EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As we develop a new Education Act for Nunavut, I will be looking for real authority to be given to the communities and regions to oversee education programs in our schools.
Member’s Statement 111 – 2(3): Opening of Tahiuktit Society in Kugluktuk (Evyagotailak)
I rise today to announce the opening of a facility in Kugluktuk. (interpretation ends) The Tahiuktit Society has held its grand opening early this month.
I was joined by Premier Okalik, Minister Tapardjuk, and Minister Picco for this important occasion. I was honoured to be a part of that important event.
Mr. Speaker, we have seen that the most successful initiatives to address community needs are those that have grown from within the community itself; the community members taking the lead in supporting their neighbours and friends.
Mr. Speaker, the Tahiuktit Society is a wonderful example of just such as initiatives.
I look forward to seeking a positive result within our community and also as a model for all communities to follow.
I would like to recognize the hard work and commitments of this society’s members: Millie Kuliktana, Joanne Taptuna, Grayson Adamache, David Kaosoni, Lucy Nivingalok, Margaret Joy, Richard Herrington, Ryan Nivingalok, and Jeanie Burks.
Mr. Speaker, I ask Members of this House to join me in congratulating those individuals on their hard work.
Member’s Statement 112 – 2(3): APTN Refusal to Televise Proceedings in the House (Tootoo)
Today, I would like to rise and discuss an issue that I have raised here before in the House and that’s something that myself and my other two colleagues from Iqaluit can do and that is say hi to our constituents on television.
As all members know, APTN has refused to agree with our Legislative Assembly and with you, Mr. Speaker, in allowing our proceedings to be televised in the evenings when people would be at home to watch them. I think it’s shameful.
At that time when I spoke about it, I asked them to remember their roots, where they came from.
It’s for northern TV out of the Yukon, for the north, not for an audience in the south that have all kinds of cable opportunities and other ways and means to watch their elected representatives do their work for them.
And that’s something that I’m very sorry that the rest of my colleagues here in this building are not able to do thanks to...how I look at it; total lack of respect for the people of the north by APTN.
So with that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask all members to continue to support yourself and the other two jurisdictions in doing everything we can to try and get APTN to wake up and smell the coffee and realize that people in the north are not at home in the afternoon, they are at work when these proceedings are going...when they want them to be televised is in the afternoon when no one’s going to watch them.
As we all know as members, over the last couple of years and the last six years that the proceedings here in Iqaluit, when they are on, are something that probably get higher ratings than the Olympics right now, the Olympics of a different kind.
So I encourage you and all members to write letters, ask your constituents to write letters of disgust, I guess you could say, to APTN to change their way of thinking.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, I thank you and I would also like to say hello to Brian.
Member’s Statement 113 – 2(3): Complaints about APTN (Tapardjuk)
I am also concerned about this issue with the communities of Igloolik and Hall Beach; there were a number of complaints about the proceedings not being televised in my riding and in Nunavut in general.
We have stated repeatedly that we wanted to be more open and more visible to the people of Nunavut, but at this time, with APTN refusing to come to an agreement with us, this is a setback on what we’ve been trying to do in Nunavut since its inception.
When you see the proceedings on TV, it gives you the desire to participate in the political arena.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge and give direction to your staff on what we can do about this problem.
Nunavut has to be a fair participant.
We are aboriginal people. We live in an extremely harsh climate, and they have to include us.
Member’s Statement 114 – 2(3): Thank Mother for Kamiks (Simailak)
I would like to thank my mother in Baker Lake who made the pair of Kamiks that I wore during the budget address.
She is 74 years old and she still sews.
Member’s Statement 115 – 2(3): Congratulate Mr. Harper (Arreak)
I am extremely pleased to be back here again.
I couldn’t be at the meeting yesterday due to weather problems.
I would like to congratulate Mr. Harper, our new Prime Minister, and I look forward to him keeping his promises, but it seems that they are putting a priority on something that we didn’t place as a priority, like placing the military up here, and the military being more visible up here.
Our priority is increasing the number of houses.
They are two or three nuclear families living in one house at this time.
There is the issue of housing, and also education.
Those are our priorities. Our children, as we say, are our future.
They need adequate education, and resources in Nunavut.
There is also the issue of health and healthcare.
In our community, if we get sick, the doctor is a few hundred miles away, and the sick person has to wait at least four hours if they catch a flight to come down here to see the physician.
In the Kelowna Agreement, where I would like the new government to be aware of our priorities and to put in the back burner the military presence for example, our priorities have to be recognized by the new government.
Member’s Statement 116 – 2(3): Senior Support Programs (Curley)
I rise today to talk about our seniors and also would like to say thank you to the Minister of Finance for his budget address. I know that the contents are going to support or help the seniors a lot.
