EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We have been working on this as a priority as there is a need in the communities and we have been looking for funds.
However, in regard to his question, yes, I will ask my staff to keep Pond Inlet’s recreation committee informed and show them where they are at in the design stage for their arena.
I made a mistake previously, I think I said the arena is 30 or 40 years old, so I stand to be corrected.
But it’s evident that our arena is the oldest one since it was designed back in the NWT days.
It’s probably not the oldest arena in the NWT, but it’s the oldest one in Nunavut and the whole building and the shell is made entirely of steel.
I would like to ask the minister in regard to Mr. Ningeongan’s Member’s Statement, the $500 million in funding from the federal government.
Do you have an idea of when the application will be approved or do we have to wait for a federal budget in order to obtain this funding?
When we heard that Pond Inlet got their arena, we were so envious back in those days.
Now, we’re no longer envious of that arena.
With regard to the recreation funds from the federal government, they haven’t told us where and when that funding will be made available, but it would be nice to know.
There are various programs or funding for recreation made available by the federal government. I don’t know when we expect to see those funds.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): We usually play hockey during the winter.
Yes, we envy them; it’s good to be envious. If you would like to see the stars while you’re playing hockey in the winter, you can play hockey at the same time as you watch the stars in our arena, but it’s extremely cold at that time of year.
Since the design stage is 98 percent complete, it’s shovel-ready, almost ready to begin construction.
Prior to the ships arriving in the spring, do you expect to see that $500 million from the federal government?
I don’t want to expect to see it, even though we would like to expect to see it.
I know that they will make an announcement to us and I’m sure that our finance minister will be informed as soon as the funding is made available.
We wish to see that occur, as you have stated, and that’s all I can say.
Question 088 – 3(1): Assistance to Purchase Sports Trophies (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Sports North.
We have to provide support for our constituents and plan for our descendents and their future.
In Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk, they have gymnasiums and they obviously use it for various physical activities, which are good for the body, mind, and spirit.
So I now have a question for the Minister responsible for Sports North as I believe they raise funds for such activities.
In Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk, we would like to get support for two cups for volleyball and two for soccer, both for boys and girls.
I would first like to ask the minister if it’s possible to provide support for that because I believe they have funding for those types of things.
I’m not sure I understood his question and I want to respond properly.
He seems to be referring to a cup. Was his question about funds for the creation of a cup?
So I would like to ask if he can clarify his question, Mr. Speaker.
The minister would like you to rephrase your question, Mr. Ningark.
Yes, he understood clearly.
I would like to see a cup representing the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, or even the Government of Nunavut emblem, that can be vied for by the communities. Even if we were to have one just for each community, it would allow the hockey players of Nunavut to practice in a tournament setting so that when they leave for competitions, they are better prepared.
The minister did understand my question.
This is the very first request I have ever heard related to a territorial cup.
We have various funding programs for recreational activities, whether it’s for sports competitions or other competitions that highlight artistry.
I will have to get back to the member as I will have to review the funds to see which one would be most suited to meeting his request for assistance.
Therefore, I will have to take his question as notice for the time being and I would like to have all the members hear the response. So once I have that information, I will respond accordingly, Mr. Speaker.
The minister has taken your question as notice.
Question 089 – 3(1): Medical Travel Benefits (Aupaluktuq)
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to direct my questions to the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Services Tagak Curley in relation to my colleagues’, Hon. Members Mr. Schell and Elliott, raising the issue of the Medical Travel Policy.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the minister circulated a copy of his department’s Medical Travel Policy to all regular members.
I would like to thank the minister for that information.
As a government policy document, it is not that easy to read. I am sure that many members of the public would have difficulty deciphering it.
It would be a good idea for the government to provide public information booklets for medical travel clients to explain these policies more clearly and include basic information and phone numbers of where to go, who to call, and so on, if they have difficulties during their travels.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister is aware, a big concern of the residents of Baker Lake is that the airport is a long way from the community.
Can the minister clarify what ground transportation benefits are provided by his department when medical travel clients from Baker Lake need to get to the airport and back?
That is our government policy, but the delivery program is for all the communities’ medical travel.
We do have that information and phone numbers in the community health centres.
The policy is mainly a guide for the government and management.
I’m sure that you could understand that if you were a lawyer.
But the support provided for medical travel comes from Non-Insured Health Benefits for Inuit and other aboriginal people.
In the policy, it states that if there’s an emergency, then ground transportation to the airport is provided.
