EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Council passed a resolution that a letter be written to Minister Picco, copy to your MLA, that Baker Lake is in need of a small rehabilitation / detoxification centre for individuals who require in-house treatment.
Can the Minister update me as to whether he is working towards establishing small in-patient rehabilitation centres for drug and alcohol treatment?
Mr. Speaker, prior to the mental health and addictions strategy which was tabled here in the Legislative Assembly, was the issue around limited detoxification centre space.
Mr. Speaker, at that time the Premier had indicated that we were trying to look at a non-decentralized community, a smaller community where there would be an opportunity to do a limited detoxification program.
This would bring employment opportunities to the people in the smaller communities.
That is what we are looking at.
In the budget, when it is presented, there will be more detail articulated around the issue of a possible detoxification centre, as indicated by the Member and we are looking at some communities.
For example, we are looking at the community of Clyde River that has been talked about.
The Member for Clyde River has come to me and made a very strong case that Clyde River should be looked at as one of the communities for a possible detoxification centre because it has already run several programs and there is also a facility and so on.
These are the types of things we will be looking at when we move forward to the implementation of a limited detoxification program to be run at the centre.
We have a few more minutes left in question period so bare with me please.
My supplementary to that is, it is nice to hear that the Minister is working with individual Members of the Legislative Assembly on setting up limited rehab centres and detox centres.
If I had known this I would have gone and met with the Premier myself and brought in my mayor and counsellors to reinforce the need for one of these centres in Baker Lake.
It is the fourth largest community in Nunavut.
I’ll be the first one to say that we don’t have our problems with drug and alcohol abuse and other things like that.
Would the Minister entertain a meeting between myself and our mayor to discuss setting up a small rehab and detox centre in Baker Lake?
Mr. Speaker, I’ve said it before in this House.
When we are looking at detoxification, that is when we are dealing with a person who has a physical addiction to alcohol or to drugs who may have the need for a hypodermic shot as it were in the words that Mr. McLean was trying to illustrate.
In all seriousness Mr. Speaker, detoxification is a program; it is not a physical infrastructure.
It is not necessarily a building; it is a program that you would run.
In most of our cases, Mr. Speaker, an actual detoxification is to actually wean someone from an addiction, like this physical addiction, but we don’t have that many cases of that here.
What we are trying to bring forward, and I’ve articulated it in this House, is having a program where we would be able to treat the whole family in a holistic approach.
What would the point be, Mr. Speaker, to take Ed Picco from Iqaluit, send him to Baker Lake in a program and then have to go back to Iqaluit with his family and deal with the problems that caused him to be addicted to begin with?
We’ve seen that in other jurisdictions, we’ve seen that in Davis Inlet for example, Mr. Speaker, a lot of the people who were treated went through the detoxification program have relapsed.
Mr. Speaker, what we are talking about here, is where we would be able to take someone and hopefully integrate the family and deal with the whole issues around the addiction, why they are addicted to alcohol or drugs or whatever the addiction is.
Mr. Speaker, addictions are like other forms, there are gambling addictions.
Mr. Speaker, from the Bellwood program, I know Mr. McLean was talking about some of the issues around addictions with substance abuse, sexual addictions, gambling addictions and so on.
So, Mr. Speaker, that is in the light of the program that we would be hoping to put in place.
Mr. Speaker, I understand what the Minister is talking about and I fully agree with him.
We have a good program in Baker Lake; we have two ladies who do an outreach project there in their offices and things like that.
We have to look at the statistics today and what is happening in all of our communities, especially the larger ones.
It’s something I don’t like to talk about but there is a problem with drug and alcohol in communities in Nunavut.
I agree with him fully.
I don’t want my constituents to travel from Baker Lake to Clyde River to seek help.
That’s a long distance and I don’t think they should be subjected to that.
I think that I agree with him 100 percent that it should be done in the community.
But the fact of the matter is, sometimes you have to get people out of situations that they’re into when they get involved with drugs and alcohol that they have to get them out of the family environment and things like that.
I certainly agree with him that the more that can be handled in the community, the better.
We have well established professionals in the community of Baker Lake who work all the time on trying to help people.
But, I guess the other question; I know there are a few people who have to be removed sometimes from other communities.
Can the Minister be very clear to me?
He just said that he’s working with Clyde River in setting up some kind of program.
Can the Minister agree to work with Baker Lake to set up the same program?
Mr. Speaker, all the work, all the analogy, all analyses, all the information, all the reports to date have pointed out that the strength in dealing with alcohol and drug dependency is working at the community level with our outreach workers, our alcohol and drug workers and mental health workers and so on.
We have increased the capacity at the community level to deal with a lot of these issues.
