EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
It is not taking away the Capital Estimates for the Kitikmeot region from the Department of Education because we are going to have to bring more departments as witnesses and we will find out after that what is happening with the Department of Education.
Yes, Mr. Anawak.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, I understand what you are saying but it seems like Kitikmeot is being targeted.
As far as I am concerned, it will feel like you are not really in support of Kitikmeot people.
Any responses.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I am sorry.
I do not mean to do that Mr. Chairman.
But whenever we have a limited amount of funding we would like something done for our community as well but some communities have more than the others and it's got to do with the questions that we have of the Minister of Education.
We would like him to be able to respond to our recommendations before we continue with the estimates of the Kitikmeot region, Capital Estimates.
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Chairman, the reason why I think the Kitikmeot is targeted is because of Cambridge Bay.
I think you are talking about the Cambridge Bay addition of the heritage centre.
I think that is the problem of the committee right now.
I know that some communities need more than the others do because some of them do not have any schools, they have closure of their schools, and they have to use some other rooms or some other buildings as schools.
If we are going to keep delaying or deferring the department is it going to delay the building of the school in Cambridge Bay.
Chairperson (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Anawak we have not dealt with Bill 13 yet so we have to deal with all the departments first and then keep the Department of Education to be discussed last, we will get back to it.
So I just want the members to understand that as long as we do not deal with Bill 13, the Main Estimates that we are dealing with now cannot be approved anyway.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I guess my colleague brings up a valid point.
If members are saying there are concerns with the capital allocations for education I think we recognize that, there's been a lot spoken of that over the past six days of debate over the Department of Education's budget.
One has to recognize that all the recommendations that the members have approved in the committee of the whole targets specifically the capital, the Department of Education for all of Nunavut not specifically the Kitikmeot region.
So in all fairness for the members that are putting forward this motion there should be a deferral of all capital of the Department of Education until such a time the department's budget is approved and I think that's the fair way of dealing with this issue.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Ng. We now have a motion on the floor, so we still have not approved the estimates.
I do have a concern now in regards to this issue.
I think we have to be more considerate of the students.
It is not the Members of the Legislative Assembly, we can argue about this in the House but we also have to consider the students.
We are all aware whether the school is huge or small, I do not think we will ever be happy with the size of the school.
So I just want all the members to consider that because we are not the only people, we have to consider the people that we are trying to serve.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Kilabuk.
The motion, in the motion they did not agree, regular members did not approve the Kitikmeot Capital Estimates.
That is why the motion was brought forth.
I want everybody to be aware.
I do understand Mr. Kilabuk's comments, yes, that is what we want.
We are serving our people; we are serving all the Nunavut residents.
The recommendations that we put forth as regular members, we do not even know whether the recommendations were brought to the Cabinet level.
It seems like they have been put into the 20-year plan.
Nothing has been changed regardless of the recommendations we made.
Committee Motion 58 - 1(3): Amendment of Committee Motion 57 - 1(3)
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): I would move that we delete the words "Kitikmeot region" in the motion.
I would move that the words "Kitikmeot region" be deleted.
Chairperson (interpretation): The amendment is in order.
Would you like to, Jack Anawak has made a motion to amend the motion and we will have to re-draft the committee motion.
Please recognize the people who have put their hands up.
The regular members are talking about the Kitikmeot region in the committee motion.
Gjoa Haven and Pelly Bay would need their materials shipped up and we are pretty late in the spring already.
It seems like the members are not considering the contracting part of it and I know that if you keep deferring this, if you keep on deferring this we might be late in ordering our material in the Kitikmeot region.
This is not being considered, it seems like we are just playing here Mr. Chairman, you have to be neutral.
I will treat everyone the same.
We are going to take a short break, I will ask for a short break so we can re-draft the motion, the amended motion.
So we will take a short break until the motion is amended and we will get back as soon as we can.
>>Committee recessed at 5.02 and resumed at 5.30 p.m.
Chairperson (interpretation): We can resume.
Committee Motion 59 - 1(3): Deferral of Capital Estimates of Department of Education
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I will try read the motion as amended.
Mr. Chairman I move that this Committee defer further consideration of the capital estimates for the Department of Education until the estimates of all other departments have been approved.
The copies of the motion are being handed out to the members and I will have to find out from the members if you are in favour of it.
Chairperson (interpretation): I have to thank the Minister for Education and he can make his closing remarks and we will move on to the Department of Health and Social Services once we complete his closing remarks.
I realise we have not completed the department but I do agree that we go through this process.
I would like to thank you, Mr. Moody and the staff sitting over there who have been working diligently to assist me and keeping up with the requests as they get produced in the House.
They try to keep up with the requests that are being produced in the House.
