EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Just to supplement some of the minister’s responses, the federal government is responsible for health delivery services in the First Nations communities on the reserves, but they also have agreements with the provincial governments to provide certain services on reserves.
There’s not very much for me to add, but Madam Voth did work in the Manitoba health system and she might be able to provide more information with regard to that.
I think our minister has communicated it very well. Already, the federal government does provide the services in health care centres on the reserves.
If specialized services are required, of course, they’re flown to specialized hospital facilities in the south.
My understanding is that in Nunavut, the decision was made that Nunavut would deliver the health care services.
So if someone is sick from a First Nations community or reserve and is sent for treatment in larger hospitals like Ottawa Civic or Calgary, then does the Manitoba government keep track of all of the costs incurred for that First Nations person and they try their best to get ultimately 100 percent back from the federal government?
Hon. Tagak Curley: Mr. Chairman, Madam Voth will respond to that. She has tremendous experience in dealing with the financial issues related to all of that in Manitoba.
In Manitoba, if it’s an insured service that is provided by the province, then the province would pay for that insured service.
Any more questions, Mr. Arvaluk?
Mr. Arvaluk: I’m not quite clear. Can you clarify that a little bit?
In Manitoba, the minister would send a bill to the federal government for non-insured services. Is that what you are saying?
Madam Voth again will respond to that.
The services that would be provided at the hospital facilities in the south would be considered an insured service under the Canada Health Act. As such, it would be provided by the province and the province would pay for that insured service.
Mr. Arvaluk: I heard correctly, then that is not my concern.
My concern is what about those who are not insured but come under the Indian Act for the purpose of treatment. How do they receive it in the larger centres like Winnipeg, who come from northern Manitoba, for example, that are being treated in Winnipeg?
That’s the interest I have because I’m hoping that we will learn something so that our territorial government will not be so burdened in paying for the patients of the First Nations in Nunavut, namely me or somebody else who is not insured, who should have been paid for by the federal government, not the Nunavut government. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Madam Voth will again clarify that question.
Just to clarify, it’s actually the service that has been insured; whether the service that is provided would be an insured service under the Canada Health Act or not, all Manitobans would be provided with that insured service whether they are First Nations or not.
So if it’s an insured service, it is provided by the province.
Mr. Arvaluk: Now it is confusing.
But nonetheless, maybe the minister can assure me that his department would try... I believe in devolution.
I’m not arguing the need for devolution because we can look after it better than the federal government by a long shot.
We were raised under the federal program and it wasn’t very good.
In fact, some of the people who have died in southern institutions come from Nunavut, would never return and would never be found where they were buried, etcetera.
That would be unthinkable today.
I congratulate the Nunavut government, especially the Department of Health, for being very careful as to how well they treat their patients.
I’m not arguing that. What I’m saying is that the federal government still has a responsibility to have their service by the GN and in turn, under the Indian Act, under their fiduciary responsibility, to pay for it, whatever the costs incurred by the GN. I guess the question is: how do you measure the effectiveness of that?
Can you sometimes maybe provide us with the effectiveness of getting the money back from the federal government under the Indian Act?
I know exactly where he’s coming from. There is $157 million in public insurance and all people with health cards are covered under that whether they’re Inuk or non-Inuk to deal with any health problems that they may have.
In the south, they have the same set-up.
If they’re covered under public insurance, then they’re covered whether they are First Nations or not.
Following the Indian Act, as the deputy minister mentioned about reserves, some have an agreement with the provincial government.
It’s a little bit easier to comprehend when you’re living in the south because First Nations have two financial supporters in that field.
It’s a little bit less clear up here.
I don’t know whether it’s a TFF or some other formula, but the problem is that the federal government doesn’t give us a set amount of dollars.
With Mr. Arvaluk’s questioning, we have to look at it a little bit more closely and see what is covered under the Indian Act, whether we’re talking about the services or infrastructure and whatnot.
At this time, I can’t give him a direct response, Mr. Chairman.
Your time is up, Mr. Arvaluk.
Any more questions on the Treatment Branch before I call for an agreement? If not, we will go to Branch Summary. Health and Social Services.
Treatment. On H-7. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $157,063,000.
Chairman: We will move on to H-8. Health and Social Services. Branch Summary.
The Health Insurance Branch of your department provides the Extended Health Benefits Program to assist individuals who are not covered under the non-insurable health branch program for Inuit and other aboriginals.
One of your department’s priorities for 2010-11 as indicated on page H-14 of the business plan will be to “Finalize the review of territorial supplementary health programs.”
Will this review include options for health insurance, such as Blue Cross, for individuals who are not covered under the NIHB or health insurance programs such as those provided by the Government of Nunavut employees?
The deputy minister will respond to that question.
Yes, we will take those recommendations and when we do the review, we will certainly take some of those into consideration.
