EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It’s their anniversary today and I want to celebrate with them. I want to thank them our new relatives from Baker Lake. They joined our family when my son married and I got a new daughter-in-law.
Even though that day was not very nice, they organized it and had a feast that night to celebrate. We still thank them today.
The person who led the ceremony had to come into town too, but the airplane couldn’t come in. They came in at night instead.
I can’t be home, but I know my family can see me here and I hug them and I hug my daughter-in-law and son. I’ll see you in a few days. I would like to celebrate this day along with my fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Member’s Statement 080 – 4(2): Full Recovery of Polar Bear Attack Victims (Shooyook)
I am happy to rise in the House today for the people of Arctic Bay.
My grandson and his in-law were here after they had been mauled.
They didn’t look really good, but I heard that they’re planning to go hunting again today, either to the floe edge or somewhere else.
Tonight in Arctic Bay, they’re holding a special celebration and feast to celebrate their recovery. I am so happy that my grandson is going to be able to go hunting again.
Going back to the orders of the day. (interpretation ends) Item 4.
Item 5. (interpretation) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. (interpretation ends) Item 6. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 111 – 4(2): Incorporating Inuit Societal Values (Shooyook)
That’s great. I say “good day” to the people of Arctic Bay and Nunavut.
I stand here today to say that I’m going to be working on the Inuit culture and I’ll be working really hard on it with the Minister of Family Services.
Now that we have our own government in Nunavut, I heard that once we got our government, we would be able to bring back our culture to the forefront.
With that situation, I know that the minister is working to that effect and I am proud of the minister for that. As long as you’re the minister here, will you continue to work on promoting and using Inuit culture?
I also thank the Member for Quttiktuq for that question. With respect to Inuit societal values, when this bill was passed, it was one of the five that were passed.
The Department of Family Services is putting together a training program for social workers and they’re trying to include in that curriculum per se having good relations with other people and confidential matters that no other people have to hear and make sure that they’re kept confidential, and Inuit trying to do something about Inuit problems.
That’s all under having good relations.
Being welcoming will be the other thing.
That will be the teaching material that will be taught to social workers.
If a client is not happy how he or she is being helped, then that person would have somewhere to turn to.
Pijittirniq would be helping others and help each other to deal with social issues. We have many resources that can do that for us in the Department of Family Services.
Agreeing with each other is the other.
The social worker and the client need to make sure that they follow the policies.
The social workers have to deal with the young people and people and they will work hard to make sure that young people are kept out of harm’s way.
I understand that, but I feel very strongly about promoting Inuit culture.
We have let go of some of the ways that Inuit used to counsel other people.
Before we were affected by the southern culture, we had a very strong counselling system.
It’s even stronger than the present judicial system that is here now.
I was born when that was still being used.
I’m going to work very hard to make sure that Inuit culture and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit are used.
I want Inuit to be able to become totally involved in Inuit counselling and social work.
I think that was a general comment, not a question.
Oral Questions. Member for Gjoa Haven, Mr. Akoak.
Question 112 – 4(2): Contacting Inmates with Family (Akoak)
On behalf of all the inmates and their families in Nunavut, they need to contact each other once in a while and they seem to be denied of that.
I’m just wondering what is the procedure when a family member wants to contact their family members while they’re incarcerated.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, each inmate is entitled to phone privileges with their families when they’re custody.
That has been an issue, from what I understand, so I would like to learn more about the member’s concern so that I can convey it to the proper authorities. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker (interpretation): Your first supplementary, Mr. Akoak.
I have been in contact with a couple of my constituents and they tell me that they go to the RCMP and ask if they can contact their family member.
They are told that they are not allowed to.
I would sure like to get that fixed up.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) During investigations, certain steps are required of the RCMP.
I would need more information if there are other circumstances that inmates may be under for me to reply to that type of question at this time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 113 – 4(2): Qulliq Energy Corporation General Rate Increase (Rumbolt)
Good afternoon to the people of Sanikiluaq and all of Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
In March of this year, QEC applied for an 8.6 [percent] rate increase across all classes. Yesterday, QEC announced that it received approval for a 7.1 percent increase.
Mr. Speaker, it’s got to be very clear that anything which minimizes power rate increases on private homeowners and businesses should be welcomed, and it appears that the Utility Rates Review Council took a very close look at QEC’s application.