I would like to extend my gratitude to them Mr. Chairman.
The items are detailed and we will be moving on them slowly and thank you for you attendance.
Going on to the Department of Health and Social Services.
I think we can deal with the Department.
To the Department and opening remarks by the Minister.
Minister for Health and Social Services.
You can remain seated or move to the witness table for your opening remarks.
Minister of Health and Social Services whenever you are ready.
Department of Health & Social Services Main Estimates: Minister's Opening Remarks
Thank you to my colleagues and a special thank you the Minister of Education and their staff who have been with us over the few days.
Some of them are our constituents.
Special thanks to Mr. Horn and those two special people Sandy Teiman and Nancy Highland and we cannot forget Mr. Rose too.
Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to be able to begin today with the opening comments for Health and Social Services.
I would like to take this opportunity today to invite a couple of my staff people who are with me today to come over and join me here at the witness table.
Ms. Cooper and Ms. Hecks.
Ms. Cooper is no stranger to this House Mr. Chairman.
Rosemary is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services sitting on my left, and seated on my right is Ms. Karen Hecks who is the acting Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services.
Many of the Members have met Karen over the last couple of months and she has been doing an exemplary job for us in the department.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Health and Social Services is second only to the Department of Education in the overall government of Nunavut budget.
As reflected in our business plan our department’s activities bring the Bathurst priorities to life, namely building healthy communities, self-reliance, simplicity and unification and continuous learning.
Having said that Mr. Chairman, I am sure there is no one in this room who is unaware of the immense challenges of managing a health system anywhere in Canada.
You all know that the Premiers and Ministers of Health from all the provinces and territories of Canada are engaged in a process to try to bring more efficiency to the Canadian health care system.
Intense discussions continue among the ministers to find ways to redirect monies within their health and social services system to better serve all Canadians.
In Nunavut we too are striving to reach the goal of efficient, effective health and social services for Nunavummiut.
We have a total departmental budget of 120.2 million, which includes 115.9 for operations and maintenance, and 4.3 million for capital projects.
As you know the regional health boards are now integrated into the department and the ongoing administrative efficiencies which that change brings will allow the savings to be re-directed into essential priority areas.
In keeping with the vision statement of the Government of Nunavut, we have reserved funds within our budget to ask elders to help us bring more Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into our programs and services.
It is very important to us to be sensitive to the cultural needs of our citizens.
We will engage elders for general advice and perhaps specific elders on particular issues where their wisdom will help us improve what we do for Nunavummiut.
Our capital plans contain some 4.3 million worth of projects.
These projects are spread throughout several communities.
For example, we will be undertaking feasibility studies for the replacement of the Health Centres in Igloolik and Repulse Bay.
In recognition of the importance of technology to assist treatment activities in Nunavut, the capital plan also contains 1 million for Telehealth.
Over 46 million will be provided for medical treatment in the Health Centres and the hospital and nearly 24 million will go to fund health Insurance programs.
In his budget address, Minister Ng spoke of our initiatives with respect to nursing.
We have the first group of students underway in the Nunavut nursing program and a second group of students will begin their training this coming fall.
In addition, the department is supporting a group of student nurses who will be coming to Nunavut to do work sessions this summer.
We feel that the investment in nurses is fundamental to health care delivery in Nunavut and have directed 600 thousand to this area out of our base funding.
As we are all aware staffing is a difficult issue for the government of Nunavut and nowhere is it more difficult than in the fields of health and social services professionals.
In recognition of this we have undertaken several initiatives such as reclassification of positions and have introduced financial bonuses for indeterminate nurses to try to make working in Nunavut more attractive.
Another area we will address is mental health.
Issues such as sexual abuse, family violence, and other anti-social behaviours.
Mr. Chairman these issues are not easily nor quickly solved.
General mental health work is broad and comprehensive.
This year we will direct 4 million to begin to address some of the many issues that lie there.
We will focus on building capacity at the community level.
We will also be focusing great effort on suicide prevention.
Suicide is a disease that is robbing us of our most precious resource, our young people.
But the government will never solve this problem alone.
Every one of us as Nunavummiut have a role to play.
Mr. Chairman, for its part the department will direct resources in the amount of 3.6 million throughout the year into this area.
We have had departmental staff lead workshops and have supported communities where tragically there has been a recent need and will continue to do so.
Mr. Chairman, we must also begin to address the epidemic of tobacco use.
It is one of the main causes of death among our citizens and unfortunately Mr. Chairman, 78 percent of our young people between the ages of 15 to 24 are smokers.
Mr. Chairman, we will direct approximately 3.8 million dollars into work to discourage smoking in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, the development of comprehensive dental program focused specifically on pre-schoolers is also part of our plan for the next fiscal year.