I was waiting for my question, but I’ll ask that instead.
I think this program fits those who consider themselves Nunavut transients or are covered under an insurance program. However, we have some friends originally from the south that will never go back to the south again and are not covered under the territorial employment program or any other program.
I think we had a good example a few months ago when a person was being kicked out of the Larga House for being a non-Inuk, who is probably not as well off as a whole lot of Inuit, for just being that kind of person.
Are you prepared now in the event happens? What kind of direction do you give your employees now so that kind of embarrassment does not occur again?
I understand his concern very clearly.
We know that the program funding is inadequate and it has been utilized for a while now. A question was raised in regard to those individuals who don’t qualify under the public health benefit program. However, there is just an ancillary assistance package for people who don’t have employee health benefits, such as assistance with hotels and per diems when they are travelling.
The Extended Health Benefits Program applies to those individuals who are non-registered Indians as well as for non-Inuit residents and it applies to elderly residents over 60 years old, if I am not mistaken.
This program funding is usually insufficient to meet all of the demand. This program is being used fully and demand is growing.
The review of the programs comes at an opportune time since we have found areas that require improvement.
We have informed our staff that the aboriginal health benefits that are provided by the federal government are applied towards accommodation facilities which are run by private businesses and whose staff is not ours, such as at the facilities in Ottawa and Winnipeg. They are independent operations of private businesses.
We have asked that they welcome all residents and ensure that certain practices are corrected.
We have started to collaborate more effectively to deal with any issues that may arise. I have informed my staff to ensure that even if a non-eligible person goes there by mistake, they will not be billed nor told that they owe this amount for accommodation after their allotment is expired.
We have ensured that this will not happen again.
Someone was too hasty in making a decision and that unfortunate matter transpired. The funds would have been paid by the government, but that matter highlighted some problems that helped us understand how this government has to better service all of its residents.
I just have a question in terms of Non-Insured Health Benefits.
It’s semi-clear that if you’re a resident of the territory, you have certain benefits for your health. If you’re a Government of Nunavut employee, it’s different. Government of Nunavut employees don’t stay at Larga, they stay in a hotel and those types of things.
What about, and we talk a lot about, the agency nurses, agency social workers, any contractor who is in the territory and usually takes their money out of the territory? Are we paying their health bills if they get hurt?
The deputy minister will answer that question.
For those people who are non-residents of Nunavut, they continue to be residents in Ontario, or Manitoba, or Saskatchewan and they continue to get their health coverage through that jurisdiction.
If they get sick in our territory and they need to be attended to, there is a recovery process and it’s a reciprocal billing arrangement that we will provide the cost of providing that service back to that jurisdiction.
So if someone ended up being hurt in Arctic Bay and they had to be medevaced, that full medevac would be billed back to the province or territory of where that person lived.
We will try and recover those costs from the other jurisdiction or from whatever insurance program that that person is participating under, but we will do our best to recover those costs.
I just noticed the wording of Mr. Campbell’s answer.
He said, “We will try,” and we could, but does that mean you definitely recover those costs or does the province say, “No way, José. That’s way too much money.”?
It would be what, $15,000 for a medevac?
Are we recovering these costs or is it not actually happening?
Hon. Tagak Curley: Mr. Chairman, the corporate director will respond to that, Madam Voth.
The cost of medical travel would not be considered an insured service in most jurisdictions.
In this case, our health insurance benefits office would first try to recoup from a third party. For example, we have a recommendation, if we do have a contractor come up let’s say for a specific assignment, that they do take out third party insurance for possible medevacs.
If it’s an agency nurse, the agency would have third party insurance just as the federal government does for their employees, just as the GN has for their employees.
If they do not have third party insurance, then the health insurance benefits office will actually bill the client that was transported out.
So your department actually tracks this in terms of dollars and cents and people involved.
Yes, the department will track that.
Do you have a dollar figure as to how much has been paid out and how much is still outstanding or how much needs to be collected from these contractors?
Madam Voth will respond to that.
Unfortunately, I don’t have that dollar amount in front me here for this session.
I just feel since the idea of contract workers and there are so many sole source contracts that come out of the Department of Health and Social Services, it would be nice to have that information just out of curiosity to find out how much is sitting there.
Is it possible to get that information?
We can do our best to provide that information, but like our finance officer indicated, if it’s immediately not available, we certainly will try and do our best to provide that info once it becomes available.
Are there any more questions on Health and Social Programs before we go to agreement?
We will go page H-8. Health and Social Programs. Branch Summary.
Health Insurance Programs. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $38,335,000.
Chairman: We will go back to H-3.
Department Summary. Health and Social Services. Detail of Expenditures.
Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $264,507,000.
Chairman: Are members agreed that Health and Social Services is concluded?
Do you have any closing comments, minister?
