EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I will get Mr. Grant to respond to that question.
The way that it works is: any eligible senior, that’s eligible for OAS and GIS through the federal government automatically becomes for our Senior Citizens Supplementary Benefit, which is a payment of $175 per month that goes to eligible seniors. So if they’re eligible for the federal program, they automatically become eligible for our Nunavut program as well. The way that it works is it’s an automatic payment that goes to seniors, once they received their federal benefits.
Seeing that the costs in Nunavut have gone up, what steps have you done as a department to address this issue?
Do you match? Is this a match program where the feds provide a certain amount and then you provide the same amount? If so, are you looking at perhaps the option of increasing those amounts with the cost of everything going up in Nunavut?
I will get the Director of Income Support to respond to that question.
The member’s question is a good question.
Depending on the program, social assistance, obviously, when we go through the comprehensive review one of the things that members can debate and talk about is our benefits levels.
One of the things that were done in 2011 was a 15 percent increase on the food payment amounts that were increased.
Any amount would obviously be part of the comprehensive review to talk about the cost of living.
It could be very expensive too, as well. That’s one of the things that when you change the rates of social assistance it automatically increases the expenditures of the program as well. It’s one of the things that the comprehensive review obviously will look at is the appropriateness of our different benefit levels to meet the needs of the people of this territory.
The senior fuel subsidy amounts. They haven’t changed at all.
With the cost of fuel rising how are you going about to meet the demand and the need?
I will get the Director of Income Support to respond to the question.
Obviously it’s another one of our programs that falls within the income assistance umbrella.
Changing the rates and eligibility criteria could be included in a comprehensive review of the programs under this division.
Ms. Angnakak: According to your business plan on page 118 you did a legislative review of the Social Assistance Act and I’m wondering, I guess, to find out what gaps and inconsistencies that you had.
The amendments that you have made since that review. What kind of communications have you had with the communities to inform them of changes made to the Social Assistance Act?
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will get the director to respond to that question.
The legislative review is currently ongoing. We have had a first round of amendments go through this House in the previous legislature which were primarily housekeeping items to clean up our Act which was carried over from the Northwest Territories days. It’s ongoing.
One of the areas that we are currently looking at which will require communication with the communities is around our appeal process.
As I stated before, we have gone to our first level appeal is one board.
Once we have our appeal committee in place for our first level of appeal we will have to make sure that we communicate out to the communities and our staff about this change so that they are aware of it, because it is an important component of our program.
Did you identify any other big gaps that would have a big impact on the public?
I will get the director to respond to that question.
We did identify the appeals process as the most important to communicate out to the public but any other changes as we are going through this process that will have an impact on how the program interacts with clients we will make sure to communicate that to the public and any changes that happen.
According to the list that I have Mr. Savikataaq.
On page 118 of your business plan, I’m going to read out what’s under social assistance.
“Income assistant workers guided by the Social Assistance Act and regulations deliver social assistance to all Nunavut communities.
This program is means tested and provides various levels of financial support to people 18 years and over and their dependents to meet basic needs for food, shelter, utilities, and fuel.”
Earlier, Mr. Grant stated that they don’t really control what the clients spend their money on. I’ll ask the minister, can these funds be used to buy tobacco products?
Like I said earlier on, Mr. Grant stated that they cannot control what the public or the recipients buy because we don’t go out to see what they are spending the money on.
I remember him saying that we are not police and we don’t try to find out exactly what they are buying.
I’ll ask the same question again.
Can these funds be used to buy tobacco products?
I will get the Income Support Director to respond to that.
I’ll try to answer the question directly.
Yes, potentially, a client could spend it on tobacco products.
As I mentioned before, most social assistance payments are made to third-party vendors, including housing and power as well as the store of the client’s choice.
We don’t have the capacity to police or monitor how people are making those expenditures with their social assistance so the answer is directly yes.
There is that potential.
I’ll ask the minister; is that a wise use of government funds?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Savikataaq. (interpretation ends) You are seeking an opinion of the minister.
You cannot seek an opinion of a minister. Mr. Savikataaq.
I did not think that was an opinion, but I respect your ruling.
Staying on income assistance, I believe there are students that are on income support.
I also believe that they have to have a certain attendance. Can the minister tell us what the attendance rate has to be in order for the students to qualify for income assistance?
I would like the Director for Income Support to respond to that.
Mr. Grant: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 85 percent.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  Chairman (interpretation): Thank you.
