EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Those are the questions from March 14 and then the questions on Friday related to students, and I think it’s important to make the distinction.
When you’re talking about students, the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program applies to aboriginal students or individuals. It doesn’t matter what province you live in.
If you’re a non-aboriginal, you’re always covered by the Northern Health Insurance Program.
For the residency term for students, yes, the residency applies. But for Non-Insured Health Benefits, it doesn’t matter where you are; you’re covered by that program.
So it’s not a straight answer; you’re mixing Igunaq to Pirujaq, you know it’s different.
So I’m sorry if the member does not understand that. I can try and further clarify that, but it’s not a straight answer.
Again, it seems to be something that happens a lot around here is selective memory.
Mr. Speaker, the question I quoted earlier is on page 29 of the Hansard, it’s the fifth paragraph down where I specifically asked for education reasons as well.
On page 29, March 14, halfway down the page it says education there. I’m not making it up.
So my question again for the minister, I was following this up on Friday: are residents or parents and families that have...whether they are a beneficiary or not, that are residents of Nunavut, are their children covered for health care under the Nunavut Health Care Plan when they are attending college or university in the south?
That’s my question. It’s as simple as that. Are they or not; yes or no?
Does the minister not know?
Minister responsible for, Minister Aglukkaq.
The same page further on says; yes. My question says... I mean the response to that question is the same. If you move to another jurisdiction the services provided by the medical service providers in that province applies.
If you are a beneficiary, an Inuk, you’re covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, and insurance in Nunavut always covers you. The province that you go to, if you moved, as per my response on that day, states that.
There is a little bit of confusion. Mr. Speaker, I’m asking if for medical reasons, those students whose parents live here, whose children go out to university or college in the south are covered? Do they have a Nunavut Health Care Card?
If they are, then one would assume that their covered under the Nunavut Health Care Plan, not from another jurisdiction like the minister had indicated they would have apply for on Friday in the House, and in March.
So, again, maybe we could get that clarified because as the minister also said to me earlier in this term, it’s important to get the right information out there. I had a number of parents who have students going to school in the south really concerned, wanting to know if in fact their students were covered under, if the forms that they are filling out and sending in to the Department of Health any good; are they?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the key word the member did not listen to or hear is “service.”
I said if a person leaves the territory to go to school, then that student in any province would access that provincial medical health care service, not coverage services. There is a big difference there. And, to answer the question around; are they covered under the Insurance Program?
Question 294 – 2(3): Obtaining Passports (Barnabas)
I would like to ask my question to the Minister of Immigration, Mr. Picco.
The U.S. is moving forwarding to implementing a National ID Registry. What will the effect on Nunavut be?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Minister responsible for Immigration, Mr. Picco.
Like every other jurisdiction in the country, we are concerned by the move of the American Government to request that Canadian citizens, whether they are from Nunavut, or anywhere else in the country have passports when entering the United States. It is an area of concern for us.
And it has been raised when we went to provincial/territorial/federal level, as well as I believe, with our Premier at his annual gathering. It is something that we continue to follow up on with the officials.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister responsible for Immigration.
Your first supplementary, Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.
Can the minister inform the Americans about our concerns?
We have a considerable number of Nunavummiut whether through the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program, through different types of exchanges with our students, business contacts and so on, who actually have an opportunity to go back and forth between Canada and the United States.
That is correct, the Premier just informed me that he had a meeting recently in May and made known to our Ambassador our concerns with this issue.
It is an important issue, Mr. Speaker, and as I said earlier, Minister Soleburg is now the new Immigration Minister for Canada.
We believe that we will be meeting with the minister in the next several weeks to review some of the aspects of Canada’s position. The federal position is no different than ours, and we believe that Canadian citizens should have the opportunity to and the right to travel unencumbered buys a passport through the United States.
Maybe there is an opportunity for other types of identification purposes, exactly what you are using right now when you go to across the border.
Your second supplementary, Member for High Arctic, Mr. Barnabas.
Nunavut residents travel outside of Nunavut and we are still encountering problems in obtaining passports, especially when they are applying. How come there are so many problems when applying for a passport?
This issue had some residents with the member because of issues, for example with sport hunters and fisherman who come into Nunavut from the United States on a regular basis to hunt wildlife and so on.