Yes, I do. (interpretation) I begin with my thanks to all of the committee members.
The comments, concerns, and questions you raised have been noted. We are quite proud of your commitment and our faith in you will not change as you represent your constituents.
I know that you raise questions representing the wish of your constituents as that is part of your mandate. We will try to resolve the issues as raised. Further, if you need more details with regard to your earlier questions or if you wish to see me while I’m here, our door is always open and you can come and visit me.
I’m also very grateful to my officials’ assistance, specifically Deputy Minister Alex Campbell and also the Director of Corporate Services, Debora Voth.
I also thank you, Mr. Chairman, for chairing the Committee of the Whole and in providing direction to this junction.
I appreciate you showed up with your officials.
As per Rule 6(1), I now recognize the clock and will report progress to the Speaker.
Will the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the minister and officials out.
Your committee has been considering Bill 22 and the main estimates, and would like to report progress. Also, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Is there a seconder? Mr. Curley.
Just a reminder for the Standing Committee on Legislation, there is a meeting tomorrow morning at nine o’clock in the Nanuq Boardroom.
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pages 1297 – 1359
Opening Prayer 1297
Ministers’ Statements 1297
Members’ Statements 1301
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1306
Oral Questions 1307
Tabling of Documents 1326
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1327
Report of the Committee of the Whole 1357
Revert to Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions 1358
Orders of the Day 1358
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1297
104 – 3(2): Nunavut Designers in Milan Contest (Shewchuk) 1297
105 – 3(2): School Community Counsellor Training (Tapardjuk) 1298
106 – 3(2): Nunavut Tourism Development (Taptuna) 1298
107 – 3(2): Homeowner Energy Efficient Rebate Extended (Tootoo) 1299
108 – 3(2): Development of New Research Methods for Polar Bear Population Studies (Shewchuk) 1300
109 – 3(2): Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal (Peterson) 1300
161 – 3(2): Health Care Complaints Procedure Not Working (Ningark) 1301
162 – 3(2): Appreciation for Sport Nunavut (Aupaluktuq) 1302
163 – 3(2): Happy 61st Anniversary to Ollie and Lizzie Ittinuar (Kusugak) 1303
164 – 3(2): Further Support for a Child and Youth Advocate (Elliott) 1303
165 – 3(2): Congratulating Nanulik Medalists at the Arctic Winter Games (Ningeongan) 1305
166 – 3(2): Congratulations to Terry Ryan - Director of Dorset Fine Arts (Schell) 1305
Return to Oral Question 247 – 3(2): SPOT Locator Devices (Kusugak) 1358
247 – 3(2): SPOT Locator Devices (Rumbolt) 1307
248 – 3(2): Cargo Resupply Report (Okalik) 1309
249 – 3(2): Compensation for Polar Bear Outfitters and Harvesters (Arvaluk) 1309
250 – 3(2): Patient/Client Complaints Procedure (Ningark) 1311
251 – 3(2): Impact of Uranium Mining on Public Health (Aupaluktuq) 1312
252 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut’s 2010 Budget (Elliott) 1314
253 – 3(2): Vacant Staff Housing Units in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) 1316
254 – 3(2): Government of Canada Should Compensate Polar Bear Outfitters (Okalik) 1318
255 – 3(2): Utilidor Study for Resolute Bay (Elliott) 1319
256 – 3(2): Baffin Island Caribou Population Survey (Komoartok) 1321
257 – 3(2): Polar Bear Management between Canada and Greenland (Arvaluk) 1322
258 – 3(2): Coal Mining in High Arctic – NIRB (Elliott) 1324
120 – 3(2): Swimming Pool Options Review (Ningark) 1326
121 – 3(2): 2009 Environmental Rights Act Annual Report (Shewchuk) 1326
122 – 3(2): The Art and Artists of Arctic College (Elliott) 1326
123 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal (Peterson) 1326
124 – 3(2): FPT Meeting of Council of Tourism Ministers (Taptuna) 1327
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Education – Consideration in Committee 1327
A very good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and the people of Nunavut.
Going to Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 104 – 3(2): Nunavut Designers in Milan Contest (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to announce that two fur designers from Nunavut recently competed in the REMIX 2010 International Student Design Competition in Milan, Italy.
The Mifur International Fur and Leather Exhibition, which hosts the REMIX competition, was held March 3 to 6.
The Department of Environment is proud to have supported these local designers as they showcased their creations at this prestigious event.
The designers, Karliin Aariak and Meeka Kilabuk, are graduates of Nunavut Arctic College’s Fur Production and Design program.
They have participated in events, such as the North American Fur and Fashion Exposition, the Montreal Fashion and Design Festival, and Canada’s Northern House at the Vancouver Olympics where they had a solo fashion display.
Karliin and Meeka have received both praise and recognition for their innovative work in sealskin and fur design.
