EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I will get my deputy minister to respond to the question.
For the location, I do not think that has been determined.
I believe this will be part of the next steps moving forward to look at where would the ideal location be to provide services of this nature. I do not think we have come to any conclusion at this point.
I guess that is the process that we are undertaking.
As far as how will the coordination centre work, I can give you my vision as to how that might work at this point in time. If you can imagine right now, we have three smaller centres like that, that coordinate services for each of the regions.
A central coordination centre means that we would have a 1-800 number that as soon as we have to book a patient to go anywhere, that call would be made to that coordination centre.
We would have people that speak in all languages as well, to ensure that the services can be adequately provided.
The call would then be registered and a determination of the date and the location would be entered into a computer, as an example, and then the arrangements would be made: a ticket bought at an airline, boarding homes, hotels, and also transportation to and from the community that they are being transferred to.
The opportunity here is that we can begin to cluster or look at how, by looking at the activity and how it is occurring, we might book our travel for special services differently. And possibly, through that process we could look at, rather than putting people on regularly scheduled medical travel flights, grouping charters and flying people in the morning, getting them to their service and then flying them back at night.
So there are all kinds of opportunities, I believe, to improve the whole service.
Often people are happy to be sent to a community early, for one or two days before their appointment. And given the current system that we have, there is an opportunity to try and shorten that trip and to shorten the amount of times that they have to stay or the length of time they have to stay in boarding homes.
So I think this would provide to us, I guess, a really good overview of what is happening at any given time, by hour, with all of the patients, where they are in every community. And I think it would give us an opportunity to improve the service quite dramatically.
What we hear from the patients and their families is they do not necessarily want to go out of territory.
So, every time that we can improve that service, even by reducing the length of time that they are out of their communities… We can provide that service within Nunavut.
Remember, as I said earlier, all of two health centres and the new hospitals, these are territorial resources as well.
So, there may be an opportunity for us to refer a patient to another community where that service is available, and a travel centre would be able to coordinate that.
The current system right now is extremely difficult to manage.
The same as the response that I got from the deputy minister… I kind of feel that it is not going to be done that way. I talked about it in the committee stage.
We heard from the RCMP that they have a 1-800 number, and the call is answered in Iqaluit but not in the community.
There are various times zones in Nunavut.
There’s a two-hour difference from Kitikmeot to here and the Kivalliq region.
They don’t have any coordinated time or whatever. I feel that it could be kind of the same way as the RCMP is running right now.
The consultants have not completed this report, and you mentioned that there has to be more work done.
If there is one central place where it’s going to be coordinated, I don’t think it will work properly.
It just seems like it would be better, for instance, in Rankin Inlet. I think the problem is they have junior employees.
They’re not following the contract regulations. The Auditor General stated that if they don’t have a contract… If you look at the Auditor General’s report, they advised the government… It’s not really specific, but I would like to… If there is going to be a travel resource service, it should be located in the Kivalliq region or Rankin Inlet.
There is no accountability, although there is an executive, a deputy minister. But there’s never really been an answer.
The travel clerk writes the names down and requests a quote, and they have a deadline.
Even before the deadline is over, they cancel. (interpretation ends.)
Six months’ service for one airline without a contract… (interpretation.)
The contract regulations are breaking the Financial Administration Act as far as I’m concerned.
It is going to do that.
You should not give it to one airline but leave it open, because Canadian and First Air are not the only airlines in Nunavut.
In Kivalliq, there is Calm Air, Skyward, and Keewatin Air.
In the Kitikmeot region, there are probably different airlines as well.
So, you have to consider that.
All the letters that were received by the hamlet were advising they should be all put together. There was also a petition given by the five members of the Legislative Assembly.
There’s also the chamber of commerce that made a resolution last year.
Please do not give one airline the contract for medical transportation.
Will you be considering that?
We don’t know the consultant, whether he said or not if it’s going to be put to an RFP.
Chair (interpretation): Madam Minister.
