EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Individuals that move from province to province are covered for three months; it doesn’t matter if you’re a student or not. They are covered for three months and during that time you are to apply to the jurisdiction that you moved into to be covered for medical coverage.”
That statement doesn’t say medical services, it clearly states medical coverage.
So I think there are two conflicting messages going out in the Assembly and I would like to ask you to rule and make sure that we have the correct information coming out.
Ms. Aglukkaq, you may speak to the Point of Order if you wish.
The information in March 2006, March 14, I believe, was a question around do we provide medical services for individuals that travel to other jurisdictions for medical.
If you go to March 14 Hansard the questions are around a person traveling, and I quote, “Strictly for medical.”
The response to that question is yes.
If a student moves to another jurisdiction, in that same line of questioning, I stated to the House that the student would access the medical services offered by that province.
For example, if I move to Yellowknife as a student, I would access the services offered in that territory.
I was not talking about healthcare coverage.
I was talking about the services provided by that province’s, or territory’s healthcare, which is very, very different from coverage; coverage in terms of insurance coverage. That was the statement that I made yesterday; two very distinct outcomes; services...coverage.
That was my point yesterday, and I don’t believe that there is a Point of Order.
I will provide members with my decision on this Point of Order as quickly as possible. In the meantime we will continue with the proceedings of the House.
(interpretation) Thank you, Members.
Member’s Statement 250 – 2(3): Registered Nurses Positions (Curley)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose and asked some questions regarding nurses in the Keewatin Region, and specifically in Rankin Inlet.
Speaker (interpretation): I apologize Mr. Curley.
We are currently on Item 3. Members’ Statements.
I would like to know if this is a statement or if this is an Oral Question.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I would like to make a Member’s Statement.
As I was saying yesterday, I asked questions to the minister about the shortage of nurses in the Keewatin region.
She stated that there six registered nurses in Rankin Inlet, and I do have the same information.
There are six registered nurses, but the information that was given to us says that there are six nurses and one is dedicated to working with the medical concerns and she does that on a full time basis.
The other two are in administration because they don’t have an administrator.
So, there are two positions sharing one in the administration work and the three out of six are transient nurses.
The minister stated last evening that all our RN positions are filled. I will be asking questions at the appropriate time in regard to the registered nurses’ positions in Rankin Inlet.
Member’s Statement 251 – 2(3): High Cost of Airline Tickets (Barnabas)
I rise today to talk about the concerns and the problems the people of Grise Fiord face in regard to airline services.
When I was in their community I heard on numerous occasions that the price of airline tickets was too expensive and that patients who have to travel out of Grise Fiord are being left behind, and that there is a lack of seats going into Grise Fiord from Resolute Bay.
For example, if they came from the south they bring extra luggage, and they don’t pay for excess baggage from a southern point to Iqaluit, but if they’re going from Resolute Bay to Grise Fiord they pay for excess baggage.
Usually what happens is that the excess baggage is left behind because the capacity is full, or because of bad weather, or for whatever reason.
This is becoming a major concern and a problem.
If somebody wants to leave their community for example, they can’t do that because of they pay approximately $900 and there was a five percent increase again in May.
They only have one airline servicing between Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, so they hike up the prices whenever they want. If we use an example like Resolute Bay to Grise Fiord, it’s exactly the same distance as Iqaluit and Lake Harbour but the price is $900. So those are the major concerns of one of my communities.
I will be extending an invitation to the airline that services between Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord. I would like to have a meeting with the people so that they can answer to these problems.
Members’ Statements. Member for Akulliq, Mr. Mapsalak.
Member’s Statement 252 – 2(3): Congratulations to Kugaaruk Graduates (Mapsalak)
I also represent Kugaaruk.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the graduates in Kugaaruk. There were four people who graduated: Helen Ittimangnak Jr., Jesse Apsaktaun, Bernard Amautinuar, Paul Inutuinak.
I would like to congratulate these individuals for completing High School, and I would also like to thank Mr. Picco for being in attendance at the graduation ceremonies, and also Ms. Aglukkaq.
Again, Mr. Speaker, there is going to be a graduation ceremony I believe in August, in Repulse Bay. So this is up to the appropriate ministers who would be interested in attending.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak, representing Akulliq.
Member Statements.
Member’s Statement 253 – 2(3): Tribute to Jean Voisey (Evyagotailak)
I rise today to pay tribute to the efforts of one of Kugluktuk’s community volunteers.
Jean Voisey has been active for some time, with the group of Kugluktuk residents who have been working hard on the construction of the new Roman Catholic Church in our community.
As members will recall, the community’s former church burned down in tragedy. Since that time the community has pulled together to work on fundraising and other activities for the new place to worship.
I ask all members to join me in saluting volunteers like Jean.
We will have Mr. Keith Peterson, Member for Cambridge Bay.