Mr. Speaker, he mentioned to work with the seniors and to work with them on culture to help us in facing our challenges.
First of all, elders, I can tell you, are facing many challenges by trying to survive, by trying to make ends meet, and sometimes they can’t even pay for their fuel.
A couple of years ago, we had to help an Iqaluit resident in Rankin Inlet because this individual wasn’t able to pay for the fuel. We had to send them money. I was told: you cannot send her money because she owes lots of money for fuel.
So that was quite surprising for me.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the government’s Income Support Program, and the Seniors’ Energy Support Program. How many elders have applied for it?
I don’t think the elders know about this support program.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the Minister responsible for Income Support probably can amend the program.
Looking at the information here, it’s even harder to fill out than income tax forms.
Individuals who are at the age 60 need their birth certificate, their social insurance card, their healthcare card, and their previous year’s income tax, and their family members’ income, and old age security income. Documentation has to be included. These are not the only documents that they need; they also need to bring in their mortgage documents.
Mr. Speaker, these are the barriers that we face. Like my colleague stated, perhaps the Cabinet is now setting up barriers and obstacles for Nunavummiut.
I would like to hear the response on that because Nunavummiut are very interested in hearing that response.
Member’s Statement 117 – 2(3): Firearms Certificate Application Forms (Barnabas)
I would also like to congratulate our Minister of Finance for his budget address.
I rise today Mr. Speaker...when I visited my constituency communities, I was told that there are some unfinished issues, for example, especially the Firearms Acquisition Certificate.
The hunters, when they don’t have a Firearms Acquisition Certificate, cannot purchase ammunition.
This has a negative impact on our hunters. It’s very difficult to try and complete the application for a Firearms Acquisition Certificate.
Perhaps you have a person servicing the people in the larger centres, but in the smaller communities we don’t have that service.
Perhaps our constituents have to come to the Firearms Acquisition Certificate office when they come here for medical purposes because it’s very hard to come here, and I know that it’s going to be very expensive to deal with this issue, but all our community constituency members cannot come all to Iqaluit as long as they’re healthy, or as long as we are not coming here for business purposes.
For that reason, this has had a very negative impact in our community for harvesters, and also to their family members because the hunter has to harvest game to support his family.
For that reason Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Premier about that at the appropriate time.
Return to Oral Question 121 – 2(3): Placement of International Nurses (Aglukkaq)
I’d like to clarify a response that I provided yesterday to the Member for Rankin Inlet, Mr. Curley.
In his last supplementary question, he asked whether the international nurses are on payroll. In looking further into the issue, the international nurses are on payroll upon accepting the job offered to them.
So therefore, during the time that they are on payroll, they write their exam and receive their orientation to the Government of Nunavut.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Item 5.
I would like to acknowledge an individual from my constituency.
We rarely get the opportunity to acknowledge them, but we do have two individuals from my constituency.
First of all, Nauja Williams, let me introduce her as she is the Regional Maternal Newborn Health and Social Services Coordinator. She has been working there for quite some time and they really enjoy her working over there.
She is very approachable. Everybody would like to talk with her.
Beside her is the (interpretation ends) Midwifery Consultant Kirsten Garfield, I hope I said your name right.
(interpretation) So they work very hard and they are here to give support.
Please welcome these individuals. Nauja is originally from our original community, which is Coral Harbour.
I, too, would like to recognize a person in the Gallery today; Enuk Pauloosie, who is sitting behind Keith Peterson.
Enuk Pauloosie is my brother-in-law from Gjoa Haven.
This is the first time I have seen him here. So welcome to the Gallery. Welcome to Iqaluit.
At the same time, I would also like to recognize employees from Health and Social Services that are here with us today.
My wife is here. Although I acknowledged her yesterday, I would like to welcome her to the Gallery.
There are some individuals from Baker Lake. I am very pleased to acknowledge Stephen Niego, and he is from Baker Lake.
For many years he has been a heavy equipment operator at the Hamlet and also President of the QDC.
He’s got two sons who are going to be in the Arctic Winter Games for basketball in Alaska.
They are now practicing in Ottawa.
Also an individual from Baker Lake, right behind me, Lori Morina, who is in charge of Social Services. Also David Nanauq, Nick Qingaquuqtuq, and Hugh Tunnuq.
David and Nick have been working for the Housing Association for many years. Hugh has been here for many years.
It’s not very often that I get to stand and recognize some visitors from my riding being such a far place away.
It is my honour today to recognize three ladies from my riding of Cambridge Bay.
The first lady that I would like to recognize is the Mayor, Michelle Gillis. Michelle was recently elected as Mayor of Cambridge Bay in December. I’m sure that all of the ministers will be extending the same courtesy to her that they extend to me when I come asking for help, which I am sure she will be calling on you.
