EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the member knows and most members know it’s the largest, one of the largest wind programs in place right now; it’s at the North Cape in Prince Edward Island. I believe at the present time a considerable amount of energy in that island is derived from wind energy.
Will the minister have wind power in the new Energy Strategy?
A considerable amount of work has already been put into the Energy Strategy. It’s been tabled before the House, and I guess the member has been reading it.
It talks about three opportunities for energy to try and break the addiction. The Government of Nunavut, and the people of Nunavut have a terrible addiction, and that addiction is to oil.
And oil always forms, whether it’s diesel for generating electricity, indeed, gas to power vehicles and so on. The Energy Strategy is looking at opportunities to move away from diesel generation of electricity which includes opportunities in hydro as well as opportunities with wind power.
I will be following up the conversation that I’ve had with Minister Ballem with the power corporation to see if there are some opportunities with some of the good work that P.E.I. has been doing and the amount of work that they have done with opportunities in wind.
So, the answer, Mr. Speaker is; yes, wind power does form part of the energy strategy that we unveiled last week.
I inadvertently skipped a name.
Question 416 – 2(3): Probations Services in Nunavut (Peterson)
A recent event in Nunavut highlighted the need for adequate resources in place to protect public safety and help rehabilitate offenders. A key element to this strategy is a well functioning probation service.
Part of justice’s business plan for 2006-07 which we reviewed earlier this year, stated: “...community corrections has been working at establishing a stand alone probation service for Nunavut, and social services will provide some service in communities where we do not have Community Corrections Officers.”
My question for the minister: can the minister update the House today on the status of this initiative?
At the current time, I know that in the larger communities, where there is a case load to dictate probation services, that it is available; dedicated probation officers.
Where there is less of a case load the social workers are used as probation workers at this time.
Until such time as we can find additional resources that will be the current practice for the time being.
I thank the minister for that answer.I’m sure some of the social workers in some of the communities would appreciate some help. I think they’re complaining to me, they’re being overworked with the caseloads they have.
In October the minister took part in a federal/provincial/territorial meeting of Justice Ministers. One of the announcements from the meeting was, and I’ll read it here, this is pertaining to dangerous offenders: “Ministers noted the Prime Minister’s announcement on the upcoming introduction of legislation to provide tougher sentences and more effective management of individuals convicted of sexual and violent offences.”
My question for the minister: can the minister update us today on the status of this legislation and clarify what it will mean in terms of effective management of sexual offenders?
The matter is before the parliament and we do hope it will be passed for the protection of the people of Nunavut along with the rest of Canada.
We all know there will be additional resources required as this bill is passed through the House, so we look forward to support from our national government in terms of setting up a joint facility, perhaps, here in the territory, as there will be a need for additional facilities throughout the country if this piece of legislation is passed along with other measurers.
The minister mentioned a joint correctional facility in Nunavut. I would like to seek clarification on that.
The minister is quoted in the media several times where such a facility would provide better rehabilitation of incarcerated criminals.
So my question for the minister: can the minister explain to the House how a construction of a joint correctional facility in Nunavut will ensure that sexual and violent offenders receive healing and counseling before they are released and they return to their home communities in Nunavut?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that at one point or another these inmates will be released to the communities, and we have to ensure that they get proper programming and appropriate programming.
When they’re in far away locations, they don’t always have that service available to them in their language and assistance from family members that is much needed in times of healing.
So our proposal is to have a facility in Nunavut so that perhaps we can have family members being with the inmates in times of healing and those types of opportunities that could be more readily available than what is available to them today.
The recent return of a sexual offender to Nunavut frightened many Nunavummiut across Nunavut. The recent 1,200-name petition here in Iqaluit exemplifies the fear that parents everywhere felt.
I would like to add that Cambridge Bay was no different. The mayor and council were approached by many individuals in the community worried about the possible return of the offender to that community.
She asked me to raise this issue in the House and my question for the minister: can the minister tell the House today how the Government of Nunavut ensures that sexual and violent offenders are currently counselled in their home communities, particularly where counsellors and programs are limited or non-existent?
Hon. Paul Okalik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We stress that the offenders should be treated when they are in custody to reduce the risk of re-offending.
We offer some of those services in our correctional facilities. Some of them are also at the federal facilities, but where they are offered at the federal level, they aren’t always directed at particular individuals like the matter that we looked at.