Member’s Statement 254 – 2(3): Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about an important initiative that is under development in Cambridge Bay.
For many years the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay has made community wellness a high priority. Our community wellness centre has received many accolades earning a reputation for developing innovative programs that successfully treat people in the community.
One of the best ways to raise awareness for community wellness issues is to talk openly about them. A volunteer group, Nunavut community residents, organizations, and businesses have been meeting for several months to organize a wellness feast, forum, and fair set for the early fall.
Organizers are hoping to encourage people to talk about issues, such as the following: drugs; booze and violence; kids not in school; grief and loss; elder abuse; gambling addiction; suicide; overcrowded housing; food shortage; mental health support; teen
pregnancy; bullying; and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
These are some of the issues that make daily life in many Nunavut communities very difficult for our residents.
A basic right for every citizen is a right to enjoy a peaceful and healthy life in their communities, with their families and friends. The wellness feast, forum, and fair organizers do not expect to solve all the issues, however, they hope by bringing the issues out into the open that people are aware that they are supported by fellow residents. By talking we can work to find answers to such questions as: can we fix these problems, what works, what doesn’t, what is missing.
I would like the House to join me in thanking organizers of this important event, and working to better lives of their fellow citizens. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 255 – 2(3): New Great Niece (Aglukkaq)
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (interpretation): I want to start off by saying how much I appreciate and agree with my colleague Mr. Peterson’s statement.
Today I am pleased to announce that my older sister’s daughter had a baby, and I join in their joy and thanks today.
My mother now has another great grandchild with the addition of Donna’s daughter who will be christened Ningiulaaq.
My mother now has 13 grand children and great grand children.
She has not quite caught up with the men, but I have no doubt that Donna, my niece is celebrating this day with her husband Raymeon.
My sister Celine’s grand child is healthy and doing fine in Yellowknife. I received this great news yesterday and so I am proud to announce it here today.
Speaker (interpretation): Members’ Statements. Member for Nanulik, Mr. Netser.
Member’s Statement 256 – 2(3): Shawna Sammurtok – Canadian Science Awards (Netser)
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): I’m very proud of Shawna Sammurtok from Chesterfield Inlet.
A grade 11 student from Chesterfield Inlet won a big award at the Canada-wide Science Fair down in Quebec. She received a bronze medal in the physical and mathematical sciences category.
She did experiments to see what kinds of clothes would be the warmest for going out on the land and her results showed that the warmest fur for clothing was caribou skin, and the least warm was seal fur.
(interpretation) You probably remember Uriash Puqiqnak, when he was a member, used to urge the RCMP to wear caribou clothing, and I think he would be very proud to hear this announcement today.
Members’ Statements. Member for Uqqurmiut, Mr. Arreak.
Member’s Statement 257 – 2(3): Status of Core Funding for Ilisaqsivik Society (Arreak)
Mr. Arreak: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to follow up on the status of core funding for the Ilisaqsivik Society of Clyde River.
I’ve spoken on this topic before but I would like to take this opportunity to remind my colleagues of the issues at stake.
Mr. Speaker, Clyde River’s Ilisaqsivik Society is a community based organization that provides many programs and services such as family counselling, suicide prevention, nutrition education, literacy, and drug and alcohol programs as well as many workshops and support services.
Its resource centre is a central location for a number of groups representing elders, youth, women, and men.
The society employs a number of local residents, which is an important contribution to a non-decentralized community with few employment opportunities.
The Ilisaqsivik Society is a living example of the Care Closer to Home concept that the government’s Department of Health and Social Services so often parades in front of us.
Mr. Speaker, the program and services offered by the Ilisaqsivik Society are funded by a wide variety of project-based annual funding sources.
However, the ongoing functioning of the society is continually threatened by the lack of core funding and multi-year support.
I have raised this issue with two successive Ministers of Health.
Correspondence has gone back and forth between me, the Ilisaqsivik Society, and the Department of Health and Social Services.
There is an ongoing effort to secure core funding for this important entity, which is actually carrying out part of the department’s mandate in Clyde River.
In April of 2005, the Minister of Health and Social Services requested complete information on the society’s financial situation in order to determine possible strategy for providing long term funding.
That information, a fully audited financial statement was provided to the Department of Health and Social Services in December of 2005.
This past March the Minister of Health of Social Services...
Speaker (interpretation): I apologize. You have run out of time, Mr. Arreak.
The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays.
Mr. Arreak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) This March the Minister of Health and Social Services committed in this House to try to assist the Ilisaqsivik Society in accessing core funding.
It has been a full three months since that commitment was made.
Sadly, I have no new information to report to you.
It is important that our government make every effort to provide ongoing core support to community-based organizations, such Clyde River’s Ilisaqsivik Society.
