EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley. I was about to stop you. (interpretation ends) General comments. Mr. Alagalak.
Welcome. I’m so glad to see you here so that we will have clarity between us. Looking at the business plan, there are some things that I’m recalling which are not in it.
When I was reading through the main estimates and the budgets for the year and looking at the finances, there are many concerns stemming from the communities.
I will use Arviat as an example. I think most communities are very similar in problems that they encounter as municipalities across Nunavut.
One of the biggest issues I tend to worry over in our community is concerning the shortage of nurses. It is a big issue and professionals such as doctors should be reviewed so that people can check their backgrounds and that people in the communities could be satisfied with their work because no one is doing that to date and we are talking about real professionals here.
They’re trying to save us when they come to the communities and we just don’t want to complain all the time. It is difficult when you are a manager faced with these issues, but you have to work on these problems in your community.
For these reasons, although I agreed with Tagak when he was speaking about having contact offices in the regions of Nunavut, there should be a direct contact for legislative matters available for our people and not run by government bureaucrats.
I thought a great deal about this, although I do not see any item that helps resolve this problem in the main estimates.
As regular MLAs, the people in the communities are really using our offices as liaison work between our people and the Health Department officials. Many people complain that they have gone to the health centre many times but they were never correctly diagnosed and nothing was done. The next thing you know, they are diagnosed with terminal cancer.
For this reason, it’s obvious now that when this is happening, because they have no contact in the community to get answers from, they come to us regular MLAs. The administrators in each region are in the health centres. Personally, I don’t like to go there because I do not deal with health issues on a daily basis.
I would have to go through the minister and report some of the problems, as this is the way I tend to handle problems, and look for answers to the problems that are being encountered in our communities.
I start to think that the administrators and the head nurses need to get assistants in the nursing stations to handle a lot of these issues.
Although the nurses go about their daily duties, since they have policies and procedures, there still ought to be assistants in the nursing stations. If the nurses keep hearing from the people that are sick coming into the nursing station and trying to get pills for whatever their illness is, they have to follow the procedures and policies, and they use their training and experience to diagnose the problem.
This costs a lot of money. It’s a huge issue and some of the communities are really behind in health issues.
For those people that keep going back and forth to the southern hospitals and are given their medications, all kinds of different medications, they just think it’s for this or that. They see the paper and they look at their diagnosis. So they’re given that misdiagnosed chart with the listed medication, a different nurse comes or a different doctor comes in, then the papers of the patient are still being looked after the same way.
This is because of what the chart states.
Even if it is a misdiagnosis, because they can’t get a second opinion or any contacts where they can go to get answers from, they feel something different from their prescribed illness, start to get sick and the medical chart is saying a different thing from the diagnosis. That is when people start to state that there may be a different sickness than what they are diagnosed with, but the health care workers tend to belittle their concerns. The patients state their cases why they should be re-diagnosed.
These things are happening in the communities and they’re starting to think this way.
It’s not going to cost a lot of money when we put somebody in the community. I ask for an initiative such as a pilot project whereby we find a person who speaks Inuktitut to be a contact person in the nursing station, someone who is friendly, welcoming and available to explain to the person about their health concern.
The patients are sent out time and again, and they keep getting different reports when they go to the nursing station, compared to what they are feeling inside their bodies. That person would be involved with the nurse, the doctors, and the patient, perhaps even monthly.
This would really alleviate some of our peoples’ concerns and there would be fewer complaints about our nurses and doctors. We have to address these concerns because this highlights some of the issues we face and it is not good to be antagonistic towards someone who is trying to save our lives and assist them so that we can resolve these matters.
I would like to see this suggestion implemented: hire a health liaison officer in the nursing station to be a contact person for our people in the communities so that the patients can come and talk to that person when they have a medical concern. This person would then take the new concerns to the nurses and doctors as to what’s happening with them.
If a patient’s condition has changed, then the medical treatment must stop because there may be a new medical issue. I believe that it has to be dealt with and if we do not get this position and something happens to one of our constituents, then who would be at fault?
As I stated before, if we can identify who said what to that person and if there was someone at fault, we can find out. Also, it would be easier to work with our health professionals if we had a liaison worker because our people would then start working with the medical staff again.
I believe that it’s not going to cost huge sums of money and this could be used as a pilot project. Perhaps start in four or five communities and see if medical issues and concerns lessen in those communities. However, these Inuit individuals working in the health centres would be meeting with the nurses and patients monthly and help them to understand how they could be provided more support, perhaps to figure out what the patient’s problem is.
I’m in support of the professional health workers and also with the business plan, but it should be more sensitive to the people out there since people are getting all of these issues at the last minute.