Yes, we would like to hear those concerns from the members of the Legislative Assembly, so we can be assisted, or provided with some support, or some other consideration that we can provide for the people of Nunavut.
So, I feel that the comments by Mr. Curley are very helpful.
The only way we will be completely finished or satisfied… . What we’re doing is to get some feedback from the members.
Perhaps, if I could say again that the previous contract for medical travel came from, I think, Baffin region. Canadian North and First Air were the airlines that transport to Ottawa and Montreal.
In the Kivalliq region, which airlines there are… But I’m not too sure about the Kitikmeot region.
So, I know that there’s an emergency medical transportation but I’m not really sure how it is in the Kitikmeot region.
Perhaps Victor or my ADM could elaborate on that.
The minister is correct that there is a medevac contract in place in the Kivalliq region.
We have to meet with the three airlines that the member mentioned, as directed by cabinet, to discuss the medical travel contracts.
Once we are done with the activity associated with the main estimates, one of the first things we intend to do is to meet with the three different airlines and discuss the contract of scheduled medical travel in the Kivalliq region.
I would like to thank the minister and her officials for the responses.
June 5, 2003, this was written when Honourable Ed Picco was Minister of Health and Social Services to the five Members of the Legislative Assembly - Ovide Alakannuark, Jack Anawak, James Arvaluk, Glenn McLean, and Kevin O’Brien - the letter states, “We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to ensure that the Government of Nunavut’s contracts for scheduled medical travel and medical evacuation are not awarded to only one carrier.”
I would like the minister and his officials to consider that letter. There was also a motion or resolution from the chamber of commerce as well.
I think it would be a lot cheaper if they did not award them to one airline.
So, that is why we want it done that way.
I would like the minister and her department to consider that.
As well, comments made by Mr. Peterson… The public funds that were spent should be reviewed by us as well; it’s not going to be the end of the world if we see them.
Chairman: Thank you Mr. Curley.
I believe my ADM would like to make a supplementary.
There was specific direction given to the department from cabinet to negotiate with the three different airlines for the scheduled medical travel contracts for the Kivalliq region.
The department is following that direction.
With regards to the medevac contract, that was also the direction.
That contract’s been signed. It’s in place, and if it’s directed to us to look at changing that contract then that’s what we would do. But in the absence of that specific direction we would continue with that contract, unless there are concerns the department has over the concerns of the safety of Nunavut.
When did you get that directive from the cabinet?
Chairman: Honourable Levinia Brown.
I will get our ADM, Mr. Victor Tootoo, to respond.
The cabinet directive was three days into my employment with the department.
I cannot remember the date off the top of my head, but that can be provided for the members.
My next question is in regards to the contract that was awarded in the Keewatin and that was awarded to one airline.
Did you go through the request for proposal process?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley.
I will have our assistant deputy minister, Mr. Tootoo, respond.
Yes, that is my understanding that the department did go through a request for proposals for medical travel in that instance. Again, that was prior to the any of our history with the department. When I started with the department we were in the process of finalizing the contract after the proposals had already been reviewed.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): On the same subject, I think it was in March, they had a quotation on medical travel in regards to the medevac services contract in Manitoba.
What they did was they extended it to February, which would have been used in March.
That was on the Sanikiluaq case.
Has that been awarded also?
I will have Mr. Blais respond.
I believe the member asked that question yesterday, and I stated that at that time that we would, I wasn’t aware of any major RFP in regards to charter travel there, that our department would be looking that issue, and we would have to bring that information back.
I don’t have that information at this point in time.
We can’t seem to get anything clear on the Keewatin medevac services contract.
Has this been awarded, and has there been one made for the Sanikiluaq case also?
I will have my deputy, Bernie Blais, respond.
Bernie Blais.
I’m going to talk about the three different issues that are being discussed here because it is confusing.
At some points we’re talking about medevacs, other times we’re talking about scheduled medical travel, other times we’re talking about charters.