The second lady I have recognized previously, she’s a very busy lady, Wendy Avalak. She’s over here on other business. She’s very involved in community and territorial-type work.
So welcome to Wendy.
And the third lady is Margo Neglak. It’s the first time Margo has been to the House. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the three ladies to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
There’s an individual from my constituency also.
My two communities are quite close to each other and this individual has worked in our schools, Mukshowya Niviaqsi. I would like to acknowledge her.
Keith Peterson had already mentioned, as he knows that my constituents are far away as we know.
I would like to recognize a constituent of mine. This individual has worked at the Housing Corporation for a long time, Lucy Maniyogena, welcome to the House.
Sometimes Tagak and I fight over our constituents to recognize someone that arrived here.
I would like to acknowledge Tagak for giving me one individual to acknowledge.
I would like to welcome this individual right behind me, Rory Wilkinson from Rankin Inlet.
It’s not very often that I get a chance to recognize...
It’s not very often that I get a chance to recognize one of Mr. Tootoo’s relatives in the Gallery, but I would like to welcome to the Gallery a constituent of mine, well known throughout the government circles and through Nunavut, our very first accountant, an ADM, Mr. Victor Tootoo, to the Gallery.
Unlike Ms. Brown and Mr. Curley, Mr. Picco and I usually work things out; we don’t have to fight over who’s going to introduce whom.
Mr. Speaker, sitting next to the individual that Mr. Picco recognized, who unfortunately shares the same disposition as the Premier, Minister Olayuk, and our Clerk as who they cheer for in hockey.
Sitting next to that individual, Mr. Speaker, is a constituent of mine, a well-known individual throughout the territory and throughout Iqaluit that does a lot of hard work on behalf of Canadian Airlines for Inuit that need help throughout the Baffin Region and the other regions and that’s Ms. Eva Onalik. I would like to welcome her to the Gallery.
Question 128 – 2(3): Public Government that Serves All of the Nunavut Territory (Kilabuk)
Mr. Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (intepretation ends) There have been a few firsts for me in the last couple of days, this being one of them.
Mr. Speaker, as per my earlier statement about fisheries in Pangnirtung, and I’ll admit, as part of my learning process, I’ll start with simple questions which will hopefully lead to the higher level questions my colleagues on the floor have asked.
Mr. Speaker, my understanding of this government has been that, being a public government, it will provide the same level of service, and equal opportunities to all the people it serves in the Nunavut Territory.
This is not specified, this is not determined by race, or of any factor.
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Department of Environment.
My understanding of this being a public government; is his understanding the same of the Department of Environment and also that of the minister?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are representing all the people of Nunavut.
What we want to do is assist every resident in Nunavut as a government.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Kilabuk.
The reason why I asked this question is because in having reviewed, and gotten information about the certain number of fishermen that have made applications for the Disaster Compensation Program, which are caused by either storms or natural disasters.
Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents over the last few years have run into this problem, and last year made applications to seek assistance for losses suffered.
Now, it appears there has been an oversight in the applications, because there is an outstanding application that was denied, and I hope it was not because of race, or a factor which is not acceptable, and which has been confirmed by the minister already, that this is a public government serving all residents within the territory.
So is the minister prepared to review the application that has been denied as part of the overall package of applications that were reviewed in the last little while by his department?
I will look into that application.
Question 129 – 2(3): Senior Fuel Subsidy Program (Curley)
Mr. Curley (interpretation): My question is to the Minister responsible for Income Support.
First of all, I would like to say that the elders in Nunavut, when they put in an application, even to write an application, it’s very, very difficult for those elders because they don’t speak English and they don’t have the knowledge of the various types of assistance that they can access.
The electrical support apparently can be given to individuals living in zone one at the age of 65 or over and if they meet the minimum requirements, the assistance that they receive, would you be able to make more clear so that it’s more understandable in Inuktitut than English?
The Senior Fuel Subsidy Program, as the member indicated, is a Nunavut-wide program.
I would agree with the member that if there is an issue is with the forms that are being used that it’s, on behalf of the government we would have to make sure they are better distributed and make them more comprehensible.
So in that case Mr. Speaker, the majority of our income support workers, who are available to do these forms, are Inuk and do speak Inuktitut as their first language and we will work with customers and clients to make sure that theses forms are easily understood and easily translated.
Mr. Speaker, I should say and add that the senior subsidy program for fuel is one of the better programs by the government and it was reviewed in 2003 and there are different zones for fuel and the amount of subsidy available based on the community that the person lives in.
Mr. Curley: First time that it may have been recently reviewed, but it’s still full…it’s so complex. All the revenues within that household are subject to claw backs, and therefore, if they see the list that are stated in zone one and two, in effect, they will likely will not be qualified because most times they are really never sure exactly who the permanent residents are in that house.