However, Mr. Speaker, after saying that, there may be a need as demonstrated over the last several months for a limited detoxification program.
That is a program Mr. Speaker.
I am not in a position Mr. Speaker, to put a detoxification program in Kugluktuk, in Gjoa Haven, in Chesterfield Inlet, in Baker Lake, in Arviat, or in every community in Nunavut Mr. Speaker.
I would be misleading the House if I tried to commit to something like that and I will not do that.
What I can commit to the Member for Baker Lake is that if there is an opportunity Mr. Speaker, to look at a centralized location in different areas of Nunavut, because we do not use regions anymore, then there may be the opportunity to look at bringing something forward for the Member.
However, Mr. Speaker, we want to be able to get the program up and running first and try the holistic approach to see if that program is running.
And we have said into a smaller non-decentralized community where there may be an opportunity. For example, in Chesterfield Inlet we know we will have a new facility in there.
Is there an opportunity to run a program there?
That is the kind of thing we would like to look at.
Clyde River we know we can do something there because we have been doing it.
So Mr. Speaker that is the kind of thing that we would be looking at and I can commit to the Member that Baker Lake would be one of the 26 communities in Nunavut that we would be able to look at and approach for this type of program.
Again Mr. Speaker based on some of the factors that we have just talked about, let us get the program up and running, let us work it out and then take that program and germinate it so that it can grow in other areas.
I would like to thank that Minister for his answer there.
It has given me some kind of peace of mind.
I am hoping we can all germinate together when we are working in this serious issue of drug and alcohol abuse.
When he’s considering opening up an unlimited rehab centre in a community, it’s no secret in Baker Lake, we have a surplus of government staff housing that’s empty because a lot of the positions that were filled in decentralization were filled by local people and we have an abundance of empty staff housing there and we have a few other units there.
So we already have facilities on the ground that are readily available so it would be no problem for both building houses or office space or things like that so when he’s considering these options of locating unlimited rehab program in a community, would he consider that also, the facilities that are already on the ground.
Mr. Speaker, first I want to bring your attention to the gallery.
A very distinguished person has just entered, the great Zebedee Nungak whom we hear on the radio a lot.
I would like to welcome him to the gallery.
Now Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to clarify for the Member, the Member keeps talking about a rehabilitation facility or program.
Mr. Speaker, on the addictions there are three types of programs.
One is the detoxification, two is a treatment program and three is rehabilitation.
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a limited detoxification.
And that type of program, if a person has a physical addiction to alcohol or drugs and you are trying to wean them off that drug, there has to be an assurance of some type of clinical supervision in those cases.
So I want to clarify that we are talking about limited detoxification program and that is for someone who is physically addicted to alcohol and/or drugs.
After saying that Mr. Speaker, I will work with the Member to look at what opportunities there are in bringing forward programs and services, not only for people in Baker Lake but for people across Nunavut.
And I know next week, when we get into mental health and addiction strategy and report as part of the budget of the department, the Member will be able to look forward in increasing the capacity of his questions concerning the issue of the limited detoxification program.
Question 423 – 1(6): Increase HTO Funding
I stated earlier that I would be raising a question.
In Kugaaruk, there is a committee provided funding for the training programs or culture programs.
My question is, how much money do you provide for the community, how much assistance do you provide the community for training programs such as Traditional Programs in the community?
Speaker: I would like the Member to say who is he directing the question to?
This is a question for the Minster of Sustainable Development.
The comment I made earlier about the funding that is provided to the local HTOs and their actual cost to run the organizations do not cover the expenses.
So, my question is, how can they help the local HTOs in providing these programs in the community?
How can they provide more additional funding?
I want to be very clear in these explanations about how the Hunters and Trappers Organizations are provided funding from the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board.
The funding that we currently contribute to the HTOs funnels through the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and I raised this earlier this week.
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board provides a larger portion of the operation costs to the communities.
And we can work with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board on how we can better arrange the financial arrangement for HTOs and the Implementation Contract for the Land Claims Agreement is being renegotiated to provide the funding for these Inuit Organizations.
We can work with the NWMB to try to help provide additional funding to HTOs and I would be more than willing to work with the NWMB, but the NWMB has greater jurisdiction over HTOs in the communities.
Looking at the increasing population of the communities and when they are provide the same funding and on an annual basis, it does not cover the expenses.
So, what are you going to do to help the HTOs and how are you going to go about trying to provide more funding for HTOs?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Alakannuark. Minister Akesuk.
Yes, I will try to work with the Hunters and Trappers Organizations and Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and it is obvious that it becomes an urgent matter and I’m not sure exactly what date we start working with these Inuit Organizations on the financial matters.
Your answers are very clear.
When you start working on the financial budget, are you going to let the communities know when you are going to be discussing these issues with them?