Member’s Statement 258 – 2(3): Status of Global Warming (Kattuk)
Global warming is going to have a big effect on wildlife. I mainly want to mention polar bears. I don’t know if there are currently any studies on that.
At the appropriate time I will be asking questions as to what status they’re at and what we will have to do about global warming.
Item 3. (interpretation ends) Members’ Statements.
Member for Iqaluit East, Mr. Picco.
Member’s Statement 259 – 2(3): Passing of Heather Crowe (Picco)
It is with sadness that I rise today to comment on the recent passing of well-known anti-tobacco advocate Heather Crowe. Heather was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002. She never smoked herself, but became a victim after working as a waitress for 40 years in bars and restaurants in Ontario.
One year after being diagnosed Heather hit the road visiting schools and cities across Canada.
In March of 2003 I had the pleasure, as the Minister of Health, to host Heather here in Iqaluit over a two-day period.
She spoke to students; attended meetings; and met with members of the Assembly to let them know about the dangers of second hand smoke.
Mr. Speaker, as you remember, we were in the processing of debating, and passing our own anti-tobacco legislation at that time. At the time one if the strongest pieces of anti-tobacco legislation in Canada.
I believe Heather’s visit and her messages resonated with the members, and with Nunavummiut, and helped enable our legislation to pass. Heather was a quite and modest Canadian, who took up a challenge that informed all Canadians of an insidious health issue; second hand smoke.
On behalf of the House and Nunavut we wish the Crowe family our deepest condolences on Heather’s passing, and say thank you to her for her courageous struggle and her kind message.
With that, I also want to put my support by indicating to the House that I was one of the few that she may have reached in Nunavut, and I have been tobacco-free, smoke-free in the last six months.
Thank you, Ms. Crowe.
Member’s Statement 260 – 2(3): Annual Trades Show in Iqaluit (Tootoo)
I rise today to acknowledge and inform members of an annual event that occurs here in Iqaluit. It occurred earlier this spring, and that was the trade show that was held here.
It was a very successful tradeshow with a large contingent of booths from around the Baffin, around the territory, and from outside the territory.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the staff that put a lot of time and effort into organizing and coordinating the tradeshow.
Not only does it open the eyes of a lot of Nunavummiut and businesses in Nunavut to each other and to providers, companies in the south also brings in a lot of money and opens up southern suppliers into circumstances and challenges faced in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, one of the highlights every year of the tradeshow is the gala banquet and auction, and Mr. Speaker again this year, I and my colleague Mr. Picco were brave
enough to put ourselves on the auctioning block to get auctioned off. We have done this for a number of years now, and look forward to doing it again next year.
Usually the money that is raised in the auction goes to a very worthy charitable organization and this year it went to the Habitat for Humanity organization here in Iqaluit so, I would like to thank him for participating.
Also, Mr. Speaker, we will find out later this week, I am sure, that Mr. Picco was successful in bidding on something at the auction and I am sure he will make sure that we all become aware of what he did successfully buy at the tradeshow.
I would like all members to join me in congratulating Mr. Picco and the organizers of the tradeshow for another successful tradeshow.
Member’s Statement 261 – 2(3): Breakwater for Arviat (Alagalak)
I would like to state in this House, as we all know that our community is very flat and we do not have any mountains.
And it’s a big tide and our hunters in our area who go hunting by boat have constantly been saying, and ever since I became a member, that there is a wharf, but it’s only good during high tide.
We don’t have a breakwater at all in our community and what we were told is that we do have one, but that’s all it is.
Vehicles, 4 X 4s and ATVs are getting lost because they are getting rusty as the bottom and the Honda’s sometimes go in the water or even some of the people go in the water.  When they are trying to unload their canoes, a lot of times hunters will spend the whole day because they are trying to launch their boats.
So it is very hard work and it is about time that we get breakwater for the past six years. So I want this to be considered further.
During the appropriate time, I will be asking questions during question period because we definitely need help and I will be raising questions at the appropriate time.
Item 5. (interpretation ends) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
I would like to recognize  The pages who are from Repulse Bay; Denise Malliki, and on the other side T.J. Kringayark.
They are very good, hard-working students and we are very proud. They occasionally go down south, and this summer they will be going down. They have won scholarships, so I am very proud of them and I am very happy that they are here.
My C.A. from Kugaaruk, Louise Ningark is sitting over here and I would like to welcome her also.
Speaker: Thank you, Member.
Denise, T. J., welcome everybody.
I am happy to rise so that I can actually get up before my other colleague, I would like to recognize one person, Mary Lee Amigaq from my constituency. Her husband is here as well, Uriah, who is also my relative.
I would like to welcome you Mary Lee in the Assembly.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Brown, Welcome.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I would like to rise for the person who is on your right, sitting there.
