EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Now, with the opportunities provided by the mining companies, they provide a lot of support. However, the number of people working in the mines isn’t very large.
With the young people reaching eligibility, due to their higher numbers, they are adding to the numbers and with the lack of employment opportunities, this number continues to increase.
I won’t linger on the questions related to homelessness, although this is a very big challenge.
This issue seems to have two categories.
One category is where homeless people can sleep at their relatives, much like couch surfing and they bounce around between relatives and this is faced by anyone who is homeless.
The other category is the absolute homeless people, who either live in tents or shacks and in the wintertime, they are faced with very harsh conditions, as the cold temperature doesn’t allow a person to sleep outside.
It also isn’t very visually pleasant to see people in that situation.
As the Department of Family Service, is this one of your priorities? This is also happening in our community, with quite a number of homeless individuals over the winter who are homeless and don’t have any income, so they continually request heating fuel or other assistance from the community since they don’t have any employment.
With that being the situation we face today, has your department ever considered building communal shelters in the communities specifically for homeless people in the community? Here I refer to absolutely homeless people.
I wonder if your department has taken this into consideration to try and alleviate the challenges in the communities by building communal shelters instead of forcing them to live in tents or shacks.
Employment opportunities are quite scarce, so I would like to ask: what kind of plans does your department have to deal with this issue?
The community has to undertake the initiative locally and to show their support to meet this challenge.
If the community requests funding assistance with a detailed proposal, then the Department of Family Services can review the application and work with the community to see how we can meet this challenge.
However, the initiative has to come from the community itself and I hope my answer was understandable.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Yes, but you didn’t respond to the second question I asked, so let me ask again about the communal shelter idea.
As we all know, Nunavut is facing a severe housing shortage, and homeless people end up in tents or shacks in the winter.
Has your department ever considered a local building to shelter homeless people in the smaller communities to house them over the winter? Has your department ever considered this?
Perhaps I wasn’t clear in asking about that earlier.
Yes, I’m sorry for not clearly explaining the situation, so I apologize.
To use this example of Taloyoak, if the community wanted to construct a shelter, then the community of Taloyoak would have to initiate the proposal by first identifying a building locally that could be used for that purpose. They would then apply for funding to convert the building into a shelter from the Department of Family Services.
However, the proposal has to be completed and include details, such as operating funds for the shelter they want to convert. The community has to lead the initiative, but our department wouldn’t go to Taloyoak to build a shelter nor do we have funds for that.
The community has to apply for this funding, especially if they know that it will alleviate some of the challenges faced by our communities here in Nunavut, particularly to ensure that we don’t see residents living in tents or shacks. The community has to make the application for building a local shelter.
I hope my answer is clear this time.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) We are on Family Services. Branch Summary.
Corporate Management. D-4.
Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yesterday, I raised questions during oral question period. I am sorry if I am out of line with the question, but you can stop me if I am out of line.
During oral question period yesterday, I asked about social service workers and I believe I wasn’t very clear in my questioning.
In our community, when we say “inulirijii,” we are talking about counsellors or social service workers. We call the income support services ajuqsaqtulirijiit and other dialects call them sukkuaqitittijiit, but we are talking about income support workers here.
I was asking about social service workers who arrive into our communities to provide social services.
I wanted to ask the Minister of Family Services a brief question.
Perhaps I missed it in your business plan, but I wanted to see if you have a succession plan to hire social workers, as we feel transient social workers can be replaced by a social worker.
Has your department considered replacing the transient social workers who provide counselling in our community with a permanent position?
That is my first question, whether plans have been made to hire a full-time social worker in our community or if this issue is not important enough for the department to replace transient social workers in our communities.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for asking if our department has any future plans to that effect.
We are working with Nunavut Arctic College to develop curricula to strengthen the program for social worker training programs.
The program is offered in Cambridge Bay for students wishing to take social service worker programming and anyone interested in the training has to fill out a form applying for inclusion into the program through Nunavut Arctic College.
A person can take that training if they wish to become a social service worker.
We usually meet with Nunavut Arctic College to discuss how graduates of the Social Services Worker Diploma Program can be prepared for immediate employment.
I would ask that my deputy minister provide more details to supplement my response.
The minister spoke about social workers in her response about children having to be properly cared for.
The member, I believe, asked about mental health counsellors if I understood him correctly.