I can tell my colleague that we have been continually reviewing the policy and we would like to make improvements to it. Even though it’s not an emergency case, some patients who are unable to walk have to take a taxi to and from the airport.
I would like to tell the member that in June, I will be making an announcement in regard to taxi services during our session.
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) According to Schedule 1 of the Medical Travel Policy document, ground transportation benefits are provided to medical travel clients who are indigent.
The dictionary defines indigent as “poor.”
In my opinion, if someone does not have enough money to pay someone or a taxi to take them to the airport so that they can travel to get the medical services they desperately need, then they are “poor.”
Can the minister clarify how his department verifies whether or not a medical travel client is “poor” and how they are entitled to receive ground transportation benefits?
With respect to that, it is never defined as to whether the person is poor, unable or able to travel, and that is how it applies in Nunavut.
If I have to travel, even though I’m a minister, since I am under Non-Insured Health Benefits or if you have a full-time job with the GN, this could be paid for by Indian and Northern Affairs for all aboriginal people.
If that wasn’t the case, then we would not be able to keep up with our health travel funds.
So therefore, the federal government provides funding for aboriginal people.
This has definitely provided support to the Government of Nunavut and also to the Inuit.
Why this has not been used to pay for taxis fares I do not know as this is a very small amount of funds.
Additionally, there are two types of services.
One is the Extended Health Benefits Policy, which is for people who are non-beneficiaries 60 years of age or older, and the other is if you are an aboriginal person who is non-Inuit living in Nunavut, that is allocated for them.
With respect to taxi services or ground transportation, whether you are non-aboriginal or not, as long as you are 60 years of age or older, then the transportation costs can be paid on their behalf.
Maybe through that program, we could rectify this situation as it applies to taxi services.
I want to make an announcement in June, perhaps to announce an improvement on that matter.
The Department of Health and Social Services recognizes that getting medical travel clients to and from the Baker Lake Airport was necessary and taxi chits were provided to them.
Can the minister explain why these taxi chits are no longer provided to medical travel clients from Baker Lake?
The Non-Insured Health Benefits Program was renewed back in 2004, it has a five-year term, and it will be expired next year.
There’s usually a negotiating team from NTI because this is geared towards beneficiaries and the federal government who provides that service.
They changed it so that they could only pay for ground transportation during an emergency and I think the negotiators overlooked that.
Accordingly, I stated that I would like to make an announcement on this issue in June. I believe we could rectify the situation with respect to the taxi vouchers through the Extended Health Benefits Program.
As the member stated, yes, it’s true that we used those taxi vouchers in the past, but it was made more stringent to utilize this assistance.
There are only three communities with taxi voucher rates and they are: Whale Cove, Nanisivik but only while they have an airport, and Coral Harbour.
Due to the extended distances, they’re allowed to use them, but not any others.
This is the part that I want to investigate further. I would like to revisit this matter and revise it as necessary.
Thank you.  Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.
He knows the problem that is being faced in Baker Lake.
Will the minister commit to reconsidering providing taxi chits to medical travel clients from Baker Lake so that they can get to the airport and travel to receive the medical services they so desperately need?
As per the information I received, the reason why the airport is not eligible for this assistance is because it’s outside municipal boundaries.
So I would like to ask the minister if he can consider completing the review of the ineligibility of the community.
What I can state to the member is that if I conduct a review, it will not be just for Baker Lake but for all of Nunavut’s communities where the distances are quite far.
For example, in Iqaluit, some of us are able to get the fares returned if our travel is not covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program. In these cases, the person can claim all expenses under a travel claims expense form provided that receipts are available.
With respect to all individuals or patients going to the airport by taxi, I would urge them to retain their receipts as we are looking at the concept of expense claim forms for medical travel.
We will have a better idea once a policy review has been completed as to which avenue would be best to ensure we provide these services.
It’s not just Baker Lake that has a concern with respect to travel issues related to taxis and I want to rectify that particular barrier that they face.
I want Baker Lake residents to expect to see an improvement on this matter.
Question 090 – 3(1): Plans for Iqaluit International Airport (Okalik)
We have been discussing the Iqaluit airport terminal replacement idea for quite some time and it was in the transportation plans in prior years’ capital estimates.
I would like an update on the current status of the Iqaluit airport replacement terminal first of all.
Just give me a second here.
That date you are looking for, is it in regard to the master plan?
Yes, I was asking where they are in relation to the replacement of the terminal in the master plan.