Will the minister commit to tabling a copy of URRC’s report on QEC’s general rate application before the end of this week?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I believe that there are requirements under the Act to make sure that the documents are public. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure they’re provided to everyone in our territory. I thank my colleague for the question and I look forward to filing the report. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut recognize that the GN and QEC cannot control the world price of oil. However, Nunavummiut also recognize that QEC must seek every opportunity to control its own costs and expenditures.
QEC’s recent general rate application included requests for changes to its terms and conditions of service.
Can the minister outline what major changes have been approved?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) From what I understand, the new board and the new administration of QEC have taken a lot of steps in trying to contain their costs and reducing overhead in certain areas. They are taking all the steps that they can to make sure that the costs are contained and the rates aren’t passed on to the customers throughout our territory.
I have been very impressed so far with the work of the new board and the administration to date. I look forward to filing updates on what they have done, perhaps, in the next sitting. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yesterday, the Minister of Family Services informed the House that the government has recently completed a new food price survey “in every store in every community in Nunavut.”
As the minister is very much aware, utility prices are fixed costs for businesses, and businesses are likely to pass their increases on to their customers, especially large retailers that do not qualify for assistance under the Nunavut Electricity Subsidy Program.
Can the minister indicate if QEC will be cooperating with other GN departments to evaluate the impact of this power rate increase on the cost of food and other necessities?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I have been in good discussions with the new board and the administration in making sure that the costs are contained to a minimum. I’ll do whatever I can to assist with our government in trying to make sure that our costs are transparent for everyone to see.
I look forward to working with my colleagues. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 114 – 4(2): Human Resource Management (Savikataaq)
As the minister will recall, the 2010 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly on Human Resource Capacity in the Government of Nunavut, it found that it took an average of 318 to fill a vacant GN position.
As of December 31, 2013, 1,040 GN positions stood vacant.
Last year, the Department of Human Resources was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Department of Finance and the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Can the minister indicate what impact this change has had in reducing the time it takes to fill vacant positions in this government?
Mr. Speaker, when the Auditor General of Canada issued a report, indeed, it was 318 days and I believe she also indicated that 181 of those 318 days were due to departments taking their time getting the necessary paperwork to Human Resources. From the time it got to HR, it was 137.
I am very pleased, as of December 13 of 2013, I believe it’s down to 78 days from the time HR gets the necessary paperwork.
I’m not saying that’s the best we can do, but it’s certainly moving in the right direction.
I recognize that there is no perfect approach to managing human resources in the public sector.
Some governments in Canada have a very centralized approach to this function while others have a more decentralized approach.
The GNWT, back when we were still the Northwest Territories, for example… . Sorry. The GNWT, for example, has recently gone back to having a centralized department of human resources.
Can the minister indicate if the government’s upcoming program review exercise will consider the government’s current approach to human resource management?
Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe we have considered that, but I do know that we have delegated human resource authorities to some of the departments.
We will be auditing some of the departments to ensure compliance with the overall HR policies.
We are stressing to all departments with human resource responsibilities that they must adhere to our overall policies.
We are working very closely with them.
We are also working internally to establish the standards of service for every step of the way for a competition so that everybody understands the importance of the competition process, and then we can lower the 78 days to an even lower number.
As the minister is aware, a number of questions have also been asked during our current sitting regarding abuse of casual staffing process.
Can the minister indicate if the government’s new approach to human resource management has given his department adequate tools with which to address this issue?
Of course, we do have the Public Service Act, which gives me authority to do a number of things.
We are reviewing the Human Resources Manual to update it to meet the current climate.
We are reviewing the whole casual employment history. I’ve got a long list of casuals who have, amazingly, for many departments, been working as casuals for more than three years, which was certainly a surprise to me.
I have asked my officials to look into many of those files, but we will see how it goes.
The message is getting out to all the departments that abuse of casual employment is something we’re not going to condone.
I think I answered an earlier question this sitting, convert them to term or put them out to competition.
Question 115 – 4(2): The Need for a 24-Hour Care Facility (Sammurtok)
Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement, I discussed the need for a 24-hour care facility in Rankin Inlet.
The Minister of Finance, as Chair of the Financial Management Board, brings forward the government’s capital plans to the Executive Council each year.
Would the minister be willing to work with his colleagues, the ministers of the departments of Health, Family Services, and the Nunavut Housing Corporation to prepare a business case for establishing a 24-hour continuing care facility in Rankin Inlet?