We try to maintain an open line of communicate with the communities and I will let the communities know when we start working on this issue.
Question 424 – 1(6): Barriers between Human Resources
He was discussing yesterday that they were going to work on the artificial barriers when people are applying for employment within the government.
According to Article 23 of the Land Claims Agreement, they said they worked on the artificial barriers that we have within Human Resources.
How long will it take to review?
Speaker: In reference to the question that was asked to the Minister, it refers to the Ministers' Statement, which was referred to Committee of the Whole, therefore it cannot be questioned at this point.
So, if you have another question, please proceed.
Ruled Out of Order
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, March 13, 2003 was yesterday and the Minister of Human Resources in his statement stated what I’m trying to ask and get clarification on, is the Minister’s Statement concerning the qualification requirements in applying for a job to make it easier for people to apply for positions.
So, please let me know if I am out of order or not.
Speaker: Mr. Nutarak, I have to rule your question out of order.
The topic is before the Committee of the Whole.
Oral Questions. Mr. Anawak.
Question 425 – 1(6): Authority of Community Justice Committees
My question is to the Minister of Justice.
They have Community Justice Committees in the communities.
I’m just asking whether all the communities have Community Justice Committees and the authority they have in the justice system.
Perhaps if it is a murder or sexual abuse case, they do not specifically deal with these cases, but if it were just dealing with assault or intent to cause bodily harm cases, where do you draw the line?
What kind of authority do the Community Justice Committees have in dealing with cases with summary or indictable offences and secondly, do all the communities in Nunavut have these committees?
I know that almost all of the communities have the Community Justice Committees and I am really proud and commend them for doing the hard work that they do.
We had increased the funding for the Community Justice Committees just recently to show my support for these initiatives and these Committees mainly deal with the summary conviction cases and mostly with youth crimes.
Sometimes they deal with smaller cases that have backlogged the courts and they go through the Community Justice Systems in the community and they work also with probation cases to ensure that conditions are met for their probation.
They continue to provide a valuable service to our communities and I am quite proud of them.
Keeping that in mind, they also have to work with the counsellors or social workers in the communities.
Sometimes I get phone calls that the social workers do not place any emphasis on the mandate of the Community Justice Committees.
I would like to ask the Minister or let the Minister know, how can you ensure that the social workers recognize the mandate and force them to work closely with the Community Justice Committees so that they can better perform their duties?
We know that the staff might be unhappy with it, as it might take some responsibilities of the Social Services Department, but perhaps as Premier, or he can, as the Minister of Justice direct the department to work with the local Community Justice Committees closer.
They have quite a lot of responsibilities to do and we understand that they have to work closely together to meet the challenges faced in the communities.
If this is not the case, I will commit to a review of this issue and ensure that this is corrected as required.
I could make sure that directive was sent and I will also talk to the Minister of Social Services.
Members will note that the Question Period is now over.
I would like get unanimous consent to go back to Item 5 on the Orders of the Day.
Speaker: the Member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to Item 5.
There are no nays, please proceed Mr. Premier.
Revert to Item 5: Recognition of Visitors to the Gallery
I would like to take this opportunity to graciously welcome Zebedee Nungak, who I am sure is a well known person.
We hear him on the radio every week and he is always supportive and envious of the fact that we have our own territory and our own Government.
And we wish them the same as we recognize their own ambitions to have their own government are slowly being realized.
Welcome to Nunavut, Mr. Nungak.
Of course I would like to also welcome Zebedee Nungak.
Again, I have the same words for you.
There was a time when I was the MP in Ottawa and he said that he would like be a politician in Nunavut.
I am still waiting for him.
I also apologize that we did not recognize the individual who is very supportive.
We don’t have our own airline, but of course, I would like to recognise Rick Lefevre, who is always supporting Inuit.
I would like to welcome my long time friend.
I think that we first met in the 70’s when we were working with Inuit Tapiriiksat of Canada and at that time we started discussing the possibility of creating our territory and Mr. Okalik was involved.
At that time, we went through very difficult times.
The Inuit were almost taken out of the constitution but worked extremely hard on behalf of Canadian Inuit.
At times, we were almost in tears trying to protect Inuit and to have it included in the constitution. Mr. Zebedee Nungak worked extremely hard on behalf of the Inuit of Canada.
He is now as old as I am.
Notices of motions for First Reading of Bills.
Consideration of Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters.
Bill 22, Bill 30, Minister’s Statement 126-1 (6) with Mr. Iqaqrialu in the Chair.
Before we proceed to Committee of the Whole, we’ll take a break for lunch and return to the chamber at 12:30.
>>House recessed for lunch at11:33 a.m. and resumed at 12:34 p.m.