Both were top finishers in a national competition that qualified them to compete at REMIX.
Meeka finished among the top eight at REMIX, which is the highest finish for an aboriginal designer and for a sealskin garment in the seven-year history of the competition.
Our designers promoted Nunavut’s fur and garment products by presenting their own high-end designs and conveying the cultural significance behind their work to the international audience attending this event.
This venue provided us with another opportunity to bring attention to the sealing sector and its importance to Nunavut.
As you are all aware, the last year has been a difficult one for Nunavutmiut and their sealing tradition.
We must continue to celebrate our hunters, seamstresses, and all Nunavutmiut who rely on sealing and the fur through high profile successes such as this.
It is in the faces of Nunavut that will help tell the world the story of our sealing tradition.
We are very proud of Karliin and Meeka and congratulate them on their achievement.
Minister’s Statement 105 – 3(2): School Community Counsellor Training (Tapardjuk)
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Good afternoon to Igloolik and Hall Beach residents.
It’s a very beautiful day here in Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues about a recent training opportunity for all of Nunavut’s Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit, our school community counsellors.
Mr. Speaker, during the last week of February, these counsellors met in Baker Lake for an intensive three days of programming in Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Training (ASIST) and aimed at developing future training programs.
The ASIST instruction aims to help people feel more comfortable, confident, and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. This is a great and necessary skill for our school community counsellors.
Mr. Speaker, under the new Education Act, Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit are required to provide personal guidance and counselling to students to promote a positive attitude towards education, individual well-being, and healthy lifestyles.
This includes providing activities that are related to study skills, suicide prevention, family planning, self-esteem, and conflict resolution.
The Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiit are also responsible for working closely with parents and school staff to help ensure the educational well-being of students.
School community counsellors serve a very important role in our schools. It is essential that they are provided with the opportunity to gain the skills to help our young people and help facilitate a relationship with parents and school staff.
This is a hugely important role in the development of our school system and I look forward to every school having an Ilinniarvimmi Inuusilirijiq in the upcoming school year.
Minister’s Statement 106 – 3(2): Nunavut Tourism Development (Taptuna)
I would like to take this opportunity to update the Members of this House on the government’s plan for developing the tourism sector.
As a first step, we have been working closely with Nunavut Tourism to develop and implement a strategy for structuring our investment in tourism to build a strong partnership model that will allow us to focus on our strengths.
Nunavut has a lot to offer, and by working together with our industry association, the federal government, Inuit organizations, and our communities, we will develop a common vision for the tourism sector that will support and strengthen the economy of our territory.
There are natural linkages between the development of our tourism sector, our transportation infrastructure, and the development and promotion of Nunavut’s cultural industries.
Mr. Speaker, our government will be taking a much more active role in strengthening these linkages and building a greater presence.
We have the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and strong dynamic communities that will attract tourists in ever increasing numbers.
We have the programs to support small businesses and industry development to provide services and opportunities for tourists.
We have strong industry associations in both tourism and cultural industries.
Mr. Speaker, our goal is to make Nunavut an attractive destination for tourists and tourism investment. Tourism has significant potential for our territory and we will be working to ensure this sector provides a positive contribution to our Nunavut economy. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister’s Statement 107 – 3(2): Homeowner Energy Efficient Rebate Extended (Tootoo)
I rise today to inform my colleagues and Nunavummiut that the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Homeowner Energy Efficiency Rebate Program has been extended for one year.
And also, Mr. Speaker, the rebate amount has been doubled.
Since the program’s introduction in September 2007, the Nunavut Housing Corporation has provided 385 homeowners with energy efficiency rebates.
Mr. Speaker, the program was rolled out to help Nunavummiut make their homes more energy efficient.
Mr. Speaker, the energy efficiency rebate program was initially scheduled to sunset at the end of this month, but with the extension, Nunavummiut can avail of the program until April 1, 2011.
The extension also includes provisions that the household 50 percent rebate eligibility amount is increased to a maximum amount of $2,000.
Clients previously approved for rebates can reapply for additional rebates to the $2,000, if eligible.
Mr. Speaker, the program extension is a further indication of how the Government of Nunavut is helping homeowners conserve energy.
Minister’s Statement 108 – 3(2): Development of New Research Methods for Polar Bear Population Studies (Shewchuk)
I am pleased to update you on the work of the Department of Environment in responding to and acting upon the concerns of Inuit and Inuit organizations regarding the need for less invasive wildlife research techniques.
At the wildlife symposium held in Rankin Inlet last year, elders and hunters expressed concerns regarding handling and immobilization of wildlife, in particular polar bears, as was done in the past to generate population estimates.
The Department of Environment has been working hard to explore alternatives to the mark-recapture method for polar bears and is presently in the advanced stages of developing and testing an aerial survey method to obtain a reliable population estimate for the Foxe Basin polar bears.