This has been waiting in the wings for quite a while, so I would like to know what part of the process they are in at this time.
What will they do and will this plan be undertaken?
The department’s staff have been working closely with the aircraft carrier and the carrier industry to implement some safety improvements to the operations of the Iqaluit International Airport.
These safety improvement measures require additional airport operational staff.
Of course, one of the short-term measures that we have been doing is busing passengers from Apron 1 to the terminal.
Why I brought it up was because the Iqaluit International Airport is nearing its capacity and it’s quite busy with many flights landing and taking off. Our terminal is getting full to capacity and too small with the present numbers.
My question is with regard to the master plan. When will the plans be implemented to get a new terminal in Iqaluit?
You are absolutely right, the member’s right when he says that the airport is getting too small. There are over 1,900 aircraft movements at the Iqaluit International Airport and the master plan, at this time, is being updated in consideration of the amount of air traffic going through there. Once the master plan is completed, there’s action that’s going to be implemented.
I would first like to find out if you will start moving on this file and if it’s not going to be now, then we have to change the way we plan these things. That is why I would like to find this out first if the plan has been completed and when we can expect to see the new replacement for the airport terminal.
Right at this time, the master plan is being reviewed and updated.
The design of the new air terminal building will start once the master plan is reviewed and completed, and not before that time.
Once the master plan is done being reviewed, the new air terminal building will be looked at.
With that being the case, if there aren’t any plans for an immediate replacement, then the department has to revisit the existing security area since it’s not conducive for those who are flying south.
What I mean is the disabled or elderly passengers are passed through security where they have to wait upwards of an hour in the security area and it has no washroom facilities, or a fountain, or even a television to pass the time.
This is what we put up with today, so we need to at least meet these needs.
I would like this situation reviewed, especially if it turns out that the replacement terminal will take longer to construct. The existing security area causes difficulties for our current passengers that are southbound.
I would like to know if this can be looked into sooner rather than later.
The hon. member is absolutely right; there is a concern with public safety and whatnot because of the congestion at the airport terminal. This is a high priority for the Iqaluit airport and it’s one of the things that we have been actively pushing and implementing, and getting the master plan done up and reviewing so that immediate action can be taken.
Oral Questions. (interpretation) Member for Nanulik, Mr. Ningeongan.
Question 091 – 3(1): Eye Care Services to Nunavummiut (Ningeongan)
Mr. Speaker, my constituents have raised some concerns about the quality of service being delivered by visiting eye teams and that it should be upgraded.
Can the minister clarify for this House what entity currently holds the contract to provide eyewear and related services to the Kivalliq region and when this contract will expire?
I understand the question, but I would like further clarification as to where the problems are in terms of the quality of service.
Is it because of the long periods between visits or when they arrive at the communities, is their visit too short?
There are many reasons that fall into this category.
Therefore, I would appreciate it if I could get more clarification on the issues, but I would like to thank him for the question.
These services are paid for out of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
The information before us states that the optometrists and their teams visiting the Kivalliq region come from the Yellowknife Stanton Hospital. They service the Kivalliq and the Kitikmeot regions.
The Baffin region is serviced by the Ottawa General Hospital.
I have been told that when the eye doctors arrive in the communities, they seemed to be in a rush.
A request has been put forward to have a different contractor provide those services.
Will the minister agree to working with the Nanulik communities to identify another vision care contractor and to improve the level of service?
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are definitely going to be looking at making some changes.
If they are going to be rushing through and not providing services to some of the clients, we will have to look into that.
If you’re 18 or over, you need to have your eyes checked once a year.
However, if they are going to be coming into your community just for one day, then they are definitely not going to see all the clients who need vision care.
There’s room for improvement in providing the services.
NTI does the negotiating when they are dealing with the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
If better services are going to be provided by getting a different contractor, then I will do my best to make sure that happens.
Part of my reasoning for this line of questioning is to make the situation completely clear to the minister.
We may have to consider changes as Nunavummiut know of potential contractors available within Nunavut.
Indeed, there might even be a contractor that can provide vision care services and do a much better job since their base of operations would be in Nunavut and perhaps the mentality of rushing through communities would no longer be the norm.
That was why I asked this question, Mr. Speaker.
I was asking the minister if he can work with the communities that I represent in the Nanulik riding and if he can look at improving the services and consider other options that the communities may have.
Yes, I commit to undertaking a review of this process with all the parties. As I stated earlier, NTI conducts negotiations with the federal government.