Mental health counsellors are under the Department of Health. However, we work with that department on these issues and our social service workers cooperate with the department.
The minister was clear in defining the difference between social workers and the other positions, and this was to clarify the differences between our positions and the mental health counsellors who are under the Department of Health.
As members have alluded to in the past, one of our colleagues is very dedicated to ensuring that Inuit Qaujimanituqangat is incorporated into government operations.
There are different positions that need this.
As most of us are aware, counselling is a large portion of social services.
I was one of the Inuit who celebrated the creation of Nunavut and I looked forward to seeing traditional Inuit practices incorporated into government operations.
There are many positions within the category of social services that need to incorporate Inuit Qaujimanituqangit as part of their overall work.
Social services and other types of life counselling in the communities are very important and our community has transient workers sent up who aren’t even aware of Inuit cultural practices. When these workers conduct their work, they use the western style of counselling, which is totally opposite of Inuit counselling. They are not just even facing each other.
Due to this fact, I, too, am passionate about incorporating traditional Inuit knowledge integrated into government operations.
In my opinion, the Department of Family Services should be planning to incorporate IQ into government operations. That is why I was asking about this issue as to what kind of plans the Department of Family Services has towards having homegrown counsellors and social workers in Nunavut.
Social workers conduct their duties following the legislation applicable in Nunavut. The legislation is under the Government of Nunavut and they are clear.
With respect to traditional Inuit knowledge, if people followed the rules of healthy living, then we wouldn’t require social services to provide assistance to our people.
We follow the laws applicable towards social services and that is how services are provided to the people of Nunavut.
With respect to traditional Inuit counselling, this was a skill held by our elders and our parents.
Our lifestyle today is vastly different from the past, and that is why Inuit want to retain traditional Inuit knowledge as they feel it is missing.
I can use that example of the differences in the traditional Inuit knowledge and the legislation.
Today, we are dependent on legislation to deal with every facet of government operations.
That is where the differences are.
If our residents start utilizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit for community wellness or healthy living, then we wouldn’t need social service workers.
Traditional Inuit knowledge incorporates listening.
Just now, the minister stated that Nunavut Arctic College offers a social worker program, which I imagine is for future social service workers or counsellors, as this program is offered through the college.
If an Inuk wanted to take that program, would they require a minimum level of education or be a high school graduate to take the program? Alternatively, can an Inuk who is well versed in traditional Inuit knowledge be included as a student for the social worker program? Can it be integrated into the training program?
Yes, we offer that training program and we are trying to increase the numbers of local social worker trainees to work in Nunavut.
There are quite a number of communities that don’t have social workers and some communities need more than one social worker to meet their needs.
If there was a program offered on social workers and if they complete their training, it would be beneficial for the students to know both English and Inuktitut.
Additionally, the students can also receive traditional Inuit knowledge training either in or outside of Nunavut Arctic College, as they too also search for qualified IQ teachers to teach the traditional knowledge applicable to their work.
Nunavut Arctic College does that work and that also occurs in the local community learning centres.
The Inuit perspective would be to have the government operations be incorporated into Inuit traditional knowledge, not the other way around, which is to incorporate IQ into government.
That is the challenge we face today, as social work includes challenges that traditional Inuit didn’t face, such as alcohol or drugs, Mr. Chairman.
The current social work undertaken today is vastly different as today, we have to provide counselling to people with addictions and this is problematic.
Perhaps this is one area where traditional Inuit knowledge wouldn’t be able to provide assistance in this field.
Some people can also become very aggressive, even if they are our relatives, due to their addictions.
These are the types of issues we have to face. There are certain areas that can be improved by incorporating IQ into social workers and counsellors, especially to provide more relevance to clients wanting assistance.
I also thank her for a response that is clear and understandable.
Now, it was stated that there is a training program for social workers offered in Cambridge Bay.
Yes, part of your response is truthful in that there are certain issues not known traditionally by Inuit and particularly areas that are governed by legislation. Additionally, this shows the other side of the coin, as Inuit also know many things that Qallunaat have no ideas about and much of this knowledge is within life skills or life counselling.
There are certainly practices that could be taught. I wonder if these types of lessons will be included for the social worker program or to have another teacher who is an IQ expert. As an example, to be taught traditional Inuit practices by a recognized expert, I wonder if that arrangement could be included in the social worker program.
I will initiate discussions on this issue with the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College on this interesting suggestion we can consider related to social worker courses.