My colleagues touched on this a bit about Senior Fuel Subsidy.
The budget on your business plan is $478,000. It has been the same, I think, for a while.
Is this budget used up on an annual basis?
Thank you to my colleague for asking that question. We spend all of the money that is set aside for Senior Fuel Subsidy.
From my understanding, it is not all spent every year. Sometimes applicants are denied.
In your business plan, the senior fuel subsidy says this program is income tested. I believe that means a threshold of income in order to qualify.
Can the minister tell what the income threshold is?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. Minister Ugyuk.
If a person owns their own house, and if that person makes $75,000 a year, they’re eligible for support. If the person makes over $75,000, then they’re eligible for a half subsidy.
As the minister stated earlier, it seems like quite a few programs are under review, or going to be under review. Would she consider reviewing the income limits on this program too?
I would suggest that the income limit should be inline with the income limit that the Nunavut Housing Corporation will have on their Homeowner Assistance Program.
I don’t see any harm in putting the income limit up, since this budget is not used up.
Will the minister consider making the income limits the same as what the income limit from the Nunavut Housing Corporation is for the Homeowner Assistance Program?
I thank my colleague for requesting that information, and asking us to more things in the department.
The way I understand it, the income threshold affects the old-age security pension.
If we increased the threshold, then it will affect the old-age security pension as well.
I would the director of income support to respond to that properly.
As we stated previously, we’re obviously are going to look for feedback.
The minister stated for members on our program reviewing the scope and size and which programs to be reviewed.
Obviously, any eligibility criteria and the way that the program is structured can be a part of that review to look at, including the Senior Fuel Subsidy.
If I understand the minister correctly, the subsidies that the seniors receive for fuel will affect their old age pension or not or might.
Seniors that get fuel subsidies, are they issued a T-4A or some sort of documentation that they have to include in their income tax?
From what I understand, all income is included in the T-4A slips.
I don’t know how to put this, I’m trying to put this wisely.
Another suggestion that they might do with this program is the ones that are eligible, right now, the minister will correct me if I’m wrong, I believe it works like this: they buy fuel, they get a receipt and they get reimbursed for the fuel that they purchased.
They have no fuel in the beginning, they can’t buy any fuel and therefore they can’t get the subsidy.
When a client qualifies, would the minister consider issuing a credit for the total amount that the person is eligible for, which I believe is $3,000 and a credit issued to the contractor and the client can use that credit up within that year. Would the minister consider looking at that?
With regards to issuing credits to eligible clients upfront for fuel purchases, that has been implemented as far as I know.
Unfortunately it has been abused and so we put a stop to it.
To clarify it, I would like the Director of Income Support to help answer the question.
Ultimately, I think under the comprehensive review of our program, we would be open to a number of different options that would make the program better to serve the people of Nunavut, depending on the size of the review.
We’re open to suggestions on how we can make our programs better and serve the people better. That would include suggestions from members, such as the suggestion that the member made.
Obviously, we would have to look whether it makes sense financially and how it’s going to be managed and whether it will better serve our clients.
As part of the comprehensive review, we’re looking at a number of options to make our programs better.
Interesting comment about whether it will better serve our clients.
If the budget is not used up and the client qualifies, I would think that it will better serve the clients and if a client does qualify I think we should help them to the best of our ability.
It would be a different story if the budget wasn’t used up, but it has not been used up, as the minister stated. I think that you should seriously look at that. So the funds can be better utilized.
The minister stated earlier that it has been tried, but it was abused. Well, I think there is abuse in the Income Support Program and it is still being used so that is a pointless argument.
If a senior needs a fuel subsidy and they qualify then we should do everything we can in order for the subsidy to meet the needy people. That was just a comment.
We will put all those under consideration during our comprehensive review.
There are 98 elders who receive elders’ subsidy, fuel subsidy, right now. (interpretation ends) 98 seems to be the magic number this session. (interpretation) I hope Mr. Savikataaq understands that.
Following the list of names, Mr. Akoak.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning to all. Good morning, minister and staff.
This is something that came up with Mr. Savikataaq was… under social assistance on page 118. It says, “to meet basic needs for food and shelter.”
I want to know what that means.
Shelter, is that for paying a hotel room for a homeless person?
I would like the director of income support to answer that.
No, we don’t pay for hotel rooms. We do pay the rent for public housing units and in some cases, private market rents as well.