The medevac contract has been awarded and was awarded, I believe, in November of last year, or in late winter.
And that went to Kivalliq Air, as directed by cabinet.
The regular scheduled medical travel component: the direction was that we were to proceed, the RFP was cancelled, and we were to proceed to negotiate with the three airlines from that region.
And after we finish this session, that is exactly what we will be doing, negotiating with the three airlines in order to obtain services for regular scheduled medical travel.
As it relates to the charter issue when there are people charters in the Sanikiluaq area, at this point in time I am not aware of any.
They have sent out RFPs for that service, in the way that I understand it at this point.
So, I have asked my staff to follow that up, and then hopefully we will be able to bring back an answer on that particular issue.
So there three different issues, if I’m understanding the member correctly, at this point in time, that were discussed.
Yes, it does make things a lot clearer if you are explaining the three cases.
If you have said that the first time, I would not have asked this many questions.
But in reference to the medical charters from Sanikiluaq, the patient referral services in Winnipeg… . There was a quote request that time. The deadline was February 12, but this was cancelled.
What I had heard from the referral service in Winnipeg, I will read it, it is very brief. Now I will read it in English.
This was written to Skyward: (Interpretation ends.)
“In the letter awarding the charter for the month of March 2004, you were advised that Kivalliq regional health and social services anticipated having the RFP for this service issued prior to the end of March to be effective April 1, 2004.
This letter is to inform you that the development by the RFP by the Department of Health and Social Services offices in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit has been delayed and that the March charter awarded to Kivalliq Air will be extended until the RFP is awarded.
This extension is not to exceed six months and is consistent with the managing of the existing contract that expired in March 31, 2004.”
(interpretation) So my question is: was there a provision in the Keewatin whether there was an offer to extend the six months and not to have it go through competition?
First of all, I appreciate the member raising different issues around the awarding of the contract.
However, one disadvantage is that file is that thick and I could be selective of what documents I table and so on.
So I would ask, are the Rules of this House that any documentation that is being provided, that they are tabled for the advantage of all of them, for the House to be able to look at them and so on?
If the member tabled the documentation, then we could speak to them.
But I do not have copies of the letter, informed to me, and I am sure the minister does not have a copy of it, and so on.
So, I am wondering if the member could give us… .
I can sit here and read it right now. I do not know what you are reading from and what part of the file.
So I would ask the member to please resist reading documentation that the minister does not have copies of at her disposal, nor the members here in the House I am speaking to.
Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. Picco.
The former minister of health is probably trying to be supportive, but if he knew exactly what was happening with those contracts and RFPs he would have responded right away.
The deputy minister responded to my questions; I was referring to the Sanikiluaq place, which the deputy minister is well aware of.
Just three months ago, there was a request for quotes issued technically.
It was an open quote.
Prior to that, and without being evaluated, it was cancelled, and the deputy minister knows exactly what I’m talking about.
They said that they were going to go through an RFP, and Kivalliq, who has the contract, will be extended for six months.
They say that it’s consistent with the contracting purposes, but my question now is whether it was an option or not.
I think the present minister can respond better than the former minister.
I’m not disputing what the member has said.
All I’m saying is that I’d like the Chairman, yourself, to rule on the admissibility of letters that are not before the house.
All I’m saying is that if you’re going to quote from letters, I haven’t got a copy of it right now.
It could be from last year, or yesterday, or six weeks ago. As you were reading earlier and know quite well that it should be before the House so that members would be able to pick them up and see what you’re talking about.
Anything about the contracting, what the deputy minister has said, I’m not disputing any of that stuff.
All I’m saying is that if you’re going to raise some letters, or documentation, or whatever that is not before the House, then that’s not the procedure of this Legislative Assembly and I would ask that it not be used, or if the member will not cease and desist, then I would ask that the Chairman would make that rule.
As the Chairman, we are just learning these processes.
Mr. Curley, are you prepared to table the letter that you are referring to?
