EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, this past weekend saw the first landings of First Air’s new ATR aircraft in the communities of Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay.
I am optimistic that new airport infrastructure and increased use of modern aircraft with higher capacity and lower environmental impact will make a positive difference.
I am also hopeful that the Government of Canada will fully recognize its responsibilities to the High Arctic with respect to both physical and human infrastructure.
I am also optimistic that my constituents may soon have more choices and lower prices when it comes to air carriers. It is my understanding that competition may soon be a reality in my region.
Mr. Speaker, I thank all members for their recognition of the challenges facing the High Arctic communities that I am so proud to represent.
Member’s Statement 132 – 3(3): Thirty High School Graduates of Rankin Inlet (Kusugak)
Thank you for this opportunity.
When I was in Rankin Inlet this summer, we celebrated the graduates of grade 12 at that time.
I was invited to take part, and I am very pleased and proud to announce that there were 30 graduates.
I am proud of the students and the parents.
Even though there are a lot of them, I would like to announce their names and I am sure that you’re also proud of them.
The graduates are Molly Aggark, her brother Stewart Aggark, Kutsiq Aliyak, Ben Angoshadluk, Ashley Aupaluktuq-Burton, who is my colleague’s niece, Gordon Aupilardjuk, Kayla Bruce, Douglas Gordon, his sister Jamila Gordon, Sonya Innukshuk, Stephanie Irkootee, Jeremiah Issaluk, David Kakuktinniq, Michael Kent, Kaneena Kusugak, Rico Manitok, Arsene Niakrok, Theresa Niakrok, Gary Noolook, Kris Okpatauyak, R.J. Oolooyuk, Nash Paniyuk, Ashley Petryshen, Savannah Pilakapsi, Cory Samok, James Sandy, Mary Tagalik, Roger Tagoona, Christopher Tanuyak, and Nathan Tulugak.
Those are the grade 12 graduates this summer in Rankin Inlet.
In Whale Cove, there are going to be two graduates this December and they are Joshua Ussak and Joey Arualak.
I would also like to congratulate them. I am very proud and I hope they have a bright future.
Member’s Statement 133 – 3(3): Happy Birthday to Daughter (Arreak)
I would like to wish a happy birthday to my daughter and I’m not sure how old she is.
You think of your children as little children the whole time and love them all the time. One hopes that they are well treated and they treat others well at all times.
I wish Sheena a very happy birthday and I hope that we continue to grow up together.
Member’s Statement 134 – 3(3): Government of Canada Scrapping Long Gun Registry (Curley)
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I envy the people of Rankin Inlet for being able to enjoy the outdoors.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support and I was happy to hear the federal government announce that the long gun registry is going to be scrapped.
It seems this long gun registry had an unfortunate effect on many Nunavutmiut who abide by the law and keep their guns locked, many of whom are full-time hunters. It is they who supply essential food for themselves as well as their communities as a whole.
As a result, I am very pleased with the federal government announcement and again for all Canadians.
If you want to obtain a gun, you are still required to have a licence and you have to use your licence if you’re going to be buying bullets.
Again, I would like to emphasize that safety is a key issue to abide by the rules, to put your guns in secure locations, and to teach children and youth how to properly handle a firearm.
First of all, we have to make sure that we are diligent and focus on safety aspects with guns.
Return to Oral Question 139 – 3(3): Search and Rescue in Nunavut (Kusugak)
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In return to a question asked by my friend, Mr. Ron Elliot, MLA for Quttiktuq, the question was asked on October 18, 2011.
In response to a question raised on Tuesday, October 18 regarding:
How the Government of Nunavut is working with federal authorities to strengthen search and rescue capacity in Nunavut; and
What specific priorities the GN wants to see addressed in the next agreement on emergency response and preparedness.
In response to the first part, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Nunavut welcomes the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Marine Search and Rescue in the Arctic.
Currently the GN is responsible for ground search and rescue through the RCMP taking the lead, supported by local community volunteers trained for search and rescue.
There is also significant involvement by other federal departments and agencies and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, which is a not-for-profit group.
Although the Government of Canada signed an agreement on cooperation on aeronautical and marine search and rescue in the Arctic this past May, the agreement does not address related issues, such as oil spills and land-based rescues.
The Government of Nunavut expects to receive charity on their role in this agreement from the federal government over time.
The Government of Nunavut is part of a northern search and rescue working group working on search and rescue issues particular to the north.
The GN is also part of the federal/provincial/territorial group for emergency management dealing with all emergency management issues as well as search and rescue.