Contributors to our tourism economy and if it is more restrictive where American residents will also have to need the reciprocal passport, then there is an indication from American friends that they will not come into Canada. So, that is a big issue for us.
On the passport side, there are a lot of logistic as well as administrative problems. For Nunavummiut, when we are trying to access passports, some of them have to do with birth.
For example, Mr. Speaker, many of our citizens, if you are in the central region of Nunavut, a lot of our mothers have children in Winnipeg. In the western part of Kugluktuk and so on, they might have the baby in Yellowknife or in Edmonton.
That means, that a baby has been born in a different jurisdiction and that causes some issues for us. We have had the same problem with trying to get passports out of Quebec because we have had mothers who have had to go to Quebec and had to go to Ottawa to have children.
So those are some of the issues that we are trying to deal with. With our MP’s office in Ottawa, as well as continue trying to raise the issue with our federal counterparts.
Can the minister update the House this fall on his discussions on the passports?
The Premier just mentioned to me that we need to continue this open dialogue with our federal partner, and for some residents of Nunavut it is not seen as an important issue, but when we are looking at the possible loss of thousands and thousands of tourist dollars or sport hunters and fisherman, or even, Mr. Speaker, issues around cruise ships.
We have foreign visitors on cruise ships that actually have an opportunity to come into Canada can be restricted by needing that passport and so on. It has some residents for us in Nunavut.
So, I will update the House this fall on some of the discussions that we hope to have with the Minister Soleburg and our provincial and territorial colleagues.
Question 295 – 2(3): Contractors Provided a Credit Balance (Tootoo)
My question is for the Minister responsible for Finance. We heard from another minister earlier that they paid out an entire amount of a contract for services that haven’t been fulfilled.
My question for the minister is: if the government puts out a contract; say like the hospital contract; school contract; any type of construction contract, is it common practice that the government would pay out, like up front pay out the whole entire contract, or is there a process that the government uses in determining when pay out, and how much gets paid out throughout the term of any contract?
Minister responsible for Finance, Minister Simailak.
I believe this was responded to already. She mentioned that this is not our usual practice.
I didn’t ask if it was unusual, I think we’re certainly all aware that it is unusual practice. My question to the minister was: is there a process that they usually use when paying out contracts? Do they always, as soon as they enter into a contract with someone, it doesn’t matter what it’s for, pay it all up front, or is there a process that is used in determining a pay out process?
In my earlier answer I did not say that it was unusual, I said it was not common practice. So that’s like interpretation in differences in dialects.
(interpretation) The contracts are dealt with by the different departments.
It states in the contracts how they will be paid out. It’s usually specified in the contracts, and stipulated when they will get paid.
They are all done within the departments.
I apologize to the minister for that confusion.
Uncommon, unusual, I think they’re synonyms. In a case like this, as he said that it is something that is uncommon, is that something that would have to go through, he, as the Minister of Finance, or chair of the FMB for approval, prior to it getting signed off? Is it something that’s uncommon as that, or can the departments do that on its own?
The ministers or their departments can do this. They don’t necessarily have to go through Finance.
I am going to ask this one anyways.
It’s probably going to be my last one.
My question to the minister is that I know that one of the areas in his department that he has control over; the Internal Audit Division, and I am just wondering if transactions like this that are uncommon, is that something that the Internal Audit Division would look at in an audit for uncommon transactions, that the minister referred to?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. That was your final supplementary.
Hon. David Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When they draw up the contracts, they put in what criteria will be followed.
I don’t know if there has been a request for internal audits and I am not sure. If there was a request, then it would be done.
As you probably know, Question Period is now over.
Written Question 017 – 2(3): Government of Nunavut Contracting Practices (Curley)
I have a Written Question to the Honourable Levinia Brown, Minister of Community and Government Services concerning Government of Nunavut contracting practices.
For each of the fiscal years from 1999-2000 to 2005-06, how many contracts did the Government of Nunavut departments and Crown Agencies enter into on “as and when” required basis of service?
What was the value and purpose of each contract entered into by the Government of Nunavut departments and Crown Agencies on this basis?