Mr. Curley: Mr. Chairman, I can move a motion now that the Department of Health and Social Services table the medical charter services to Sanikiluaq request for quotes that was issued in February.
That is my motion.
This should be in written form and translated in both languages.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Premier.
Just on a couple of things. Mr. Picco’s request, I believe that refers to stuff more when we’re in formal session and question period.
This is Committee of the Whole.
I think that the rules are a little different there.
A member can refer to different… And if it’s a correspondence coming from the department, it should be the knowledge of the department to have that information.
I’m sure the minister is quite aware of that.
And also, for motions, Mr. Chairman, it’s my recollection… . I believe that in Committee of the Whole, you don’t have to have a written motion. It’s just formal motions in the House.
We have motions in here to report progress.
Do we have to have that in both languages, written down?
I don’t think so. So, maybe we can take a break and check with the Clerk and find out on this before we move forward.
Chairman (interpretation): Okay, I apologize.
We will take a 15-minute break to get your motion out and translated, too.
We’ll take a 15-minute break.
>>House recessed at 16:41 and resumed at17:19
Committee Motion 002 – 2(1): Tabled Quotes Issued for Charter Airline Requirements for Sanikiluaq
Chair (interpretation): Do you have a copy of the motion?
All those in agreement. All those in agreement, raise your hand.
All those opposed, raise your hand.
Those abstaining, raise your hand.
I’d like to move to report progress.
Chairperson: There is a motion on the floor to report progress and it’s not debatable.
All those agreed, raise your hand.
Speaker (interpretation): Going back to Item 21 in our Orders of the Day.
Report of the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Evyagotailak.
Mr. Evyagotailak: Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 2 and the main estimates and would like to report progress.
Seconded by Mr. Kilabuk.
Going back to Item 22. Third Reading of Bills.
Orders of the Day for Friday, May 21, 2004:
Speaker (interpretation): This House stands adjourned until Friday, May 21, at 10:00.
>>House adjourned at 17:26  Nunavut Canada
Friday May 21, 2004
Pages 328 – 367
Opening Prayer 328
Ministers’ Statements 328
Members' Statements 330
Point of Order 351
Returns to Written Questions 354
Tabling of Documents 355
Return to Item 14: Tabling of Documents 356
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 357
Point of Order 360
Orders of the Day 366
Friday May 21, 2004 328
016 – 2(1): Workplace Wellness (Tapardjuk) 328
017 – 2(1): Early Childhood Education Program (Picco) 329
018 – 2(1): Nunavut Physical Activity Week (Tapardjuk) 329
080 – 2(1): Umingmak Frolics – Annual Festival in Cambridge Bay (Peterson) 330
081 – 2(1): Health Issues in the Communities (Evyagotailak) 331
082 – 2(1): Celebrate People Found (Netser) 332
083 – 2(1): Thank Winnie Attungala (Kilabuk) 332
084 – 2(1): Enjoy the Long Weekend (Tootoo) 333
085 – 2(1): Portrait Studio (Picco) 333
086 – 2(1): Provide Power Bills in Inuktitut (Curley) 334
Return to Oral Question 035 – 2(1): Access House Sold to the RCMP and Replacement (Kilabuk) 334
Return to Oral Question 037 – 2(1): House Leases to Kevin O’Brien (Kilabuk) 334
Return to Oral Question 044 – 2(1): Tendering House Leases (Kilabuk) 334
Return to Oral Question 040 – 2(1): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Kilabuk) 335
079 – 2(1): Medivac RFP Award to Kivalliq Air (Curley) 336
080 – 2(1): Update on Summer Student Program (Tootoo) 337
081 – 2(1): Status of DIAND’s Environmental Directives to the Communities (Barnabas) 339
082 – 2(1): Request For Information – Clarification (Alagalak) 340
083 – 2(1): Delivery of Business Credit Corporation Programs (Peterson) 341
084 – 2(1): Rankin Inlet Health Facility Contract (Tootoo) 343
085 – 2(1): Medical Contracts and Medical-Travel Contracts (Curley) 344
086 – 2(1): Policy on Income Support (Kattuk) 345
087 – 2(1): $175,000 Overpayment for Sivumut Building (Peterson) 347
088 – 2(1): Employment Plans for Small Communities (Netser) 349
089 – 2(1): Contract Award Process (Ruled out of order) (Tootoo) 350
090 – 2(1): Formula Funding and School Enrolments (Barnabas) 351
Return to Written Question 010 – 2(1): Staff Housing Requirements (Clerk) 354
015 – 2(1): Arctic Bay Sewage Lagoon (photographs) (Barnabas) 355
016 – 2(1): Public Accounts Non-Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) & Consolidated Financial Statements March 31, 2003 (2 documents) (Aglukkaq) 355
017 – 2(1): Skyward Aviation – Letter re RFP (Curley) 355
018 – 2(1): Condition Rating for Three Units in Arviat (Kilabuk) 356
Friday, May 21, 2004
Speaker (interpretation): I will now ask Mr. Netser to say the prayer.