Interesting question from my colleague.
Mr. Speaker, with the unfortunate position of being the Minister of Finance, I have to say that the buck stops here.
In the capital planning process, through the Financial Management Board, we send out a call letter every spring, I just don’t have precise dates, to all the departments asking them to bring forward their capital requirements.
All departments, of course, respond, including Family Services, the health department, and the Nunavut Housing Corporation, with all of their capital, then it goes into the DM level and sent to the Accountability Committee, and then it comes to the Financial Management Board with the recommendations of what the capital should be.
Usually, at the start of the process, it would be well over $200 million and we try to get it down to an amount that we can reasonably afford within the overall fiscal framework for the Government of Nunavut.
As Mr. Sammurtok will recall, in the winter session, we approved $150 million in capital for 2014-15 and now we are currently looking at capital carryovers of $149 million, so we’re already at $300 million in carryovers plus approved capital, and then the capital is coming up for the fall session. I don’t know what that will be.
If the Department of Family Services can make a good case to the other departments… . Remember that we need schools, we need health centres, we need hospitals, we need tank farms, and we need community halls. I have heard the entire list.
There’s a tremendous demand for capital in Nunavut.
Of course, I’m not saying that continuing care facilities aren’t important, they are, but they have to be considered in the overall context of what all the capital needs are of Nunavut.
Mr. Sammurtok: I thank the minister for his response.
Mr. Speaker, all too often, good initiatives fall by the sideways because there is not enough collaboration between the different departments or agencies, which all have a share in addressing the related issues.
Can the minister clarify how he works with his colleagues to ensure that all aspects of Nunavut’s development, capital, and operational are addressed in a collaborative manner?
Earlier this year, the cabinet had a cabinet retreat in Kugaaruk and then with our colleagues, we met in Kugluktuk for the Full Caucus Retreat to set the mandate for our government, which includes working with all of the MLAs to deliver projects and much needed capital across Nunavut.
I recall that in September 2004, we had a Full Caucus Retreat in Arviat, in fact, and we actually talked about continuing care facilities. We wanted to have a continuing care facility in every community of Nunavut.
Ultimately, there were only two continuing care facilities built, one in Gjoa Haven and one in Igloolik. The initial cost went from $4 million to well over, I believe, $15 million to $20 million and annual O&M costs of over $3 million to keep those facilities operational.
I meet with my colleagues on a regular basis through the Financial Management Board process, through cabinet strategy, and through cabinet meetings. I met individually or in Full Caucus meetings with all MLAs as equals where we discuss these important issues in Nunavut.
Our government understands what the needs are. It’s just a matter of being able to afford everything. It’s very challenging to meet all of the needs in Nunavut.
Will the minister commit to bringing forward the issue of a 24-hour continuing care facility for Rankin Inlet when he next addresses the government’s capital planning priorities?
No, I will not commit.
My colleagues are here, the Minister of Family Services, the Minister of Health, all of the ministers are here, and I’m sure their staff are listening out there. If it is an important issue, they are probably already working on their capital for the fall.
We will see how it goes, but I can’t commit to what projects will come forward in the fall sitting, Mr. Speaker.
Question 116 – 4(2): Evaluating Homelessness (Joanasie)
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the minister made a statement regarding homelessness in Nunavut.
It is quite clear that the way we define homelessness makes a big difference in what the numbers really tell us.
In the community of Cape Dorset, there is a long list of individuals who are, in fact, homeless. That list is the waiting list for public housing.
Can the minister explain how her staff is studying the issue of homelessness and whether or not they take into consideration such information as the number of individuals in communities who are desperately waiting for public housing?
I thank the member, Mr. Joanasie, for his question.
When we did a survey on homelessness, Family Services staff went to Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit.
We did not really do the waiting list for public housing.
We want to be able to do a study on every homeless person in Nunavut. We would like to do a waiting list for public housing as well.
The study was done in 2010 by the housing corporation for public housing. The homeless people stay with their family or go to other communities. With respect to the evaluation of homelessness, as a government, we are trying to do something about the people who are homeless.
I recognize that homelessness is not a simple issue. There are many factors which contribute to the problem.
Can the minister provide an update on how she and her officials work with representatives of the Nunavut Housing Corporation to address community needs for public housing?
Minister of Family Services, Ms. Ugyuk.
The Nunavut Housing Corporation does the housing survey and we will work with Nunavut Housing Corporation officials and the people who live in tents or shacks and other places.