We should be looking at solutions to issues, not just more bureaucracy but my reason is this: I’m not going to run to the health centres to tell them what to do or reprimand them after what I heard about certain people because that’s not my job.
Even though I’m a member of the legislature, I don’t have that authority to do so, but I have the ability to help to solve the problems facing my constituents and that’s the only thing that I could say.
I believe that we should be very sensitive.
Rather than being dissatisfied with the nurses, we should start diminishing that feeling of distrust between the public and the health professionals.
I’ll conclude with that for now. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Alagalak. General comments. Mr. Tootoo.
I welcome the minister and his officials here.
I know that over the years, the Department of Health I think is up here first because probably one of the biggest budgets in the department, it has been pointed out by a number of my colleagues that it seems it’s always broken the law by over-spending their budget.
For years, not only with the Department of Health but with other government departments as well, I have been questioning, “How realistic are these numbers that we’re looking at in these budgets that are presented before us?”
I think that’s something that’s been a concern of mine long before any of the officials that are here today were there but it’s a reoccurring thing.
One of the items I mentioned a couple of years ago is that I think what we need to really look at doing as a government, I know how our budgets are based on historical numbers and then given targets based on those historical numbers rather than over time; maybe we should look at, in certain areas, is something like a zero-based budgeting type of process to figure out what exactly we need for that department or for whatever department.
I think Health, in some areas, could benefit from that.
One of the other concerns I have and have had with, as some of my other colleagues have pointed out in their comments, is just the staffing.
Over the last three years, we have seen a mass exodus of people from the department; I looked at, in two weeks in December, I think there were like eight senior staff positions advertised for the Department of Health for two Executive Directors, five Directors, and an Assistant Deputy Minister.
Those kinds of exodia make one wonder what’s really going on there to see things like that occur.
I have also seen, over the last three years, a steady increase on the reliance of agency nurses.
A few years ago, we were finally getting things under control; we all thought.
That year, as Chair of Government Operations and Accountability, we had the Auditor General’s hearings and the lead government witness said, “Finally, we expect Health to come in in the black,” and lo and behold, they never find out until after year end that they weren’t.
Since then, it seems to have just gotten worse. We have increased funding; I think that there is, overall, a $26 million increase in their base budget thanks to something that Mr. Picco pushed for when he was the Health Minister and got, and still, these things are occurring.
Again, that chronic occurrence of that happening leaves me to really question the integrity of the numbers. I think it’s something that we really have to have a serious look at.
We have seen the huge increase and demand on agency nurses, so I’ll be looking to find out, let’s say over the last three years, how that demand has grown.
We have the three regional health facilities that have opened recently.
How much of it is operational? How much of it closed down because we don’t have staff?
Recently, I heard the operating room here is shut down because there are no operating nurses. These are the things here. I have talked to two of the operating nurses that said that they just quit because they had enough.
I will be looking for some clarification on exactly what’s open and what’s not in the regional health facilities.
There are a lot of concerns out there and I think we have to look at, as one of my colleagues mentioned earlier, especially, the significant amount of resources that this government spends in that area.
It really needs to be looked at.
One of the other areas I think that needs some closer attention is the fact that there needs to be more emphasis on mental health and social services, I mean psychologists and things like that, for kids in our school system.
There never seems to be any consistency in those fields.
If you have a young person referred to go see a psychologist, they’ll see one person once and the next time someone else.
We all know that, especially in that area, the importance of having some stability and continuing opportunity to participate in that kind of help for those individuals who need it.
I think that’s extremely important. If you look at our high suicide rate, it’s a good example that those services are missing.
I’m not saying that would resolve it, but hopefully, if it helps in one case, it’s worth it.
I think that that’s an important area that we need to look at.
I will have lots of other questions and comments to make, Mr. Chairman, but that’s it for now, other than something that I have stated over and over in the last few years is we have some serious concerns with the department and the direction that it’s been going over the last few years.
I’m really looking forward to actually having the Auditor General go in and do her audit on the department to, hopefully, be able to give us some good information to be able to affect some positive changes in the department that is one of the largest drawers on our resources because I think we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to try and make it work properly and look at it objectively.
With that, I’ll finish my opening comments there. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I don’t have too much to state with my general comment but I would like to acknowledge an individual who just came here and who’s sitting in the Gallery, Leah Kituqqaq from Repulse Bay. Her husband used to be my campaign manager.
I guess that concludes the opening comments, so given that, I’ll say with only three ministers here, I should make a motion to delete the budget but maybe I’ll just make a motion to report progress instead.
There’s a motion on the floor and the motion is not debatable.
I’ll now rise to report progress.
Going to the Orders of the Day. Item 21. Report of Committee of the Whole.