As of June 1, 2006, how many contracts did the Government of Nunavut departments and Crown Agencies hold on an as and when required basis of service?
What is the value and purpose of each contract held on this basis?
Written Question 018 – 2(3): Correctional Facilities and Other Matters (Evyagotailak)
Mr. Speaker, I have a question to the Minister Responsible for Justice, Correctional Facilities and other matter.
What is the current capacity at the Kugluktuk Ilavut Men’s Healing Centre?
As of June 1, 2006, how many offenders were placed in the centre?
What plans does the Department of Justice have with respect to increasing the capacity of the Kugluktuk Ilavut Men’s Healing Centre?
How does the Department of Justice determine the placement of offenders at the Ilavut Centre?
How does the Department of Justice assess the risk status of offenders placed at the Ilavut Centre?
What measures are in place at the Ilavut Centre to ensure the safety of the community and residents of Kugluktuk?
As of June 1, 2006, how many offenders were incarcerated at the Baffin Correctional Centre?
What is the maximum capacity of the Baffin Correctional Centre?
As of June 1, 2006, what is the status of the Department of Justice’s plans for new correctional facility in the Baffin and the Kivalliq?
How many offenders at the Baffin Correction Centre have been allocated individual beds, and how many have other sleeping arrangements?
As of June 1, 2006, how many offenders from Nunavut were incarcerated in correctional facilities in the Northwest Territories?
As of June 1, 2006, what was the status of the Intergovernmental Service Agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories for the placement of offenders in the Northwest Territories correctional facilities?
As of June 1, 2006, how many offenders from Nunavut were incarcerated in correctional facilities in jurisdictions other than Nunavut or the Northwest Territories?
What arrangements are in place with jurisdictions for institutions outside of Nunavut or the Northwest Territories for the placement of Nunavut offenders?
As of June 1, 2006, how many offenders were placed in outpost camps?
I would like those documents to be brought up to the clerk’s table.
Committee Report on Bills 004 – 2(3): Bill 11 – An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act (Curley)
I wish to report that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development and that the bill as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 11 moved into Committee of the Whole for today.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 11 moved to Committee of the Whole.
We will then move Bill 11 into Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 118 – 2(3): Nunavut Association of Municipalities Annual General Meeting 2006 Adopted Resolutions (Peterson)
I wish to table the 2006 Nunavut Association of Municipalities’ Annual General Meeting Adopted Resolutions. I hope that the minister reviews and take action on as soon as possible.
Please bring the documents up to the Clerk’s table.
Tabled Document 119 – 2(3): Polar Bear Up-listing to “Threatened Status” Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act Response to Mitch Taylor (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I wish to table the following document: Polar Bear “Threatened Status” Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Please bring the documents to the Clerk’s table. Item 13.
Tabled Document 120 – 2(3): Grise Fiord Community Concerns – Letter to Premier from Larry Audlaluk (Barnabas)
I wish to table a document dated April 28, a letter written to the Premier and it’s in regard to the Grise Fiord concerns.
Thank you, very much for your patience. (interpretation ends) Item 13.
Tabled Document 121 – 2(3): Nunavut Lottery GN Department of CLEY Financial Statements Ending March 31, 2006 (Tapardjuk)
I would like to table a document regarding to the lotteries that were reviewed by the Nunavut Government and they’re dated March 31, 2006.
Please bring them up to the Clerk’s table.
Tabled Document 122 – 2(3): Letter Regarding: Employment from Eddie Amagonalok (Peterson)
I wish to table a letter from a constituent of mine addressed to the Government of Nunavut. It is requested that I table in the House. My constituent is named Eddie Amagonalok; he is concerned about the fact that he can’t get an appointment with the Government of Nunavut.
Tabled Document 123 – 2(3): Minister’s Tour of Communities – Report from the Department of Community and Government Services (Brown)
I would like to table a letter regarding the visits that I made to the communities.
Tabled Document 124 – 2(3): Nanisivik Mine – Correspondence with Minister of National Defence Gordon O’Connor Regarding An Armed Forces Training Site (Barnabas)
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I asked a question in the House of the possibility of the Nanisivik site becoming an Armed Forces training site. At that time the Minister of Education committed that he would follow up with the Department of National Defence on this issue.