Under utilities, you are actually paying for rent.
How is that issued?
Are you giving a cheque to the client and they in turn go to housing to pay for the rent? Or do you pay directly to the housing association.
I would like our Director of Income Support to respond to that.
We pay to the housing association.
As I mentioned before, most of our cheques that we issue are made to third-party vendors. We make cheques out to the housing association, the power companies and in most cases we make out cheques to the store of the client’s choice as well.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I have no further names on my list.
(interpretation) Family Services. (interpretation ends) Branch Summary.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $46,398,000.
We will move on to Branch Summary.
Family Services. Career Development. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $15,576,000.
I’d like to ask a couple of questions. I don’t have a lot in this area. I want to ask about the FANS program.
How many applicants access this program?
The Nunavut Arctic College has changed the parameters. There are 371 applicants that are receiving FANS.
Ms. Angnakak: I think it was in 2007 the Auditor General’s Office conducted an audit on the FANS program and changes were made in order to better serve the applicant.
What changes have you made to the program that addresses this direction?
If I remember the changes correctly, it relates to diploma programs from post-secondary institutions.
They could get assistance from FANS.
For non-diploma programs they could get apply from a different grant provider.
Ms. Angnakak: Can the minister tell us if the new FANS database been implemented or not?
Maybe David Kolot knows that. He can provide an answer.
In reference to the hon. member’s question, this project to work on the FANS database really began in the fall of 2011.
There has been a history with this since 2011, and it is expected that the first working model of the new system of the FANS model will be available for testing in July of this year.
This new database will provide complex and end-to-end assessment and processing of our student financial applications for grants, loans, as well as a collection of loans. This was, of course, that was mentioned by the auditors in their report.
We are working with a contractor to install this module. We hope to keep the House posted on the progress with this project.
Thank you for that answer. It leads me to the next one.
Of the outstanding loans that the Auditor General’s Office identified, what percentage have you collected so far?
I thank the member for this question, Ms. Angnakak.
We were told earlier that the model will be coming out in July, so soon after that the information would then become available.
The Auditor General’s Offce did the audit I think in 2007 and I’m wondering how much recovery of the outstanding loans has the department done so far?
The Director of Finance will answer that.
I’d like to thank the hon. member for that question.
I think I would like to start with a preface to the whole aspect of the student loans funds with Family Services.
This is the first year of our operation and we are working on trying to implement the system which will give us more timely information.
One of the things that members should be aware of is that when the Department of Family Services was created there were two PYs that were not fully funded. These two PYs were loan collections officers.
In the budget for the career development branch this year we have fully funded those two positions so that we can, with those two positions, and with the system in place we can keep better track and do a better job at our collections.
I’m just wondering, then: if, as a Regular Member of the Legislative Assembly, I wanted to find out of the outstanding student loans, how many of those have been paid back, which department should I ask?
Director of Finance will answer this.
Chairman: Thank you Mr. Kolot.
I’m jumping the gun here. It would be the Department of Family Services that you would ask. As we speak, we are currently finishing the year end for March 31, 2014 and we are just doing the final reconciliation of FANS loans.
We would be the department that those questions would be referred to.
Through our loans management system that we are developing we will be in a much better position to provide information once it is updated.
It leads to my next question. When do you expect that to happen when you can provide that information?
As mentioned, we are hoping that the system will be in place and we will be doing some testing in July of 2014. In terms of the additional staff that we are looking at once the budget is approved we will be looking at staffing those positions.
It is difficult to give a firm time but I am hoping that by December, with the new staff in place we will be in a much better position to provide updates to inquiries that would come regarding the system.
Thank you for that answer but it is kind of concerning to me. When Family Services took over FANS from, I believe, Education, did it come with no information on this?
As mentioned, this is the first year of operations out of the department. We are just in the process of completing our first year-end. I think when we completely get the new positions in place, like I mentioned, we will be in a much better position to address inquiries.
I had asked for information in terms of loans for this session but unfortunately I was not able to get it.
When I do get that information, any inquiries that the hon. member will be have I would be please to provide information on.
I’m concerned about that comment about waiting for two people to be hired and then familiarizing with the database in their new positions. And on top of that it takes almost a year to hire anyone in the government. What you are saying is that we have to wait another whole year before we get any information about this.
I don’t really accept that. I think we need information way sooner than that.