Your committee has been considering Bill 23 and the Main Estimates, and would like to report progress.
This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 22, I’m sorry, February 22, and we will reconvene at 10:00 in the morning.
>>House adjourned at 17:21
Friday, February 22, 2008
Pages 2791 – 2839
Members’ Statements 2792
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2798
Oral Questions 2799
Tabled Documents 2819
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 2820
First Reading of Bills 2820
Second Reading of Bills 2821
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2822
Point of Order 2830
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2838
Orders of the Day 2838
Friday, February 22, 2008 2791
130 – 2(4): Prevention Services Open House (Akesuk) 2791
131 – 2(4): Nunavut Energy Efficiency Act (Picco) 2791
308 – 2(4): Order of Canada Recipient – Larry Audlaluk (Barnabas) 2792
309 – 2(4): 9th Annual Kitikmeot Trade Show (Peterson) 2793
310 – 2(4): Nunavut Ombudsman: An Idea Whose Time Has Come (Arreak) 2794
311 – 2(4): LED Water Lights (Okalik) 2795
312 – 2(4): Rankin Inlet State of Emergency (Curley) 2796
313 – 2(4): Congratulations to Aurora Players (Tootoo) 2796
314 – 2(4): Constituency Meeting Items (Picco) 2797
384 – 2(4): Breakdown of the $89.1 Million Contingency Fund (Tootoo) 2799
385 – 2(4): Emergency Funding for Plumbing Repairs (Curley) 2801
386 – 2(4): Western Hudson Bay Polar Bear Quote (Alagalak) 2802
387 – 2(4): Protocol to be Followed During GN Office Renovations (Peterson) 2804
388 – 2(4): Relocation of Repulse Bay Landfill Site (Mapsalak) 2806
389 – 2(4): Photo Identification (Kattuk) 2807
390 – 2(4): Closure of Grise Fiord School (Barnabas) 2809
391 – 2(4): Need for a New Community Hall for Baker Lake (Simailak) 2810
392 – 2(4): Business Consultations on Energy Efficiency Bill (Curley) 2812
393 – 2(4): Pension Adjustment Announcement (Tootoo) 2814
394 – 2(4): GN Assistance to Grise Fiord Situation (Barnabas) 2815
395 – 2(4): Lead Department to Deal with Poverty (Peterson) 2816
178 – 2(4): F/P/T, Ministers Responsible for Status of Women – July 9 to 11, 2007 Iqaluit (Aglukkaq) 2819
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Notice 2820
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Notice 2820
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – First Reading 2820
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – First Reading 2821
Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Second Reading 2821
Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2007-2008 – Second Reading 2822
Bill 23 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2008-2009 – Consideration in Committee – Health & Social Services 2823
Speaker (Hon. Peter Kilabuk)(interpretation): Good morning, Members.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, first of all, Mr. Simailak.
Good morning, Mr. Premier, Ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Minister’s Statement 130 – 2(4): Prevention Services Open House (Akesuk)
The Workers’ Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (WCB) values openness and transparency. On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, the WCB will open its doors to employers, workers, and the community.
As partners in safety, the WCB wants northern stakeholders to be aware of the safety programming and services available. The open house, Trail Map to Safety, will inform attendees on the prevention services offered by the WCB.
I personally welcome fellow members of the Legislative Assembly to attend this open house, and witness the efforts the WCB is making to achieve its mission – promote workplace safety and care for injured workers.
Minister’s Statement 131 – 2(4): Nunavut Energy Efficiency Act (Picco)
I’m sure there are some members waiting to hear this.
Mr. Speaker, Bill 13 was reviewed by the standing committee last session and I do want to sincerely thank all of the MLAs for their feedback and their suggestions. Based on the MLA recommendations, as well as some input that we’ve had from the public, I will, Mr. Speaker, be withdrawing Bill 13.
But, Mr. Speaker, I will be revising it to make it more comprehensive as suggested by the committee.
Mr. Speaker, I will introduce a new piece of legislation this spring that will set broader energy efficiency standards for household lighting and appliances.
Amendments will also be later introduced to set energy efficiency standards for office equipment, buildings and equipment such as boilers and furnaces.
Mr. Speaker, this proposed legislation will be an important part of Nunavut’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency and energy conservation in our territory.
We know that switching to more efficient lighting and household appliances, such as refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers and so on, will result in a measurable reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions and this will also mean less demand on our diesel-fuelled electricity generators.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, Nunavut’s dependence on oil is expensive and not sustainable. As a government, we need to lead and demonstrate our commitment to cutting our greenhouse gas emissions but also, as the committee has suggested, in incorporating energy efficiencies.