We will support this with 3.1 million dollars.
Obviously, investment in this prevention initiative will benefit all of us in the long run.
Mr. Chairman, the foundation for moving forward in the field of health and social services is working with communities.
To that end we have begun the dialogue with every community in Nunavut to encourage them to be part of the partnership with the government to address health and social services needs.
We will Mr. Chairman; we will work with existing community health and social service committees or encourage the development of such committees to develop joint solutions to community problems.
Mr. Chairman, as I said earlier these activities are a sample of programs and activities of the Department of Health and Social Services which reflect both the Bathurst mandate and the priorities identified during pre-budget consultations and indeed in on-going debate in this House.
In closing Mr. Chairman, we believe that the government funds which are available to our department will be used in the best possible way to help Nunavummiut achieve better health and Mr. Chairman, make better lifestyles choices.
Those Mr. Chairman, are my opening comments under the 2000-2001 budget for the department of Health and Social Services for the government of Nunavut.
Now for the opening remarks by the committee Chairperson Mr. Nutarak.
Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health: Opening Remarks
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I too have a fairly lengthy item to present.
So bear with me.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome the opportunity to give introductory remarks as we begin debate of the main estimates for Health and Social Services.
As Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Culture, Education and Health, our members have taken great interest in matters pertaining to Health and Social Services.
The standing committee has met with the minister on a number of occasions over the last year and has issued two reports with recommendations.
Many of the recommendations have been acted on such as the support for the new nursing education program at Nunavut Arctic College.
We also reviewed draft Bills and legislative proposals.
Members have supported the dissolution of the health boards and we thank the minister for acting on our recommendations to specifically include in his Bill dealing with the dissolution of the three regional health boards, that the minister may enter agreements with the local community health committees.
The standing committee is very supportive of local involvement in the delivery of health and social service matters and we know that this will be essential if we are to deal with some of the problems facing individuals and families in our communities.
As with all departments we also look forward to the decentralization of positions in this department to the smaller communities in Nunavut.
In terms of the main estimates once again we have requested and supported the government's plans for a much more comprehensive budget process so that members will have all the materials well in advance to properly review them.
The standing committee had an opportunity to review draft business plans and capital plans in February and March of this year during fairly extensive discussions with the minister and his officials.
While there were no changes to the main estimates for this department we are very pleased that the business plan tabled yesterday has been significantly amended and reflects many of the concerns raised by members during those meetings.
The plan has significant additions in terms of the concrete plans of the department for the next year and into the future.
It also includes much more relevant indicators of health and well being in our population.
Some of the concerns that were raised by members that we welcome being listed now as actions in the new business plan include the following:
Revising and implementing the Nunavut mental health strategy and ensuring the departmental Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit committee has adequate input.
Developing and distributing Nunavut and Inuit specific materials to address suicide prevention.
Developing a communication strategy that incorporates Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and emphasis personal and community wellness.
Utilise elders as consultants to educate headquarters and regions on traditional practices for integration into programs and services.
Formalise the partnership roles and responsibilities with NSDC and NTI.
Work with other Nunavut government departments to develop the areas of child well being, disability and community wellness.
Develop mentoring opportunities for Inuit who are interested in careers in health care, social services and wellness.
Involve communities in assessment and planning of programs to ensure programs are responsive to community needs.
Encourage communities to be involved in changes to programs and services.
Members will be very pleased to see these actions actually being carried out and they will be interested to hear how the department intends to do so over the coming year.
Members have been very concerned about the accumulated deficit of the regional health boards.
In support of the use of the previous years surplus to pay for them.
However it is the hope of the members that the integration of the health boards into the department will ensure that some cost savings will be realised and that these deficits do not accumulate again.
Member will want to hear how the department addresses this in the coming year.
At the same time members have recognised that new preventative initiatives may cost new money and we have requested that the department bring these forward in an explicit manner.
The Telehealth project is one area where the department is hoping to realise cost savings from travel and at the same time provide specialised services to the smaller communities.
We are supportive of this pilot initiative although members have requested an evaluation so that we can be certain that the expense of establishing this technology is worth the effort.
Members have expressed concern of the turnover of nurses in the local communities and look forward to hearing the results of the minister's consultations to improve retention as well as efforts to train Nunavummiut to become nurses in the future.
Members are very supportive of the community health representatives in the communities taking on more involvement with the local health committees and look forward to hearing about the department's planned initiatives for recruitment and training in this regard.
Members look forward to the development of the long-term capital plan for the department.
Particularly health facilities in their communities.
Members are also concerned as the government proceeds on the P-3 issue. Members are concerned it does so in a more open and transparent way than has been done in the past. While P-3 projects have unique qualities, they nevertheless involve the spending of public money.