Today I would like to table some correspondence on this issue between myself and the Honourable Gordon O’Connor, the Minister of National Defence.
Tabled Document 125 – 2(3): Utility Rates Review Council of Nunavut – 2006 Annual Report (Okalik)
You look like you’re in the perfect place up there.
I would like to table a document, an annual report of the Utility Rate Review Council.
Thank you. Orders of the Day.
Bill 16 – Family Abuse Prevention Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 16, Family Abuse Prevention Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The motion is in order. All in favour.
Let’s get back in order.
The motion is carried and Bill 16 has had first reading.
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, that Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07, be read for the first time.
To remind the members, Mr. Premier, we would like to have a copy of the motion brought up to the table.
Bill 20 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 20, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried, and Bill 20 has now had first reading.
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #1, 2006-07 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin, that Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #1, 2006-07, be read for the first time.
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nanulik, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. The motion is in order. All those in favour.
Bill 19 has had its first reading.
Bill 22 – Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member Baker Lake, that Bill 22, Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act, be read for the first time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Minister. The motion is in order.
The motion is carried. Bill 22 has had its first reading.
Bill 21 – An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act #2 – First Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act #2, be read for the first time.
The motion is carried. Bill 21 has had its first reading.
Second Reading of Bills. (interpretation ends) Minister Okalik.
I request of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow the second reading of Bill 16, Family Abuse Prevention Act.
Speaker (interpretation): The minister is seeking consent of this Assembly to waive Rule 62(2) to have the second reading today. Are there any nays?
Bill 16 – Family Abuse Prevention Act – Second Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 16, Family Abuse Prevention Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill would provide additional legal tools to help protect people who are experiencing family abuse. These tools would be available to anyone in a spousal, intimate, family, or care relationship, as well as to victims of stalking.
The main tool in the bill is the emergency protection order. This bill would establish a simple procedure for an application to a designated Justice of the Peace. The emergency protection order offers protection to people who, because of the serious or urgent nature of their situation, require immediate assistance.
If an emergency protection order is granted, the order would have to be reviewed by a judge within a brief period. The respondent could also challenge an emergency protection order before it was reviewed, thus requiring a hearing before a judge.
Another important tool is the community intervention order which would assist elders, members of the community, and the parties’ families to both remedy the family abuse and support the parties.
The third tool is the assistance order. A person would apply to a judge for an order to protect him or her from family abuse in circumstances where the danger is less imminent.
The final tool is the compensation order which would allow a person to apply to a judge for compensation for any loss suffered as a result of family abuse.
Various other provisions are included that are incidental to the scheme. For example, procedures for the variation of orders if circumstances change and for appeals to the court of appeal, a process for obtaining a warrant assists people who may be experiencing family abuse, and a declaration that property rights would not be affected by orders made under this bill.
Speaker (interpretation): The motion is in order. I just want to remind the members that once we talk about the motions, we can make statements.
Bill 16 has had its second reading and this bill is referred to a standing committee.
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nanulik, that Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act #1, 2006-07, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defray the capital expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.
Minister is seeking consent to...I am sorry...the motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Thank you. Bill 17 has had its second reading and that this bill can be referred to the Committee of the Whole.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the one-day notice requirement to allow second reading of Bill 20, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006.
The minister is seeking consent to waive Rule 62(2) so that Bill 20 can have second reading today.
Bill 20 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006 – Second Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also my colleagues. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 20, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in certain acts and regulation of Nunavut. It also changes the name of the Federation of Nunavut Teacher and adds to the general rules of the Interpretation Act.
Finally, this bill updates two Acts to change references that relate to the Northwest Territories to refer, instead, to Nunavut.
Bill 20 has had its second reading.
Seeing that Bill 20 now has had second reading, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake, that notwithstanding Rule 67(2), that Bill 20, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, be ordered into the Committee of the Whole.
All in favour to the motion.
The motion is carried, hence Bill 20 is ordered into the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 18 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #1, 2006-07 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act #1, 2006-07, be read for the second time.
This bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of Nunavut to defray the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.
The motion is carried, and Bill 18 has had its second reading and this bill can be ordered into Committee of the Whole.
I request the consent of this Assembly to waive the one day notice requirement to allow for second reading of Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act.