In response to the latter part of the question, Mr. Speaker, the specific priorities the Government of Nunavut wants to see addressed in the next agreement on emergency response and preparedness include the following:
Improved communications, including allocation of bandwidth for emergency response;
Mitigation funding;
Enhanced marine safety, as highlighted in Canada’s 2010 Speech from the Throne; and
Consideration of the addition of a small dedicated northern search and rescue contingent stationed in Nunavut.
Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley.
Return to Oral Question 158 – 3(3): Emergency Preparedness at Nunavut Health Centres (Curley)
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I have a return to Oral Question 158 – 3(3).
On October 19, 2011, the Member for Quttiktuq asked an oral question in the legislature regarding emergency preparedness in terms of assessing electronic health information at Nunavut health centres.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the electronic health records system has a number of procedures in place to provide redundancy for the electronic health record. The system currently has redundant power supply for both network and server infrastructure, as well as multiple site disaster recovery for health care data stored in the electronic health record.
Mr. Speaker, the project team has implemented downtime procedures which allow for clinicians, I can translate it to technicians, to transition to a mutual-based process which still provides access to the essential information required to provide patient care.
Currently electronic information is still printed as backup and the manual medical chart is used for all downtime procedures. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Moving on in the Orders of the Day, Item 5.
I would like to take this time to acknowledge one of the visitors in the Gallery. From my community is my nephew David Saila Qayaaq.
Since his youth, he has been helping the youth in my community.
I’m sure you have seen him on television when he was dancing.
I would like to acknowledge these people in the Gallery today: Rhoda Cunningham, Kakki Peter, Christina Stoney, and Malachi Arreak.
They work on our Hansard at the Innirvik office. Some of them are interpreter/translators.
They all live in my constituency, so I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge them.
Also from my constituency is Chris Cousins.
I would also like to welcome them to the Gallery.
Just so that everyone knows, these are the individuals who give you the Blues.
At this time, I would like to recognize some visitors in the Gallery.
First of all, although this individual is here because of work, I would like to recognize my cousin Christina Stoney.
Every time my wife and I come here, she always is receptive.
As well, I have known Malachi Arreak for quite a long time.
I was a negotiator with him during the IIBAs and prior to that, I used to work with him. He has never changed as a person.
Thank you, Mr. Oshutapik.
It’s not too often that I get to rise and recognize people from my constituency in Hudson Bay.
However, today I would like to recognize two individuals who have given up their jobs in our community to come to Iqaluit and start their first year NTEP courses.
Please welcome Caroline Meeko and Louisa Meeko.
Welcome to the Gallery. Item 5.
I would like to take this time to acknowledge a person from my community, my maternal cousin Malachi Arreak and his sister Rhoda Arreak-Cunningham. Welcome.
Moving on in the Orders of the Day, Item 6.
Question 191 – 3(3): Process for Resolving Concerns about Health Care Service Delivery (Tapardjuk)
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon, my colleagues and constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach.
Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
We all recall during the interim period before our territory was created that we had regional health boards.
Whenever residents had problems or complaints with any medically-related matter, either from nurses, doctors, or medical services, they were able to bring it to the regional health board for resolution.
I know we no longer have any health boards.
I seem to recall that every community has a health committee which is a subcommittee of the hamlet council.
Mr. Speaker, I have come to understand that when the council’s health subcommittee holds a meeting, they can formally request medical staff to meet with them to discuss community issues.
As these health centre staff are government employees, whether they are nurses or doctors, they have to be available when they are requested to attend meetings.
This is based on my understanding of the current set-up, Mr. Speaker, so my question to the minister is: is my understanding of this correct?
Yes, I believe I understood your question.
First of all, as to whether your understanding is correct or not, I don’t believe I can make that judgment. If you have any ideas or concerns, we welcome all comments and concerns.
Health committees are all subcommittees of the local hamlet councils. As such, hamlet councils appoint the committee members.
What I can state as the Minister of Health and Social Services is that we will review the consideration to try and utilize these subcommittees.
We want to work with them and this is an ongoing process in trying to increase their involvement. Social services were the focus of prior meetings.
Once the mandates have been finalized, we will start working with them. I can only respond to that effect.
Nonetheless, with regard to your question as to whether your understanding is correct or not on this issue, I don’t think I can make that assessment and I can’t respond to it.
The reason I asked that question is that the 2011-12 budget of the Department of Health and Social Services submitted to the Legislative Assembly for approval included a fund of $250,000 specific to these subcommittees of the hamlet councils.
Let me get some clarification, Mr. Speaker. What exactly is required to create these subcommittees of the local hamlets that require this $250,000 expenditure specific to health?