Minister’s Statement 016 – 2(1): Workplace Wellness (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that the Government of Nunavut has once again partnered with Health Canada to deliver a unique program that promotes wellness for our employees and their dependents.
The Department of Human Resources, through its workplace health, safety, and wellness program, has been working to expand its employee assistance service, provided to Government of Nunavut employees and their dependents.
We will now be expanding our program to include face-to-face counselling services in Iqaluit for government employees and their dependents in other communities within Nunavut.
Face-to-face counselling services will now be offered through the telehealth program in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services.
Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun interpreter services will be provided to Government of Nunavut employees and their dependents for this session.
Employees wishing to access services may do so by using the 1-866-229-2204 toll-free number.
This will ensure consistent quality service throughout this vast territory.
Mr. Speaker, their health, safety, and wellness is of utmost importance.
We continue to work closely with our employees and other major stakeholders to improve and enhance the overall well-being of all our employees.
Minister’s Statement 017 – 2(1): Early Childhood Education Program (Picco)
“Ullaakut.”
In partnering with the Kakivak Association, Nunavut Arctic College had the opportunity to deliver a certificate in early childhood education as well as the Record of Achievement Program in childcare management over the 2003-04 academic year.
I would like you to join with me in congratulating the 63 students who graduated from the early childhood education from Igloolik, Hall Beach, Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Iqaluit, Cape Dorset, and Sanikiluaq.
As well, board of director workshops for daycare boards were delivered in each of these communities in order to develop the knowledge of board members so daycare can be sustainable.
In addition, Nunavut Arctic College developed a new course that was delivered completely in Inuktitut, entitled Traditional Childrearing Practices.
This course was developed by Meeka Arnakak, Marlene Arnakak, and Rhoda Ungalaaq.
It was delivered by co-teaching in collaboration, with an Inuit instructor from the community paired with a non-Inuit instructor. I should also note that in all communities, elders were involved as experts.
This is a very effective way to convey Inuit traditional knowledge of childrrearing with the expectations of national standards of early childhood educators.
This is also a comprehensive initiative in response to the need of accredited early childhood educators for development and the development a curriculum that includes and promotes traditional Inuit knowledge and childrearing.
Minister’s Statement 018 – 2(1): Nunavut Physical Activity Week (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, physical activity is vitally important to the health and well-being of Nunavummiut and helps to build strong communities.
This year the Department of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth is pleased to announce Nunavut’s first annual Physical Activity Week, from May 21-28, 2004, designed to encourage all Nunavummiut to become more physically active.
In many communities and schools across Nunavut, people will have a chance to participate in community events and activities this week.
Physical activity helps with social, mental, and physical health.
People who participate in regular physical activity feel more energized and relaxed and have better self-esteem.
The department is promoting physical activity across the Nunavut territory through public-service announcements on community radio and on cable TV and by distributing posters and other advertising.