mr. Speaker, it’s really hard to generalize on a specific circumstance that a member might be referring to, I don’t know the full details of what the circumstances around the case that he might be speaking of.
Again I would say it would have to be on a case by case basis.