What is their mandate?
We are aware of the committees and we provide them with support and training.
Public health is responsible for the professional health nurses and they’re responsible for preventative work.
They provide that information, they provide support, and they are available when there are emergencies. So that funding is for that line item.
In regard to the $200,000 that you’re asking about, the numbers for communities have increased from the previous administration of the government going back to 1999.
They were provided with $5,000 per community.
Over the past two years, we have increased the figure to $10,000 for community health committees towards their O&M costs.
As I stated earlier, we want to improve their roles and responsibilities, but we still haven’t completed that section.
The work is ongoing. I’m sure that they’re going to have more responsibilities, as I stated earlier.
Your second supplementary question, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Mr. Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. As the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, he is always receiving questions.
Though neither of us are doctors, one of the biggest frustrations that we face as MLAs is trying to help our constituents who are not satisfied with their treatment or diagnosis. We are the first ones to hear their complaints and we try our best to provide them.
Unfortunately we are in no position to determine if their illness is bona fide or not.
In southern Canada, Mr. Speaker, I can obtain a second opinion if I’m not satisfied with my diagnosis.
Here in Nunavut, we don’t have the same degree of service and only one hospital.
With that being the case, can the minister say if there is recourse for residents who are not satisfied their physician’s diagnosis or when they’re told their medical condition is the result of aging?
What can they do then?
We should always keep this in consideration both as members as well as the department.
Your comment about whether they would be involved in handling complaints is something we have thought about.
However, we ran into something of an obstacle. If they were to operate in that manner, then some of the more private information might be disseminated to the public.
That is one of our concerns. Perhaps we should consider other government staff.
When we had a meeting in Rankin Inlet in the fall last year, we were told to look for a privacy watchdog.
There are confidential health matters that cannot be disseminated, which causes us a lot of difficulty.
We will use local committees and we will give them a larger mandate to deal with these issues.
I cannot say at this time how it will be set up.
That’s all I can state and hopefully I understood the member’s question correctly.
There is no question that this will have to be examined very carefully. It is very important to keep the hamlets informed so that they will know exactly what’s the mandate of their health committees.
We all know that when our people are ill or their loved ones are ill, they need to be fully informed as to the exact nature of the illness.
Language barriers and the need for interpreters at times pose a difficult challenge.
For example, some of my constituents have to go for routine tests.
It is important that health professionals take the time to clearly explain the purpose of these tests and to take the time to clearly explain the meaning of the test results in order to allay their fears.
As you and I know, this is a common problem.
I want to ask the minister if he can indicate what orientation is provided to health professionals to help ensure that they can communicate with our residents in a clear and culturally respectful manner.
That is a very good question and I am very happy that the member has raised it.
These are issues that we have deliberated upon. There seems to be two parts to your question.
First of all, I want to speak about an ombudsman for handling complaints.
As I stated earlier, we want to try to fix that issue. I have told my staff personally, at least at the deputy minister level, that we have to try to look for a model that local communities can emulate.
I was informed that if it were located at the regional office, then it would be a lot easier.
However, some of the communities would not be able to reach that particular office if they’re located in the community.
So we’re trying to look at a more community oriented system.
With respect to the communication issue, we have deliberated and considered that option with respect to doctors’ and nurses’ communications with medical patients.
I believe you also know that there is a lot of documentation that is involved with government. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is one of the principles, but I believe that we have to make it more formal.
When Alex Campbell was my deputy minister, I used to tell him that whenever new staff arrived in Iqaluit and before moving on to different departments, they ought to be given an orientation tour on what the community is like.
We will try to fix this up. When I have more to report, I will speak to that matter.
Question 192 – 3(3): Administration of the NNI Policy (Ugyuk)
I would like say “good afternoon” to the residents of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven. It’s past lunch hour in our region.
I would like to say “hello” to Sammurtok, my friend.
(interpretation ends) Section 17.6 of the NNI Policy requires that a comprehensive review of the policy take place every five years. The GN and NTI are required to jointly undertake these reviews.
The first review took place in 2003. In March of this year, the minister tabled a report on the 2008 review.
Can the minister tell the House what changes to the NNI Policy have been made as a result of the most recent joint review?
Mr. Speaker, of course, section 14 of the NNI Policy states that monitoring and enforcement procedures will be developed and applied by the Government of Nunavut.
To help achieve this, Mr. Speaker, a new position has been created within NNI and we have put in a new position for the implementation and accounting analysis.
That’s one of the things that we have come across to assist in enforcing the NNI Policy.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The report that the minister tabled in the Legislative Assembly earlier this year indicated that one of the issues that was raised during the review of the NNI Policy concerned so-called “shell companies.”