The federal correction system simply failed in trying to reduce the risk in some cases of Inuit offenders.
So our main focus is to try and treat them while they’re in custody so that when they are released, their risk of re-offending is much reduced.
So that has been our focus at this point.
Question 417 – 2(3): KBDC and NBCC Legal Action (Tootoo)
My question, again, is for the Minister responsible for Economic Development.
The minister had indicated they work on a lot of things and he forgot about this incident being brought to him dealing with the set of documents that I tabled a number of years ago, and that he first became aware of it three months ago.
I asked him what that phrase in that document that I tabled indicating that someone could be a southern counterbalance to a different file. To me, that would make my eyes open, and I would be saying, “What the heck is going on here?”
Along with some of these other documents that have been tabled, I would like to ask the minister then if he’s not sure what he did three years ago, could he tell me what he has done since these documents have been tabled to find out and clarify why some of these comments have been made.
The documents that he had tabled, I am sure are very informative and my staff is working as hard as they can to deal with the tabled documents that he had released to this House.
I was going to consult with my staff but we did not have time until I had to go into the House. And I will do my best to try and resolve what the member is talking about.
I am sure the minister is doing his very best at things.
I don’t know if that seems to be good enough. This stuff has been tabled. I mentioned this to him a number of months ago and it seems like he has done absolutely nothing with it other than asking people to get information after the documents have been tabled.
What I’d like to hear from the minister is a commitment to get, an on the record explanation as to exactly what was meant by the person writing the letter or at least sending an e-mail where it indicates where this individual could be one of the southern counter balances to the Ms. C.T. file. I’d like to have an on the record explanation of exactly what that meant. Would the minister commit to doing that?
I will look into the member’s concern and the meaning of that word that he wants.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Tootoo
I would only assume that it is already being looked into. What I am looking for is a commitment for an on the record explanation as to what exactly that meant.
Thank you. Will the minister make that commitment?
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends): I don’t know how to answer this when it is not my comment; it is someone else’s comment.
I’ll try my very best to come up with what that means. But then again it’s really up to the persons that did the e-mails.
It is no secret that my friend from Qamanittuaq used to say that government officials that work for a department, when they say something; the buck stops at the minister, it goes all the way up.
We have seen cases in the past or heard of cases in the past where employees had been disciplined for making comments. That is one of the reasons ones why we need Whistle Blower Legislation so that when people do say something that there is some protection there for them.
I don’t buy the minister’s response, “Well, I can’t tell you.”
These individuals are under his portfolio that he is responsible for and he should be able to get an explanation for that and I would like to hear it.
A Member: Point of Order
Speaker: Thank you. Point of Order has been raised by Minister Picco.
The minister has tried to answer to the best of his ability.
Two points to the Point of Order: one being that the member is implying motive on behalf of a Tabled Document and staff. It is impossible for the member to bring up an issue have the minister try to explain what is meant in a Tabled Document written by a third party. How would the minister know what that means?
Our rules are very clear. We can not imply motive when we are asking a question. And we have to ask questions in the House which the minister would have the right and would have the knowledge in a given area to be able to answer.
In this case, how can the minister answer for a third party e-mail that was tabled in the House?
To the Point of Order, Mr. Tootoo.
I’m not implying motive of anything.
I think we all know that the minister’s responsible for the actions of things done under his portfolio.
In this case NBCC and KDBC are in contribution agreements with the Department of Economic Development, he is the minister responsible for that and he should be able to get a response for it.
As far as a tabled document – that’s the only way we can ask questions about something, if we table it so that the minister is fully aware of what we’re talking about, and he’s had ample time to check into and find out about it, to be able to respond properly to it.
According to what we have heard I would like to ask the minister to respond to that question.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have to work with KBDC as a department as to what went on.
I have stated in the last few days that I will try to give a response to the member’s question. So I will research it and give you a proper response.
I did not hear a reason for a Point of Order. That is why I let the question continue.
Question 418 – 2(3): Birth Certificates for Elders (Arreak)
I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Human Resources.
In my constituency, there are a lot of elders that have not been recognized because they don’t have birth certificates.
As long as they don’t have their birth certificates they cannot work, or they cannot receive social assistance.
Would the Department of Social Services be able to help out with those people that do not have proper identification?
Speaker (interpretation): I’m sorry. Which department were you referring that question to?