Members of the Legislative Assembly need to have all the facts in front of them.
Members look forward to a spirited discussion over the next few weeks and I would like you to know that the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health will prepare and table a report with recommendations before the final vote on the Appropriations Act.
All opening remarks have been made.
I move to report progress and defer this item until tomorrow when we get back into the committee of the whole.
If we can lead the Speaker back into the House.
Thank you Mr. Minister and your staff, we will invite you back tomorrow during committee of the whole.
Thank you Mr. Minister, Ms. Cooper.
We can have the Speaker come back to the House.
Mr. Chairman I would just like to say that I enjoyed the comments made by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health and I and my department officials look forward to a spirited debate and some good questions over the coming weeks as we debate this budget for Health.
Speaker: Returning the Orders of the Day. Item 20. Report of the Committee of the Whole.
Your committee has been considering Bill 13 and Tabled Documents 41 - 1(3), 51 - 1(3), 60 - 1(3), 61 - 1(3) and 68 - 1(3) and would like to report progress.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Chairman. There is a motion on the floor. Is there a seconder for the motion.
Mr. Havioyak is the seconder for the motion.
The motion is in order. All those in favour.
Item 21. Third Reading of Bills. Third Reading of Bills.
Item 22. Orders of the Day. Mr. Clerk.
Meeting of the Standing Committee on Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development at half past six this evening in the Nanuq boardroom and meeting of regular caucus tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.
Orders of the Day, Thursday April 13.
Tabled Document 41 - 1(3)
Tabled Document 51 - 1(3)
Tabled Document 60 – 1(3)
Tabled Document 61 – 1(3)
Tabled Document 68 – 1(3)
This House stands adjourned until April 13, 10.30 a.m.
>>House recessed at 6.08 p.m.
DAY 34
Thursday, April 13, 2000
Pages 1436 - 1525
Opening Prayer 1436
Ministers’ Statements 1436
Members’ Statements 1438
Returns to Oral Questions 1442
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1442
Revert to Ministers’ Statements 1443
Oral Questions 1443
Revert to Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1445
Returns to Written Questions 1445
Tabling of Documents 1445
Notices of Motions 1445
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1445
Point of Order 1445
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1445
Orders of the Day 1445
Thursday April 13, 2000 1436
110 - 1(3): Ministerial Absence (Okalik) 1436
111 - 1(3): July 9 Nunavut Holiday (Okalik) 1436
112 – 1(3): Minister’s Absence (Okalik) 1443
308 - 1(3): Mine Training Opportunities (McLean) 1438
309 - 1(3): Recognition of Gjoa Haven RCMP (Puqiqnak) 1439
310 - 1(3): Status of Previous Capital Items (Barnabas) 1439
311 - 1(3): Condition of Pond Inlet Health Centre (Nutarak) 1440
312 - 1(3): Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Tootoo) 1440
313 - 1(3): Sanikiluaq Search and Rescue (Kattuk) 1441
Return to Question 421 - 1(3): Collection of Corporate Taxes (Ng) 1442
443 – 1(3): Kitikmeot Regional Health Facility (Havioyak) 1443
444 – 1(3): Regional Kivalliq Health Facility (McLean) 1444
445 – 1(3): Nunavut Day Holiday (Irqittuq) 1445
446 – 1(3): Legal Status of Mines (Iqaqrialu) 1445
447 – 1(3): Capital Planning Process (Tootoo) 1445
448 – 1(3): Deletions from Capital Plans (Akesuk) 1445
449 – 1(3): Funding for Search and Rescue (Puqiqnak) 1445
450 - 1(3): Update on Previously Approved Capital Projects (Barnabas) 1445
451 - 1(3): Jury Honoraria (Irqittuq) 1445
452 - 1(3): Nunavut Correctional Facility (McLean) 1445
453 - 1(3): Changes to Main Estimates (Iqaqrialu) 1445
454 - 1(3): Bathurst Mandate (Nutarak) 1445
455 - 1(3): Capital Projects in Jeopardy (Tootoo) 1445
456 - 1(3): July 9 Nunavut Day (Akesuk) 1445
76 – 1(3): Business Plans for Public Works & Services and the Nunavut Housing Corporation 2000/2001 (Ng) 1445
Return to WQ 13 – 1(3): Request for Proposals for Moving Personal Effects (Ng) 1445  Thursday April 13, 2000
Thursday April 13, 2000
Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Olayuk Akesuk, Honourable Jack Anawak, Mr. Levi Barnabas, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Peter Kattuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker (Mr. O'Brien): I would like to ask Mr. Barnabas to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Good morning members, I would like to remind all the members that when the chimes start ringing that they start making their way to the House.