At this time, the service providers we have are based out of Ottawa and the Stanton Hospital.
I don’t know exactly which hospital is the service provider out of Ottawa.
There are those who need surgical procedures, especially our elders who have cataracts or other vision issues aside from eyeglasses.
These services include these surgical procedures, so when we are looking at the matter with the federal government, we can look at other jurisdictions, such as Winnipeg, to provide the services to the Kivalliq region and that may improve the level of service.
We commit to conducting detailed discussions with the parties involved to see how we can improve the services, as well as to see if we can lengthen the time specialists stay in the communities to ensure that proper services are provided to the clients. It’s not perfect at this time.
I would like to thank the member for asking about the provision of vision care services. I have a better understanding now that he has pointed out those concerns.
Question 092 – 3(1): Heavy Equipment Vehicles (Rumbolt)
My question is for the Minister of Community Government and Services.
As we all know, the pace of technology keeps increasing and vehicles are becoming more computerized and sophisticated.
Last year, the community of Sanikiluaq received a new sewage truck. In January of this year, it developed problems with the computer software and remains out of service to this day.
The community is doing its best to work with the manufacturer, but the issue is still not resolved.
Although larger communities have access to trained mechanics and repair facilities that are equipped to work on highly sophisticated and computerized vehicles, smaller communities, including Sanikiluaq, do not have such facilities.
Will the minister commit to having his department work with municipalities to ensure that their staff have the necessary training and equipment to repair the newer generations of vehicles that are purchased for their use?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I would like to thank the member for his question.
Vehicles are getting more and more complicated, as you say, and it’s hard for mechanics to keep up with the technology, especially in communities where you have mechanics that are unilingual and in a lot of cases, they aren’t familiar with new technology.
You need to do more than just be able to change sparkplugs today. You also need to know how to go on the Internet and work computers other than figuring out how to fix a flat tire.
And that point is a very good one and it’s one that we’re finding is a problem throughout the territory, not just in Sanikiluaq.
Our department has been working with municipalities to try to ensure that mechanics are properly trained in using the new technology and figuring out how to work with everything from water trucks to sewage trucks and loaders, and so forth.
Our department works very closely with the Municipal Training Organization, which is the body that trains the employees of municipalities, everything from working with computers to heavy equipment operators and mechanics, and so on.
So we’re working closely with them to ensure that there is adequate training in municipalities so that the mechanics can keep up with the technology.
We continue to work with that to try to create programs for that training.
I am glad to hear that his department is working in this area and they are trying to develop some training.
Can the minister indicate when this training will be available to people in the communities?
Hon. Lorne Kusugak: I don’t know what the exact dates are, Mr. Speaker, when there will be training for that.
Different types of training are continually being held through the Municipal Training Organization.
The senior administrative officers in municipalities are usually kept abreast of upcoming training programs.
So when there is one coming up for mechanics training and technology and stuff like that, I’m sure that his municipality will be informed. If not, I’ll inform our member.
Question 093 – 3(1): Services for Medical Patients (Elliott)
I just want some clarification; I know we were originally asked to not ask hypothetical questions.
In terms of privacy and confidentiality, in four years, if I’m not lucky enough like the Hon. Member from Iqaluit West, Mr. Okalik pointed out, to convince nine people to vote for me, then I will be a non-Inuk long-term resident of Nunavut without a GN job or any type of medical coverage.
I’m just wondering and want a clarification, if I get sick and need to be attended to, my understanding from what you were saying is my taxi ride from hopefully not Nanisivik at that time because hopefully the airport will be finished by then, but Arctic Bay to the airport will be covered by the Government Nunavut and I will not have to pay for that.
I thank the member for asking a very complicated question because due to the world economic situation and the recession that is facing all nations, I think this one is a crucial one.
I will have to look into that and provide a reply to him, so I will take the question as notice.
Question 094 –3(1): Responsibility for Dogs in Nunavut (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services, Hon. Kusugak, and it’s probably more of an operational issue.
Since the days that our hamlets were first created, Inuit have continually referred to numerous dogs within their communities and no one knows who’s responsible for this matter.
Is it to be addressed by the hamlets in the communities or by the government?
I would like to know if there’s legislation that deals with this issue.
I dearly wish to completely understand his question, so I would like him to clarify: what about dogs?
Are you talking about dog control, dog sledding, or dog slaughter? If he clarifies his question, I will then try to give a proper response to my colleague.
Please clarify your question, Mr. Ningark.