The report described these companies as ones that are “legally registered as Nunavut-based or Inuit-owned, but the day-to-day operations or decision-making may not be with Nunavummiut or Inuit.”
The report indicated that concerns have been raised that these companies are “abusing” the process.
I do recognize that the responsibility for determining whether a company is Inuit owned rests with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
Does the minister know if our partners in NTI are addressing this issue?
Mr. Speaker, the NNI Secretariat that I’m responsible for under my department is more or less to enforce and maintain the NNI Registry.
She’s absolutely right when she states that we don’t have that authority as a government for the Inuit owned companies. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated does the registry for Inuit owned companies.
For the other issue that she raised there, the other point is that the NNI Secretariat, again I’ve got say, is just for enforcement and maintenance. We provide advice to the appeal board and we don’t have any authority other than that.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Under the NNI Policy, a contracting appeals board is required to be established.
On March 22, 2010, the minister tabled the 2008-09 annual report for the board. Can he tell us today when he will be tabling the 2009-2010 and 2010-11 annual reports for the Contracting Appeals Board?
Thank you for the question. At this time, I can’t make that commitment.
We do work with other stakeholders, especially Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. Once we have a certain degree of consensus on some of these issues, I’ll be sure to inform the member of that.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As the minister is aware, the Contracting Appeals Board is currently hearing an appeal on the award of the air ambulance services contract in the Kitikmeot.
Will the minister commit to publicly releasing the results of the board’s decision, including the reasons for its decision, as soon as he has received its report on the appeal, yes or no?
At this time, I can’t make that commitment. As the member knows, it’s still under review.
It’s in front of the appeals board, so I can’t comment further than that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 193 – 3(3): Preparing Grade 12 Students for Post Secondary (Ningeongan)
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I would like to say “good afternoon” to the residents of Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet, as well as all Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, on Friday, October 21, 2011, I asked questions on the steps that are taken by the Department of Education to ensure that our grade 12 graduates have the necessary courses and qualifications that they need to pursue higher education.
I was disappointed that the minister’s response indicated that attendance, parents, and even the timeline for the implementation of the Education Act were the reasons for this situation.
I do not accept these excuses.
Mr. Speaker, our education system should be equipped to prepare our students, beginning in kindergarten and all the way through to grade 12, with the skills and knowledge to enable them to begin post-secondary education upon graduation.
It appears to me that our education system does not do this for our children.
Mr. Speaker, in December of 2009, I asked a former Minister of Education what resources and services were provided to grade 12 students to prepare them for post-secondary programs.
At that time, the minister stated, “We are working on upgrading the system so that Nunavut graduates can enter those post-secondary institutions...”
I had hoped and anticipated that changes would be made to address this critical issue.
Can the Minister of Education confirm that steps have been taken to upgrade Nunavut’s education system to ensure that grade 12 graduates have the necessary courses and qualifications to enter post-secondary programs?
In Nunavut, we want any graduate from any high school to be on par with other grade 12 graduates in Canada. (interpretation ends) Currently Nunavut’s graduation requirements closely follow those of Alberta at this time.
Students must complete 100 credits of secondary course work. Courses can be three, four, or five credits, depending on the total courses’ hours.
Each credit is equivalent to at least 25 hours of instruction. As students enter high school, it is very important that they look at the course choices and consider what they want to do later on in school as a career.
That’s a critical point, really, so that the student can be assisted in the areas that he or she might need extra help.
To assist this planning, every student is required to do a career and program plan by the time they are in grade 9. This will help them to decide which course they need to take in high school. Their plan should be updated every year, with help from their family and their teachers and, if need be, extra help from the school personnel.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, it is very important to provide support to the student while he or she is completing grade 12 and to prepare them for post-secondary schools, to prepare them academically, and to prepare them to take the required courses if they should choose to go into other career fields.
For example, in the fall in August and up to December, they choose which courses they would like to take when they’re in the higher grades.
The courses they choose determine their academic preparation and credits they would earn.
(interpretation ends) Course selection in high school will have an impact on what options are available to the students, including if they get accepted into the post-secondary studies. I would like to, at this point, illustrate those kinds of courses.
To graduate, students must complete 15 credits in English in grades 10 to 12, 15 credits in Aulajaaqtut Wellness in grades 10 to 12 as well, three credits in physical education, three credits in fine arts, 10 credits in social studies in grades 10 and 11, 10 credits in math in grades 10 and 11, five credits in career and technology studies, 10 credits in courses of their choice at the grade 12 level, and 19 other credits of their choice.