So in that case, could the minister undertake to review all these conditions that are in that Fuel Subsidy Program for the elders maybe provide it more simplified support, a genuine support, whether it’s a support that it seems to be fine, but when you get down to meeting all the conditions listed, here it’s worse than the tax form because you also have to provide titles, deeds, or mortgage documents for instance, as well as income tax returns from previous years.
So Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister once again that he would provide more support to the people of Nunavut who desperately need help; our elders.
Speaker (interpretation): Minister, Picco.
The member is correct where there are several criteria for the senior fuel subsidy program. The first criterion is that the senior actually owns their own home. So in our case Mr. Speaker, almost 80 percent of Nunavut residents are actually in social housing and they wouldn’t qualify for the program.
For the people that do qualify for the program, last year, I believe on the numbers that are available to me, that were only 46 Nunavummiut, who are elder and seniors, and own their own homes, and are eligible for the program.
At the same time, they had to be above the age of 60, as the member has pointed out, they had to be a private homeowner, and the total household income is verified based on the income support amounts.
So Mr. Speaker, I would agree with the member that the more access to the program may be warranted and to help the member and constituents at large across Nunavut be able to have an update on this program.
I have one last question with respect to that. The application is so complex that I have one constituent who applied more than a month ago and he has yet to hear whether his application is going to be approved or rejected.
Could the minister tell us why it is so complicated? Why not just have one day of consultation with the member and provide an answer of whether or not they qualify?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister Picco
I would agree with the member that the waiting for two months or something to receive support under the program is too long. I don’t know the particular case the member is speaking about of course, but I can say the turn around time is usually a lot quicker than that.
Mr. Speaker, we can look at the program itself and see where we can make improvements.
And again Mr. Speaker, when you are trying to pay the high cost of home heating fuel, it’s an extra burden, especially on our elders.
And, Mr. Speaker, we will try to speed up the process that the member has mentioned.
At the same time, the constituent in question that the member is talking about, if he would provide the information to me with the member’s name and so on so that I could follow-up immediately and see what the delay is.
I certainly will do that, but I just want to let the minister know that I’m dealing with a constituent who is over 80 years old.
So we are not talking about whether this is marginally qualified or not.
This is a very elderly man and very serious in getting, whether or not he could be receiving the support from this government.
Again, Mr. Speaker, if the member would provide that information to me as soon as the House breaks, then I will be able to follow-up and hopefully help the elder.
Again, Mr. Speaker, this is a good program and by way with the House right now, if there are elders out there who are over the age of 60, who own their own home, and have not accessed this program before, they can see their income support worker to make sure they receive the correct information.
Question 130 – 2(3): Management of Medical Travel (Barnabas)
Mr. Speaker, the department’s ‘Closer to Home’ Strategy aims at reducing medical travel costs by providing more services here in Nunavut.
However, it’s a fact that patients from Nunavut’s smaller communities still have to travel to regional centres to receive services.
Can the Minister of Health and Social Services clarify, for this House, what departmental organizations have currently in place to coordinate and manage patient medical travel in the Baffin region?
The Department of Health and Social Services provides medical travel assistance to patients requiring care outside of their community and that program is administered by the three regional centres; one in Cambridge Bay, one in Rankin Inlet, and here in Pangnirtung.
The nurse in each community that examines the patients determines whether a person requires care outside their community. And once that has been determined, the department makes the appropriate arrangements to send the patient to see a doctor or a specialist.
Can the minister clarify, for this House, where the person that administers medical travel for the Baffin Region is located?
In the past, medical travel was done within the hospital in Iqaluit for the Baffin. Recently, that function has been transferred to the Pangnirtung Regional Health and Social Services Office.
Can the minister confirm, for me and to my colleagues, whether the patients traveling to receive medical care in the regional centres are required to make their own accommodation arrangements?
For any patient traveling outside of Nunavut, for the most part, those patients stay in the boarding homes whether it’s in Iqaluit, Ottawa, or Winnipeg, or Edmonton, or Yellowknife, but there’s also a difference in that that Government of Nunavut employees stay in hotels. Sometimes those are arranged by individuals themselves or by the department.
Recently, in fact, this week there are a lot of people in Iqaluit and there is a very bad shortage of hotel rooms.
Since this has been transferred to Pangnirtung there are a lot of difficulties now, especially for my constituents and other communities.
What I would like to ask is that I know it has been done and they have spent money for those people going on medical travel. They have looked for hotel rooms.
This has been brought up with me quite a number of times. (interpretation ends) Will the minister agree to consider compensating patients for their long-distance phone calls and other costs of arranging their own accommodations while they were traveling in order to receive medical services?