When social workers arrive to Nunavut or upon application for a social worker position, we work with the Department of Culture and Heritage to provide cultural orientation.
However, with respect to the contents of this cultural orientation, I would have to meet with the minister responsible for Arctic College to discuss this issue.
Mr. Keyootak said that he is done.
We’re on (interpretation ends) Family Services.
Corporate Management. (interpretation) I still have some names on my list, but we will take a 10-minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 10:56 and resumed at 11:12
We will now resume our meeting. (interpretation ends) Family Services.
Corporate Management. (interpretation) Page D-4.
Following my list of names, Mr. Joanasie.
Firstly, I wish to welcome the minister and her officials.
I would first like clarification about the absolutely homeless people. A question was raised earlier and the response was that there are plans underway, which is understandable.
However, to date, what kind of support programming is offered by the Department of Family Services towards these absolutely homeless people?
As an example, are purchases for Coleman stove or camping fuel included in the assistance provided to the homeless people? That is my first question.
I would ask that Brandon Grant, who deals with the support programs, be allowed to respond to that question, please.
As the minister has stated previously, the grants and contributions within the homelessness program is for homeless shelters here in Iqaluit.
Those funds are used to fund operations of the homeless shelters.
It would depend on whether or not they are absolutely homeless. There aren’t currently programs to address those needs.
Further, my colleague, Mr. Shooyook, raised questions about this issue where he related the challenges faced by people in the wintertime, particularly by the absolute homeless residents who live in tents or shacks.
This winter was an exceptionally cold winter. I wanted to know what kind of assistance is provided to these clients by the Department of Family Services.
With respect to our business plan, we haven’t identified actual assistance towards the homeless people.
The only way would be if the clients received income support, and that is the only support provided currently.
Mr. Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you. Also, with respect to income support or whatever the program is called, there are different programs for people in different situations.
Perhaps I will move on to another matter.
In November 2014, the Office of the Auditor General released a report on the audit of the (interpretation ends) Nutrition North Canada (interpretation) program run by the federal government.
Have you had an opportunity to review this report and, if so, will the report’s findings have any impact on the government’s or your department’s efforts to address issues, such as food security and the high cost of living in Nunavut?
If I were to state it in English, (interpretation ends) the cost of living (interpretation) is always rising in Nunavut. Has your department taken these factors into consideration for future plans?
The Department of Family Services works with the Department of Health and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on how to resolve the challenges listed in the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Food Security Strategy (interpretation) and of its future status.
During our meetings, we all understood that this can’t be resolved by one organization or one department, especially when it’s related to poverty reduction and food security issues. One department or organization can’t resolve this issue unilaterally.
It can only be done in collaboration with many other departments and organizations.
The Department of Family Services and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated meet on these issues within the (interpretation ends) Nunavut Food Security Coalition (interpretation) committee, and they are currently working on plans. We are supporting the Department of Health as they are the lead department on this file. (interpretation ends) Health Canada (interpretation) also provides funding towards this initiative.
(interpretation ends) The Nunavut Food Security [Strategy] and Action Plan was approved by cabinet.
Officials are working together on a regular basis. The Nunavut Food Security Coalition holds monthly meetings. The coalition will be holding an in-person meeting from March 17 to 19 to reach consensus on the terms of reference, ways to inform discussions on the Nutrition North Canada program, and to discuss progress in implementing the action plan.
Some of the accomplishments of the Government of Nunavut on the food security action plan include a Nunavut food price survey, research to inform and encourage debate on the Nutrition North Canada program, and support for harvesters and exploratory fisheries.
Another matter relates to the fact that many residents in Nunavut are experiencing hunger, particularly the young children. I have personally looked into this issue.
There was something that was produced by the (interpretation ends) Food Bank of Canada (interpretation) about (interpretation ends) hunger in Nunavut. (interpretation) It stated that 62 percent of the children have an inadequate food supply. (interpretation ends) Food insecurity means not having access to enough food or eating lower quality food.
(interpretation) The Department of Family Services has the mandate to provide income support and as an example, the funds allocated towards this program in our future don’t incorporate the increasing costs as they haven’t changed much.
However, the expenses required to be paid, such as the (interpretation ends) cost of living, (interpretation) continue to increase. Why isn’t your department adhering to these increases?
As an example, I heard on the radio this morning from people outside of Nunavut who are providing assistance to people in Nunavut by sending care packages to Nunavummiut.