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whoever can help me out with this; to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
I did not want the Regular MLAs to answer your question.
We have a Vital Statistics Office located in Rankin Inlet.
We can look into that. We all have staff in the communities that can assist in the requesting from the department in Rankin Inlet.
Those were after 1999, people that were born after 1999, those records are all in Rankin Inlet.
They can be assisted through the Rankin Inlet department.
There’s a lot of people that need some assistance and if they try to find out from Rankin Inlet perhaps there is some information that are missing and they just return it to the individual and all of a sudden they don’t know what else to do.
So the correspondence keeps going back and forth, perhaps for people who would like to get birth certificates and identification, can there be some more information where people can go to get this identification.
Speaker (interpretation): Minster for Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
I stated earlier that there are social workers in every community that can provide assistance to anyone who wants to apply for the application and with their assistance; we forward that to Rankin Inlet for processing. Vital Stats in Nunavut is located in Rankin.
And I explained again earlier that prior to 1999 anyone born in the Northwest Territories that application has to be sent to Inuvik, which is another jurisdiction where the child or individual was born.
Within Nunavut we have our own operation; they in the past have provided assistance to individuals that needed birth certificates as well from Inuvik. So we are prepared to do that and if there’s problems the members identify, I would be glad to assist in that, but the service should be provided by the community social workers.
As for the Social Insurance Numbers, we don’t issue Social Insurance Numbers; they are issued by the federal government so for our part with the birth certificate I would be happy to look into the member’s concern.
Your second supplementary, Mr. Arreak
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to thank the minister.
I would like to ask the minister again, since the start of Nunavut there used to be that place in Inuvik; will the Vital Statistics documents be transferred to Nunavut?
Maybe I can explain it this way, for individuals that are from the Keewatin, as an example, if they go down to Winnipeg and give birth to a child in Winnipeg, that birth certificate is issued from the Province that the child is born in. If you go down to Ottawa, it would be the same thing. So before 1999, Nunavummiut born before 1999, all that record is held by the Northwest Territories, the government in place before division.
Anything after 1999, we have that information with Vital Stats and Social Services in Rankin Inlet. We are prepared to assist individuals prepare the application, and if the individual citizen is having problems accessing information from Inuvik, we will be glad to assist, and we have done that in the past for Nunavummiut.
So if the member can give me individuals that are having problems, I would be glad to have my staff follow up on those requests.
Yes, I would thank the minister for the information because as Nunavummiut we have not had any understanding of that before because whenever we send them to Rankin Inlet they just return it back to the individual that is asking for that information. Can the social workers please be informed in the communities that whoever was born before 1999 that they have to be directed to Inuvik?
Yes I agree with the member. I will inform the Rankin Inlet department of your concerns, and then I will ask how they operate when it comes to information on the birth certificate and I will pass it on to your staff in your community.
Question 419 – 2(3): Number of Hearing Impaired GN Employees (Barnabas)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister Responsible for Human Resources.
We all know that in Nunavut there are handicapped individuals in the outlying communities.
How many hearing impaired employees does the Government of Nunavut have?
We don’t keep track of the number of employees with handicaps, but we have a policy.
We don’t have the statistics for the number of handicapped individuals we have working for the government.
This question is directed to the Minister of Human Resources, but it touches upon health.
What is the Government of Nunavut doing to increase the number of handicapped individuals working for the Government of Nunavut? What kinds of plans does the Government of Nunavut have?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our policy, if an individual applies for a job with the Government of Nunavut, we have policies where we have a first hire.
We prioritize Nunavut beneficiaries, then Nunavummiut, and if there are none, then we go to other, to the rest of Canada.
We’re very open, but our department has priority hiring.
We only have those, and it’s going to stay like that until there is a change.
Possibly what the minister’s department can do is to get the statistics. We have students who are learning brail today.
What about hiring people who are still practicing the oral culture and are hearing impaired?
With the policy that I said we have, there might be people with handicaps, but they might be excellent typists, or really good at some skill.
We make sure that we follow the policies of the Government of Nunavut, and they are included in there.
They are considered as priority hires, but at this time, the policies that we have are perfectly good right now.
I would like to say that question period is now over.
Written Question 020 – 2(3): Social Worker Position for Cambridge Bay (Peterson)
Mr. Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Written Question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and it concerns social worker positions for Cambridge Bay.