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to further debate and suggestions on this proposed legislation. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 308 – 2(4): Order of Canada Recipient – Larry Audlaluk (Barnabas)
I rise today in honour of one of my constituents in the High Arctic, who recently received the Order of Canada. Larry Audlaluk was awarded the Order of Canada.
I am very proud of him; he has worked and struggled hard for what he has achieved. I wish him well in his endeavours.
It is very humbling to see one of our residents receive the Order of Canada; one who lives in the High Arctic.
He strived to do things for his people in the High Arctic, and for that reason, he was awarded the Order of Canada by the Governor General.
I would like to congratulate him on behalf of Nunavummiut.
He had voiced his concerns over the radio broadcast.
I am very proud of him for the work he has done up to now, and I would like to recognize him today and honour him.
Member’s Statement 309 – 2(4): 9th Annual Kitikmeot Trade Show (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about another successful Kitikmeot Trade Show event that was held in Cambridge Bay two weeks ago.
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister of Finance’s budget speech earlier this week, he correctly recognized that, and I quote, “Cambridge Bay is an example of a community that is poised for rapid private sector economic development.”
Mr. Speaker, I have long believed that our communities cannot rely entirely on government growth to sustain our economy.
This is an artificial economy that could collapse if a government resorts to cutbacks to curb ballooning deficits.
Mr. Speaker, a diversified economy is healthy for a community and a region.
Mr. Speaker, the Kitikmeot Trade Show has grown tremendously since we held the first event in 2000.
Two weeks ago, there were 45 exhibitors in attendance representing a broad range of sectors: tourism, mining, construction, airlines, arts & crafts, and government. The venue was packed every day with visitors and residents alike.
Mr. Speaker, the theme of the trade show was Business Investing in Youth. Every year, the organizers arrange for ten youth from the Kitikmeot to attend the trade show and meet business people and attend presentations.
Mr. Speaker, our young people are our future business leaders. They will start and lead businesses that will grow and diversify our economy and create economic wealth for our residents and communities.
Mr. Speaker, the announcement in the budget speech that a new and expanded airport project will commence in Cambridge Bay this year was great news for the Kitikmeot. It will form the cornerstone of a strong regional economy for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating Cambridge Bay on hosting the Kitikmeot Trade Show and fostering economic development in our region.
Member’s Statement 310 – 2(4): Nunavut Ombudsman: An Idea Whose Time Has Come (Arreak)
I rise today to offer some thoughts and ideas on the relationship between the government and the public.
Mr. Speaker, in today’s world, the role of government in our constituents’ lives has never been greater.
At times, it can be difficult for citizens to know who to turn to for help when they cannot resolve a situation or a dispute.
As Members of the Legislative Assembly, it often seems that we must be more than legislators. At times, we need to be mediators, facilitators, counsellors and investigators.
Mr. Speaker, I noted with interest that the federal government announced yesterday the creation of a new position called the “Taxpayers’ Ombudsman.”
This position is supposed to help Canadians in their dealings with our favourite federal department, the Canada Revenue Agency.
Mr. Speaker, in Nunavut, we have a number of independent officers of the Legislative Assembly who do excellent work.
We also have a new Human Rights Tribunal.
However, I believe that we should give serious consideration to establishing the position of a Nunavut Ombudsman, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, every province and territory except for P.E.I., the NWT and Nunavut has an ombudsman. There are many different models that we can look at in terms of powers, roles and reporting relationships.
I believe that the next Legislative Assembly should explore the idea of creating an independent ombudsman’s office that can impartially investigate citizens’ complaints and concerns.
This position could also have a role to play in mediating disputes and achieving fair resolutions.
Mr. Arreak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.
I believe that this work should reflect many of our traditional values. The position could report to the Legislative Assembly on an annual basis and make recommendations for changes to government programs and laws for us as elected MLAs to consider.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the time for a Nunavut Ombudsman has come.
Member’s Statement 311 – 2(4): LED Water Lights (Okalik)
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues. (interpretation ends) My Minister of Energy made a comment on a recent bill that we dealt with in terms of trying to address our energy soundness.
When our colleague for Iqaluit Centre was commenting on Bill 13, in terms of the need to have water lights in all our homes today, unfortunately, I want it clear for the record that we do not need a 60-watt light bulb to provide our water light in our homes.
I looked in my neighbourhood and I find it interesting that instead of using a 60-watt light bulb, today, you can use a .8 light bulb, an LED light bulb to provide water light for our homes, which is a lot more energy efficient than wasting energy with a 60-watt light bulb.
So I want to make that clear for the record and for the people of Nunavut that not to be mislead by well-meaning statements that they can use other technology today.