How is the government facing this challenge we see today surrounding food insecurity?
I would like to thank my colleague for his personal research about that information and what he wants to hear about.
The Department of Family Services has hired a lawyer to review the programs to see what is useful, what isn’t useful.
The lawyer is helping to review the programs.
If the programs are changed, we will see the priority being changed to ensuring that children are not hungry.
Children have parents who have to undertake everything they can to rear their children properly. As a government, we are not the stewards of these children as we aren’t the parents.
This has to be a priority of the parents to ensure that their children aren’t hungry or malnourished.
Hunger stems from many factors, such as the issues my deputy minister alluded to, such as drug and alcohol addictions, as well as gambling problems that eat up the funds.
The parents have to hold the responsibility to ensure that their children are not going hungry.
Let’s keep that in mind, people of Nunavut.
We wish to provide assistance to people facing poverty and we provide that assistance. We hold round-table meetings to try to find solutions and to mitigate poverty by providing assistance through income support, through food price subsidies in the stores, as well as working with the federal government.
This issue can only be resolved by collaboration between the different levels of government and private organizations.
We are currently working on a plan as a department.
I would ask that Brandon Grant be allowed to explain this further.
What I would add to the minister’s response is that, as she stated, we are reviewing the social assistance program as well as all the programs under the income assistance umbrella, including the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit, the daycare user subsidy, and the Senior Fuel Subsidy Program as well.
We are looking within our current budget framework to see if we can make increases without asking for additional resources.
As well, we are working on looking at how our benefit programs interact with federal benefit programs, including the National Child Benefit Supplement.
Any changes that we make to social assistance in granting an increased income could potentially also change what they would be eligible for federal benefits.
We are trying to be as responsible as possible in reviewing how these changes and benefit increases will interact with federal programs.
It is under review, we are making small adjustments now, and we will be preparing business cases into the future.
Indeed, I think most members are getting tired of waiting for progress.
As my colleague, Mr. Enook, stated earlier, we hear about all of these different plans and continuous meetings that take place without any seeming progression forward and when we see any changes, they are very slow and minimal related to this issue.
However, I want to urge our government to make progress on this issue, as we are seeing fellow Canadians start up assistance programs to assist Nunavummiut.
They are contributing their own funds to send care packages to Nunavummiut.
This stems from their wanting to help from the bottom of their hearts and due to this wish to provide assistance, they have started to send up packages. They have started something. I would like our government to start their own assistance programs towards this goal.
I wanted to ensure that the department is fully aware of these figures, so I will probably read the information. This is from 2012, but it states that in Nunavut, we pay prices that are double compared to other Canadians. (interpretation ends) Residents spent two times more on food versus the rest of Canada, $14,800 per year versus $7,300 per year. (interpretation) The differences in these numbers (interpretation ends) speak for themselves. (interpretation) Let’s move forward.
I just wanted to advise you of that. I’ll stop here for now.
I would appreciate any kind of response to that.
Yes, I understand that members are tired of waiting for progress.
However, we have no choice because Family Services isn’t the only department involved in this process of poverty reduction. NTI is heavily involved in this initiative.
We have to hold round tables and meetings with other Inuit organizations.
Holding meetings is expensive. As the Department of Family Services, we pay for all of these meeting expenses ourselves.
From what I know, food prices are very high in Nunavut. We had a food price survey done and we saw the different prices. There was never a food price survey done before through the Department of Family Services.
We initiated that in Nunavut. We are progressing slowly.
As I stated, we are trying to have this summer or late spring as a deadline for the round-table meetings.
We are still compiling the information from last fall’s meeting. We have to make sure that we confirm all the things that were voiced at the meetings. We are verifying them with the communities.
That is what we are doing in our efforts to reduce poverty.
Corporate Management. Following the list of names, Mr. Savikataaq.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Most of the questions that I had have been touched on already, but I would just like to touch a bit on poverty reduction.
According to the business plan there, you are requesting $2,185,000 for 2015-16.
Just reading from it, it appears that this slightly over $2 million is going to be used only for administration and none of it will actually be used to reduce poverty. Is that correct?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My deputy minister will respond to that question. Thank you.
Ms. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s true.
A division had to be created from the secretariat when it started as the Poverty Reduction Secretariat.
Now it is an actual division in the Department of Family Services. $837,000 of this is for the homelessness part of the budget.