For each fiscal year from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 to date, how many certified social worker positions were allocated to Cambridge Bay?
For each fiscal year from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 to date, how many of the certified social worker positions in Cambridge Bay were staffed and for what length of time?
For each fiscal year from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 to date, how many job openings were advertised for certified social worker positions in Cambridge Bay?
What recruitment and retention efforts have been made by the Department of Health and Social Services to staff certified social worker positions in Cambridge Bay?
What recruitment and retention efforts have been made by the Department of Health and Social Services to staff certified social worker positions with individuals who have been trained in courses offered by Nunavut Arctic College?
How does the Department of Health and Social Services determine which levels of certification are required for community social worker positions?  How does the Department of Health and Social Services determine the case-per-staff ratio for certified social workers in Nunavut?
For each fiscal year from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 to date, how often is the case-per-staff ratio exceeded by individual certified social workers in Cambridge Bay?
How does the Department of Health and Social Services evaluate the success of its Social Services programs?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Written Questions.
Reply to Opening Address 005 – 2(3): Mr. Keith Peterson
During the Commissioner’s Opening Address at the beginning of this Session, she spoke of the importance of our government “seeking new ways to develop integrated approaches to public services.”
She stressed that “we need to avoid duplication and optimize available resources.”
Mr. Speaker, it is important that we recognize the critical work carried out by some of our non-governmental community-based organizations.
I believe that our government would do well to focus its efforts on supporting these organizations more effectively and, as a result, integrating service-delivery to better meets the needs of Nunavummiut.
I would like to recognize the significant accomplishments of one such dedicated and effective community organization.
The Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre focuses on community wellness and works very hard towards many of the objectives that our government strives for.
The Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre has 14 staff positions including that of the director. The centre offers workshops and treatment programs including:
Short programs focussing on specific areas such as communications, anger, anger management, or relationships;
Alcohol and drug treatment programs;
Pre and post-natal programs;
Elders’ programs including activities, home visits, shopping assistance, information sessions on elder abuse, and the planning and development of camping programs for teaching in the schools,
Youth programs and services, including workshops on key topics such as self-esteem, boundaries, and decision-making; working with high school counsellors and staff to help youth deal with issues that may cause them to leave school, and leadership workshops presented to all high school classes during the school year.
Family violence prevention programs include one-on-one counselling; home visits, victim assistance support; and the operation of a shelter program;
Community Outreach involves staff attending community events and gatherings; talking to youth and adults about personal safety and safe sexual health.
Mr. Speaker, staff at the community wellness centre holds workshops and education programs to keep themselves professionally up-to-date.
The centre operates a food bank which provides basic food assistance on a weekly basis, seeks donations of country foods from community members, and fund-raises.
There can be no doubt that an agency such as this plays a critical role in supporting and promoting community wellness.
For example, it has been noted by one of the judges in the Nunavut Court of Justice that the Centre’s programming has had an enormously positive impact by reducing the number of offenders going through the criminal justice system.
As with many community-based organizations of this kind, all of the funding for the Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre is provided through contribution agreements or grants from various levels of governments and other agencies.
In order to maintain funding levels from year-to-year staff members must dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to drafting and submitting proposals.
It is my view that our government could be doing more to make this job easier for our dedicated agency workers. For example, anywhere from three to six funding agreements can come through various programs delivered by one department such as the Department of Health and Social Services.
Combining these funding agreements into one comprehensive contribution agreement could go a long way to improving the efficiencies of the funding process.
I am aware other community-based agencies such as the Ilisaqsiviq Society in Clyde River faces similar difficulties in maintaining continuity from one year to the next without the support of core-funding from the government.
I call upon the government to recognize the good work of these community-based agencies and to make their life easier with some creative and supportive procedures that will allow them to operate from year to year without the constant struggles to maintain funding levels.
Item 9. (interpretation ends) Replies to Opening Address.
I am sorry, Mr. Alagalak.
Committee Report on Bills 012 – 2(3): Bill 27 An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act (Alagalak)
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a new name; I probably won’t get my birth certificate for many weeks.
(interpretation ends) The Standing Committee on Health and Education has reviewed Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act. I would like to inform the House that the bill, as amended, and reprinted is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 27 moved into the Committee of the Whole for today.
There is a request to waive Rule 68(6) so that the Standing Committee Report on Bill 27 can be immediately referred to the Committee of the Whole. (interpretation) Are there any nays?