I think as a department you should make that one of the priorities to get that information out. We have outstanding loans. We have recommendations from the Auditor General’s Office.
Those need to be followed.  I’m going to go on to another question here and that is under the special professional’s program fund, how many applicants do you have for this program and how do you inform the public about it?
What was it that you are talking about? Special what?
Chairman: On business plan page 121.
Hon. Jeannie Ugyuk: Sorry, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Special Professions Program Fund.
Director of Finance will answer that.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Kolot
During the 2013-14 fiscal year there were no applications for the special programs fund.
Perhaps the minister or her staff can elaborate on what this program is for and why you didn’t have any applicants.
My deputy minister can answer this.
People who want to take courses in the south and may not have space or if the course is too full, then the government can reach an agreement with the university or college so that they can buy space or desks or chairs, so to speak, to make spaces available so that they can be set aside for northerners to take specialized training in specialized training fields.
This money could be used for that.
Can you tell us then over the last two or three years how many applicants have accessed this program?
I don’t know the answer so I’ll have the Director of Finance respond to the question.
Chairman: Mr. Kolot
In the most recent information I have is on the 2012-13 actuals for the special programs fund. I believe there was one application that was awarded and $25,000 was spent.
As a department, what are you going to do to increase the number of applicants for this program?
Our Director of Finance will respond.
In terms of what the department will plan to do in the next year I believe this is something that the Director of Career Development will have to take under consideration. I know there have been discussions in terms of the fact that this funding has not been used. I believe there will be plans put in place for the new year to ensure that these funds will be expended.
Those plans will be put into place by the Director of Career Development.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) According to the list of names (interpretation ends) Branch Summary. Family Services. Career Development.
I just have a couple questions.
Mr. Chairman, in the public service annual report that was recently tabled, it talks about the Summer Student Program.
There is a placement strategy to meet up the academic field of the student with summer employment opportunities.
As the minister’s department is responsible for the financial assistance for students who knows every student and what they are studying and where they are studying, what is the role that the Department of Family Services plays with the Summer Student Program?
I would also like to thank my colleague for asking clarification in regards to this issue.
The Summer Student Program falls under the Department of Finance and the Minister of Finance.
Mr. Hickes: Are you looking for clarification, Mr. Chairman?
Chairman: The minister indicated that the summer student aspect is looked after by the Minister of Finance so if you have an additional question, Mr. Hickes.
My apologies. Thinking ahead already.
I realize that the Minister of Finance is responsible for the Summer Student Program, but how is the Department of Finance identifying students’ backgrounds and their education specialties to match up with summer student opportunities without the knowledge that FANS has access to?
According to my knowledge, the schools, whether it be for adult education or for high school, prior to December in the communities, just prior to the month of December ending in the communities they have to make their application for funding to be used to hire summer students.
But in the communities, if the students are going to be hired at the local level and there is an agreement between them, that’s how they hire the summer students.
I think there is a real gap here. Again, I’m going back to the annual report and I understand it is a responsibility of the Minister of Finance but the quote in it is saying that the Summer Student Program, but the quote in it is, “Aimed at providing employment opportunities that will compliment the academic programs of students thereby further encouraging students to complete their studies but to develop the critical skills and build critical workplace skills that will contribute to full-time employment after graduation.”
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Family Services has the knowledge of every student and what they’re taking.
I think a targeted approach to fill some of these summer student employments to match up with the academic studies of these students can only enhance the future of employment of these students with the Government of Nunavut or throughout the territory.
Can I get a commitment from the minister that she will at least speak to the Minister of Finance on how they can compliment each other’s programs?
I would also like to thank my colleague, Mr. Hickes, for supporting this program.
Yes, according to my understanding that the communities have to make their application if they want to hire a summer student before the month of December is over. If they want to hire summer students, they have to apply for funding before the month of December is over.
The Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Department of Finance, and our department will try to make ourselves available if the community does not apply for funding before the end of December to apply for funding for the summer student program. We will have to work closely… knowing that we now know that we have to work closely with the other departments.
I do understand that it’s an application-based program for communities or departments to apply for summer student positions.
What I’m getting at is once there is a position approved; can there be a way of targeting students within that field to apply on those positions to really enhance their education and to promote employment within their specialty?
The comment is well taken. With the Department of Education because a student have career counsellors too.
Yes the parents I’m sure are listening. The parents of students are listening.
I know that they have to be more aware how and when their child can be hired during the summer student program.