We are trying something for those homeless people because there is nothing written in our policy to deal with that right now for the homeless people.
I will make sure that we will do everything we can do to make sure that we help the homeless people.
Can the minister confirm whether she and her staff will be visiting other communities, such as Cape Dorset or Kimmirut, for example, to evaluate the number of people who are truly homeless?
I thank my colleague for that question. I can tell the member that the survey that was done is a good start and we can go back to the communities to find out exactly what we should be doing.
When you want to find out as Members of this House, not just in this legislature, when you want to find those important issues and you want to find out exactly what they are, and the minister and the Department of Family Services want to find out what we can do.
The member is asking whether we can go back to the communities and we will go from there to find out more about homeless people.
Question 117 – 4(2): Iqaluit Air Quality (Hickes)
I would like to direct my question today to the Minister of Health.
Mr. Speaker, as my questions were directed to the Minister of Community and Government Services, there was a lot of concern about the air quality here in Iqaluit due to the “dumpcano,” as it has been coined.
After yesterday’s session, I was informed by the Minister of CG&S that the Department of Health actually has the responsibility as there is a potential for human impact, that the Department of Health is actually responsible for air quality testing.
I would like to ask the Minister of Health today whether the department has conducted any air quality testing in the city of Iqaluit.
I thank the member for Tasiluk for asking that question. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health does not monitor outdoor air quality.
That is the role of the Department of Environment.
The Department of Environment and Health are currently working with Health Canada to arrange for air monitoring equipment to be deployed in Iqaluit.
There are currently no firm timelines of information on what will be measured, and we have been advised that it is difficult logistically to set up this type of equipment.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll have questions for the Minister of Environment.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask the minister whether there are minimum thresholds for toxic substances in the air established in the territory of Nunavut.
I thank the member for Tasiluk for that question.
As we’re not really able to identify the air quality at this time, we are working very closely with the City of Iqaluit, the Department of Environment, and Community and Government Services, especially the fire chief and the city folks, and we’re continuing to collect information on the location of the smoke in the community to learn more about the pattern of exposure.
The chief medical officer of health has issued public service announcements to help people make the right decisions on what they can do to protect themselves from smoke exposure and what to do if they feel that they are not able to manage their own symptoms.
In the public service announcements, part of the announcement was to stay indoors, keep your windows closed, and if you don’t feel well, get yourself checked at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.
Another recommendation that I have been giving to a lot of my constituents, when the smoke is directly impacting their house, is to shut off their air exchange unit so that they’re not sucking in air from outside.
In the minister’s last response, she had talked about if residents of Iqaluit feel that the symptoms are not manageable and they would have to go to the Qikiqtani Regional Hospital.
Has there been an increase in service demand at the rapid access clinic and the emergency room at the Qikiqtani Regional Hospital?
I don’t have exact numbers of whether there has been an increase, but there have been a few people who have had symptoms that may be related to the dump fire since the fire started and none of these were seriously ill and none were admitted.
I would just like to add on that there will be times when the smoke from the dump fire might come closer to the community and we have been observing this for the past two weeks.
The dump fire has been directly over the city on several occasions when the wind shifts.
Depending on the level of smoke, some people may be at more risk to health effects from the smoke and, if you are affected by the smoke or if the smoke is heavy, you should stay indoors as much as possible, as we said and as you said, with the air exchangers, and the doors and windows closed. If you have to go outside, limit your physical activity while the dump continues to be creating the smoke in the air, especially if it’s in the direction towards the town.
We will be providing advisories on the direction of the smoke as we continue to observe the dump fire.
Question 118 – 4(2): Inuit Labour Content for Government Contracts (Mapsalak)
I apologize if I was too loud when I got carried away earlier (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services, who has overall responsibility for the government’s contracting and procurement activities.
I want to follow up today on the issue of Inuit labour content in the government’s contracting practices.
As the minister is aware, some of the government’s tenders prescribe a minimum Inuit labour content. For example, a current GN tender for upgrades to Taloyoak’s arena prescribes a minimum Inuit labour requirement of 30 percent.
Can the minister clearly describe how the government determines the minimum Inuit labour content for capital projects?
As the member may know, my department has the responsibility for monitoring the capital projects that we are responsible for. We have regional project officers who are required to visit regularly to construction sites to ensure that the contracts are being followed properly. (interpretation) Thank you.