Chairperson (Mr. Iqaqrialu) (interpretation): Thank you, for coming.
Our committee will be dealing with Bill 22, Bill 30 and Minister’s Statement 126 - 1 (6).
These are the items to deal with during Committee of the Whole.
I would like to ask Mr. Havioyak what the wish of the committee is.
We did not finish dealing with these items.
We would like to continue with Bill 30 with the Department of Education.
Chairperson (interpretation): Bill 30, does the Committee agree that the Minister can go down to the witness table along with his officials?
Sergeant-at-Arms can you escort them to the witness table.
Thank you, for going down to the witness table Mr. Minister Kilabuk.
Could you please introduce your officials?
To my left, Tom Rich, my Deputy Minister and also to my right, Ian Rose.
We left off with 9-4. 9-5, total Operations and Maintenance, $886 thousand dollars.
If there are no further comments, do you agree?
Chairperson (interpretation): $886 thousand dollars has been approved.
Page 9-6, Education Branch Summary, Policy and Planning, total Operations and Maintenance, $2 million, 16 thousand dollars.
Chairperson (interpretation): Going onto the next page, to 9-8, skipping page 9-7.
Just to move to 9-8, I have a question on. (interpretation end) In the budget estimates under Library service, not increased from the 2002/2003.
What was the result of the Minister’s recent review of library service as discussed during the last session?
We’ll go back to page 9-6.
I don’t know if I understood my colleague.
What review is he talking about?
Could he please clarify his question?
Mr. Havioyak, could you please clarify your question?
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Just wait for a minute.
I just want to get clarification on the last meeting that we had in January, where we discussed that item on the library issue.
Those operations and maintenance, they were not quite clear.
Maybe forget the first question for now.
Those library Operations and Maintenance are very small.
I wanted to ask him why the budget for this library services has not increased because the operations specified have not increased.
The question on part of the page 9-7, Mr. Kilabuk.
Library services supports library operations in each region, but on top of that, annually, there has been slight increases, so if it is okay with you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Rose to respond to the Member here in detail.
Mr. Rose.
Mr. Rose: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The overall library budget has increased over the last three years and this year it is going to be a total, for the combined total library, $1 million,141 thousand.
The item for Community Library’s Grants and Contributions has remained the same.
The overall library budget has gone up.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Rose.
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): Maybe I am not quite clear on these items here.
If we move to 9-7, I am looking at this 2003-2004 Main Estimates.
There is $352 thousand and 2003-2004, it appears they are all the same and they have not increased this in previous years.
It is over in 9-7 for support library services.
Are you saying that it increased from last year, but in here, but I am looking at this page 9-7, they are all the same, could you clarify that for me?
Yes, it will be clarified.
The difference for your questions, but going back to page 9-7, the Grants and Contributions for the support of library operations in each region, the Operations and Maintenance, our funding did not change at all.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify that how much they pay by the hour and how much percent of the Operation and Maintenance is used from this funding and also for the administration.
The budget is set by using those.
So, I would like to clarify to the Member and I will get Mr. Rose to clarify, in detail, about the increase.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Rose.
The Grants and Contributions line which is page 4 the community libraries in various communities has remained the same.
The increase is in the supplies side where book purchases are for things that are shared amongst all community libraries.
As the increase has been in that section of the budget, which is on page 6, but there is a Grants and Contributions line for support of the community libraries has remained the same.
Mr. Havioyak, do you have any further questions?
Mr. Havioyak (interpretation): I want a complete clarification.
I don’t have any questions but maybe perhaps you could clarify later on.
At this time I have no questions.
Going back to the review, Mr. Anawak.
Mr. Anawak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) But it doesn’t say that in your briefing book here.
(interpretation) Grants and contributions, I think grants and contributions, I used to find applications in there to apply for this funding, if the community did not submit their application, would they lose out in getting funds from this 352 thousand dollars?
The microphones are very sensitive, so please watch the sudden noises because the interpreters’ ears have to be in good condition.
Do not forget your cough button to spare their ears.
I guess my briefing books weren’t clear enough Mr. Chairman.
Annually, the figures are set through the agreement and supports all the library operations in all the communities.
I apologize as I do not readily notice periphery objects.
So, when Mr. Anawak raised his hand without saying anything, I did not see him so please, say something in addition to your raising your hand.
You never miss me, thank god.
Grants and contributions, 352 thousand dollars supports library operations in each region.
How many does that support?
This is for supporting ten communities.
It supports ten communities through the agreements with the communities.
How come you support only ten communities?
These are the only communities who applied for support for their libraries according to the applications.
Only ten communities applied for this funding for the library operations in their communities.
Can I have a list of the communities and how much they get?