She is the granddaughter of my colleague and Rocky Airut who was able to come. I know at this time he would rather be outside, but I would like you to welcome them.
I also want Mary Lee to feel welcome.
Speaker: Thank you, Mary Lee and our pages, welcome to the Gallery.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the person, an individual who is not here, Qappik Atagutsiaq. She turned 80 yesterday and has assisted, has helped a lot in our community of Arctic Bay. She gives instruction in midwifery and has frequently travelled down south.
On behalf of the Arctic Bay residents I would like to congratulate her.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. (interpretation ends) Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.
It gives me some pleasure today to welcome to the Gallery a sometimes visitor to Nunavut and indeed to Canada, Dr. Anismae Timpson. Anis has been a visitor to Nunavut as the director for Canadian Studies for the prestigious University of Edinborough in Scotland. Many members know the ties between Scotland and the whalers and Nunavut.
She is studying the parliamentary system here in Nunavut, as we are very unique with the consensus style government.
Indeed in the commonwealth or any other jurisdiction I am aware of outside of Canada which is the states of Jersey, which is in the Channel Islands between France and England also have the same system of government.
With that, welcome to the Gallery to Ms. Timpson.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Picco. Item 5.
Question 296 – 2(3): Number of Certified Registered Nurses (Curley)
I would like to talk a bit about a statement that I made.
I would like her to know regarding the status of nursing staff of the Rankin Inlet Health Centre.
The minister indicated through her point of clarification that there are no vacancies of registered nurse positions at the Rankin Inlet Health Centre. There are six registered nurses in Rankin Inlet.
My first question to the minister is: can she confirm that all of the registered nurse positions in Rankin Inlet are filled by nurses who are certified to practice in Canada?
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Aglukkaq.
The numbers are provided. There are six RNs and one nurse in charge that are registered to practice. Yes.
The information that I provided to minister, and the information provided to me from the community states that there are six registered nurses.
One is focussed on providing care to the community.
Of the remaining five positions, two are actually performing administrative functions.
There are three transient nurses who may be providing care in other Kivalliq communities.
Can the minister clearly state for the record whether or not the six nurses in Rankin Inlet are providing medical care exclusively to the people of Rankin Inlet.
The information provided to me from my staff from Rankin Inlet states that the nurses; the six and the one nurse in charge are providing services strictly to the community of Rankin Inlet. Those are dedicated positions for Rankin Inlet.
There are international nurses outside of that that does not include the registered nurses.
Those are all registered nurses that provide the service to Rankin Inlet.
I seek your assistance because the minister clearly did not respond to my question; whether or not six positions are totally dedicated to the community of Rankin Inlet.
I have a supplementary that the people in Rankin Inlet are very concerned that nursing and physician services in their community are inadequate.
What assurances can the Minister of Health and Social Services give to my constituents that these services will be adequately provided for.
The answer I gave earlier is that those six positions, plus one nurse in charge; a total of seven; provide services strictly for Rankin Inlet.
So the answer to the member’s question is that yes, strictly for Rankin Inlet.
If there are concerns around services and inadequacy of services I would like to know with specific examples that I can follow up with the member on.
As far as I know, and based on information that I was given this morning by my employees in Rankin Inlet, those positions are providing services to people in Rankin Inlet.
For clarification is still required. I asked earlier that the same information coming in from the town to the mayor that about 50 percent of the six nurses are transient nurses, or what they call agency nurses.
Can the minister confirm to this House are there transient nurses out of the six nurses that she alluded to earlier.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Curley. Minister Aglukkaq.
The earlier question was registered nurses. It doesn’t matter if they’re transient or not, or casuals, or nurses. They are registered nurses.
That was the response I was giving to the member.
Are these individuals registered nurses? The answer to that question is yes. Whether they are transient or not was not the response I gave.
Some are transient agency nurses, some are indeterminate, and some are casuals. But, the fact of the matter is; the six positions are filled and the nurse in charge.
Thank you, Mr. Curley. That was your final supplementary question. (interpretation) Oral Questions. Member for Uqqurmiut, Mr. Arreak.
Question 297 – 2(3): Update on Funding for Ilisaqsivik Society (Arreak)
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s Statement I talked about the Ilisaqsivik Society in Clyde River. They have been requesting operations and maintenance funds many times because they are running very good programs. We have been requesting for core funding.
On March 6, the minister had said that they would meet and work with the staff as well as the appropriate departments to see if they could come up with core funding for the Ilisaqsivik Society.
(interpretation ends) Can the minister provide an update on what has been done since March 9 to assist the Ilisaqsivik Society in accessing core funding?
I for one am a very strong believer in supporting community based initiatives such as the Ilisaqsivik Society, such as the organization described by my colleague from Cambridge Bay.
The individual has challenged our organization to come up with a way of supporting community-based initiatives such as the one in Clyde River.